Q: Massive problem with audio interface

I'm not exactly sure... I actually used to work for Blue. I know that their USB mics do not use drivers. They are plug and play...

However, USB users are most likely using MacBooks or MacBook Pros... not an iMac with a FD.

I'm on an iMac with FD and I have 3 USB audio devices: a logitech headset, a Blue Yeti mic, and a Griffin iMic. They all work perfectly on my 2013 MBA w/Mavericks. Neither of them work on my iMac 2013 with FD. I doubt those companies are going to issue a driver update because none of them have drivers. So it seems that Apple will have to come up with a solution, especially because the devices work just fine with non FD Macs (including my previous 2008 Mac Pro).

Interesting, then you're absolutely right. Apple must fix this... Would you mind filing a case at:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

Already done that, and there's a big thread with others in my situation discussing it.

This is absolutely insane...

I just sent this to FEEDBACK at Apple:

Hi. Using any kind of 3rd party audio interface, whether it's USB or Firewire, is nearly impossible with my new iMac. Trying to use a Tascam 144 or Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 or any other meets with static, clicks, dropouts and distortion. Take a look at your own discussion boards. They are LOADED with people with problems. These don't seem to be peculiar to the OS, but to iMacs with Fusion drives. Creating a standard boot drive solves the problem as does partitioning or splitting the Fusion drive. But anything with a Fusion drive seems to have real issues. This is something that needs a fix ASAP. Please help.

BonJames - You indicate your problem is fixed - But what audio interface are you using?

Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 USB, Logic X, iMac Late 2013.

Focusrite is the only company that has a fix apparently...

I have a Scarlett 2i2 and there is no fix for it, yet.

Bob

I'm a musician using a number of usb audio interfaces to try and send an audio signal to Logic X on a new late model 2013 Haswell 27 inch Imac.

I have exactly this problem - audio in works flawlessly for 30-60 seconds at most, then it tends to delay, pop, scratch and distort and then fall apart totally.

I've tried different interfaces, different software, always the same result.

All Ive managed to get so far from Apply is reset SMC and PROM, neither of which have helped.  They dont seem to be aware of a widespread problem though.

Everyone don't give up hope. We are all in this.

We may be a minority on Apple's radar, but if we work together, we can hopefully get an fix sooner than later...

Do you want to have to return your fusion drive iMac for a SSD iMac, partition your drive and have your iMac work slower, wait for a driver update that may never happen from your hardware manufacturer or Apple, or just buy another interface?... I certainly do not want to do any of these options and frankly, I feel Apple should give us some answers on what is happening... They do not even put a disclaimer on the fusion drive option that *all audio interfaces do not work* at the moment. This is a huge inconvenience and has wasted too much of our time. Instead of continuing to complain on this forum, I advise doing the following...

***Here are 6 simple things you can do to help speed up the process for a response or firmware update from Apple or from your audio hardware manufacturer***:

1. Keep sending Apple feedback at:

- http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

2. Keep contacting AppleCare and Apple Support. Keep asking about the status on if Apple is working on a solution or not:

- 800 MY APPLE

- http://www.apple.com/support/

3. Keep calling your tech support for your audio interface (AVID, etc)

-Ask what is the situation is... Are you working on fix? Are you working with Apple on a fix?

4. Contact your friends who work at Apple. Tell them to give feedback.

5. Go to the press:

- Send a tip to http://www.macrumors.com , http://www.engadget.com , http://gizmodo.com/ , http://www.t3.com , etc.

6. Keep refreshing this forum link so the views go up.

- Every time you refresh this forum (Command  + R) the view count will always go up (only if you are signed in). You can literally just keep hitting refresh and the views quickly go up. The more views, the more likely websites and Apple will take our issue seriously.

not sure if it helps just reiterating the issue, but i guess i'm hoping that the more of us that speak up on these forms will draw the attention needed for Apple engineers to work on a fix.

4 week old

27" iMac

3.5GHz i7
16GB ram
3TB Fusion Drive
Mavericks

i recently upgraded my desktop speakers from Audioengine's that ran off of an aux cable(no problems with these) to a pair of KEF X300A's that are connected via USB.

from the beginning i was getting a random crackling noise, suuuuuuuper annoying. as if the crackling werent bad enough they started losing sound every few hours(randomly, could be 30 minutes could be 4hrs). the left speaker has a light, red or green, indicating that it either does or does not have audio signal. when the speakers would cut out the light would stay green, indicating that it still had signal. weird. to regain sound i would do one of two things; flick the power switch on the speakers off and back on, or go into settings on my iMac and change the audio output from the USB connected KEF's to the internal speakers, and back to the KEF's.

i called KEF's support who were very responsive, they had me run some tests. i started by changing the sampling rate on my iMac from the original 96KHZ to 44.1KHZ, 48KHZ, and finally 88.2KHZ, all had the same outcome. he then had me connect the speakers to my MacBook Pro(running Mavericks)via the USB, i did and had msuic playing for a solid 8hrs at 96KHZ without incident.

the next thing i tried was to connect the KEF's via AUX to the iMac, this seems to be fine. i've been playing music for roughly 4 hrs now with no crackling and stil going strong. only downside is of course that the KEF's can handle a lot more data than can be passed through a headphone jack:(

in short:

new iMac with Fusion Drive running Mavericks

-USB connected speakers crackle and lose sound

-AUX connected speakers work fine

Macbook Pro with SSD running Mavericks

-USB connected speakers work fine

-AUX connected speakers work fine

DJ trigger finger sure works great for rubbing accross that "R"

You can actually just hold down Command + R*

thought it was fixed, took a while for the static to come back.  perhaps it was the fusion drive that kicked back in...