What the easiest way to work out which NI products will break when I update OSX?

Citizen

I own a bunch of older NI stuff. Mostly from Komplete 9, pus a few extra bits and bobs.

I'm on OSX 10.15.7 Catalina. I want to install Ableton Live 12, which requires at least Big Sur (OSX 11).

Monterey (OSX 12) is the oldest currently available OSX, so presumably that will break the least amount of NI stuff.

Whats the fastest way to work out which of my NI products will survive an OSX update, before I make the leap?

Citizen

There is not really clear information on Monterey, other than it works with 'the latest versions of all products'

Screen Shot 2024-04-19 at 2.29.53 pm.png

The information on Big Sur is a bit more detailed:

Screen Shot 2024-04-19 at 2.30.21 pm.png

Citizen

Does anyone have the answer to this? Hoping to minimise heartbreak when I upgrade.

BIF

All of those versions are so old, it's going to be hard to say what will break and what won't. Maybe others will have some ideas.

So maybe make sure your backup methodology is producing usable backups, and then dive right in?

Citizen

Thanks BIF — that sounds like a sound strategy.

I will, of course, do a full Time Machine back up before updating the OS — in case it goes disastrous. At the same time, I'm kind of putting off the inevitable — I'm going to want to use Ableton Live 12, so I will HAVE to upgrade at some point.

***EDIT***

Actually — in thinking this through, I have just conceived of another approach: I could get a cheap second hand laptop — and relocate just my music stuff onto it, and run OS Catalina on it, and keep my old plug ins running on it.

Then, just update my OS on main computer to any of the newer OS, knowing that I can still use the older VSTS on my laptop.

BIF

That's not a bad idea on the surface.

I've done something similar with Windows.

Oh, just thinking out loud here...once you start up another computer with music creation software on it, and especially if you have a bunch of virtual instruments that are essentially "cloned" off of the old computer (you know, by way of using backups of the old computer to initiate the new computer), you could get into some licensing issues.

Shouldn't be anything too serious, since most music software these days offer 2, 3, or more licenses. Where it might get touchy is if you have another computer already running some of those apps or instruments, like for example maybe a Windows computer you keep at the ready for visits to your grandma who likes to hear you playing music at the kitchen table while she bakes cookies or something... 😁

Most vendors don't actively check up on how many computers you have something installed to, but some do. For example, Steinberg Licensing on Mac and PC for Cubase, Nuendo, or Wavelab. Or anything done through iLok Cloud (as opposed to using an iLok physical key). Arturia has limits too, but they allow for more computers than just about anybody else.

Just bear this in mind and have a plan, and you should be good.