I recently migrated to a different Mac computer running macOS Catalina (it's old, I know), and needed to reinstall Spitfire LABS libraries for my projects.

I open up the Spitfire app and it auto updates the app. I go to the LABS tab of the app and it tells me LABS has moved to a new app. You have no ability to fix, reinstall, or manage Labs libraries on the old app.

I grab the new LABS app and go to install it and it requires macOS 11 as a minimum requirement. I can't install this on this computer without an OS update.

Why? Why would you break compatibility for LABS on older OSs just because you have a new app? Especially considering I still have to use the old Spitfire app to manage my paid libraries. Only the LABS function on the old app has been disabled.

It seems that Spitfire has locked out users of older OSs needlessly, considering the old Spitfire App still works perfectly fine on those old OSs.

I get that this is a move to get people to go to a LABS subscription service and probably collect user data to sell to ad companies, but WTF Spitfire.

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I own a Mac running macOS 11, but I don't think I can even install the LABS libraries there and then move them to the old Catalina computer because the libraries will inevitably require a "fix" using the Spitfire app, but the old Spitfire app can't be used to manage any LABS libraries in any way, and I can't install the new LABS app on that computer.

No idea if there's any way to get these libraries to work on my old computer. It anyone knows a way, please let me know. If I'm wrong about any of this please let me know and I'll update this post.

Edit: Catalina isn't even that old. Catalina was released in Oct 2019 and Windows 10 (which many people still use) was released in July 2015.

 

Last edited: Jul 31, 2024

Spitfire sucks and their shit sucks. Fk them.
(I know that doesn't help your situation but I'm commiserating.)

 

We all suffer together my friend

Fk Spitfire

 

Makes me feel better about torrenting their libraries

 

Same here haha. I don't think I'll ever buy another spitfire originals library because some day it might "magically stop working" on my computer.

 

spitfire is on the way out ever since they caught the woke mind virus. support christians new company, crow hill. they are making some great stuff.

 

I'm really not kidding... I think they put out (mostly) incredibly overrated, hideously badly programmed garbage. The source recordings may be well done in many cases but it's all borderline unplayable without hours of microediting.

 

It's a massive P I T A. I checked my SF app, saw that link and was like.. WTF?! I don't even understand if I have to use the same credentials as for my main account (prob not.. and also, not a good idea IMO). FAQ is fucked up.

Is this some semi-subscription bs? Are they trying to re-sell Originals and other shit there?

LABS was sort of fun creative tool and I'm holding to my working installation for now. I own some of their libs, but I won't give them a dime until I see whether they sort their shit out or become irrelevant.

 

the solution here is to update your macOS.

 

Thanks Sherlock, I didn't think of that.

I'm not planning on updating OS. Too many apps lose compatibility between macOS updates. About 11 apps I use stopped working for me when I updated from Mojave to Catalina.

As I stated I have a computer running macOS 11. I'm going to install all of the labs libraries there for project compatibility.

That computer is a Hackintosh that I built an EFI for, and even though the os been very stable for me, I'm not as sure about the longevity of the used components I used to build the computer.

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But no, that is A solution, not THE solution.

The solution would be for Spitfire to straighten their shit out like all other companies seem to be able to do.

UVI Portal didn't work on my Mojave Mac.

The solution? Install all of the files on my other computer and manually move them to the computer where Portal didn't work.

Did that. Everything works perfectly. All UVI libraries function.

Explain to me why Spitfire isn't able to do that with LABS?

Is it the deep complexity of the LABS software? Or is it the incompetence of the programming team and/or planned obsolescence of LABS to nudge people towards a sub service or paid LABS service?

The old Spitfire app still works. I still have to use it for paid libraries on my "unsupported" computer. Why can't I drag the files for the libraries from my new computer to my old one without LABS saying the library is "broken and needs to be fixed" using the Spitfire app.


The solution here is to not buy Spitfire products.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

honestly, using macOS and a hackintosh, I hear you, and that and running my 5,1's and modding them to the rims.... but this is just the sorbet before the next entree of the problems you imaginably are going to be facing going forward....

 

The solution here might be to switch to Windows 11. everything just works

 

I'm with you. I also modded the crap out of a 5,1 but due to the obscene inefficiency of the dual Xeons (performance per watt), I decided to side-grade to the 2013 Trash Can Mac Pro (or the "Hot Tube" as I call it).

Upon using CCC to move my drive from the Cheesegrater to the Trash Can, all of my Spitfire Labs libraries (which had been working on the former computer) had errors that needed the Spitfire App to be fixed. Of course nothing changed with the file structure, but maybe some hardware or user ID info is needed for correct function of LABS.

Here's the thing tho. I don't expect new apps to work with my Catalina Mac Pro, but needlessly cutting the functionality of existing apps that worked on that computer through forced updates is unnecessary.

 

True true. Updating apps on even my Win 10 computer is seamless compared to macOS.

I find the simplicity of macOS better in many ways which is why I build Hackintoshes. With that said I have nothing against Windows and Linux PCs and long as there is a good functional file explorer and no AI be getting in the way, I'm all for it.

 

Windows works great- until it doesn't. But once it's tweaked it's great for at least a year or two until it all explodes and you reinstall the entire thing.

 

Their samples is also extremely quiet compared to their competitors. Haven't decided if it's a good or bad trait.

 

Umm so apparently having the new LABS+ plugin installed breaks the function of the old LABS plugin.

And even better, the new LABS plugins requires a constant internet connection to function.



They actually did it. They killed LABS.

Guess that whole "update to macOS 11 or use Windows" isn't exactly a solution after all.

Welp, guess my projects are gone. SMD Spitfire.

 

fuck. kinda glad i didn't get along that well with LABS.
even though it had some great sounding stuff, the GUI and Workflow was kinda weird to me.

 

Although I probably can't stand what's referred to as "the woke mind virus" equally, I don't really see how Spitfire falls into this category. Either way, I find their stuff a little pricey and overrated, but for my needs, I love their Abbey Road Strings. Too bad they'll probably never pop up over on the sister site.