Cubase 9 won't launch - Solved

Start with the Safe Start Mode, please.

Then try Reset Preferences

Tried safe mode. Got small pop up of past files, then crashed.

Try Reset, please. Don’t forget to move (or rename) even older Cubase folders.

I always prefer to rename the folder, or move it, over deleting it. I have a Backup of the original Preferences thanks to this.

Sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about. When I use SAFE MODE, regular mode any mode I still crash.
Cubase 8.5 works with no problem. Could my .dmg be corrupt?

Please, try to Reset Preferences (of all your Cubase versions).

I found the problem. I have a UR 44. Apparently the firmware had to be updated for v9. Now it works.

Good to know. I’m glad it works.

I have the exact problem, I have the UR44 but the latest firmware.

Solved, I think. It’s the UR44 Tools that need to be upgraded, not the firmware.

Martin, your suggestions aren’t working for me. Preferences won’t rebuild unless I can launch Cubase 9. When I remove the contents of the preferences folder and reboot in safe mode, Cubase 9 balks because it doesn’t see valid licenses for Antares and Drum Core, which resulted from booting in safe mode. So that keeps me from opening Cubase 9. Then, when I reboot normally, I have the same original problem: Cubase 9 quits two seconds into initializing, and the preferences are never rebuilt. I’m still stuck with being unable to open Cubase 9. Am I missing something here? Any other suggestions?

@glvaughan: Do you have the latest eLicenser Software? Did you tried starting it and do the maintenance?

Eric, yes I have the current (and latest) eLicenser software. I have run the maintenance routine, which always hangs up on the 5th of the 6 steps (Step 5: FAILED (Recovering License Transactions). I’ve been using eLicenser for years and it has never successfully completed this step (what’s up with that?). Just to be extra sure, I uninstalled eLicenser, downloaded the current software again, and reinstalled the program. Same results all the way around. Still can’t open Cubase 9. All help will be massively appreciated.

Another piece of data that might be involved with this problem. I notice that when Cubase 9 is initializing, it always quits when it gets to Halion Sonic SE VST3. Furthermore, when I recently started Cubase 8.5 to work on a current project, I got an unexpected eLicenser warning that there is no license for Halion Sonic SE 2.x. This is a bit confusing since Halion Sonic SE is packaged with the Cubase software and doesn’t require an eLicnese license. Hmm, any thoughts?

Problem solved. It turns out that Halion Sonic SE was the culprit. I went to user/library/application-support/Steinberg/components and found this component file: HALion Sonic SE.vst3. I moved it to the trash, and made sure Halion Sonic SE still loaded and played properly in Cubase 8.5. Then (drum roll) opened Cubase 9 successfully.

@glvaughan: Great!

Hum… Same problem, also on El Cap, also Cubase 9, tried this but did not solve the issue. I have been able to run C9 on this system until recently…

Hi there, I thought perhaps you could help me… I updated my mac to Big Sur 11.3.1 and now Cubase won’t launch, it’s stuck on “application not responding”… What can I do??

Hi,

What Cubase version do you use, please?

Cubase 10 Pro

Hi,

I’m sorry, Cubase Pro 10 is not macOS 11 compatible. You can find the MacOS Big Sur compatible Steinberg software here.