This applies to the Scarlett 18i20 1st Gen
There is currently a bug in the Apple Core Audio driver that prevents the Scarlett 18i20 1st Gen from streaming audio when set to 96 kHz. This happens because the channel format doesn't change for the higher sample rate.
To resolve this please go to Applications > Utilities > Audio/Midi Setup. Please select the 18i20 and change the channel format from "18ch-24 bit integer" to "14ch-24 bit integer" on the Input tab. Then change the channel format from "20ch-24 bit integer" to "16ch-24 bit integer" on the output tab.
Please do this when the computer first starts, before streaming any audio or opening any audio software.
If after the above steps you are still unable to stream audio at 96 kHz please take the following steps:
1. Turn OFF the Scarlett 18i20 and restart the Mac
2. With the device still switched OFF make sure to stream some audio using your internal speakers at any sample rate
3. Restart the Mac
4. Turn the Scarlett 18i20 ON then configure the settings in Audio MIDI Setup as above
5. Play some audio at 96 kHz
A note to Logic & Garageband Users
After changing the above options, Logic and Garageband may display the following behaviour:
- When starting Logic, regardless of what sample rate is selected in Audio Midi Setup and the DAWs project, Logic will cause Audio Midi Setup to switch back to the higher channel settings (that you should have previously changed in the above instructions).
- If you are starting a 96kHz session, or wish to work in 96 kHz, with Logic still open, please open Audio Midi Setup, and reset the channel numbers to 14 & 16 as shown above. This should mean you're now able to record and playback at 96kHz in Logic.
*This change needs to be made before playing any audio in Logic. - Garageband also displays the same behaviour as step 1, in that it auto-changes channels back to 18 & 20 when opening. The difference here is that Garageband can only use a sample rate of 44.1 kHz and cannot be set to 96 kHz. If you close Garageband, you will notice that the Audio Midi Setup stays the same, and so if you wish to listen to playback at 96 kHz, you will have no audio. Please navigate to Audio Midi Setup and change channels back to 14 & 16 as the step above.