Finally, I can use Xone:K2 on M1Mac. Native Instruments Traktor with Allen&Heath Xone k2 on M1 MacBook Air
目次
I occasionally DJ as a hobby, and I was having trouble using my Allen&Heath Xone k2 MIDI on my recently purchased M1 Macbook Air because it was not recognized by Traktor. After some trial and error, I found a solution, and I’d like to leave it here in case anyone else is having trouble.
My DJ Setup
First of all my DJ setup, I’m using a denon dj mixer 1200 and two xone k2s on the right side and a nanopad on the left side as a replacement for Ableton Push.
The sound is flowing from the Traktork to Ableton Live, and I use effectors and other plugins on the Ableton side. I have 4 stereo channels going to the mixer, but one channel is shared with the reverb, delay and other FX from Ableton. I’m not very good at DJing yet, so I can’t DJ using 4 channels.
[adsense]
I couldn’t get Xonek2 to work on my M1 Mac, so I threw the question directly to Allen & Heath.
Hi,
Thanks for the message.
We are sorry to hear that you have come up against this issue. We currently have a disclaimer up on the K2 page for this; https://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/xonek2/#tab5
This is something that we have been avidly investigating and were hoping to find a solution by means of a firmware update. Unfortunately, this is now looking like this is not the case and the issue appears to lay outside of our remit. Please remember that the K2 is a core-audio/MIDI device on Mac OS. This hardware works fine on any Intel-based machine and is signed off to run with Big Sur on this platform (Intel only). As it stands, we have a support claim that has been submitted to Apple, but have no further information at present.
We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience that this may be causing you and we sincerely hope to see a solution for this soon.
However, I found a way to use it by trying various things personally.
The problem was the hub, which had no external power supply.
When I first bought my M1 Mac, I used this hub.
Anker PowerExpand 8-in-1 USB-C PD
The Xonek2 was connected to a USB hub that could be powered from the Xonek2, but the Traktor side didn’t recognize MIDI, so I couldn’t use it at all.
But the other day, I was working with the HDMI output from that hub, and the video from the HDMI kept breaking up and not being stable, so I decided to buy a DOCK that can supply power, and I bought the following
[adsense]
Anker PowerExpand 7-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock ドッキングステーション 4K対応 HDMIポート1Gpbs イーサネット USB-Aポート USB-Cポート microSD&SDカードスロット 搭載
I bought this one and connected it to HDMI and was able to get a stable video out of HDMI without a single shot resolution interruption.
I bought this one and connected it to HDMI and it worked fine.
“Could it be that the bus power? glitch that prevented Xonek2 from working properly too!
So I tried to connect it
Hey…. It’s a normal MIDI connection,
Solution. I have not been able to verify the details yet, but for the time being I can use Xonek2 as a MIDI controller, so I thought I would post this to help those who are also having trouble.
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Discussion
New Comments
I tried it with this one now:
i-tec USB 3.0 HUB 7-Port with External Power Adapter 36W – 7x USB 3.0 Port, Compatible with Laptop, Tablet, PC https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07N5FTPRM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_125QTBZQWCFQPNTET8V3?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Your active USB adapter is very expensive and I don’t understand why it works with your active one and not with mine. Have you tried all the functions and really everything goes with your adapter. For me it doesn’t matter which USB adapter I use, only the MIDI interface doesn’t work. The sound card works with any adapter, whether with power supply or without.
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Thank you For your reply.
Did you use Self-Powered-DOCK? you should use the DOCK for your USB3.0 HUB.
I now even have two USB HUBs with external power supply. One is also from Anker as expensive as yours. It’s linked below.
How did you connect everything? Did you, to the power supply powered USB hub, then connect your HUB without power to the one with power?
Can you explain to me exactly what was connected to what that it worked for you.
I even bought this USB hub
Anker Power HUB
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08S2PGJVB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_5ZZ2ZJN9VX2EEM5YJTBW
with external power supply. With it it also did not work… Therefore, it would be important how you have what connected to what?
Thanks for your help.
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I have this USB hub with external power supply:
Anker PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B08S2PGJVB/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_RC835S5PD678VECZZD1C?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Plus this one without external power supply:
UGREEN USB C Hub
https://www.amazon.de/dp/B07RQLF6M8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_M78YDJ9TCDG9R7Y2P4F2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I just don’t understand how it suddenly works for you and not for me. My Anker USB hub with external power supply is like yours only that I have 85 watts and that should be enough. Why does it work with you and with me it can not be adjusted? Very strange the whole. Would be very happy about a new info from your side how you have connected everything exactly together and which cables you have connected where, so I can exclude exactly my source of error.
With kind regards,
Robert
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hi robert thank you for your reply.
my systems are
M1 macbook air to self-powered dock with thonderbolt.
And USB 3.0 port on Self-Powered dock to Self-Powered USB 3.0 HUB.
On that USB3.0 HUB. I connect XONE K2.
My MAC OS is updated.
if any question, let me know. thank you man
Can you write me the exact name of your 7 compartment 3.0 USB hub. I would like to buy it through Amazon.
Which Anker Thunderbold Hub you have I know. I have the successor with which it works but unfortunately. Therefore, I will now first replace the 7 compartment hub, if it still does not work, I will also replace the Anker Thunderbold Hub. So that I have copied exactly configuration 1 to 1.
hi robert. sorry for late reply.
this is the hub that i bought.
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B07ZVKS9W4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
thank you
Hello,
So if I understand correctly, do you have anker connected to Apple, do you have another hub with RSHTECH USB 3.0 Hub 7 connected to Ankera and Xone K2 in it?
Does the Xone K2 connection directly to Ankera not work?
Hi I’m having issues with my MacBook not detecting all audio ports on k2 ?
Any resolution for this
Hey friends, please if any can help me to make works K2 in M1
let me know if any question. thank you
I have another question. Does the solution work permanently?
I saw that in your pictures to my questions, you also have an HDMI cable connected to the dock. Have you unplugged it and see if your workaround still works? Can you unplug the K2 from the dock and plug it back in and it still gets recognized? Is it permanently recognized with the two HUBs or does everything have to be plugged in at startup. Is everything working: midi and sound card?
Sorry for all the questions. But I would like to understand why it works exactly with your configuration, but not with mine which is similar.
I have now the same RSHTECH USB Hub Active 3.0 as you and the said Anker Thunderbold Hub with power supply (the successor of your Anker Thunderbold Hub).
But it still does not work, even though I connected it the same way as you.
I now buy exactly the same Anker Thunderbold Hub, which you also have and then I’m curious whether it then works like yours. Then I have exactly the same hubs. Then it must work, if it works for you.
It’s all a mystery to me.
Robert
thank you robert I will try it later.
By the way,
the version of my traktor is 3.4.2.256
MacOS Big Sur 11.4
It’s so crazy. I have rebuilt exactly your configuration. See it works. Thanks
Only it is really weird why it does not work with similar devices and same technical values. That’s more than what’s broken. Is really my most expensive workaround ever.
Hey Robert, I’m wondering which kind of cable were you using to connect your hub to the mac, because the hub which dmgadged has used is a thunderbolt 3 (because the hub includes it), but maybe your dock didnt include the same cable, I’m starting thinking that the problem isn’t the hub or the dock but the cable which transfer the data to the mac.
Let me know please, because I didnt bought any dock yet.
Thank you,
best.
I try an OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock and it was working. but not convenience and bulky inside a dj booth
So I try to simplify this.
But I have 2 xone K2.
so
I use a powered USB2 hub to power my first K2 with the USB. The USB2 hub is not plug to the computer.
I link a second K2 with the RJ45 link
I plug the second K2 inside the USB/midi port of my Apogee Duet 2 and it’s worked.
after what I can unplug the USB2 hub and it was still working
Seem like the K2 need to be powered before being pluged into the computer ???
i contacted Allen & Heat in case it help them
I didn’t try a long session to see if it’s reliable.
Hey there,
May I ask which USB2 hub you use? But it does not work with Traktor if you plug it in directly, I guess..
And I understand with the OWC Thunderbolt 3 dock everything does connect via USB and control Traktor as on Intel? Is it this dock? https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/docks/owc-thunderbolt-3-dock
Has anyone found more solutions?
To Robert – did it end up working for you? I see the first Anker dock you bought is not compatible with M1, it says on Amazon.
Thank you so much!
Best regards,
Alexander
(Also wondering if the OWC Thunderbolt 4 Hub would work..)
Guys,
I just found out the solution, I bought the same hub mentionned above : Anker PowerExpand 7-in-1 Thunderbolt 3 Mini Dock
PLEASE MAKE SURE TO USE THE USB C CABLE PROVIDED BY THE HUB !
First, I used my MacbookPro usb C cable to connect the hub to my laptop… it was not working ! When I used the thunderbolt cable provided in the Hub’s Box, IT WORKED !! FINALLY !!
Hola como estan , estoy intentando conectar, un hub usb con power suply a mi mac m1, y no puedo hacer arrancar el xone k2, tambien intente conectando el xone 96 , mediante cable link a la k2 y tampoco funciona, pense que era un tema de energia para hacer arrancar la controladora pero aun asi no logro que funcione, Por favor si alguien sabe acerca de esto , le pediria por favor que se comunique conmigo, tal vez alguien mas esta en la msima situacion
Hey!
Check this 🙂
You must download the XK2 Update V250.app from the A&H site, and connect K2 to an Intel based Mac and. refresh the firmware of the K2 with this older Mac.
After you run the XK2 Update V250 app with M1 Mac.
Showtime
https://www.allen-heath.com/xone-software/
XONE:K2 / macOS Monterey
Support Active – No Issues *
Apple macOS XONE:K2 supports Apple’s Core Audio/Core MIDI framework, so you do not need to install Device Drivers for use with macOS platforms. This interface has been tested on and is compatible with macOS Monterey and is now supported on Apple M1* and Intel-based computers.
“From time to time, Allen & Heath Ltd may publish software patches to optimize the digital interface. Check to ensure your XONE:K2 is running current Device Software:
Operating Firmware: v2.5.0
Released: 11/2021
Supported OS: macOS and Windows®PC
* KTWO-35: FIXED. V2.5.0 Firmware implements the compatibility to support Apple silicone (M1) hardware. Please read the corresponding Software Release Notes before installing.”