BTW, if I use a USB cable that is too long my MBP cannot see the nanokontrol.
Perhaps that was the reason it could not see it.
I finally got the nanokontrol2 working.
I followed the steps outlined here:
fix to the letter.
I run LPX 10.7.5. The nanokontrol shows up under control surfaces automatically.
Just ignored proceeded to add the Mackie.
Here are the Mackie Ports:
https://imgur.com/a/D3DjcXJAnd here are the nanokontrol2 ports:
https://imgur.com/3L3mknpI do not know that it matters that there are two devices with the same input and output port; it works.