schmidi_0
It's new laptop time for me and I'm contemplating a Macbook (if my Win11 DPC latency is bad on the laptop I just ordered).
I'm pretty clueless as to how MacOS handles older controller drivers/soundcard etc.
I currently have an old Numark NS7 and a Denon MC4000, both that require proprietary drivers for ASIO on Windows. My understanding is MacOS is FAR more picky about drivers being up to date, so I'm guessing my old drivers will not work on a new Mac.
Is there a compatibility mode for this in MacOS?
Is there anything like WASAPI audio in MacOS so I don't even need to use the ASIO drivers?
Thank you!
I'm pretty clueless as to how MacOS handles older controller drivers/soundcard etc.
I currently have an old Numark NS7 and a Denon MC4000, both that require proprietary drivers for ASIO on Windows. My understanding is MacOS is FAR more picky about drivers being up to date, so I'm guessing my old drivers will not work on a new Mac.
Is there a compatibility mode for this in MacOS?
Is there anything like WASAPI audio in MacOS so I don't even need to use the ASIO drivers?
Thank you!
Inviato Sat 04 Jan 25 @ 7:20 pm
groovindj
Macs don't have ASIO. That's just a Windows thing. Macs also often don't need drivers for things.
The downside is that Apple often break stuff with their OS updates, and/or older stuff gets abandoned.
You'll need to check whether your devices have/had Mac drivers, and if they still work on the latest MacOS and the new M chips.
The downside is that Apple often break stuff with their OS updates, and/or older stuff gets abandoned.
You'll need to check whether your devices have/had Mac drivers, and if they still work on the latest MacOS and the new M chips.
Inviato Sat 04 Jan 25 @ 7:59 pm
DJ VinylTouch
So the equivalent of of WASAPI is CoreAudio in the MacOS world, and virtually all new-school controllers with soundcards tend to use that for their audio needs. The "drivers" being installed in those cases are often just CoreAudio bundles and custom driver code if necessary for things like screens.
Unfortunately, besides just Gatekeeper getting pickier about the source of things running on the OS, the biggest issue is the architecture change (AMD64 -> Apple Silicon ARM). The emulation would be Rosetta (which is isn't installed by default, but is triggered to install if an AMD64 app is opened or explicitly via softwareupdate). Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that drivers will work as well as you expect. You may need to lower the security policy as well for kernel extensions (a special boot sequence to do).
The Numark NS7 was discontinued before that, so Rosetta is probably the only way to use it. I don't know the other controller very well, but I would think the situation is similar.
Unfortunately, besides just Gatekeeper getting pickier about the source of things running on the OS, the biggest issue is the architecture change (AMD64 -> Apple Silicon ARM). The emulation would be Rosetta (which is isn't installed by default, but is triggered to install if an AMD64 app is opened or explicitly via softwareupdate). Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that drivers will work as well as you expect. You may need to lower the security policy as well for kernel extensions (a special boot sequence to do).
The Numark NS7 was discontinued before that, so Rosetta is probably the only way to use it. I don't know the other controller very well, but I would think the situation is similar.
Inviato Sat 04 Jan 25 @ 7:59 pm
schmidi_0
Thanks guys. That was my fear that I will also need to buy a whole new controller if I go Mac.
Well, hoping my incoming W11 laptop has good DPC latency.
Well, hoping my incoming W11 laptop has good DPC latency.
Inviato Sat 04 Jan 25 @ 9:19 pm
djles.co.uk
I've used Macs for over 10 years and found my Denon MC7000 and Numark Mixstream Pro Go Controllers don't need drivers just plug and play. I have owned for a brief time a Pioneer DDJ1000 and a Roland 707m that both needed drivers installed.
Inviato Sun 05 Jan 25 @ 9:59 am
schmidi_0
djles.co.uk wrote :
I've used Macs for over 10 years and found my Denon MC7000 and Numark Mixstream Pro Go Controllers don't need drivers just plug and play. I have owned for a brief time a Pioneer DDJ1000 and a Roland 707m that both needed drivers installed.
That's encouraging! Both the MC4k and 7k must be class compliant.
Inviato Sun 05 Jan 25 @ 8:54 pm
djles.co.uk
Yes they are Class Compliant. My main Controller is my Denon MC7000 that I have been using for over 5 years. It's an excellent Controller, although, a bit bigger than the MC6000 Mk1 & Mk2.
Inviato Sun 05 Jan 25 @ 10:18 pm
DJ VinylTouch
The NS7 is not however, but it doesn't mean it won't work...just that you would have to do more to get it working.
Many of the DJ hardware releases in the last decade or so have the audio and basic MIDI parts covered through the OS generic drivers, and if the device doesn't have more to it that those two parts, it's often completely covered and would most likely be plug and play (so things like a Kontrol Z2 or Reloop Elite are covered). Others that have extras like HID-based controls/screens/others non standard things normally end up needing drivers.
Many of the DJ hardware releases in the last decade or so have the audio and basic MIDI parts covered through the OS generic drivers, and if the device doesn't have more to it that those two parts, it's often completely covered and would most likely be plug and play (so things like a Kontrol Z2 or Reloop Elite are covered). Others that have extras like HID-based controls/screens/others non standard things normally end up needing drivers.
Inviato Sun 05 Jan 25 @ 10:36 pm