Q: Massive problem with audio interface

Actually, what Apogee said is that there are two distinct problems with identical symptoms -- one linked to USB 3.0 in the Haswell Macs, and one linked to the Fusion Drives.  That's why it's been so hard to pin down a solution, and why all of us have been seeing slightly different behavior.

This is a verbaitm quote from an exchange I had with Apogee support:

"There are 2 separate issues:

1) The "Fusion Drive" issue, affecting new iMacs with a Fusion Drive installed.
2) The "USB Audio" issue, also affecting the iMacs as well as other new "Haswell" computers like MacBook Pros / Airs.

The Fusion Drive problem has been addressed by Apple directly, and the upcoming version of OS X - 10.9.2 - includes a fix. As mentioned above, there is a beta version available now, but you must be a member of their developer program to obtain it legally.

For some people the OS X update will fix their audio interface problems completely. Others with "Haswell" Macs may still be experiencing disconnects/distortion due to the separate USB Audio issue. We recently received code that addresses this issue, which we have integrated into the firmware for the Duet and Quartet. Today we're opening up betas of this firmware, available through our support team."

I, for one, am not willing to trust that 10.9.2 will fully fix the Fusion Drive problem, so last night I boxed up my shiny new iMac and am returning it for a refund. 

I just purchased the late 2013 imac, 21.5", 8gb RAM with the 5400rpm serial ATA drive to record music via Logic Pro X.

I am using an RME Fireface 400, connected via firewire to a 400 to 800 converter to a thunderbolt converter.

I am on the preinstalled version of Mavericks 10.9.1.

So far.....

No problems at all as described in the earlier posts. This would lead me to believe you guys are all experiencing some kind of Fusion Drive problem... I don't think i read of anyone here using the Serial ATA hard drive...

Only slight problem i do have is that my Fireface used to be Bus powered, but now I have to power it via its own power supply. When the Fireface is switched off (which is the bus mode position) and the iMac is in sleep mode, it sends a signal to the fireface every 5 seconds making it omit a short beep and a quick flash of all the lights....... this is very annoying! The iMac then sometimes wont detect it when it is awaken from sleep mode, and i have to unplug the thunderbolt cable and reconnect it again.

The only work around from this is to not switch the Fireface to off (which is bus mode) and to instead unplug it at the mains each time.... this is also very annoying!

Anyone know of a work around for this?

Same Problem here. I WANT MY MONEY BACK! I ordered my iMac in Nov and went on holiday, come back to my studio and this LCD with laptop hardware attached to the back is useless, audio drop-outs and USB3 super slow, and I cannot return it. I'm loosing jobs day after day, I need a working machine today, this is ridiculous. I don't care about policies, my money $2,400 were working on day one, so should my iMac. I'm going back to PC, F-this. I have tried splitting the fusion drive, maverick and all the possible things suggested in this forum, now I'm simply tired and broke.

iMac 2013 27"

• NVIDIAGeForceGTX775M 2GB GDDR5
• 3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7
• 8GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM-2X4GB
• 1TB Fusion Drive

HEADS UP :

Just tried the 10.9 .2 beta2 : STAY AWAY FROM IT!!!

It bring back the problems that the beta 1 kinda solved.

Back to the messy hardcore dropouts, can't run a session even for 30 seconds...

This is becoming ridiculous!!!

It's crazy how everybody has different results with the same problem . Beta 1 fixed my issue and updating to beta 2 didn't hurt me at all . I was recording last night and everything was money . I'm running a tascam us-600 with updated driver for mavericks . I think it's a combo of fusion , what interface your using and if that interface has updated drivers or not. I've tested mine on Logic Pro x 10.0.6 and studio one 2 and no problems here . Also note that Logic Pro x 10.0.5 had its own major interface issues so if u didn't update to 10.0.6 go do so ASAP 

Beta 1 solved most of my problems...

Beta 2 bring back the insane mess...

iMac late 2013 i7 3,5Ghz with 3TB FD

I'm using Logic Pro 10.0.6 (Latest version to date) with a Apogee Duet 2 and the new updated firmeware and drivers for Mavericks...

yea its weird i have the same setup only 1tb fusion and tascam instead and im golden on my end. only thing i did different than you maybe is i originally split the fusion and installed mavericks on it . but then once the beta came out and was reported to fix this issue i re-fused back to a fusion drive . but i dont suggest splitting just to re-fuse again it doesnt make any sense. i dont know im good on my end now but i still feel bad for everybody . it really ***** . did you make a time machine ? just revert back and install beta 1 again

After a couple weeks of this, I'm now turning to self-help books and lectures in search of a visualization or affirmation technique that will work on my Mac.

lol, sorry to make light of this serious issue.

(but if I am able to get my interface working with mind-powers, I'll be sure to share what works here)

Now for an actual update:

I've been able to use my interface (Behringer UMC204) with my 2009 MBP running 10.9.1

The only issue I've found on this machine (with careful listening) is slight audio clicks/artifacts, spaced out over time, depending on what frequency I have set in Audio MIDI Setup utility.

If 44 or 88: no prob.

If 48 or 96: clicks (more frequent at 96)

I tested this by closing all programs but iTunes, playing song at zero iTunes volume, and listening through headphones at full system volume.

This would lead me to believe that there is a Mavericks clocking issue independent of, or in addition to, the USB3/Fusion/Haswell/Crystalwell/Whoknows issue.

I shared these findings with Applecare supervisor when I spoke with them today, as a potential additional clue.

And this is of course the same brand-new interface that train-wrecked in less than 3 seconds on my late-2013 15" MBPr 2.6 i7, 16G Ram, 1TB Flash

Also of note, when testing a USB condenser mic directly into the new machine I had no problems. In this case, an MXL USB-006 worked fine in every program.

I know others in this thread have had issues even with the internal mic(!), but in the case of the Macbook Pro it would seem that the only problem is with multi-channel interfaces.

Gentlemen i have one question there .. how could we explain that my current set up (imac 2013, mavericks 10.9.1, 1T FD, 16 RAM) accepts a M Audio Fast track USB interface ? and do not accept (even if recognizes) the audiobox preonus ... same question for my USB POX xt line 6, it works perfectly

i beleive my audiobox also has a problem, i am going to repalce it and will let you know if it work with a new one

but it is odd to see fast track working and not the presonus ?

i am also going to change my imac as i am lucky enough to have a problem with my internal microphone (recordings are awful) i will ask for a SSD .. dont even want to speak about this Fusion drive crap

I've read somewhere that the Beta 2 changes concentrated mainly on fixes for the Mail app, so I would hold your breath just yet.

This is a pain, as I've just got a new electro-acoustic guitar I wanted to try recording with .

I'm going to try booting off my cloned external drive tonight to rule out the Haswell chip as the issue for me.

• 21 inch late 2013 iMac Intel Core i5, 16 GB memory, 1TB Fusion Drive 
• OS x 10.9.1 (Mavericks)
   
• Propellerhead Balance USB 2 audio interface 
• Garageband 10
   
• Logic Pro 9

Tired of fighting, while they told me it was not possible on the phone, I was able to return it at the apple store. I'm buying a PC. I don't use logic, so for me doesn't matter which OS I use.

I have had the same problem with my iMac 2013 fusion drive.  I have an Apogee Quartet and it's ridiculous that such an expensive peice of gear as the iMac is won't work with interfaces.  I heard from the forum that update 10.9.2 fixed the probelm with the fusion drives and audio interfaces so I of course contacted apple care and they told me that not only is the beta 10.9.2 for developers only but that I have to wait, he said; "could be a week, could be a month."  I was hoping that this company was ethical enough to just email us fusion drive users a beta update.  I mean at the end of the day, I paid three thousand for this iMac that I can't use for audio and while there is a fix out there, apple tells me to wait.  I'm about done with these clowns.  I understand working out the kinks on new products is timley, but I really felt like they just pushed me aside by telling me to wait.  Okay apple: your right, I'll wait another three months and just look at my computer boxed up.  Apple may have gained a lot over the past years, but lost all customer service.  Apple you should be ashamed...

So what's the consensus on folks who have HDD or SSD in their Haswell iMacs? Mostly working with interfaces/pro audio applications, or mostly not? Is anyone booting from an external SSD that can comment on performance? Thinking about getting a low-capacity Thunderbolt SSD to get me by right now but I wonder if it's any better than booting from an external 7200 RPM HDD.

I bought a 27" iMac 3.5Ghz i7, 16Gb ram, with the 3Tb Fusion Drive... had the exact same bleeps and f@rts from my USB Audio Interface (Line 6 UX2). Following the partitioning method pioneered by JonnyK, I created a 2nd bootable drive partition and had hours of fun playing completely problem free.

I can deal with the slightly slower boot time on the 2nd partition (35 seconds against the 16 of the main), but I paid for something that I'm now not using effectively. Apple better fix this!

Thanks!! With 10.9.2 the Fusion Drive audio issue is fixed for me!!! Its been a couple months since I've been able to use it so I'm beyond excited! I'm using a 2013 iMac, 3.1GHz i7 with 16 GB of RAM, 1TB Fusion Drive...Apogee Quartet.

With 10.9.2 (just look around, you'll find it) and the Jan. 2014 driver update from Apogees support page...Your Go Flight.....I've been running Logic X, iTunes, Spotify, and Safari (Youtube) with absolutely no problems!