Robotic Static Sounds USB Headset

there are errors in the commands which have to be corrected before using them.


Step 4 should be like this:

cp -Rp /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext ~/Documents/AppleUSBAudio.kext-BACKUP

Step 8 should be like this:

sudo mv ~/Downloads/AppleUSBAudio.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext

I did this but reverted back to the original AppleUSBaudio.kext because I was getting Kernel panics when using the old kext.

I tried with the corrected commands, but I keep getting errors.

Step 4 error
cp: /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext: No such file or directory

Step 6 error
Can't open CFBundle for /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext.

Step 8 error
mv: rename /Users/USERNAME/Downloads/AppleUSBAudio.kext to /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext: No such file or directory

Step 9 error
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext failed to load - (libkern/kext) not found; check the system/kernel logs for errors or try kextutil(8).

I checked the Extensions folder and there's no AppleUSBAudio file. The downloaded file is in my Users/USERNAME/Downloads folder.

I got as far as trying to install the downloaded AppleUSBAudio.kext file, and got this pop-up message:

"The system extension "/Sytem/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext" was installed improperly and cannot be used. Please try reinstalling it, or contact the product's vendor for an update."

The error message in Terminal is:
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext failed to load - (libkern/kext) authentication failure (file ownership/permissions); check the system/kernel logs for errors or try kextutil(8).

And now I can't use my USB headset or speakers at all.

Open up diskutilities and run repair permission for the startup disc. restart the computer and then it should be good.

You might have to run the " sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext " command again once you have restarted your computer though.

I'm running 10.6.4 on my iMac i5 and I am having this problem as well over Ventrilo using a Logitech USB headset. Everything will be fine for 20 or so minutes, then out of nowhere my headset mic makes me sound like a robot. Pretty annoying.

Hoping Apple gets a fix in the works for this.

I am running 10.5.8. I tried different devices such as USB headsets and lately connecting a Allen&Heath Xone 42 DJ mixer via usb to my Mac pro. this is top audio equipment, yet I have the same problem as with the headsets. My voice sounds robotic. I need this way of audio input to stream music online and play live shows on second life, I will have to cancel all shows if I cannot resolve this. Hey Apple people! thanks for the Iphone and the Ipad, I think you are all doing a great Job. but this minor problem seems to have been around for a while and a tough one for many users! why the silence about it! You are winning the war with microsoft but do you not have a cure for the flu? PLEASE HELP! DO I HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON CALLING APPLE IN THE US AGAIN AND SPEND HOURS ON THE PHONE TO FIX THIS????? driving me mad I must admit! This mac did cost me a bomb and I need it for a living. please make it work!

Having the same problem with suddenly having a robot voice with lots of static on Skype, Ventrilo, Humble and probably other applications too.

This happens on both MacBookPro's (a 2007 model and a 2010 model) I've tried my two different USB headsets on. One USB-headset by logitech and one by Plantronics. When using windows with these headsets it does not happen which makes me believe it's caused by Mac OS.

If I replug the headset the robot voice will disappear until it comes back randomly again (as I'm not sure what exactly causes it yet.).

Please Apple, try to fix this as soon as possible. At least could you tell us you're working on it?

It's impossible having proper phone calls on Skype with this happening! While I would hate to leave Mac OS for this, it's a possibility I might have to if it's not fixed.

This solution still works in 10.6.4, bud. I am using it myself.

http://evo-wiki.cern.ch/twiki/bin/view/FAQ/AudioProblemMacOSX1057

If you scroll down in that article, the older version of the kext is attached.

I can add a little to this topic, as I routinely use my MacBook Pro with a USB headset for Skype calls that run longer than 1-1.5 hours. I have a cheap Plantronics USB audio adapter and headset with twin 3.5mm plugs that connect to it, and it has this problem. I also have a more expensive Logitech USB audio adapter and headset with twin 3.5mm audio plugs, and it works great with no problems. I have been on calls lasting over 2 hours using the Logitech set and it was clearer audio than the people on their phones.

I don't remember all the details, but Leo Laporte (TWiT network/ www.twit.tv) has also spoken of this issue for a year or more. With the correct USB headset, you can resolve this problem.

Alright, thanks a lot for telling.

Just wasn't sure if it did or not since someone said it didn't work for 10.6.4 earlier in the thread.

And to the poster above: Even if some more expensive headset works in Mac OS, it's a bit strange that the "cheaper" (100+- euros) headsets work fine when using Windows. I've only ever had this issue on Mac OS. Could be that the headset creators should make their own drivers instead of course.

Same problem here... Only problem is that the apple engineers are working on 1 of 2 things:

- iOS
- Lion

Snow Leopard has some pretty significant problems with audio and text rendering on external monitors. We can only hope they address it, but I'd be surprised.

Yet another confirmation that it is not working on 10.6.5

I had to do a combination of the fixes here, when trying the first fix I had permissions issues.

So here's what I did. All in terminal (After un-plugging my USB audio device, of course).

1. Unload the USB Audio Driver:
*sudo kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext*

2. Backup the newer (but broken) AppleUSBAudio.kext:
*sudo cp /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext Documents/AppleUSBAudio.kext.backup*

3. Copy the older (but working) AppleUSBAudio.kext
*sudo cp Downloads/AppleUSBAudio.kext /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext*

4. Fix the permissions on the file (I used the -Rv, "R" is for recursive (all subfolders) and the "v" is for verbose, so it tells you what it's doing...)
*sudo chown -Rv root:wheel /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext*
4a. You should get an output similar to this:
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/CodeDirectory
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/CodeRequirements
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/CodeResources
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/CodeSignature
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/Info.plist
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/MacOS/AppleUSBAudio
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/MacOS
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/Resources/English.lproj/I nfoPlist.strings
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/Resources/English.lproj
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/Resources
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents/version.plist
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext/Contents
/System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext

5. Load the new (old) driver!
sudo kextload /System/Library/Extensions/AppleUSBAudio.kext

Same issue here, I tried to Time Machine back to 10.6.4 but it won't load in anything but Safe Boot. I went to my week old backup under 10.6.4 still won't load. Something is fundamentally changed on the comp to not let me go back so it's unfixable atm.

Hope others come up with a way to make it work.

It's amazing that Apple haven't even replied to the issue.

Oh well, *time to do the same procedure to fix it again*, edit: nah that didnt work this time, that's just great isn't it Apple? Ignoring your customers with this issue for this long, then breaking the only known fix?

I wouldn't be surprised if this same issue is in Lion too when it's launched given the amount of feedback we get from Apple here.

From a customer service standpoint this is terrible. It basically makes this portion of our computers useless for what should be an easily functioning device.

How can we raise this as a trouble ticket with Apple?

I've tried all the fixes listed in this thread and nothing's working. Is there an updated fix?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help create a workaround!