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Level 1

0 points

New Powerbook Audio Stutter / Looping / Echo problem

I though people would like to hear the problem that some of the 15" and 17" powerbooks have been having.

I tried recording the sound from iTunes using Audio Hijack, but when the weird audio issue happened and I played back the recording, you couldn't hear it in the recording (i.e. it played normally), so it seems to me that it's related to some basic audio issue (because Audio Hijack couldn't hear it when it was recording iTunes) rather than a specific application.

I was able to record the sound using a cable from my powerbook to another computer (which then recorded the line-in using Audio Hijack).

Here's a short quicktime capture of the sound:

http://s89317810.onlinehome.us/AudioStuttering.mov

Has anyone heard anything about a fix? It doesn't seem to be related to Airport use for me since I don't often use Airport at home.

Powerbook 1.67 15", Mac OS X (10.4.3), 1.5 gig ram

Posted on Nov 21, 2005 8:51 AM

765 replies

Feb 10, 2006 4:06 PM in response to Jimi

I bet your right it may be defective hardware somewhere. It should be obvious when you hear the second fan kick in. ratatatatatat...sound. The build quality is second rate for the components it seems. I'm giving this a a week on its shipping OS. If its stable, I'll update to 10.4.4 or 10.4.5 if it comes out. If it still exhibits the problems I've listed, I'm no longer have faith in Apple brands.

Jimi

Level 3

531 points

Feb 10, 2006 4:39 PM in response to SuperSizeIt

I bet your right it may be defective hardware
somewhere. It should be obvious when you hear the
second fan kick in. ratatatatatat...sound. The
build quality is second rate for the components it
seems. I'm giving this a a week on its shipping OS.
If its stable, I'll update to 10.4.4 or 10.4.5 if it
comes out. If it still exhibits the problems I've
listed, I'm no longer have faith in Apple brands.

Personally, it seems like you got a lemon that needs to be replaced as most people don't seem to have the extreme issues you do. Not to defend Apple but you can get a lemon from BMW or Rolls Royce or anyone. Any product that rolls off an assembly line will have lemons. The issue is then how the company deals with them.

Jimi

Level 3

531 points

Feb 10, 2006 4:45 PM in response to Jonathan Rudenborg

After four months of people dealing with this problem
there should be a solution from Apple! If they don't
have one soon then legal action is appropriate. I
don't have the know how or money to do this, but I
would deffinately join if someone started a lawsuit.

I want them to fix the problem NOW, or give me my
money back!

There are not enough "injured parties" for any law firm to take this on. Besides, the law firm gets most of the bucks if they win. You'd be lucky to get a $25 credit at the Apple Store as a result of a class action.

But, you should ask for your money back if that is what you want. Let us know how it goes.

jfelbab

Level 1

5 points

Feb 10, 2006 5:02 PM in response to Jimi

I would add my experience as well. The new Powerbook has never locked up for me since I purchased it in November. It does display the sound looping issue even with only the Mail app running. I use the Mac nearly 12-14 hours daily. I'm running 10.4.4. The laptop is rock solid in that regard. Unfortunately, I like to create music and this sound looping issue makes that impossible. I also have very unstable airport performance with multiple base stations from multiple manufacturers.

Jim
---
Listen to my music and d/l free mp3's here.
http://www.macidol.com/jamroom/bands/33/music.php

15" PB, 17" iMac, 14" Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.4)

15" PB, 17" iMac, 14" Pismo Mac OS X (10.4.4)

Feb 10, 2006 5:43 PM in response to Bjorgvin Bjorgvinsson

I think people should stay calm for a while until
Apple comes up with something, I am pretty sure that
a solution is on its way very soon.

Regards,
Bjorgvin
powerbookdefect.info

So am I.
Stay Calm! **** IT! 😉
And remmeber "Mac OS X 10.4.5 8H14, is said to address issues with multi-application audio support" / http://www.appleinsider.com/article.php?id=1519
Roumored to pop up within a week.
Let´s just wait for that now shall we?
Just becourse some... guy at mac support doesnt Know anything about it, doesn´t say that it is Not beeing worked upon.
People are different.

Feb 11, 2006 9:08 PM in response to aspenboy

The audio issue continues to make my powerbook unreliable for professional audio work, and I find the off-putting actions of Apple Care and the "customer service" department difficult to accept.

On Monday I meet with a colleague who writes for the New Yorker magazine. I intend to ask which of his journalistic colleagues might be interested in any aspect of this story.

William Moses

15" G4 powerbook Mac OS X (10.4.4) Professional Audio Engineer working with Logic Pro and Pro Tools

trxbloke

Level 1

25 points

Feb 12, 2006 8:56 AM in response to aspenboy

Perhaps if this matter isnt resolved by March 9th, we should visit http://www.sounds-expo.co.uk/ as promoted by Apples UK Hot News page, and demonstrate our Professional sound looping to the masses, as well as the "Apple Solution Experts at Sounds Expo 2006"

Feb 12, 2006 12:51 PM in response to trxbloke

Now THAT is a very good idea. I think this and some threats of legal action and press humiliation may actually get them to try and fix this. Sounds as though exchange for an MBP may be the only solution though.

Feb 14, 2006 12:50 AM in response to Iain Cowper2

drumroll...........................................................

fannara

Level 1

20 points

Feb 14, 2006 3:01 AM in response to Jonathan Rudenborg

I have already talked to my laywer here in Spain and he is dealing with this case for me now, because when I called Apple they told me they couldnt do anything. I think a legal action is the only way to go, Apple have proven them self incompetent of dealing with customers.

Feb 14, 2006 7:23 AM in response to TheNewIkuru

Having disabled my HDD from sleeping a week ago, I am no longer experiencing this issue. In the weeks before, it was occurring 2-4 times per hour.

Unfortunately of course my PB's battery doesn't last as long, but I now strongly suspect the audio buffer is running dry while waiting for the HDD to spin up from sleep.

Can anyone else confirm this?

trxbloke

Level 1

25 points

Feb 14, 2006 7:45 AM in response to Ryan Latham

My hard disk is never set to sleep under power adaptor settings, I still have the looping problem.

Feb 14, 2006 9:44 AM in response to aspenboy

I talked to someone (first tier) at AppleCare, and he said that a faulty alti-vec unit could be the cause of the problem. He only mentioned iTunes, "because it's the only audio app that uses alti-vec", so I'm not sure about the validity of his claim. IF this is the problem (and only if), then I'd expect to see an exchange program soon.

Feb 14, 2006 9:56 AM in response to aspenboy

Macbook pro goes up in clock from 1.67 to 1.83Ghz, and 1.83 to 2Ghz.
Does that mean that they have alot of 1.67Ghz leftovers, that they can send out to us whit the crappy G4 1.67Ghz DL? 🙂
I wish!

Good idea?

Nomatter what, I love the PB concept, but this latest 1.67 G4 DL one is a big disappointment. I took a student loan to afford it, knowing that a PB was a safe horse... - feels like it was a stupid decision now.

Feb 14, 2006 1:06 PM in response to Måns Collner

same here.
I "sacrificed speed overe reliability" Thinking the last powerbook would have been the best over the previous ones. Not true, but I do not see the macbook pro as a solution to this issue.
just my opinion though.
I want a fix for my powerbook asap.
BTW I'm a prfessional sound engineer so you can imagine how a pain this issue is to me.

New Powerbook Audio Stutter / Looping / Echo problem