So Pro Tools 2020 doesn't work with Big Sur?

[Phiff1]

Now what do I do? Do I revert Pro Tools to an older version? If so, how?

thanks in advance,
Chris

[Ben Jenssen]

Welcome to the DUC.
First thing is you should give us more info on your system, like suggested here:
Help Us Help You

And you should explain in more detail where you came from, what you did, and what exactly happened as you found out that PT wouldn't work on your Big Sur mac. Many reports are that PT2020 is working quite good on Mac OS 11.

[Phiff1]

Ok, thank you.

Computer model and processor speed - iMac late 2014 3.5 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5
OS version - 11.1
Avid hardware model - 003 rack
Pro Tools version - 2020.12
Amount of Memory installed - 8gb

I went to open Pro Tools and the icon bounced but nothing happened. Eventually I realized my PT software subscription had run out. So I paid the fee and downloaded Pro Tools 2020, the HD driver, and the codecs. Then I opened Pro Tools and got some type of error message saying Pro Tools is incompatible with Quicktime or something. Next I found I can't import any audio files. I was able to make a new instrument track but that is far as I have gone.

C

[Ben Jenssen]

Thanks.
The 003r is pretty old now. Have you checked if it's supported w/PT2020?
Did you upgrade from an earlier version mac os? It's well known that PT has problems with mac os "upgrades-on-top-of-upgrades" and that it's best to do a fresh install of mac os to have a solid running PT system.
Did you have a working PT/MacOS combination working before this?

[Phiff1]

I didn't even try using the 003 as I have just used PT with the iMac as the audio device many times. I should try with the 003...

Did you upgrade from an earlier version mac os? It's well known that PT has problems with mac os "upgrades-on-top-of-upgrades" and that it's best to do a fresh install of mac os to have a solid running PT system. - I guess I didn't do a fresh install but have no idea what this entails. Is this a complicated procedure?

Did you have a working PT/MacOS combination working before this?
Yes I finally had it working well after years of problems that seem to have been due to a faulty firewire to thunderbolt adapter.

[Phiff1]

The 003 rack isn't even showing up as a playback engine option anymore.

[Ben Jenssen]

To put it simply, if you're serious about getting the mac to work w/PT, you should erase the internal disk and install Mac OS from scratch. This means you should have a backup of everything, and a good deal of work.

Did you check the compatibility of the 003r? If it's no longer supported, I'd say... well, forget it. If you don't have aworking audio interface, then the big process with PT and mac os is pointless.

Have you considered Logic?
Should be sweet with Big Sur.

[Phiff1]

Yea, well I just bought a Scarlett 4i4 interface which is supposed to work real well with Pro Tools and that one does show up as a playback engine.

Seems like a clean install may be worth doing. I actually regularly back up my iMac drive and all my externals.

[Ben Jenssen]

OK, then. You'll find guides on the web, but here's the basics:
Have a clone backup of the main disk.
Restart w/cmd-r pressed. (Recovery startup disk).
Select Install mac os, you'll be prompted that it will erase all content.
Restart, you'll get the "Welcome..."
Make all basic settings.
Download and install Ilok, Avid, and so on.
Check that PT works. I bet it will.

Then you will want to copy files and stuff back to it, and as I said, a lot of work.
(Apples Migration Assistant can help here. Some say it's bad, I say it's useful, but that's a whole other bucket.)

[Obsidian Dragon]

Originally Posted by Phiff1

Now what do I do? Do I revert Pro Tools to an older version? If so, how?

thanks in advance,
Chris

Well, no version of Protools (current or older) is certified to work in Big Sur yet. The official solution is to downgrade your OS (not Protools). Catalina 10.15.7 works well with Protools 2020.12 and that is the most updated approved versions available.

Having said that, there are several folks running Protools 2020.12 on Big Sur with minimal issues. Again, it is not supported so try at your own risk.