Kontakt 8 not working on Macbook Pro M3/Sequoa

JWS
JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer
in Kontakt

I've just bought the full Kontakt 8 and I cannot get it to work. I've analysed the crash report and the crash likely happened due to an error while scanning or creating directories in the filesystem, possibly related to product installation or configuration. I have given Kontakt and all my NI products full disk access. Others have it working on sequoa so any suggestions other than it's not supported would be greatly appreciated.

Best Answer

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer
    Answer ✓

    Solved: the folder /Users/Shared/Native Instruments/installed_products didn’t exist, so I created it manually and then gave it read/write permissions.

    This was the folder that kontakt 8 was looking for.

    So to be clear Kontakt 8 now works on my M3 macbook running Sequoa. I have tried every kontakt library i own and they all run perfectly.

Answers

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer

    Key details from the crash:

    1. Reason for Termination:
      • The application called abort(), signaling a forced termination likely due to an unhandled exception during execution.
    2. Crashing Thread:
      • Thread 5 (labeled ProductScan) crashed during a product scanning operation. The crash occurred when the thread encountered a critical error while calling boost::filesystem::detail::create_directories as part of a product installation or scanning process.
    3. Main Cause:
      • The crash seems to be related to file system operations, possibly failing during directory creation for product installations or scans.
    4. Other Threads:
      • Several other threads were active but none encountered issues significant enough to trigger a crash. Many of them were simply waiting (pthread_cond_wait), meaning they weren't directly involved in the crash.
    5. Abort Trigger:
      • The process raised an abort in libc++abi.dylib, which manages C++ exceptions, suggesting that the issue might involve an uncaught C++ exception, possibly related to file handling or disk access.

  • Vocalpoint
    Vocalpoint Member Posts: 2,699 Expert

    No NI products are currently supported under Sequoia. This could be the reason for the issues you are seeing.

    VP

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer

    clearly didn't read the comment - Others have it working on sequoa so any suggestions other than it's not supported would be greatly appreciated.

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 13,047 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/37373/kontakt-8-not-working-on-macbook-pro-m3-sequoa

    How do the products show in Native Access?

    Did you install these libraries on an external hard drive? What format is the drive? It should be APFS: Notes on Hard Drive Formats on Mac Computers

    Have you tried these steps? Kontakt Crashes

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer

    Thanks Jeremy, yes they are installed on an external and the drive is APFS. and I have tried the suggestions on the Kontakt Crashes for Mac page twice.

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 13,047 mod

    @JWS I see that you are in contact with one of our specialists and resolution on this issue should come soon.

  • Electromusicproject
    Electromusicproject Member Posts: 27 Member

    I have Ventura and immediately on upgrade to Kontakt 8 had disc related problems despite all the full disc access, reinstalls, clearing preferences files etc. Everything was finally stable with Kontakt 7. On upgrade to 8, Maschine crashes on projects that were created with instances of Kontakt 7 running in them (which includes all the play series instruments etc.) if I manage to save one of those projects, the save time is up to 5 minutes for a tiny project.

    Just pointing out that as with the Kontakt 7.10 drama, Kontakt 8 doesn’t work either.

    downgrading is not a solution, I know that anything I’ve opened with 8 will never open with 7 again.

    ive been meditating. I find it’s best to be prepared to wait a long time…….

    Just pointing out that I don’t think it’s anything to do with the fact sequoia isn’t supported.

    My system basically is very clean, M2 Mac, Ventura. Only NI, partner VST’s and logic on there. Maybe I have to find a sonoma OS update. Kontakt didn’t work with Sonoma for several months, but it might do now…. I really don’t think that is the issue.
    I wish I had your tech knowledge, with the crash reporter……. Thanks

  • Jeremy_NI
    Jeremy_NI Customer Care Posts: 13,047 mod
    https://community.native-instruments.com/discussion/comment/185671#Comment_185671

    I see you also contacted my colleagues, hopefully they find the source of the issue.

  • Electromusicproject
    Electromusicproject Member Posts: 27 Member

    yes, thanks Jeremy, support team are great. Awaiting response.

  • Electromusicproject
    Electromusicproject Member Posts: 27 Member

    I put this information in another thread as well and I’ve closed it there too. The problem was due to fables being in my project and I had relocated fables to a different external drive that was APFS case sensitive. I do not know if the problem was the formatting of the drive or that. K8 just has difficulty with that drive. K7 had no issues with it. Anyway, problem solved. There are no issues with full disk access or permissions or anything like that.

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer

    I have the libraries on an external APFS SSD. And all shows up in Native Access as fully installed at that location path. But still no joy either stand alone or in Logic.

    Here's a breakdown of what I found when using the AU Validation Tool:

    1. AU Validation Tool: This is the tool that verifies the functionality of Audio Units on macOS. It checks whether the plugin (Kontakt 8 in this case) complies with the requirements for working in Logic Pro.
    2. Pass: Initially, the validation passes the basic checks. It finds the plugin, confirms the manufacturer (Native Instruments), and recognizes the version (Kontakt 8.1.0).
    3. Testing Open Times: This phase checks how quickly the plugin can be initialized (opened) in different conditions. "Cold" means opening the plugin when it's not already loaded in memory.
    4. Error: The validation process crashes due to a filesystem permission error:
      • The plugin is trying to create or access directories under /Users/Shared/Native Instruments/installed_products.
      • The error boost::filesystem::create_directories: Permission denied means the validation tool (or the plugin itself) doesn't have sufficient permissions to create or write to that directory.
    5. This issue is related to macOS's filesystem permissions, preventing the plugin from accessing or writing to the required folder.




    Things I tried

    • All my NI products have full disk access
    • Check Folder Permissions: Checking and adjusting the permissions of the folder /Users/Shared/Native Instruments/installed_products to allow read/write access for the plugin.
    • Run Validation with Admin Privileges: Running the validation tool with elevated privileges (admin access).
    • and yet again reinstall: Reinstalling Kontakt 8

      Still no Joy.

  • JWS
    JWS Member Posts: 6 Newcomer
    Answer ✓

    Solved: the folder /Users/Shared/Native Instruments/installed_products didn’t exist, so I created it manually and then gave it read/write permissions.

    This was the folder that kontakt 8 was looking for.

    So to be clear Kontakt 8 now works on my M3 macbook running Sequoa. I have tried every kontakt library i own and they all run perfectly.

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