MAS 1 Error; previous threads didn't help

[MrSkelin]

Hello all,

Long-time-lurker first-time-poster. I'll describe the issue, what solutions/workarounds I've tried, my setup, and hopefully someone will know something. I've been using DP10 for about a year and have had plenty of issues that I've solved from previous threads.

The issue this time is that overnight/after a shutdown, I started receiving the following error on all my sessions (not blank ones):

Mas, 1 error reported by Mas Audio Unit Support
Failure Base:::[different numbers, sometimes -1, sometimes -50]

I looked into threads here and it seemed like it was an issue with plugins, licenses, and programs not being on the same drive. However, I have everything on the same SDD (internal). I went back and rescanned my plug-ins, and found that many were disabled. I tried rescanning individual plugins (VST2, 3, and AU) and they repeatedly failed. So I scanned them all. The majority of my plugins are suddenly failing the examination. I want to reiterate that they worked (at this point) less than 48 hours ago. Kontakt works, but some of my iZotope plugins fail, some don't, all of my spitfire plugins that have their own launchers fail, garritan, eastwest, cymatics, ample sounds, etc. So, I deleted the pref. files, cleared the trashed, restarted, reloaded, scanned again. Still same issue. I then restored a backup from a week ago when everything worked, scanned again, deleted preferences, restarted, scanned again. Still same issue.

//I'm trying a clean install of DP10 as we speak but my hopes are low.
EDIT: I've now freshly installed 10, UVI workstation, all of the instruments again, and re-updated to 10.13. Still same issue.
EDIT2: I've reinstalled a small selection of my plug-ins that used to work, they again fail examination but I enable them anyway. When I attempt to add them into a channel/instrument, they don't appear even when searching (restarted DP, cleared preferences, restarted computer).

My specs:

DP10.13
OSX 10.12.6
MacbookPro mid 2012
2.3 GHz Intel Core i7
8 GB RAM 1600 MHz DDR3 (I know, I know )
Intel HD Graphics 4000 1536 MB

My interface is a Focusrite Scarlett Solo 2i2, subbed in a replacement cable just in case that's the issue but still no dice.

Any ideas?

[mikehalloran]

Minus errors (-1, -50 etc.) are Mac OS.

Do you still have the original hard drive? If so, a 2TB SSD can be had for $160 or so. You can install up to 8TB.
https://smile.amazon.com/Crucial-BX500- ... ref=sr_1_3

This one does not need special tools to replace if your Phillips head screw driver is small enough.

https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pr ... ment/10761

Takes me about 5 minutes but if you've never done one before, plan on 30 or so.

[MrSkelin]

This is the 2nd hard drive that's been in the macbook. The one I have in is 1TB, so I've replaced it before.

So to be clear your recommendation is get a new SSD, and clone my old drive over? That's the process I've done before, but I'm confused as to how that solves an OS issue.

[mikehalloran]

I am suspecting a bad drive. If it's a mechanical HDD, pretty certain. In any case, multiple minus errors is pointing to a hardware issue. Although I've replaced hundreds over the years, the last two were my daughter's mid-2012 MBP and mine.

A bad stick of RAM could also be the culprit but, by High Sierra, it should fail on startup—stranger things have happened. An easy to test is pull one of the RAM sticks if you have two and swap to see what happens. If you have only one stick, there are a number of RAM testers online.

If you have your projects stored on an external, it might be a bad USB or TB cable. Otherwise, your System drive is the likely culprit.

Any replacement SSD should be large enough to bring your active projects onboard.

If your System drive is bad, the last thing you want to do is clone it. Make an installer (USB or external) and use Migration Assistant to pull everything over from the old drive—if you can—or a Time Machine backup.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201372

Do not make an OS installer higher than what's currently installed. Although you can run Catalina on your 2012, a Mojave or Catalina installer will not do the required firmware updates so save that till after the new drive.

[MrSkelin]

Thank you so much for your help. I replaced this SSD in 2017/8, and upgraded the RAM from whatever it was to 8 in 2015 IIRC. Replacing the RAM will be the least expensive part of this, so I might as well do it. I've only cloned a drive before, so to make sure I've got everything, here's the to-do list:

-Get new SSD (1TB or 2, I have a 1TB installed that *isn't* full)
-Get new RAM
-Create an installer in a thumbdrive or external drive
-Install the new SSD (and RAM)
-Install fresh copy of MacOS (Sierra 10.12.6)
-Use Migration Assistant or Time Machine to pull files/settings/licenses from old drive to new.


Out of curiosity, how did you find out or come to know that minus errors have to do with MacOS? I like to think I'm a pretty good googler and couldn't find more than 10 moderately relevant hits.