Main Stage Accessibility Broken on macOS 14

By Ramy, 29 September, 2024

Forum
macOS and Mac Apps

Hello everyone,
While I'm not a Main Stage expert, I've been trying to use it as an alternative to Logic Pro for live concerts. I was using it on Ventura, and although it wasn't fully accessible, I could at least create new patches, add channel strips, and change channel plugin effects.
After upgrading to macOS 14, something terrible happened. VoiceOver can't read the instrument controls at all, making it impossible to change libraries, add effects, or use any plugins.
If you're using Main Stage on Ventura, I strongly recommend against updating.
I haven't tried macOS 15, but macOS 14 is simply not suitable for Main Stage users who rely on VoiceOver.
Does anyone know if we can start a campaign or something to ask Apple to pay more attention to Main Stage accessibility? This app is really great, but there are too many accessibility issues.
Happy playing!

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Comments

By Daniel Angus M… on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 10:59

it was my im[ression Logic is for studio recording and not ment for live gigs. Mainstage uses some plugins Logic doesn't. when I was on the line with Apple accessibility, they told me of this. what I would do in your case is download macOS 14 Sanoma, and make a sepret volume with that. then download mainstage in Sanoma volume, and use that until Mainstage is updated. I have used Logic for some recording, and composition, and it took a while for the software to be updated when new operating systems were released.

By Ramy on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 10:59

i can understand your idea, but why it is not supported yet for VOice over? as previous versions?

By Blade Runner on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 10:59

I don't know what you are referring to exactly, but I am assuming that it has to do with a bug in the latest Mainstage where Voiceover won't interact with a channel strip. The solution to this is to turn off "synchronize keyboard focus and voiceover cursor".

By Ramy on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 - 10:59

i did it with no luck,
so strange,
did you try it on mac os 14?

By Blade Runner on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 - 10:59

With cursor synchronizing on, you will need to interact with a channel strip twice to move around with in it at all. It is still problematic though. For example, you will need to jump to the beginning with fn-vo-left. You should be able to move around normally if cursor tracking is completely off.