Note: for complete, up-to-the-minute information on macOS High Sierra software compatiblity for music and audio software, visit SweetCare!
Our friends at Propellerhead Software have released the following statement regarding compatibility of their software products with the latest macOS High Sierra operating system from Apple. High Sierra brings changes that affect the compatibility of software apps, so be sure to check this out carefully for information about the Propellerhead software that you might use, such as Reason and ReCycle:
“We are happy to report that the recently released Reason 9.5.2, Reason Essentials 9.5.2, and the upcoming Reason 10 and Reason Essentials 10 are compatible with Apple’s new macOS High Sierra. Before upgrading to High Sierra, make sure you’ve updated to one of these versions.
“The following products are compatible with High Sierra:
- Reason 9.5.2
- Reason 10
- Reason Essentials 9.5.2
- Reason Essentials 10
The following products are still being tested, so don’t upgrade to macOS High Sierra if you intend to use these products until a full compatibility statement is available from Propellerhead:
- ReCycle 2.2.4
“The following products are not compatible with macOS high Sierra:
- Reason 9.5.1 and earlier
- Reason Essentials 9.5.1 and earlier
- Reason Limited 1.5.3 and earlier
“Due to Apple’s introduction of a completely new file system (APFS) in High Sierra, many older versions are not compatible. This means that Propellerhead products before Reason 9.5.2 will not work correctly after updating to the latest version of macOS. Using High Sierra may in some cases even damage your documents, rendering them unusable.
“We strongly recommend you DO NOT upgrade to High Sierra if you intend to use earlier versions of Propellerhead products on your computer.”
General Operating System Update Advice
Most operating system updates come off without a hitch, and there is no reason to be afraid to update your computer to the latest versions, so you can take advantage of the new features, fixes, enhancements, and efficiencies an update can often bring. However, as always, we at Sweetwater continue to recommend patience and caution when considering an operating system update, regardless of the computer platform you use, Mac or Windows. Most music and audio software requires complex interactions between the computer, the software, and various hardware peripherals, and we have found that it is always the best policy to wait until the manufacturers of the software that you use have fully evaluated the compatibility of the operating system update and their software and hardware products. In many cases, manufacturers will also release quick version updates to bring their software up to full compatibility with the new operating system.
Our best advice is not to update any software or computer operating system unless you have a clear window of time available to ensure compatibility before a session or project starts. There’s nothing worse than battling compatibility issues when you are under pressure to complete a session or project, you’re under a deadline, or your creative juices are flowing and you just want to create. We recommend setting aside a period of time to learn the new operating system and how it interacts with your computer-based software and hardware peripherals before you put it to work in a serious situation.