Should I Upgrade to macOS Sonoma?

Some fall traditions are as regular as clockwork. But for 2023, Apple is releasing a new operating system earlier than expected: welcome macOS Sonoma, also known as macOS 14. For the Mac faithful, it’s always exciting to check out the new features and refinements... but for Mac-centric musicians, audio engineers, and content creators, there’s always a nagging question: Should I upgrade my Mac from its current, stable version of macOS to Sonoma now, or should I wait?

New Features in macOS SonomaIs macOS Sonoma an Update or an Upgrade?Sonoma on a Mac with Apple silicon vs. Sonoma on an Intel-based MacSoftware & Hardware Compatibility with macOS SonomaWhat Needs to Be Updated for Your Gear to Work with macOS Sonoma?Updates for Compatibility with macOS Sonoma Are ComingWhat Are the Hardware & Software Requirements for macOS Sonoma?So, Should You Upgrade to macOS Sonoma Now?Sweetwater Has Your Guides to macOS Sonoma Compatibility & More

New Features in macOS Sonoma

If you’re like us, then you’re a bit conflicted. We want all the great new macOS Sonoma features: improvements to videoconferencing and messaging, interactive desktop widgets, inline predictive text when you type, and better integration with iPhone, iPad, and AirPods. There’s the promise of better gaming performance and more. We want those features now! But our hard-earned experiences have taught us that any operating system (OS) upgrade brings complications and incompatibilities with music and audio software and hardware. We depend on these tools for our livelihoods.

Is macOS Sonoma an Update or an Upgrade?

macOS is the environment in which all your apps run and through which your external hardware connects. Any change to the OS will have implications on other hardware and software that are already integrated into your system. With a “point update” — from macOS Ventura 13.4 to 13.5, for example — the changes aren’t drastic. But Apple’s annual “whole number” change — in this case, from last year’s macOS 13 Ventura to this year’s macOS Sonoma — is an upgrade rather than an update. The changes are not only on the surface but also deep within the OS. Music, audio, and video software have hooks deep within the OS to get to the hardware, so these changes may affect the gear used by content creators more than that of the average user.

We’re here to help you understand what’s at stake in terms of compatibility with the software and hardware you already rely on.

Sonoma on a Mac with Apple silicon vs. Sonoma on an Intel-based Mac

This year, 2023, Apple phased out the last of the Mac models with Intel CPUs. All the current Mac devices have Apple silicon (M1, M2) processors, which were first introduced in late 2020. Here at Sweetwater, our audio engineers have been amazed at the gains in system performance and audio processing power with the new-generation Mac with Apple silicon.

While Sonoma straddles the line and provides support for recent Intel-based Mac computers and Mac with Apple silicon computers, the writing is on the wall. If you still have an Intel-based Mac, then you may want to plan when would be a good time to buy a new Mac with Apple silicon.

Of course, if you already have a Mac with Apple silicon, then you can upgrade to macOS Sonoma. We want to remind you to check that all the hardware and software that you use are compatible with macOS Sonoma before you upgrade.

Keep reading to help you decide whether and when it’s time to upgrade.

Software & Hardware Compatibility with macOS Sonoma

The issue is that every year that brings a macOS upgrade, there’s an inevitable lag time among manufacturers and software developers. They have to play catch-up and release new updates for their hardware, firmware, and software to make them compatible with the new OS.

If you install Sonoma too soon, before you verify that your music, audio, and video gear have updates you can install to provide Sonoma support, then your Mac may be dead in the water for making music, audio, and video. (You can still surf the Internet, but you may not be tracking, mixing, or making beats... )

What Needs to Be Updated for Your Gear to Work with macOS Sonoma?

Will your audio and video software and hardware break when you upgrade your Mac to Sonoma? That depends. With some apps, plug-ins, or utilities, no updates are needed. But for software that hooks deeply into the OS, more significant updates may be required.

For manufacturers, these efforts take weeks or months of software development time. Most music, audio, and video manufacturers are not huge companies. They have limited resources to update and rewrite software. They also need to test their products thoroughly to ensure that they are 100% compatible and reliable.

These days, manufacturers have to address a second priority: making their products Apple silicon native. Older software written for an Intel-based Mac may run acceptably on a Mac with Apple silicon under the Rosetta 2 emulation environment. But to take full advantage of the increased processing power of the new Apple silicon processors, developers have to rewrite their software to run natively on Apple silicon. Fortunately, developers have been working on this since the first Mac computers with Apple silicon were released in late 2020. (When the developer provides a product that runs on both Intel and Apple silicon natively, this is referred to as “Universal 2 binary.”)

Updates for Compatibility with macOS Sonoma Are Coming

There is good news. Content creators on the Mac have gone through these sorts of growing pains before, year after year. Whatever incompatibilities arise are sure to be temporary. Manufacturers know that users with older versions of macOS expect to upgrade, and users who buy a new Mac that comes with Sonoma need solutions that work now, so software updates are a priority.

What Are the Hardware & Software Requirements for macOS Sonoma?

There may still be users out there who have legacy software and plug-ins that are 32-bit. The last version of macOS that could run 32-bit code was macOS 10.14 Mojave from 2018. Every version of macOS since that requires apps that run 64-bit code. If you are still working with 32-bit apps, then you need to check with each app and plug-in manufacturer to obtain new 64-bit versions. You should also preserve any work you created with those 32-bit versions before you upgrade.

Here’s the bottom line for you: Is your Mac compatible with macOS Sonoma? The short answer is that models of Intel-based Mac computers from 2018 and later can be upgraded, along with the iMac Pro from 2017 and any Mac with Apple silicon.

We explain the specifics, with links to information about each model, in our SweetCare macOS Sonoma Compatibility Guide below. Check it out!

macOS Sonoma Compatibility GuideIs My Mac a macOS Sonoma–supported Device?

So, Should You Upgrade to macOS Sonoma Now?

Here’s what we know for sure: a new macOS is a big deal, and Sonoma is going to be cool, but manufacturers and developers need time to update their software. The original question remains: Should you update? Or, more importantly, when should you update?

Let’s say you have an existing Mac system with hardware and software that works, and you’ve got a workflow to create content. You have a need to upgrade, but you don’t want to lose productivity. You need to be deliberate and have a plan before you go forward.

Our best advice is to be patient. There’s nothing worse than upgrading to that shiny, new macOS, only to find that your essential software tools don’t work. You will lose valuable time, or worse — you may lose data from an important project.

Wait to update until you are certain that the software and hardware you use are available in versions compatible with macOS Sonoma. So, how do you find out?

Sweetwater Has Your Guides to macOS Sonoma Compatibility & More

As we do every year, Sweetwater is providing a raft of resources to help you know when and how to upgrade to the newest version of macOS. It’s part of SweetCare, Sweetwater’s exclusive knowledge base with more than 28,000 tech articles written by our award-winning Sweetwater support team that cover all kinds of music and audio gear.

The hub for our macOS information is SweetCare’s Mac/PC Optimization Guides page. (We also have expert advice on Microsoft Windows systems.) We publish and regularly update a suite of macOS resources for you: everything you need to know about compatibility, how to upgrade, how to protect yourself from problems, and, most importantly, when to upgrade.

First, check out our “macOS Sonoma Compatibility Guide” article mentioned above, which explains what models of Mac can be upgraded and also provides a table of regularly updated information on compatibility and software updates from 175 different manufacturers that Sweetwater works with. Over the coming days, weeks, and months, having a single place where you can find the latest compatibility information about all your content creation tools is super convenient and a real timesaver. Check this guide early and often!

We’ve got a guide on how to use Time Machine, which is built into macOS, to make a backup of your entire system onto an external hard drive. We strongly encourage you to make a full backup before proceeding so you can restore your system easily if anything goes wrong.

Since computer operating systems aren’t specifically designed for music and audio production, we provide our macOS audio optimization guide for getting the best performance from your studio or live rig.

Wow — who would have thought that a simple OS upgrade could be such a big deal? Fear not — we at Sweetwater have decades of experience on the Mac platform. We know the ins and the outs, and we are happy to share the knowledge with you. macOS Sonoma is going to be worth it. There are so many new features, enhancements, and productivity gains to enjoy, particularly on the Apple silicon platform.

However, for us as music makers, audio engineers, and content creators, having a solid, reliable platform for our art and productivity comes first. Work with what you’ve got now, wait for the manufacturers of your software and hardware to release their updates, back up your data, and plan your upgrade.

And don’t forget to give your Sweetwater Sales Engineer a call at (800) 222-4700. They are always here for you.

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