Cubase Pro 14 and MacBook Pro M4 14" (2024)--Problem Routing Cubase Out to Computer Headphone Jack

Cubase
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1

In the past, when I used an older Mac with Cubase 10 Pro, I had not problems when I wasn’t connected to my audio interface (like when I was just hangin’ out on the couch) routing the Output signal from Cubase to my computer headphone jack so that I could create stuff like tempo tracks, signature tracks, marker tracks, and that kind of stuff, at leisure. Now, with my new M4 14" MacBook Pro (2024) and Cubase 14 Pro, I am unable to do that.

So…here is what happens.

  1. I plug my headphones in to the Apple, and then I launch Cubase 14 Pro. In the “Studio” menu, I go to “Audio Connections,” and I select the “Stereo Out / Built-In Audio” for the Output. I then check the Apple system sound preferences to be sure that the headphone jack is selected (and it always is).
  2. I hit the play button in Cubase, and what always happens (at least in my main Apple admin account) is that the sound, instead of being routed to my headphones, is routed to my computer speakers, and the strangest thing is that the volume-control buttons on the Mac keyboard have no effect on the speaker volume when running this new version of Cubase on this new Mac.
  3. Here are the steps I have already taken to solve the problem, but they haven’t worked completely: A. I created a new Apple user account, which was not an “admin” account, and I launched a Cubase project on it. At first, I could hear the signal in the headphones, but after I unplugged the headphones and plugged them back in, the same old problem began happening, and thereafter I was unable to get the signal back to the headphones: it was unremittingly routed to the speakers. B I reinstalled the Apple OS, which is now 15.2, but the problem persisted. C I deleted and reinstalled Cubase Pro 14, but still the problem persists.

So…while it’s not a huge issue (everything else seems to work perfectly) it is one of those things that bugs because I know it shouldn’t be this way.

Any help anyone can offer is appreciated!

2

For future I would suggest A. search the problem online. Then you’d have saved yourself the rather painful B & C steps :slight_smile:

3

I had to call and speak to a person at Steinberg, and here is what actually solved the problem:

How To Switch Between Headphones and Speakers on Mac for Cubase 14

Go to Studio Drop Down Menu

Go to Bottom Studio Setup

Make sure audio system at left says “Built In Audio”

Click “Control Panel” at top center

The Control Panel will pop up at left

Under Outputs, select “External Headphones”

4

Use this same method to switch between speakers and headphones. Problem Solved! Not as user friendly as the old Intel Based OS systems and older versions of Cubase, like Pro 10, that would automatically detect headphones when plugged in. No biggie, though.

5

If you were to make an aggregate device as the article suggests you could then set up control room to switch between the speakers and headphones with a single button press. Maybe not an issue if you don’t plan on switching regularly.

6

Thanks for your help! I am not that familiar with doing stuff like that, but I will look into it when I have more time and try to do as you suggest. I may need to contact Apple support to help me. Thanks, Grim!

7

One more thing…. Just to leave no stone unturned: if you do all of the above (going to studio setup, and all of that) and you’re still having issues listening from your Mac, then make sure that under the Studio drop-down menu, that Audio Connections has the Ouput set to Built-In Audio and that your System Preferences for the sound output in your Mac (under System Preferences—Apple Menu) is also set to Built-In Audio. Peace!