Admittedly there is no single, linear line of improvement in software development. Regression bugs are expected to happen. What is far more important is the attitude and commitment of the devs. I am excited to see how this journey has gone so far and especially where it’s going to!
It’s strange, I can play the test voice from Maestro without the system audio being set to my DS MKII’s output - Primary Play. However no music will play unless I set the system audio to Primary Play, even though USB Dac Primary Play is selected. I finally got one song to play once after setting the system audio, then wouldn’t play again, despite relaunch then rebooting my Mac. I opened Jriver and it plays fine.
Donald - I meant to reply to the thread, not specifically to you.
I’ve used Microsoft products professionally since 1991. The majority of their releases have been pretty much half cooked “betas” with tons of bugs that users would report and MS would patch, sometimes multiple times a week. Their server and desktop OS’s and office suites cost a lot of money and they had huge teams of programmers working on the software all the time - yet to this day (and even more so now) there have been severe usability and functionality issues to include deleting files and bricking Dell laptops. I’d say the short time (since April 2026) that Paul has been developing Maestro it is rather incredible what he has achieved. Thus, putting that in perspective of the antics of the world’s largest software company and I’d say most of the criticism toward Maestro is wholly unwarranted. Of course, if one does not have the time or inclination to continue to play with Maestro as it currently stands, then that makes perfect sense.
That is understandable. Frankly Maestro requires me to operate it from my PC which is far away from the audio system, so a smooth operation is much desirable for me to enjoy the music. Therefore, I will wait for the tablet version.
That is the thing I am waiting for. A tablet is so much more natural to use from the listening position than a computer.
Thanks for this kind note of understanding. I appreciate it as you clearly understand the monumental task of trying to get a program to work seamlessly across hundreds of machines and networks and NAS and renderers, each with their own challenge.
We’ve been able to make really rapid progress where the majority of our users are 90% bug free. Definitely have some just-can’t-get-it-to-work problem cases but we’ll get through them and get it running smoothly.
The one thing I am focused on is sound quality above all else, but, as a user myself, I totally understand wanting to have it work! Nothing pisses me off more as to when I want to just relax and enjoy our deck with a glass of Chardonnay, turn on Ella or a playlist and just listen - and the damned thing stops after 3 tracks. Drives me crazy.
I could do a whole riff on complex systems and how the more complex they get the more issues pop up like whack amole. Tom said it even better when teams of Microsoft (or the guys in the early days of Roon) have issues that to this day plague users and them.
Thanks for the patience and understanding.
Add Google Chrome to your list. I bought a new laptop last year and weekly, I curse Google Chrome for one thing or another.
As a world class worrier, as such I still hesitate to sign up for Maestro services; but, I feel Paul will get there.
Sending good vibes and much respect to Paul.
True. Big tech is not to be trusted, neither for quality nor for security/privacy. ON the other hand, Paul can be trusted for all of those things. Somethings require more worry than others.
Hi Paul,
For the past few days, I haven’t been able to get Maestro working at all on my Mac mini M4.
Nothing plays anymore — I hear no sound, there is no progress bar, and literally nothing happens when I try to play music.
I have gone back to an Audirvāna trial, but after two days of trying all kinds of settings, I honestly have to admit that nothing even comes close to the Maestro sound, which I really miss. 
Even version 308 no longer plays.
Could you please have a look and see if there is a solution soon (jayzee0710)
Based on my humble interpretation of the logs, I think the issue might be related to the Authenticator service, but of course that’s only my guess.
Thank you very much for looking into this.
Best regards,
Jessy (jayzee0710)
Belgium
Jessy, I’m having the same problem with my Mac mini M4. Each time I want to use Maestro, I have to restart my Mini and then Maestro works.
For me the most reliable version is still 280. I don’t get the repair network popups or lose all sound after some track changes like I do with the latest 300 series versions. I’m using Windows.
Just noticed that there’s a new version 322 that does not show up if you check for new version or download from the home page
I’m testing it now… 
No. Back to 280. I’ve already had several times where 322 refused to advance to the next track.
The 280 Club. So fun!
I think Pauls problem is people like me.
I have been a Roon user since they started and have a life membership so by now it doesn’t owe me anything, and the beauty is it just works and does everything I want it to do without me having to worry about it. Ok they seem to have a few problems with IOS 27, but I’m on windows so it doesn’t effect me. Having said all that I always keep my eye on other options and I’ve tried a few in the past, but nothing has had the usability of Roon.
When I saw Maestro I thought I would give it a go, I’ve always liked Paul and PS audio and have owned some equipment in the past. Downloaded Maestro and that’s when the fun began. Despite many emails between Paul and myself we couldn’t get it to work. I have a simple system, laptop running Maestro, music on a network share, and a streamer/dac on the network. It eventually found the network share but only after Paul suggested that I made changes to my system. It found my streamer after I made changes to the way it was set up but it still couldn’t play any files through it. It was at that point that I said to Paul I give up, I couldn’t expect him to carry on helping me when he is trying to run a company and also sort out his baby Maestro.
In my view Maestro shouldn’t be so fussy about the system it going to work in, it should just work.
I wish Paul all the best with Maestro and when it gets to the same level of usability as Roon then I will be tempted back
Well you seem to be not that long involved in Roon! Being a lifestyle subscriber since v1.6 I can share the experiences shared in the Roon forum. Years of massive bugs, and an attitude that is lot customer oriented.
Maestro achieved more in the last couple of months more than Roon over many years. And while Roon has been claiming they are super-duper and charging their users money, Maestro always clearly said this is Alpha/Beta stage of software development and not charging their users till this is stable.
Not true
Website says that only the Windows version is beta, no indication that Mac version is beta. And many of us have been paying since at least May.
MacOS version also was more stable, as windows version has to cope with a more complex variety of setups. But Paul always said he is providing free access until users are having trouble free experience.
Sure it’s great though when some are already supporting Maestro via payments.
We are still in a collaboration phase, and that will go on in the next couple of months. Also when iOS version is out, there will very likely be various things to iron out.
But no matter if it’s Q4/26 or Q1/27, Maestro is such a highly valuable contribution to the software player market. And will continue to attract more users that appreciate best sound quality, great music discovery and a very close communication with the founder/developer.
Many of us are charged every month, 4 months in my case
Still, SQ is the greatest
Thank you for these kind and encouraging words. Means a lot to me. I really want to contribute something of value to our community and, selfishly, to myself. Drives me crazy to stream when I know it’s not as good as it could be sounding and I am always compromising.
Maybe that’s just the crazy person in me: the obsessive that can’t look at a picture hanging on the wall that’s a bit crooked, can’t relax and dive into the music if it feels HiFi-like and I know it can be better.
One amazing measure for me is not how good audiophile tracks sound when streaming or playing through any media, but how old recordings and bad recordings sound on the system. That’s the real test. If they suck you in and have you staying p late at night you know you made it.
Maestro’s getting better, stronger, and more resilient across hundreds of systems and devices, every day. Every day there’s progress and yes, sometimes that forward motion breaks something else: inevitable in a complex system.
So, thanks to the community for your support. Really. Means a lot.
The same here think it’s a problem with native exclusive play with macos