URGENT: Cubase 14 crashes immediately when importing any audio file

Cubase
,
1

Hi,

I urgently need help with a critical Cubase issue.

Cubase 14 crashes immediately whenever I try to import an audio file, regardless of the method used, including drag & drop and File > Import > Audio.

The crash also occurs in a completely empty project.

System:

  • Cubase 14.0.4 (latest update)
  • macOS 15.7.4
  • Apple Silicon (ARM64)

I have already tried:

  • Deactivating all 3rd-party plugins at startup
  • Resetting Cubase 14 Preferences
  • Switching to Built-in Audio
  • Importing a normal WAV file in an empty project

None of these changed the behavior.

I have attached the latest crash log. I urgently need to get audio importing working again, as this currently prevents me from working in Cubase at all.

Could someone from Steinberg please help me identify the cause or suggest further troubleshooting steps?

Thank you.

Cubase 14-2026-09-12-215215.ips (110.7 KB)

2

is this happening when you try to import 1 specific file or all files? and did this start all of the sudden out of the blue?

I am no expert, but Mac reports crash in:

libsystem_pthread.dylib

so it is a Cubase crash, not a plugin.

I think it is disk access problem, but it could be other things.

Go to Apple menu > System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access. Ensure Cubase 14 is enabled. If it is already enabled, toggle it off and back on.

Restart your Mac.

worth a try :slight_smile:

3

Hi Glenn,

Thank you for your help. I tested a few audio files, and it turns out a particular sample from splice crashes Cubase every time. The audio looks fine to me. I tried to delete the local file and re-sync, and it still crashes, so it’s not a broken audio file or something. I guess that’s the key, weird though :melting_face:
I will zip and upload it , for your further checking.

VOX_LBP_snare_volt.wav.zip (53.6 KB)

4

So is it just the one file?
Are all other wavs fine with Cubase?
Does this bad file work ok with other software?

5

It works here (Cubase 15 pro) win 11

Screenshot 2026-09-13 162258
Screenshot 2026-09-13 162258806Ă—438 25.9 KB

It could be a bug in the Cubase 14 file importer on macOS 15.7.x. also splice creates WAV files containing extended metadata or non-standard chunks.
Did you try to drag and drop that file instead using file - import?

6

just open the sample in another app like Audacity ( Audacity ® | Downloads ) or maybe just an online converter and save to your bit and samplerate and most likely it will work - and try to reimport the new file. It will probably be fine, I never had any problems importing audio to Cubase 14.

7

This wav works with Garageband.

8

Same. No matter what way I import it, it crashes Cubase.

9

Nevermind, I’ve already thrown it into Mount Doom.:partying_face:

This issue kindof scared me out of sh1t cuz I’ve got a deadline today. But a random Splice sample could crash my Cubase, that’s really a snake in the grass. I will continue contacting Steinberg to figure it out. Thank you.

10

Tried today with Cubase 14 (Windows 11) and it’s fine.
It has to be a bug Cubase - your OS version.

11

Thank Oscar from Steinberg, problem solved :partying_face:

It seems the problem is caused by the automatic hitpoint detection and it is causing this crash with specific files.
For Cubase 14, you should disable the Automatic Hitpoint Detection in the preferences.
Preferences dialog (Editing—Audio page).
Cubase 15 has been improved and should not crash anymore.

Magically, after turning it off and on again, THE evil file works as well.