Level 1

0 points

High pitch squeal related to Firewire audio device after 10.6.2 audio patch

So the recent Mac Pro audio update 1.0 (applied on 10.6.2) has reduced my CPU temperature with audio playback (Presonus Firebox Firewire audio interface) and that is great. Also haven't had any machine crashes (grey screens) recently which is also great.
The problem is that when the Firebox is plugged into the firewire port of the Mac Pro there is a constant high pitched whistle of slightly oscillating frequency. If I unplug the Firebox the whistle goes away in a few seconds.

After prolonged use in a quiet room (the kind of room you need for audio recording / mixing work!) the noise is enough to drive me crazy.

I read a post on another forum with other people having the same problem. Can anyone comment here on seeing the same thing? Is there any known work around or fix for this?

When the CPU is under heavy load (e.g. H.264 compression etc.) the noise subsides only to return when there is normal load (i.e. half a dozen apps running).

Help!
Thanks

Mac Pro Early 2009 Quad, Presonus Firebox, Firewire, 24" LED Cinema, Mac OS X (10.6.2), Mac Pro Audio Update 1.0

Posted on Feb 16, 2010 8:23 PM

46 replies

Samsara

Level 4

1,327 points

Mar 25, 2010 5:38 PM in response to HERALDO_JONES

Some hope and info here,here and here.

Mar 25, 2010 5:59 PM in response to meridiandevv

hello, check this link
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=866341
I've downloaded the undo system in the rapidshare link and IT'S THE SOLUTION. I have tried it with the TC impact twin and Motu 828 mk3 (my personal interfaces) and mac pro are now working well.
But I have another question...what will happens with 10.6.3 .... I am so scared ...

Mar 28, 2010 11:16 AM in response to HERALDO_JONES

Macbook Pro 13 inch has the same problem.. with every firewire Audio-interface (motu, m-audio, apogee, ....)

seisend

Level 1

15 points

Mar 29, 2010 1:05 AM in response to HERALDO_JONES

@ HERALDO_JONES

it is not THE SOLUTION to the problem. And I think many of you may not know this too :

The Audio Update 1.0 fixes a huge problem with the 09 Mac Pro's. Without this update, your Mac Pro has these problems:

- Major heat increase by just playing back Audio
- Major heat increase by just copying data to external harddrives.
- IF you are using an external Audio Interface, heat increases too even with no audio playback going on (!!) .
- Huge performance drop while playing back audio/copying data on external devices/having your audio interface connected.
- Also your Mac Pro is wasting much more electricity power just by doing these things above.

There is a very big (2000+ post thread) on MacRumors Forums about the Heat/Performance problem too.

The Audio Update 1.0 is here to fix all these problems !

Mar 29, 2010 5:16 PM in response to meridiandevv

yes, I know. But if I install the AuDIO UPDATE 1.0 then I can't use my firewire audio interface because I have an infernal pitch squeal.
Now is avaliable the 10.6.3, can someone wich have installed the AUDIO UPDATE 1.0 tell if installing the 10.6.3 it will fix that horrible sound????

cl-user

Level 1

0 points

Mar 30, 2010 12:35 AM in response to meridiandevv

Has anyone measured the precise acoustic frequencies of this bug squeal?
(I would really appreciate knowing)

seisend

Level 1

15 points

Mar 30, 2010 1:41 AM in response to HERALDO_JONES

10.6.3 does not fix the problem.

I recommend installing the update though. Replace the .kext files with the 10.6.2 ones after. So your system will be up to date but without the Audio Fix.
10.6.3 Update through Software Update will install the Audio Update 1.0 automatically !

Wilx

Level 1

6 points

Apr 7, 2010 1:58 PM in response to seisend

How is this still not fixed? It's a serious flaw, and the noise is constant and very uncomfortable. If it causes any sort of hearing damage then Apple are in for some very bad times...

cl-user

Level 1

0 points

Apr 7, 2010 10:15 PM in response to Wilx

Perhaps Apple probably needs help in coping with this bug.
It took Apple 3/4 year to address the original 09MP audio bug, perhaps because it was not obvious. This new bug is triggered when the appropriate Mac Pro, appropriately configured, is connected to an appropriate firewire device. How often does that happen at Apple. I image that anyone at Apple who is using a Mac Pro is on the next generation MP and won't be plugging it into any external devices. Hence they won't see/hear this bug.
Apple has a protective wall around it such that bug reports like this do not register, cannot get through to the appropriate developers.
It took a lot of people and a lot of public outcry to get Apple to address the earlier audio bug. I doubt that this bug will be addresses until some sort of campaign is started. And at the moment people suffering from the squeal bug seem content to sit back and just hope for a bug fix. I doubt that will suffice to get Apple moving.

Apr 12, 2010 7:26 PM in response to cl-user

Just an FYI, I have an older Griffin FireWave that does 5.1 surround by attaching to the Firewire ports on my Mac Pro. I have no squealing or high pitched whine when playing MP3s or multichannel videos in 5.1 mode, but the audio in my games is stuttering like crazy. I applied the "undo" fix to remove the Mac Pro audio update and now the audio in my games is back to normal. Definitely a problem that someone at Apple needs to look into.

gonedeaf

Level 1

0 points

Apr 19, 2010 6:22 PM in response to meridiandevv

my Imac also has this horrible hissi high pitched irritating peeeeeeeee noise coming out of my imac but I think it is related to the Imacs Led screen.
I also get a terrible peeeeeeeeeeeeee noise when recording with my presonus firebox (digital audio interface)but that is caused by the power source in the presonus firebox and it only happens when using the firewire as an energy source some defect in the internal transformer by being to close to the circuitry........this is my deduction after doing a bunch of trial and error tests......maybe some one else can shed some more lighton this matter

jwloader

Level 1

9 points

Apr 27, 2010 6:39 AM in response to cl-user

When using a bus-powered FireWire external audio interface (RME FireFace 400) my Mac Pro emits a distracting whine which is around 8 KHz (I used Logic's oscillator to match the frequency as best I could).

The motherboard has been replaced but the problem persists. Not happy, I use my Mac Pro in a quiet studio and it drives me crazy. Not what you expect from a pro computer.

cl-user

Level 1

0 points

Apr 27, 2010 10:28 AM in response to jwloader

Thanks for the frequency information jwloader.

Yes, it is shameful that Apple don't address this issue, but they apparently do not have any mechanism for either listening to significant problems like this, or handling them.

It took screaming headlines from major tech web sites for then to listen to the earlier audio bug in 09 Mac Pros. Users had been reporting the bug in detail for nearly a year before Apple responded.

And their bug fix only fixed the bug for those using Snow Leopard .... and introduced the firewire squeal bug at the same time.

Exasperating, unnecessary, massively wasteful, easily remedied for Apple and users - but Apple don't seem to have any mechanism for listening ...

They do have a mechanism for gagging users who ask too loudly for help.

seisend

Level 1

15 points

Apr 28, 2010 1:51 AM in response to jwloader

I have some "good" news about the problem here in the latest post:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=866341&page=2

PS. my squeal is around 8KHz too !

May 3, 2010 5:57 PM in response to meridiandevv

http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1042

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High pitch squeal related to Firewire audio device after 10.6.2 audio patch