Many Apple computers these days are come with Apple's M1 processor design, called the M1. If you're having problems with your program running correctly on one of these Macs, we would first recommend going through our standard troubleshooting; and after all other options have been exhausted, we suggest using Rosetta as a translator for the EZ Vinyl program. 


Apple M1: Native vs. Rosetta

Apple M1 processors are a new processor design that incorporates the functions of many different processors into one. As such, it functions differently from established Intel processors. While some software will operate well on both M1 and Intel, this ultimately means that software originally designed for use with an Intel processor will need to be re-structured for use with an M1. There are two ways to run software on an M1-based system:


  1. Native - Software that is designed and/or fully established for use with an M1 processor is considered "Native" or can be run "natively" on an M1-based system. This means you can open the software as you always would and it will work as expected. Not all software will run natively, and this may be different depending on the version. Before running your DAW or other software, please check with the software developer to find out what versions (if any) are supported natively.

  2. Rosetta - Apple understands the jump from Intel to M1 could take some time, so they offer a built-in "application" called Rosetta that will act as a translator between your Intel-based software and the M1 processor. Rosetta is not an application you interact with, but rather a service that runs in the background when you need it. Although not guaranteed, software that cannot run natively on an M1 may run perfectly fine using Rosetta. 


Native M1 support for programs varies, but anything considered "natively" supported will be listed above as "Supported" in the System Requirements. If your program is not listed as supported for M1, it may still run if opened using Rosetta.



How to Open Your Software Using Rosetta/Rosetta 2

You can use Rosetta to launch your DAW or other music software if you're using an M1 processor if any of your programs are not yet compatible. This is perfectly safe to use and may give you better results if your software isn't running well (or crashing) when run natively.


Keep in mind, the "software" we are discussing here is software that can be launched on its own (i.e. a DAW or AIR plugins opened in standalone).


  1. Go to your Applications folder and find your DAW or music software in the list. Right-click on the software and select Get Info.



  2. Look under General > Kind and this will tell you if your software is compatible with Intel, Apple Silicon (M1), or Universal (both Intel and M1).


  3. If your Application is listed as "Universal" this means you'll have the option to open it using Rosetta. To do this, simply place a checkmark in the box next to Open using Rosetta. If your application is not universally compatible, check with the software developer to see if there are updates or alternate versions that are compatible with your system.


Questions? Concerns? Feedback? If you are still having trouble, please use the New Support Ticket button at the top to contact our support team for further assistance.