Using Cubase on external monitor (MacBook Pro M1)

A problem I keep getting using a second monitor, sorry for the length

Due to ill health I am forced to mainly use my Macbook while sitting in my armchair, using various music software and a Arturia Keylab Essential 49 mk3 (and sometimes also my Maschine mk3)

I have a 4TB external thunderbolt 4 drive

Just got a Streamdeck XL which is awsome

This works 100% fine

Then I have my main studio, well desk at other end of room, for those days when my health is good enough for me to play my really nice gear.

On my desk I have a “CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Docking Station”.

Connected to this I have :

“Focusrite Scarlett 2i2” 3rd gen audio interface (powered studio monitors connected to that)

Dell U3818DW curved widescreen monitor

Native Instruments S88 mk3. Keyboard

Arturia S61 mk2 Keyboard

Native Instruments Maschine mk3

I also have a Magic Mouse, trackpad and keyboard (tend not to use the mouse)

All I have to do is plug in one cable from the CalDigit to my MacBook and everything springs into life and seems like all is fine.

In the MacBook “Settings/Desktop and Dock” I have “Displays have separate spaces” set

I can happily launch say Cubase on my large monitor and all seems fine.

However, when I’m inputting from one of my keyboards (which means I’m sending midi data), I could be playing the keyboard, I could be turning a knob on the keyboard (and can see the knob on the particular instrument also move on the screen) etc;

Every few minutes the screen goes blank and I have to click around with the mouse to get it to come back on again, this is very very annoying as you can imagine.

I’ve tried it with the laptop lid open and with it closed (don’t need the laptop screen when using large monitor)

In the MacBook settings, under the Lock Screen settings I have

“Start Screen Saver when inactive”
“Turn Display off on battery when inactive”
“Turn display off on power adapter when inactive”

All set to “Never”

Doesn’t matter whether I’m using Cubase or a stand alone instrument from say Arturia or Native Instruments, it still does this.

I can’t work out whether its a setting/cable my end (which is the most likely in my opinion) or say a faulty CalDigit docking station or faulty Dell monitor.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated

Thanks

Hi,

As this happens also with other applications but CUbase (as you mentioned), I would ask on Mac forum/support.

Hi

That makes sense, have asked on the Apple forum. Will leave post here incase anyone else has had similar problems and overcome them.

Hi,

1. Check Power Settings for External Monitor

  • Even though you’ve set the MacBook’s display settings to “Never,” some external monitors have their own power-saving settings. Check your monitor’s built-in settings menu for any power-saving or auto-off features and disable them if they exist.

2. Check External Display Connection (Cable/Adapter)

  • Cable/Adapter Issues: Sometimes, a loose or faulty cable or adapter can cause intermittent disconnections, resulting in the screen going blank. Try using a different cable (HDMI, DisplayPort, USB-C, etc.) or adapter to see if the problem persists.
  • Ports: Test different ports on both your MacBook and the external monitor, if available.

3. Update macOS and Firmware

  • Make sure your macOS and any related firmware are fully up to date. Apple frequently releases updates that address external display issues, especially for M1-based Macs. Go to System Settings > General > Software Update to ensure you’re on the latest version.

4. Check Sleep Settings for MacBook

  • Verify your Energy Saver settings to ensure there isn’t a conflicting setting causing the monitor to go to sleep. Specifically:
    • Go to System Settings > Displays > Advanced (or System Settings > Battery > Options depending on the macOS version), and check the following:
      • Make sure “Prevent your Mac from automatically sleeping when the display is off” is enabled.
      • Disable “Put hard disks to sleep when possible.”

5. Reset NVRAM/PRAM and SMC

  • Reset NVRAM/PRAM (non-volatile RAM): This can reset display and hardware-related settings.
    • Shut down your Mac.
    • Press and hold Option + Command + P + R keys, then turn on your Mac.
    • Hold these keys for about 20 seconds, then release them.
  • Reset SMC (System Management Controller): This step can resolve hardware power management issues. However, for M1-based Macs, restarting the Mac is equivalent to resetting the SMC.

6. Test in Safe Mode

  • Boot your Mac into Safe Mode to rule out software conflicts.
    • Shut down your Mac.
    • Press and hold the power button until “Loading startup options” appears.
    • Select your startup disk, then press and hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode.
    • Use the external monitor in Safe Mode to see if the issue persists. If it doesn’t, the problem could be caused by a third-party app or driver.

7. Use Display Mode Correctly

  • When using your MacBook in clamshell mode (lid closed), ensure the external display is the only active display and your Mac is set up properly for this mode:
    • Close your MacBook’s lid while it’s connected to the power adapter and an external keyboard/mouse.
    • Your Mac should only use the external display in this configuration.

8. Check for Display Management Apps

  • If you use any third-party display management apps like Lunar, DisplayBuddy, or BetterDisplay, try disabling or uninstalling them temporarily. Sometimes, these apps can conflict with macOS’s display handling, causing issues like blanking out the screen.
1 Like

Many many thanks,

A few things I hadn’t got set correct (I also can’t find the option to not put hard drives to sleep)

I also discovered a major thing, there was a firmware update to my dock to fix sleep problems.

So far it’s been running fine for 30 mins with no problems at all.

Will bet going through the rest of this list first thing in the morning

Again, many many thanks, very much appreciated

This feature has never been available on an ARM based Mac. Only works on Intel or PPC units…