Fldigi/WSJT-X and PulseAudio on OS X 10.11.1

Fans of digital modes on OS X, using software like Fldigi and WSJT-X, may have some serious new problems ahead. To handle audio, both of these programs rely upon the use of PortAudio. PortAudio is a cross-platform API for handling audio input/output. PortAudio v19 has been the default and stable version for many years. However, it now seems that Apple has deprecated support for the API. Now, everytime Fldigi or WSJT-X access the audio system via PortAudio, the system issues the following error message in the log:

WARNING: 140: This application, or a library it uses, is using the deprecated Carbon Component Manager for hosting Audio Units. Support for this will be removed in a future release. Also, this makes the host incompatible with version 3 audio units. Please transition to the API’s in AudioComponent.h.

So, where does that leave users of Fldigi and WSJT-X on OS X?

Dave (W1HKJ), who leads the development team for Fldigi, is looking into what he can do to update Fldigi to support current APIs, but it is too soon to tell what will happen with that effort. Regardless of the path forward, he can always use help in the development arena, so if you are a skilled and interested OS X programmer or developer, please contact Dave (W1HKJ) to see how you can be of assistance. Similar assistance will no doubt be required for WSJT-X as well.

In the meantime, if you’re a big fan of digital modes and use Fldigi and/or WSJT-X, you may want to conser not upgrading to OS X 10.11 or 10.11.1. If you’ve already upgraded, cocoaModem 2.0 remains functional on OS X 10.11.1, but does not support the number of modes nor features of Fldigi and of course does not support either JT65 or JT9.

I will continue to monitor the situation and will let the readers know if I come across anything new.