Plans for Apple Silicon support?

[sveje77]

I wonder if Toontrack is planning to release Apple Silicon compatible versions of their software as soon as the first Macs with the new CPUs hit the market or if we will have to wait a couple of months (or even years?) before we are safe to buy one of these machines.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

Topic

[ChadwickDunderc0ck]

I know of the silicone chip but just like AMD and Intel CPUs wouldn’t they still process the same? I would hope so.. they would have to have multiple versions of OS X out and software. It would be a mess.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

[sveje77]

Nope, every software has to be re-written or at least re-compiled and optimized for the new chips. It‘s inevitable.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

[ChadwickDunderc0ck]

That’s insanity. I do not support this. I’m glad I got a new highly upgraded 2019.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.1.7
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

[ChadwickDunderc0ck]

Ok. I just read up. ARM based cpu. Yes toontrack, you’ll need to update all your software. What say you?

• This post was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by ChadwickDunderc0ck.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

No, they won’t be the same. If anything, the ARM processors will be more like workstation versions of the ones found in their mobile devices. Anyone who has been with Apple longtime shouldn’t be surprised at this as Apple has done this three times before in its almost forty year span. Yes, there will be a dual-boot OS and emulators until the transition is complete. Apple has done  this before. Until it is complete, Intel models will still be available and Apple has been known to support older units with updates long after the transition has completed.

In the immediate future, I wouldn’t count on SD3, or most non-Apple software and audio hardware and drivers for that matter, to be ARM ready until sometime after the transition has commenced and actual product  have been released. The current testbeds are at the moment nothing more than glorified iPad Pro’s. Despite most software just needing to be recompiled, it will have to be extensively tested since we’re dealing with new hardware and low-level instruction code.

I wouldn’t go rush out to get one of the new Silicon units just yet. One risks many cuts trying to ride the bleeding edge. Give it time.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 4 years, 10 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[gearnerd]

I already got emails and newsletters from developers who released an Apple-Silicon-ready version of their plugin.

That being said, there is a translation stage happening when you install your software on an Apple-silicon Mac, so that’s much more efficient than running translations on-the-fly. Apple specifically mentioned compatibility and performance of intel-based software on an Apple-silicon Mac in their WWDC sessions. My guess is that most plugins will work just fine, but the ones which are optimised might perform a little better.

Apple mentioned Sound/audio processing units on their chips. Most likely software that takes advantage of this would perform better, however maybe this is already adressed in the core-audio framework in their new SDK’s. I’m not a developer so this is mostly guesswork.

One thing to be more concerned about is third party hardware, if any of your hardware requires drivers, these drivers will have to be recompiled and since a lot of hardware-companies (i.e. Roland) aren’t big on updates, this might be an issue. To make it even more interesting, Apple is actively discouraging kernel-extentions so this will have to work in a different manner (I’m hazy on the details, I’m sorry).

“One risks many cuts trying to ride the bleeding edge. Give it time.” This is great advise.

[BlueMistral]

Apple is releasing the ARM Macs this Tuesday 10 of November along with Big Sur OS, any update on whether Superior Drummer 3 has been tested with the Big Sur beta? as for the ARM Macs I assume SD3 won’t be ready at launch date of said Macs?

• This post was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by BlueMistral.

[Bear-Faced Cow]

I wouldn’t count on anything ARM specific for audio production just yet. just as it takes time for them to adapt to the latest OS, it will be even more so for a new CPU. Many of the developers are already recommending not to immediately upgrade to Big Sur until they have tested their products against it. For many of the developers, once they get things working on Big Sur, it will most likely be a matter of re-compiling it for the new processors.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• This post was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[ChadwickDunderc0ck]

I’m sure at some point there will be something but I would bet its gonna take some time. I personally would avoid it and buy what works if you’re using audio software.

I personally wouldn’t touch an arm Mac until I know everyone has compatibility for them in the audio field.

Superior Drummer 3 version: 3.2.3
Operating system: macOS Catalina (10.15)

• The post has been modified 2 times, last modified 4 years, 7 months ago by ChadwickDunderc0ck.

[Mark King]

I would say don’t be an early adopter. Same goes for anything really as there are always problems. I’m sure toontrack will get there but it may not be top of the list until the user base increases

SD3 with older sdx,s plus Rooms of Hansa and Death & Darkness. Cubase and wavelab current versions. Roland TD50x using all trigger inputs for triggering SD3 only. Windows 11 computer. Various keyboards and outboard gear as well as VST instruments. Acoustic drums: Yamaha 9000 natural wood and Pearl masters. Various snare drums. RME BabyFace Pro FS and Adam A7X monitors

[Bear-Faced Cow]

I would definitely agree. Since there’s only one line of ARM products being released among some promised Intel releases, the music industry is not going to treat moving to ARM as an urgency. Give it time to let everyone get it right. In the process, it might also be better than expected, given some of the possibilities of going ARM.

One of the tell-tale signs that they will be ARM ready is when they have everything working on Big Sur.

jord

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Jordan L. Chilcott

Web Site: https://jordanchilcottmusic.com/

• The post has been modified 2 times, last modified 4 years, 7 months ago by Bear-Faced Cow.

[gearnerd]

It would be very helpful if Toontrack at least put a statement saying “not compatible yet” or “compatible with rosetta2”. I’ve got plenty of newsletters etc. from other manufacturers announcing their work in progress, stating they are Rosetta 2 compatible and some of them even announced they’re ARM compatible (way before the release of the new Apple hardware).

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Thanked by: ChadwickDunderc0ck

[BlueMistral]

Here is a video showing SD3 working fine on a macbook pro M1:

https://youtu.be/u5T2O0OVMyE

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Thanked by: ChadwickDunderc0ck

[BlueMistral]

Fear not my friends, SD3 and apple M1 are good friends

https://youtu.be/yUB_kHFvQEY

[ChadwickDunderc0ck]

The problem is all the others that help the mix.

[Author]

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