Eddie Jones from Avid has reported problems with any Eucon powered control surfaces following a recent Apple security update for users running macOS 10.14 Mojave or macOS 10.15 Catalina and now macOS 11.5 Big Sur. We have the details and download link of a workaround version of Eucon 2021.6.1.

It started with some users reporting issues with the screens on their Eucon powered control surfaces. For example, one user said…

“So, I just did a routine Apple security update for Mojave and now, when I launch EuControl, the screens on the S1s are full lit. Rebooted everything a few times and reinstalled EUCON_WorkstationUnifiedInstallMac_2021_6_0_181, still fully lit. Everything works, just can't see anything. Avid logo is present as long as EuContol isn't running. I hate it when this happens. Anybody else?”

Another user has a different but related problem…

“The security update created the same issue for me. I was running the previous version of Eucon, so I upgraded to 2021.6 but that didn't help. I also tried disabling the firewall. I'm using an Artist Colour with DaVinci Resolve 17 on Catalina.”

And here is another report…

“Using an MC Control. and updated to EuControl 2021.6.0.181 on Mojave. The LCD display colors are all inverted, and I can't find the control to flip it back to normal. Help?”

“As you can see it is affecting a range of devices old and new. Eddie Jones has posted this announcement on the Avid Control Surface Users Facebook group as well as a similar announcement on the DUC.

The New OSX Security update from Apple for Mojave and Catalina causes issues with EUCON hardware displays. S1's OLEDs are all yellow, Artist Control screen is inverted etc. If this affects anyone please post the number of Monitors you have and their resolutions? We will investigate what changed.....”

Our Advice

If you are running macOS Mojave or macOS Catalina, think very carefully before installing the latest Security Update. If you are running macOS Big Sur, we recommend that you think very carefully about upgrading to macOS 11.5 as it is causing the same problems. All users should have Automatic Updates turned off, so this should not happen automatically, but you will get an alert asking you to update.

Normally the advice would always be to install Apple Security Updates, but on this occasion, we advise caution, especially if you use any Eucon enabled control surface that has got a screen.

Update: 24th July 2021

Avid has now found what Apple changed and have reported it to them. In addition, Avid are also simultaneously working on a workaround in EuControl. Eddie Jones says…

“I think for OLED screens we can do something at Avid so that would be a week or two. For the Artist Control screen, we need Apple to help/fix as it’s more complicated.”

Update: 26th July 2021

A new version of Eucon on the way says Eddie Jones…

“We have a workaround already but it will require a whole new release 21.6.1. We need to beta test it a couple of days and also need confirmation from Apple, but hope to get it out soon.”

Update: 29th July 2021

Nearly there with a fix, Eddie Jones reports…

“We met with Apple and just need to test the EUCON build that’s going now, I'll hopefully be able to provide a temporary link tomorrow. Apple will fix it properly in another macOS release later.”

Update: 30th July 2021

A fix is now available. Eddie Jones has posted this…

“Here's a link to a workaround version of EUCON 2021.6.1. Apple will fix the bug for future releases of macOS so we should be good in the future.

We will do a full release in a couple of weeks with a matching tablet version but the current version will still work with this hot fix.

Only download the S4/S6 Master Module Installer if you have an S4 or S6, otherwise it could screw up your Workstation.”

We will update this article as more information becomes available.