Hi looking for some help here.
I have just purchased a new Mac mini (24/512) normally I would just use migration assistant to move everything over. However I have done this for the umpteenth upgrade probably for the last 15 years so there will be a lot of orphaned files and junk lying around. As I’m moving from Finale and not really got up to speed with Dorico I haven’t changed a lot of the default settings.
A/ is it a good idea to do a clean install and start from (almost) scratch or
B/ Carry over all the settings with migration assistant and do a lot of house keeping to clean up. ( I won’t attempt to use"Clean my Mac").
My needs are simple I write lead sheets and 2 to 3 horn charts. I don’t need all the sound banks and bells and whistles just good honest notation. I input using midi keyboard (1 finger typing lol) Numeric keypad for duration etc.
Was happy with either simple or speedy entry methods dependant on circumstances.
I will be keeping the MBA for a while so I’m in no rush as I can still use both Finale and Dorico when needed.
Thanks in advance.
I would just use Apple’s Migration Assistant. Complex apps like Dorico, which install all kinds of bits all over the place, may need to be reinstalled; but it’s certainly worth seeing how far MA will take you.
The danger from “cruft” 
is exaggerated IMO. In the old days, I used to clone the entire disk from one Mac straight onto another; and since T2 / AppleSilicon, I’ve used Apple’s Migration Assistant. I actually like to think that there might be some remnants from 2002 (other than my documents), hidden about the place. But at most it’s a 4Kb text file that isn’t doing anything.
You can always take a walk through the User library. Most stuff is well-named, so if you see a Preference file or a folder for an app you no longer have, you can delete it.
(Well, you can delete anything with impunity, because you’ve got a backup, right? right…? 
)
Thanks Ben I have a backup…of a back up…of a back up…of an original clone from year dot with a back up and Time Machine. And did I mention another back up with every Finale file I ever created…just in case aptly named “Justin Case”
I used Migration Assistant from a five year old Intel MBP running Ventura to a brand new M4 Pro MBP running Sequoia, and it was basically fine.
Dropbox unfortunately had to resync everything I need offline, and Dorico, Sibelius and Finale all needed a little attention on the licensing side (Finale seems to run fine, regardless of MakeMusic’s announcement). Oh, and I replaced a number of Intel versions of apps with Apple silicon or Universal versions - System Information: Applications has a useful tab stating which installed apps are which flavour.
Thanks for the info, I’m basically going from am M3 air to an M4 mini and like I’ve said I’ve used the MA to transfer everything over for years I was just wondering about a clean install to start afresh but when I look at all the plug ins and templates not to mention keyboard shortcuts I’ve installed over the years maybe not this time.
If you know where they’re installed it’s typically not too much faff to transfer that stuff over. In the case of Dorico it’s all within /Users/yourusername/Library/Application Support/Steinberg
Yes I have delved in there but then I’ve got perfect layout, stream deck all the Lua bundles some I would probably never use but they’re there. Actually I’ve just checked the Steinberg app support in libraries, the folder Dorico 5 is empty is this correct? Sorry I know I’m digressing, Its what happens when you’re waiting for a small parcel, idle fingers lol
That’s /Library, not ~/Library. !!
(The root level Library, not the user Library.)
sorry my mistake
I would not trust Migration Assistant and clean install everything and start from scratch. Especially with bits of Intel cruft from over the years. I did this for my recording studio Mac Studio and it performs flawlessly. You can drag over your Music Library and Photos Library.
What is “Intel cruft”, exactly? Most apps are Universal Binaries – Intel and AS together; and support files are the same.
I have a cunning plan… I’m going to do both. I’ll do a migration to the mini from the MBA as I have monitor/keyboard/ trackpad set up and I’ve been using the MBA more or less as desktop since I bought it. (hence the move to the Mini). Then when I’m happy I’ll do a clean install onto the MBA which I can do at leisure, noting any problems etc then if all goes to plan I can then migrate the new set up from the MBA back to the Mini. Then we all go to Mrs Miggins pie shop.
Preferences, Application Support, Caches, the list goes on and on. Better to start fresh.
Caches don’t get Migrated. If you’re using the app, then you need the pref files and support files, regardless of whether it’s Intel or not.
If it’s an app you’ve deleted, then at worst, those are files that just sit on your disk. They don’t cause problems, because they are not used. Cruft does not hurt!
I hope I haven’t started something.
I beg to differ Ben but that’s OK! We can differ. Best, Doug
That’s a terrible article with minimal factual content. It’s basically saying that Intel-only apps will cause problems, which is largely untrue. And most apps are available in Universal Binaries.
Having used Migration Assistant from an Intel to an M4 in literally the past couple of weeks, I was surprised to discover that the following apps are all Intel versions, and all work absolutely fine:
Adobe Licensing utility/helper
Avid Link (Sibelius licensing thing)
Greenshot
KeyCastr
Logi Options (for Logitech mice)
Notation Central/Abraham thingummy’s various music PDF tools
Sandisk Security
Steinberg Library Manager
Transcribe!
VLC
etc. etc.
The Spotify Intel version worked fine on my new machine, but at some point has been replaced. I think I had an old version of BBEdit that grumbled it needed replacing, but that’s literally been it so far.
Kevin, here’s a nice balanced article on whether to use Migration Assistant or not. For me, I prefer not to move any old baggage into a clean house. Good luck! I heard these new Mac minis are ferocious!