High pitched noise coming from inside the computer

Hello.

I have a RME Fireface 400 soundcard that I bought one month ago. It is plugged to my Macbook Pro 13 (3rd generation) with a 400/800 Firewire cable. I have installed the most recent RME drivers on my computer.

Whenever any sound is played in any program (Ableton Live for example), there is a slight high pitched noise coming from inside the Macbook, near the Firewire plug.
I tried all the sample rates available in the interface, the noise frequency is different for each setting but still the noise is there. If I raise the sample rate, the frequency of the noise raises as well.

I tried my Fireface 400 on several other Macbook Pro 3rd generation (13, 15, 17 and Mac Mini) and the same problem occurs also.

I compose electroacoustic music so I need to work in a quiet environment. The noise is low but nevertheless audible. Under those conditions, that parasite noise is a real problem to me.

- Does anybody would happen to know the origin of this problem?
- Is there a way to make that noise disappear?
- Is it a problem that could be solved by a future upgrade?

I love working with the Fireface 400 which is an awesome card and I would really love to find a way to make that noise disappear.

Thanks in advance for your answers.

mac book pro 13, Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on Mar 4, 2010 4:05 PM

21 replies

May 21, 2010 5:20 PM in response to cvcvcv

Yup, that's the noise.

I'm 99% sure this will do the trick for you.

Enjoy having your sanity back. 😉

cvcvcv

Level 1

0 points

May 24, 2010 9:50 AM in response to unuagist

unfortunately, i haven't had a chance to test the CHUD tools. i had an appointment on Friday with the apple store. they attempted to boot OSX from a firewire external HD and had no success. this is actually the second time i've taken it to the store about this problem. the first time they replaced the logic board, which didn't fix the noise. this time they took it in for the weekend and ultimately decided to replace the entire computer. hopefully the issue will be gone on my new machine. either way, i'll report back in a week or so...

kenji2

Level 1

0 points

Jun 7, 2010 4:04 PM in response to cvcvcv

So what's the result cvcvcv?

I have this same noise issue with my apogee duet, and I tried using the latest CHUD tools with my Macbook Pro 15" i7 (the most recent macbook pro). This is what I see in the Processor preference pane. I do not see any option to keep it from "napping"

Enabling "show control in menu bar" results in no change. Nothing appears in the menu bar.

Message was edited by: kenji2

Message was edited by: kenji2

cvcvcv

Level 1

0 points

Jun 7, 2010 6:13 PM in response to kenji2

well, it's been 6 weeks since i ordered the machine. for 4.5 of those weeks, it has either been in transit or in the shop. two weeks ago (right after i took it in the second time), they decided to go the route of getting me a replacement machine. it just arrived today. aaaand, unfortunately, the problem is still there.

i bought a new firewire adapter (600-800 moshi - endorsed by apple i think), and i am using a completely new firewire cable and a completely new power supply.

just getting ready to download and try the chud tools now (although, if the napping option doesn't exist, maybe there's no point). this is extremely annoying. definitely sounds like an apple software/hardware issue. hopefully they'll be able to fix it in a sw update. sorry i don't have more positive news 😟

cvcvcv

Level 1

0 points

Jun 7, 2010 7:54 PM in response to kenji2

just installed the chud tools and i get the same window.

i also tried this (found on another site) at the command line:

hwprefs -v cpu_nap=false

i get an error message saying that cpu_nap is not supported for my processor.

are you also experiencing serious heat issues with the noise? i find that within a few minutes of playing an mp3 over the firewire connection, the fans start to spin up like crazy.

if i play an mp3 without firewire connected, everything stays cool and there is no high pitched noise.

other forums seem to describe this noise as a "chirping sound" looks like it's been an issue for a long time.

anybody from apple HQ looking at these posts? it'd be nice to get an official response to the problem.

jdhitc

Level 1

0 points

Sep 11, 2010 5:10 PM in response to unuagist

So what is apple doing about this, Nothing? my machine just started doing it, and it gives me a splitting headache, and since this machine is my only MAc, and i use it for all my designing I am on it all the time and wish not to have to use ear plugs(like i am wearing now while typing thins) so I can work on my machine?

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High pitched noise coming from inside the computer