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Warning: OS X 10.11 (El Capitan) Breaks NI Software

By Dean Zulueta on September 29, 2015

OS X DJs and producers beware! Native Instruments has announced that by upgrading to OS X 10.11, (aka El Capitan), users will lose primary functionality of multiple DJ controllers, software plug-ins, and access to audio outputs on legacy hardware. With any big upgrade there are bound to be a few hiccups, but they are rarely caught this quickly.

The Curse of El Capitan

For starters, the pieces of software that are negatively affected by El Capitan include Komplete, Traktor, and Maschine. There are two alarming issues pointed out by Native Instruments with the first being an unsuccessful validation of AU (audio units) plug-ins in Logic Pro X. Any effects or instruments used in Logic Pro X on an El Capitan Mac will not be usable. This is do to with sort of signage error, but the good news is that Native Instruments is talking to Apple to get the issue resolved. We will bring more news as that information comes available, but in the time being producers should avoid upgrading their system.

The second major bug is a kernal panic when using legacy NI devices. DJs using MK 1 versions of select NI devices will find that when trying to use the hardware their Mac will crash resulting in unsaved and corrupted work. This obviously renders a DJ relying on a legacy controller powerlessm so upgrading to El Capitan is heavily unadvised if a DJ uses the following equipment:

  • Traktor Kontrol S4 (MK1)
  • Traktor Kontrol X1 (MK1)
  • Traktor Audio 2 (MK1)
  • Audio 8 DJ
  • Audio 4 DJ
  • Audio 2 DJ (MK1)
  • Maschine (MK1)
  • Rig Kontrol 3

The silver lining is that if a DJ did upgrade to El Capitan there are beta drivers readily available on NI’s website to fix the issue, with a more permanent solution to come shortly in the future.

OS X El Capitan was released on September 30th and we don’t recommend upgrading until Native Instruments and Apple addresses these issues. For the latest information regarding DJ software news keep a watch on the blog.

appleaudio 2Audio 2 DJaudio 4Audio 8Breaking News 2015Dj softwareEl Capitankompletekontrol s4Kontrol X1LogicLogic Pro Xlogic pro x 10.1Mac OS XmaschineNative InstrumentsOS X 10.11production softwareRig Kontrol 3Traktor Tips
Comments (31)
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  • Kerem Özdemir

    Today NI announced that they fixed the problem. New software updates are available at Service Center.

  • Jules Dangov

    If you’ve updated and want to go back to Mavericks and you use iTunes, this is possible. It’s not super easy but here’s what to do.
    Back up your drive with Carbon Copy Cloner or something similar. I don’s use Time Machine to backup – CCC clones the whole drive and is bootable.. TM might be able to do that now, I’m not sure.
    Install Mavericks and update everything, especially iTunes if you use it, because since you’ve used your library in El Capitan it wont be backwards compatible with the iTunes in Mavs.
    Then install everything you use back on to the fresh install of Mavericks.
    I say Mavericks because Yosemite was just as shit, especially with Pioneer DJM Nexus gear.
    Sorry, this is the only way I’m aware of.

  • Willem Spaan

    Since i updated my traktor install to 2.10 my maschine stopped working, a bit strange i suppose but it does boot and give the prober visual feedback when a maschine instance is launched. Some of the knobs respond and the pads work to, the rest is not responding; weirdest thing of all; mute button gives it a strange reset, making new patterns in maschine software and all kinds of strange settings.

    i thought it maybe had something to do with the el capitan problems but that beta drivers doesn’t fix this. Can’t find anything similar on google..

  • Franklin Vincent

    what sould I do if I alredy did the update my DJM-850 canot work on USB and I need it to work on the usb 🙁

    • Robin

      Did you ever get this resolved? Just noticed my cdj 850s do not work as controllers for traktor any longer 🙁

  • Melih Can Bozkaya

    with el capitan native instrumentals traktor pro 2 doasnt see in audio setup page my mixer pionner djm850 Why?

  • OV Virkkunen

    You know what would be nice? If Apple released like a preview version of their software before actual release which companies could use to check out the functioning of their software beforehand.

    I think this might be really a good idea and lessen these kinds of situations which happen every single update/year.

    • Luca

      They do already. Have you ever heard of beta versions? It’s more shocking that NI didn’t get their softwares ready for the final release after over 4 months of beta testing…

      • OV Virkkunen

        They do? THAT’S AMAZING.

        And I realize that sarcasm is a difficult thing to pull off online. I seem to have failed, even though I did try to make it obvious.

        • dibb

          Although that was funny, on a more serious note: You can’t expect that your DJ software manufacturer is compatible the moment that Apple / Microsoft releases a new version of their OS. Even if they’ve received the early beta versions. Every “pro dj” should wait with upgrading until their dj software is officially supporting these new OS versions..

          • $gameOver

            Why can’t we expect it? The beta has been out for a long time. They do this every year.

          • OV Virkkunen

            Exactly. It is possible to start working on it before the release to public. I know, I’ve done it.

            The fact that this has happened now many years in a row is frankly quite ridiculous.

          • dibb

            To begin with: A beta is a beta. You can never expect any software developer to have his software to be stable and OFFICIALLY SUPPORTED on a platform that is still in beta.

            Serato (for instance) has to support many different hardware devices (AND OS combo’s). Officially supporting all these devices on a new OS version takes a LOT of time and beta testing of their own.

            Also compare the development resources of Serato to Apples, and you will understand Serato should be given (some) time to have his own software compatible.

            The fact that this “happens for many years” is no argument. Every new OS version is a new target to develop for. It just takes time…

            (please note that I use Serato as example. Same counts for NI or any other software company)

          • Buts

            That’s exactly what a beta is for.. So software developers have some time to adapt their code to make it compatible.

    • Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer

      While I agree with you that NI sucks when it comes to compatibility this 10.11 is a serious problem. Apples own Audio MIDI application is broken.

    • ChewBaka Flocka

      APPLE DOESNT GIVE A SHIT

  • EV3REST

    Found this article after updating… Any way to fix?

  • Jay DrTraktor Dizzle

    What about Z2, F1, D2 & S8 ? Safe?

  • hans

    en rekordbox ?

  • richard stallman

    ni do it like bitwig (or steam) and release your software for linux