Q: Massive problem with audio interface

Hello all! I've been using a Macbook Pro with a Focusrite 18i6 interface with DP 8 with no issues, but was looking into getting an iMac for a new studio setup. It seems the issues with the Fusion drive is a show stopper. I was going to get the 1TB  7200 rpm drive model. Does anyone know if that configuration will work with the Focusrite interface and running Mavericks on a 27" iMac?

Thanks!

Hi RichBo61,

I am dealing with this problem for more than month now.

from my experience, it seems the problem is linked to the Fusion drive.

running from regular HD, or external HD, seems to work fine.

I will get back my Motu interface, and verify it today.

When i bought my Late 2013 iMac, i had to choose between 500G 5400 rpm drive model, or the 1T fusion,

so i waited for one month to get my custom iMac, just to find out is it have issue with external interfaces.

If i have the option, i will go for the 1TB  7200 rpm drive model.

it is fast and big enougth.

you welcome

I have a new iMac with Maveriks and the 1TB Fusion Drive.  I partitioned like another poster tried and the problem is gone as long as I run my studio off of the new partition.  I run Logic Pro X and Apogee Duet.  Amazing once I partitioned, no more cracks, distortion, delay, nothing.  Internal instruments and midi was working fine, but once you run audio into the iMac via the audio interface, it would last about a minute before the whole thing became unsuable.

Has anyone with this problem tried to seperate the Fusion SSD and HDD as described in various articles like http://www.macworld.com/article/2015664/how-to-split-up-a-fusion-drive.html? If the problem is due to Mavericks moving things around on the fusion drive(s), I guess the problem should go away.

That fix has in-fact worked for a number of people.

Also, my solution (installing mavericks on an external usb 3.0 drive and booting from there) also worked (for me)

Update:

Hi All,

Installing Mavericks on external HD and booting from it does not seems to fix the problem for me,

although the issues become a bit better - less cracklings.

Tested on Motu Microbook ii.

Now i am really not productive and helpless.

for the sake of compelteness - neither installing Maverick on an external HDD nor using the Tunderbolt Express Hub from Belkin solved my issues either (cracking/distortion with QU-16 digital mixer which also does USB-Streaming of the audio).

Does anyone know if there is an official Bug/Report ID I can refer to when talking to someone at Apple Care? I am currently thinking of returning my Mac and get one without FusionDrive instead of taking the hassle of partioning my HDD and moving stuff around to fit things on the SSD.

I have a late 2013 27" iMac, 3.5GHz Core i7, 8GB RAM and 3TB Fusion drive running Mavericks. I am not using any external hardware, just the internal microphone. There is tons of static on the receiving end of my Facetime and Skype calls. As a test I made a quick audio recording using Quicktime, both Quicktime 10 and Quicktime 7 Pro. Both recordings sound horrible, loads of static. I tried JonnyK's solution only I used a LaCie thunderbolt external hard drive and booted the system from that. The static problem disappeared. I tend to agree with the conclusion that this is a Fusion drive issue.

Some Problems with Imac late 2013 3tb fusiondrive. I´m using the new RME - UCX.

A few times My Mac Crashed totaly. On my MBP 2011 i never had issues like that.

Update:

Reverted my iMac late 2013 with Fusion Drive back to Mountain Lion, but still had some clicks and pops.

Found a temporary fix that works for those pops and clicks for my setup with my Mbox Pro 3:

Shut Down iMac.

Unplug power cable and wait 10 sec. Plug back in -- Resets system managment controller

Power on Mbox Pro (or other interface), wait appropriate amount of time for external interface to fully power on.

Start Computer, immediately pressing Command + Option +P +R  and hold until the second start up chime --Resets PRAM

Then do everything else as you normally would.

I found that I wouldn't have to reset the clock source for primary output, as the interface has been properly and correctly synced. I have no more pops and clicks either. Have only tested a few times, but it seems that when I dont do this, the pops and clicks arise. Interesting. Dont exactly know if there are any negative effects of resetting SMC and PRAM every time you use your interface. Will look into that next.

Hi iSTAVI, and all other people that struggles with audio interface problems...

I just tried out your solution (PRAM reset) on my iMac (see configuration below) and it didn't help me at all.

My audio interface is a Motu Track 16, but I have also big problems with my Apogee MiC and Jam devices.

I'm starting to get really ****** on Apple that still havent released any fix for this issue that is strogly related to Fusion Drive on Maverics.

My configuration:

iMac 27-inch, Late 2013

Storage: 3 TB Fusion Drive

Processor  3,5 GHz Intel Core i7

Memory  32 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

Graphics  NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4096 MB

Software  OS X 10.9 (13A603)

Come on now Apple, fix and release a new version for us NOW!!!

Hey there Leaz,

I was wondering if it would on mavericks, as I went back to mountain lion for better compatibility.

Try going back to Mountain Lion (if it came on your iMac as it did mine) through time machine if you made one, if not back up everything manually and reinstall mountain lion through internet recovery, you will have to erase everything on your hard drive first tho. Then try this method again. Additionally I am using different hardware, which may cause some difference in results, but am also connected to my interface via FireWire to thunderbolt adapter. How are you connected in your setup?

I'd recommend going back to mountain lion if possible anyway as many people aren't reporting nearly as many issues and is far more compatible even with hardware and firmware issues

Hi iSTAVi,

Well, my iMac also came with Mountain Lion, and as I wrote earlier in this thread, I got a new iMac with the same configuration from Apple, and when I installed everything, I did the installation structured. I installed one application (or hardware) at time, and tested it for a long time before I proceeded with the next step in my installation list. It was then very clear that it was Mavericks that is causing the problem for audio interfaces.

I have a TM-backup of Mountain Lion that I did just before the upgrade to Mavericks, but I haven't used it because I fortunately have a MacBook Pro (also running Mavericks, but with a 512 GB SSD) I can use with my audio interfaces (all work just fine).

Regarding my audio interface connection I have tired both through Firewire (using the same adapter as you) and USB, with the same bad result.

I’m hoping that Apple very soon will release en updated Mavericks that solves the problem, and that is the reason I haven't downgraded to Mountain Lion.

On the other hand. If the problem isn't solved in the upcoming upgrade, I will clim my money back, or ask for a replacement machine with an SSD drive. As I wrote in my previous reply, I’m not to happy of how Apple is handle this type of problems. They are denying that they is the owner of the problem, and is pointing to the third party vendors, when I think it’s pretty clear that the problem came with 10.9.

Note. I am in contact with Moto, and they are very helpful, but they say they can’t do anything about it.

Regards

//Leffe

I have a late 2013 iMac i5 with a 3TB Fusion drive and have been having the same problem, using either a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or a Tascam 144. The Scarlett uses Focurite's patch. The Tascam, just the latest version of the software. I also have a Frontier Alphatrack control surface plugged in.

I have been getting pops and clicks when playing back, but they don't affect the mixed volume. Last night I was trying to record from the XLR direct out on my Quilter guitar amp. All I got with either interface was terrible distortion despite the software monitored audio sounding fine. I plugged my guitar in directly to the Tascam interface and it sounded fine, with some clicks on playback in randomly different places for each playback (ie: not a part of the recording).

My guitar rig is plugged into outlets across my room. I noticed that, when touching my guitar strings, the touch sensitive knobs on the Alphatrack would cause its display to get wonky, jumping from screen to screen.

I think what we have here is a really sensitive ground issue with the USB interface and it's affect on SSD partitions would possibly cause the issues we are having. I will test this more today - I got sleepy last night - making sure everything is using the same outlet with all grounds lifted.

This theory would jive with the drive partitioning theory as well.

Anyway, some random thoughts about the problem...

Bob

I have new 27 inch iMac with 3 TB fusion drive and exactly the same problem with my new Apogee Jam and Mic equipment (96k)...

As I thought the issue related with my interface I decided to use my friend's old Duet and order Firewire 400 to 800 cable as well as firewire 800 to thunderbolt adapter from Apple...

But it seems that this will not help at all as it is fusion drive problem....

Hope Apple can fix it asap with an update.....

Emre