CRACKING with Logic 7.1 and Emagics emi 6/2m

1 get the the pro app support http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/securityupdate2005006macosx1039.html

2 set your I/O buffer to somewhere around like 182-256 even better 512

3 Does this affect the recorded signal?, if it does then check your cables and connections

stash

Did exactly as you said. Downloaded the security update (3.5 mb), set different buffer sizes and get the same cracking.

umm i didn't say security update i said pro app support 3, the link is still there

the other link i know is this emagic one but i think its the same driver you have http://www.emagic.de/support/download/A.php?lang=EN

I don't know much about the emi 6/2m

hopefully others can help

lol my bad

its this

http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/proapplicationsupport30macosx1039.html

too much drinking 😉

Hi,
I had the same issue with my EMI 2/6 on Logic 6.x and a G3. The driver update didn't fix it for me.

Now that I upgraded Hard- and Software (G4 and Pro7.1), it's gone.

What I haven't installed though is the full EMI software now, just the driver.
So currently I don't have the controller app in my system control app. Maybe that was causing the trouble?

Hope this helps somehow ...

oh, another one: are you using any other gear on the USB hub ports of the emi?
Try giving a dedicated USB port to the EMI only. I had particular issues with a m-audio midi interface on the same USB port, which caused the crackle to appear as well.

Do you have an external hard drive using FireWire connection for instance ?
I had this kind of problem using a maxtor HD, even with a well tested wire.

However, you can use the emi 6|2 with Logic 7, Panther or Tiger.

db

Hi Johannes,

I think the ProKit has nothing to do with this kind of problem. The ProKit is more a UI-framework.

There is no driver on the Emagic Site. The file you can donwload there is the Firmware for the device. The driver is built into the OS (AppleUSBAudio.kext).

Assuming that your sync settings are ok and that the distortion is independend to the buffer size your problem is rather related to hardware than to software. Maybe it's just a power shortage on your USB port. Do you have a power supply for your emi? If not, have a look in the manual or call emagic and buy one. This could be your solution. Otherwise you might try a powered hub.

cheers
Martin

Hi Johannes,

it probably can be caused by too low USB power, the EMI does have an option for an external power supply that was recommended to solve crackling issues.

In the old Emagic database I found this:

-------------------------------------------------------------
OS: W/9: Noise or hum with A26

Product: A26, A62 m
Version: all

Description:
The A26 produces disturbing noises and/or hum.

Explanation:
There are two possible reasons for hum or noise:

1) Either the PC's power supply either is introducing noise and hum, or the supply voltage on the USB cable is too low.

2) Bad grounding. If the noise only appears with certain audio equipment connected to the A26, it is very likely that there is a problem with your shielding or grounding.

Solution:
1) To find out if the noise is related to your power supply, disconnect all audio cables and plug a set of headphones into the A26. If you still notice noise or 50/60Hz hum, it is very likely that the A26's sound quality is being affected by a bad power supply.

Sometimes a better USB cable will help, if not an external power supply should be used. Emagic is going to offer external power supplies for the A26.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Using a power supply which does not meet certain criteria may (and WILL!) destroy your A26! Always use the original power supply from Emagic.

2) While in analog systems grounding problems always result in 50/60Hz hum, things sound different in digital systems. Instead of hum, you may hear hard drive or mouse activity, or there may be high frequency noise.

If you have problems related with your grounding, try to locate the responsible equipment. Is it related to your mixer, your network cabling? Try powering all devices from the same power outlet.

NOTE: Even if this is a common "trick" used by a lot of musicians: Do not isolate the safety ground
-------------------------------------------------------------

This is from here: http://www.emagic.de/support/infoweb/email.php?lang=EN

Cheers

Jens

USB does not have a dedicated data flow between the computer and the hardware. That's why you have these problems : the data cannot be transmitted in real-time. Why can't it be transferred in real-time ? Because the processor (or the mother board bus) is busy, or if you use other USB devices thru a HUB. I noticed that non-Apple hard-disk controllers can perturb the mother board bus, and thus slowing down the USB transmissions. I had a great Sonnet RAID-0 card in my G4 which greatly increased the access speed to my hard-disks, but my EMI interface suffered a lot from this !

Firewire does transmit the data thru a dedicated channel, which means that once the connection between the computer and the hardware is established, the data will flow at a constant rate and is 100% guaranteed to be transmitted on time.

So what ? I sold my EMI and bought a Firewire interface (MOTU 828 mkII). Since then I'm the happiest musician !

I don't advise USB audio interfaces as soon as 100% clean sound is expected.

Hi,

I've developed exactly the same problem since the 7.1 update (running on Tiger 10.4.2). Tried what's mentioned on here with no success. Strange thing is that I can run LP6.4.3 with no crackling at all, so I can't see that this can be a USB power problem. Also a friend of mine runs exactly the same setup with no problems at all.
Any other ideas, as I don't really want to shell out £££s on another audio interface.

Cheers,
Ian

I'm having the same problem with emi 2|6 and OS X 10.4.2. I have Logic 7.1, but I didn't notice the problem because of 7.1. I play all my audio through the 2|6. I'm just loving upgrades these days. Every time, I hope it will fix the crackling sound. I don't even remember exactly when it started. Connecting a power supply to the 2|6 doesn't help. I think this is an Apple software problem, most likely in the USB Audio driver. Regardless, I'm pretty tired of it. It seems that almost every time they update Logic or OS X my audio setup goes to ****, so I think I'm going to ditch the 2|6. I'm pretty livid that the "Asteriod" product hasn't seen the light yet, but since they can't get their act together with that, I guess I'll go buy an M-Audio product. The Apple engineers are probably scratching their heads about why Asteroid crackles too, since it's likely that it's an updated firewire version of the a26/a62, and right now, because people are blaming the crackling on all kinds of possible USB/power issues, they don't want to release the product letting everyone know that the problem is with their Mac hardware or audio software drivers. I'd sure like to hear some clean audio.

but since they can't get their act together with that, I guess I'll go buy an M-Audio product.

yikes.. you are saying you want stability and tight performance and your choice would be m-audio? I've read a lot of reports of dodgy drivers for those things, and now that digidesign are at the helm, that doesn't exactly inspire confidence that you would get class-A drivers to run with anything other than protools LE either. I'd look elsewhere if I were you.

tbirdparis, "CRACKING with Logic 7.1 and Emagics emi 6/2m" #14, 08:30pm Sep 19, 2005 CDT

yikes.

In the words of the eminent Mr W Robinson
'I second that emotion' 🙂