Slate Digital Plugins Do Not Work on macOS Sierra (10.12) or Earlier

Overview: Compatibility Issues with Older macOS Versions

If you’re experiencing issues with your Slate Digital plugins not working on macOS Sierra (10.12) or earlier, it’s due to compatibility limitations stemming from Apple’s discontinued support for these operating systems.

Apple officially ended support for macOS Sierra (10.12) and earlier on November 30, 2019. This change broke essential frameworks required for our plugins, making them incompatible with these systems. Below, we’ll explain why this happens and what you can do to resolve the issue.

Why Plugins Won’t Work on macOS Sierra (10.12) or Earlier

1. Apple Dropped Support for Older macOS Versions

   • When Apple ended support for macOS Sierra and earlier, critical system frameworks were deprecated. These frameworks are essential for the functionality of Slate plugins, rendering them incompatible.

2. iLok License Manager Requirements

   • iLok License Manager, required for authorizing Slate plugins, no longer supports macOS El Capitan or earlier. This makes it impossible to use our plugins on unsupported systems.

Minimum macOS Requirements for Slate Plugins

To use Slate Digital plugins, your system must meet the requirements outlined in the following article:

• Supported Digital Audio Workstations

Although not officially tested, macOS 10.13 High Sierra is the minimum operating system that our plugins are expected to function on.

Is My Mac Compatible with macOS High Sierra (10.13)?

If you’re using an older Mac, you may still be able to update to macOS High Sierra. The following Mac models are compatible:

• MacBook (Late 2009 or newer)
• MacBook Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)
• MacBook Air (Late 2010 or newer)
• Mac Mini (Mid 2010 or newer)
• iMac (Late 2009 or newer)
• Mac Pro (Mid 2010 or newer)

To check your Mac model, follow these steps:

1. Click the Apple  icon in the top-left corner of your screen.
2. Select "About This Mac".

If your Mac is listed above, you can update to macOS High Sierra using the following link:
Download macOS High Sierra

Steps to Resolve Compatibility Issues

If you’re unable to use your plugins on macOS Sierra or earlier, here’s what you can do:

1. Backup Your System

   • Before performing any updates, back up your system using Time Machine or your preferred backup method.

2. Update to macOS High Sierra (10.13)

   • If your hardware supports it, update your operating system to macOS High Sierra. This is the minimum macOS version required to use Slate plugins.

3. Reinstall iLok License Manager and Slate Plugins

   • Once updated, download the latest version of the iLok License Manager: Download iLok License Manager.
   • Reinstall your Slate plugins to ensure compatibility with your updated system.

What If I Can’t Update My System?

If your Mac or audio interface is too old to support macOS High Sierra, it will unfortunately not be possible to use Slate Digital plugins on your system. These limitations are caused by Apple’s changes to its software ecosystem, which we have no control over.

We recommend checking if an alternative system upgrade or replacement is an option to continue using our products.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions about your system compatibility or the update process, our support team is here to help. Reach out here with details about your setup, and we’ll do our best to assist.