"The last selected audio interface is not available." SOLVED!

[mundeli]

Trouble with Scarlet Solo and Sequoia and GarageBand

After upgrading to Sequoia, Focusrite Scarlet Solo not available to Garageband.

SYMPTOMS

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• Sequoia v15.3 (latest),
• Focusrite Control 2 v1.449.0.26180(latest)

As an input device, I’m able to select “Scarlet Solo”, and a Midi I concocted of Scarlet and a mic

Audacity can use it
Microsoft Teams can use it
Zoom can use it

ProTools Intro (checking it out) does not (which has about 50X more fire power than I need)
GarageBand v10.4.12(latest) does not recognize it

SOLUTION

1. with GarageBand on
2. Unplug Scarlet USB
3. Plug Scarlet back in
   —You’ll be prompted if you want to use Scarlet, better say yes
4. Voila
   

You can click this “Focusrite” link below–but the germane text (as of 02-Feb-2025) is below, highlighted

Focusrite Compatibility on macOS

what I think is going on:
When Scarlet comes on line, it puts a message on the bus (via the software), “Hello everyone who’s listening, I’m here if you want to use me”–and then Garageband uses those credentials.

It’s connection parameters are also stored in system parameters, and that is good enough for Audacity et al.

But, GarageBand, when you select any input, requires verification, and something changed in Sequoia where the message on the bus “Hey Scarlet (or mic, or any input)–you still there?” is either not received by Scarlet, or the reply is not received by GarageBand. So the handshake is not completed and the handshake not completed.

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I’m confused that Scarlet is available in some software, but not others (and I do give a d…)
The fact that GarageBand is a an Apple product and does NOT work
while Audacity is freeware and it DOES work I find perplexing.

All suggestions gratefully accepted. Audacity is fully capability of recording my efforts. And yet—these inconsistencies have the tendency to rear their ugly heads down the road, unless properly dealt with—just ask Hercules.

[simon_plays_bass]

I had a problem with GarageBand in early January. It just stopped saving files. I tried Apple’s help but the calls kept disconnecting. I had a recording session the next day with a friend so had a few stressful hours trying to either find a DAW that worked on my iPad or convincing Cubase that it should be able to see my Presonus Audio Interface on my PC (I couldn’t convince it😀).

Eventually I gave in and took the free month trial of Logic Pro which is the paid version of GarageBand (I think - certainly a lot of the features are common).

A year or so ago I had a problem whereby a combination of my 20 year old Audio Interface and GarageBand dropped the pitch of the imported backing track when I was recording an instrument by a whole tone ( so I had to tune down). Then on play back it put both back to the original pitch but running at a different speed to the video I had taken as I was recording. I gave in and bought a new interface, which worked fine with GarageBand. (I don’t think I should expect Apple to keep improving their products and also expect my 20 year old kit will keep on working for ever).

My guess is that every so often Apple make a software update, and do whatever testing they do before release. Some users find their configuration doesn’t work with it and Apple either fix it or don’t. It wouldn’t surprise me if at some point Logic stops working on my iPad, but that GarageBand is functional again.

So I think having written all that, I’d consider using something else for a while if you can, and if you still want to use GarageBand in the future, try it intermittently.

[mundeli]

Thanks Simon for your story. Yeah, wait it out, I forgot about that option…

Sometimes, you just gotta ask the internet a differently phrased question to get the answer you need.

[CATMAN62]

Hey BC,
If I had a CLUE,
I’d guess that it was Miss Scarlet in the Music Room with the Axe (guitar)!!!
You know what I always say… “Keep it FUN!!!”

Tod

[mundeli]

I wonder how many people today have heard this phrase (blasphemous, blasphemous I say!), directed at Scarlet. I guess that Rhett also had to pull the plug on Scarlet to get on with his life.

Frankly my dear I don't give a damn - Clark Gable - Gone with the Wind

[CATMAN62]

Wasn’t thinking about Gone with the Wind… but ok… I see a correlation! In the movie, Scarlett wanted everything HER WAY… software is a lot like that! It’s often so picky & finicky… has to be JUST RIGHT or it won’t work at all!!!

Tod