Amadeus Pro Accessibility Issues on 2024 M4 MacBook Pro with VoiceOver – Seeking Support and Suggestions

Hello everyone,

My name is Elijah Irwin , and I’m an Officer at the Malaysian Foundation for the Blind (MFB) . I’ve been a long-time user of Amadeus Pro , and it has been a core tool in my audio editing workflow as a blind professional who relies completely on VoiceOver on the Mac.

Recently, after upgrading to the 2024 M4 MacBook Pro running macOS 15 Sequoia , I’ve encountered several frustrating issues that make Amadeus Pro much harder to use — and I’m reaching out here in the hope that other users, or the developer himself, might be able to advise or help.

Here are the main problems I’m facing: 1. Arrow Key Navigation Bug After Pausing Playback When I pause playback using the Spacebar , I expect to press the Left Arrow key to nudge the playhead slightly back — just one step. Instead, it jumps straight to the beginning of the track . This completely breaks the precision navigation I rely on for reviewing and editing audio. The same behavior sometimes happens with the Right Arrow key as well. 2. ASDF Keys for Selection Editing Not Working The A, S, D, and F keys, which should adjust the selection boundaries (fine inward and outward cursor movements), don’t work at all during editing. I’ve tested this across different audio files and sessions. These keys were previously essential for blind users to fine-tune selections without needing to visually drag markers. 3. Inconsistent VoiceOver Pass-through I’ve tried using VO + Tab to pass keyboard input directly to Amadeus Pro, which sometimes allows Command + Option + Left or Right Arrow to move the playhead incrementally. But this method is unreliable, and often the playhead either doesn’t move at all or resets in a way I don’t expect. 4. No Real-Time Feedback While Adjusting Selections There’s no real-time audio feedback when changing selection points. I understand that pressing E plays a short preview of the selection, but that’s not enough when you’re trying to perform precise timing adjustments by ear. Without visual markers, blind users depend entirely on real-time cues. 5. Confusion Between Playhead and Insertion Point At times, I’m not even sure whether I’m moving the playhead or just the insertion point. Pressing Left or Right Arrow doesn’t consistently move the playback position, especially after stopping audio. This creates constant confusion during edits, especially in longer recordings. I’ve read on forums and from many users that Martin Hairer , the developer of Amadeus Pro, has historically been incredibly responsive and supportive. I truly hope this message might reach him as well, because I would love to know: • Are these known issues with Amadeus Pro on the new M4 Macs or macOS 15?
• Is there anything I can do to fix or mitigate these behaviors myself, such as modifying key commands or enabling hidden preferences?
• Could a future update improve VoiceOver compatibility and restore the fine control we used to have? I’d also like to invite fellow Amadeus Pro users — especially those using M4 Macs or VoiceOver — to share if you’ve had similar experiences, and whether you’ve found any workarounds.

I’m committed to helping blind audio professionals continue using Amadeus Pro effectively, and I sincerely hope to find a solution that restores the precise, keyboard-driven editing experience we rely on.

With respect and thanks,

Elijah Irwin