Published October 29, 2020 / Updated October 25, 2021
***The following article applies to all chips that are part of the Apple Silicon architecture.
Apple has started to move away from Intel-based x86/x64 CPU solutions to instead use a custom-designed, RISC-based solution (aka “Apple Silicon”), now known as the M# Chip. This coincides with the release of macOS 11.0 Big Sur, which supports both Intel and Apple Silicon hardware.
PreSonus Support for Apple Silicon Series Macs is now available.
Starting with Big Sur macOS 11, Apple introduced Rosetta v2, which allows applications to run in an emulated mode. Our tests revealed performance problems when using our software with Rosetta v2 (emulation mode). PreSonus started working on developing native applications for these new Apple Silicon machines available in early 2021 and that work is now complete.
Studio One 5 (UPDATED/September 14, 2021)
The Studio One 5.4 release on September 14, 2021 brings native compatibility to Apple Silicon Macs.
Please read this article which details Studio One Native support.
Notion 6(UPDATE!!)
Notion 6.8 released October 2020 is compatible with Apple Silicon Macs running Rosetta.
Quantum Series Thunderbolt products: (UPDATE!!) require a custom device driver, which we provide via Universal Control. Support is provided for Apple Silicon Macs first appeared in Universal Control 3.4.2 released Tuesday March 23, 2021.
(UPDATE!!) A newer installer and device driver is available with Universal Control 3.6.0 released September 14, 2021. Download it here.
Please see this video for installing Quantum on any supported version of Mac OS X: YouTube Video Link
- Quantum**
- Quantum 2**
- Quantum 4848*, **
- Quantum 2626
* Quantum 4848 - included with UC 3.4.2 is a firmware update which addresses external sync fix.
** Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter is required for connection between your Apple Silicon computer and the Quantum, Quantum 2 or Quantum 4848 Interface. This adapter can be found at your local Apple retailer. More info on this adapter can be found on the Apple site here.
Atom and Atom SQ products: (UPDATE!!)Atom SQ received a firmware update v1.15 that supports macOS 11.2 with the release of Universal Control 3.4.2 released on Tuesday March 23, 2021.
- Atom
- AtomSQ
Read this Knowledgebase Article if you're having issues with MIDI and Big Sur with Atom / Atom SQ
https://support.presonus.com/hc/en-us/articles/360056338512
All of our other USB audio and controller products are supported with Universal Control 3.4.2 with Apple Silicon Macs running macOS 11 (Big Sur) released March 23, 2021.
This includes:
- AudioBox iOne / AudioBox iTwo
- AudioBox USB 96 / AudioBox USB / AudioBox USB 96 Studio / AudioBox USB Studio (all colors)
- Revelator io24 (supported in Universal Control 3.6)
- Revelator USB Microphone
- ioStation24c
- Studio 24c / Studio 24
- Studio 26c / Studio 26
- Studio 68c / Studio 68
- Studio 1810c / Studio 1810
- Studio 1824c / Studio 1824
- Studio 192 / Studio 192 Mobile
- StudioLive Series III Console and Rack Mixers
- Note about AVB Connectivity change with macOS 11 Big Sur
- AVB-D16
- NSB 8.8, NSB 16.8
- EarMix 16
- SW5E
- StudioLive Series III 64s Console*
- StudioLive Series III 32s Console*
- StudioLive Series III 32 Console*
- StudioLive Series III 32X Console*
- StudioLive Series III 32SC Console*
- StudioLive Series III 24 Console*
- StudioLive Series III 16 Console*
- StudioLive Series III 32R
- StudioLive Series III 24R
- StudioLive Series III 16R
- Note about AVB Connectivity change with macOS 11 Big Sur
- StudioLive 1602USB
- StudioLive AR8c / AR8
- StudioLive AR12c / AR12
- StudioLive AR16c / AR16
- StudioLive AR22
- AudioBox 1818VSL / AudioBox 44VSL / AudioBox 22VSL
- FaderPort 2018 / FaderPort 16 / FaderPort 8
Update - April 30, 2021
We've identified a problem with macOS 11.2.3 with Apple Silicon Mac series where UC MIDI for DAW Mode does not work. We are aware of the issue and are working on a solution.
StudioLive AI-Series mixers and rack mixers will not work with Apple Silicon Macs. There are no plans to develop a driver to enable 1394 to connect to these machines. We will continue to support Intel-based Macs. StudioLive Ai will continue to be supported on the Windows 10 platform. Contact the PreSonus sales team for information on how to get into a Series III mixer which will be supported on Apple Silicon Macs.
This limitation for 1394/KEXT support with Apple Silicon Chips also affects the use of Rational Acoustics’ SMAART® software, as it is a FireWire service for the StudioLive AI / RM series of digital mixers
- StudioLive 32Ai
- StudioLive 24Ai
- StudioLive 16Ai
- StudioLive RM32Ai
- StudioLive RML32Ai
- StudioLive RM16Ai
- StudioLive RML16Ai
- StudioLive CS18Ai
StudioLive (1st Generation) will not work with Apple Silicon Macs. There are no plans to develop a driver to enable 1394 to connect to these machines. Legacy support is available for Intel Based Macs up to macOSX 10.14.6 (Mojave) and Windows 10 using the UC 1.7.6 release.
- StudioLive 2442
- StudioLive 1642
- StudioLive 1602 - FireWire
Important Tips:
- Check your third-party plug-in developers’ websites for updates, as many of them may not install or run correctly under macOS 11, and will need updates themselves to work correctly.
- Some Studio Magic Plug-ins may not run under macOS 11, please check with our partners for compatibility information.
Read more about Rosetta v2 emulation here:
https://9to5mac.com/2020/06/22/arm-mac-apple/
macOS Big Sur Compatibility for the current Intel-based Macs can be found HERE.