Native Instruments - Knowledge Base
Knowledge Base
Notes on 64-bit Aspects of Mac OS 10.5 / 10.6
Kernel mode (32 bit / 64 bit)
All Mac OS 10.5 or 10.6 systems produced before mid of 2010 start in 32 bit kernel mode by default. Mac OS 10.6 systems with a later release date may start in 64 bit kernel mode by default, depending on the model (e.g. Mac Pro Mid 2010).
You can activate an optional 64 bit or 32 bit kernel mode by holding a key combination during the boot process: To select 64 bit, simultaneously press and hold the numbers 6 and 4 on your keyboard, for 32 bit press 3 and 2.
The 64 bit kernel mode allows the operation of both 32 bit applications and 64 bit applications. The same applies for the 32 bit kernel mode.
Note that this does not apply for hardware drivers: A 32 bit driver cannot be used in 64 bit kernel mode - a 64 bit driver for your NI hardware device is required when running in 64 bit kernel mode.
If the driver for your NI hardware product is not yet compatible with 64-bit kernel mode, you can download the latest driver version here.
Applications
Mac OS 10.5 and newer systems support 64 bit applications. To start a 64-bit application in 32 bit mode, open the Information window of the application (click program icon, then press CMD-I) and tick Open in 32-bit mode (see screenshot):
Plug-Ins
Plug-ins can either support 32-bit or 64-bit mode or both. A 64-bit plug-in can only be operated in 64-bit mode if the host sequencer is running in 64-bit mode. If the host is running in 32-bit mode, only plug-ins which are capable of running in 32-bit mode can be used.
A host running in 64-bit mode can natively operate plug-ins in 64-bit mode only. Some 64-bit host sequencers allow to utilize 32-bit plug-ins via a “32-bit bridge” though. Please note that this method is not officially supported by NI plug-ins, as the 32-bit bridge platform has not been tested. In order to use NI plug-ins which are not yet available as 64-bit versions it is recommended to run the host sequencer in 32-bit mode.
All Mac OS 10.5 or 10.6 systems produced before mid of 2010 start in 32 bit kernel mode by default. Mac OS 10.6 systems with a later release date may start in 64 bit kernel mode by default, depending on the model (e.g. Mac Pro Mid 2010).
You can activate an optional 64 bit or 32 bit kernel mode by holding a key combination during the boot process: To select 64 bit, simultaneously press and hold the numbers 6 and 4 on your keyboard, for 32 bit press 3 and 2.
The 64 bit kernel mode allows the operation of both 32 bit applications and 64 bit applications. The same applies for the 32 bit kernel mode.
Note that this does not apply for hardware drivers: A 32 bit driver cannot be used in 64 bit kernel mode - a 64 bit driver for your NI hardware device is required when running in 64 bit kernel mode.
If the driver for your NI hardware product is not yet compatible with 64-bit kernel mode, you can download the latest driver version here.
Applications
Mac OS 10.5 and newer systems support 64 bit applications. To start a 64-bit application in 32 bit mode, open the Information window of the application (click program icon, then press CMD-I) and tick Open in 32-bit mode (see screenshot):
Plug-Ins
Plug-ins can either support 32-bit or 64-bit mode or both. A 64-bit plug-in can only be operated in 64-bit mode if the host sequencer is running in 64-bit mode. If the host is running in 32-bit mode, only plug-ins which are capable of running in 32-bit mode can be used.
A host running in 64-bit mode can natively operate plug-ins in 64-bit mode only. Some 64-bit host sequencers allow to utilize 32-bit plug-ins via a “32-bit bridge” though. Please note that this method is not officially supported by NI plug-ins, as the 32-bit bridge platform has not been tested. In order to use NI plug-ins which are not yet available as 64-bit versions it is recommended to run the host sequencer in 32-bit mode.
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