Bluetooth audio problems Catalina

Yes, the same keyboard, the same mouse. Both of them support USB and BT connections. The same Macbook.

When I use it in MacOS Catalina I don't experience any problems now (and didn't have crackling issues for some years already: Mojave, HSierra). But now I installed second operation system: windows and I got this crackling sound issue. Then I started to think what can cause it and tested it different ways. Every time I switched off Bluetooth module on macbook and then enabled again. Then connected at first phones and checked that music is playing without issues from google chrome. Then connected mouse, keyboard and got crackling. I tried different order of connection, tried to remove devices, etc. What I'm sure - it starts crackling when I start using keyboard and mouse. If I use only keyboard or only mouse, then crackling is low, but if both - crackling even increases (and only when connected mouse and keyboard through BT of course).

FWIW - since this issue has been running for me now for all updates of Catalina, I decided to see if there's a workaround. I've installed Background Music https://www.producthunt.com/r/f998f155fe3ba2. While it doesn't solve 100% of the issues, it certainly has improved the reliability of my BT audio output over what Catalina offers for now.

downgrading to mojave has not fixed the issue. Quite obvious that the issue here persisted on Mojave, which is what is happening to mine. Apple still insisted on releasing Catalina, with this horrid bluetooth issue.

It doesn’t mean that crackling cannot happen through this non-scientific approach. I am tired of the all non-related issues regarding bluetooth disconnections. We are going nowhere.

I have both an up to date powerful gaming PC and an iMac from 2017 for everyday use, and the Bluetooth connects in a similar way. Although, the iMac has the solutions better integrated and requires much less space.

Today after another problem with failed bluetooth audio I have checked one more time in which state is my BT connection to speaker - it was connected, but speaker wasn't listed in output devices. After killing process "coreaudiod", speaker was available in output devices. So, may be problem not in bluetooth? have you any thoughts about it?

Max_mxx, in your situation it looks like the problem with "coreaudiod" exactly. When I had a problem before .3 update, restarting of "coreaudiod" didn't help, because it couldn't connect to bluetoothaudiod which wasn't working, even BT device was still connected. So 1 problem seems fixed, but with more or less similar symptoms there can be a lot of different places, like you have. In the past I also faced many times the same problem with coreaudiod, but it happened usually right after device connection: I connected device, I see it in BT devices connected, but I don't see it in Output devices; then I reconnected it and it started working.

Currently the only bad thing for me is that when I switch between Windows and Mac I have to remove and add device again (except of the some problems with crackling sound in windows when connected mouse, but it's different OS).

Possibly can help installing Bluetooth Explorer from apple website. Then to open it and in menu go to Tools -> Modify software and device configuration -> and ticket "Full factory reset" and perform the action.

Oh my gosh! I am having the SAME issue as well, I have contacted Apple support SO MANY times over it and I have literally done EVERYTHING there is to do to get this fixed other than going into an apple store (currently serving overseas with no apple store in sight). Smh this is really annoying and it also began when Apple came up with the "smart" idea to create Catalina. So frustrated because you spend ALL OF THIS MONEY on a laptop that CANNOT even preform the bare-minimum of what a laptop should do. $1000's of dollars down the drain. I know this is not helpful in the least for you but I wanted to let you know that I too am having the same issue. :) Best of luck to the both of us on finding a solution

You know, several years ago I just dreamed about good sound through some bluetooth headphones when I speak in Skype and I tried all of them and it was not possible, until bluetooth 4.2 standard came and now it's not perfect yet, but at least most of calls I can do without any troubles and without any wires )) And with new bose noice cancelling during the call I can speak at work when even somebody drills a wall :D And my colleagues that are on the call can't even hear that drill :D it's almost insane as cool, in comparison to several years ago, when they barely understood me when I used wireless phones in the silence :) So anyway everything became much much better, only some issues in software "made in hurry" it seems by apple makes things a bit worse for some months. Anyway I like it a lot.

It seems that after updating to 10.15.3 I'm now having this issue as well. I'm on a MacbookPro with Sony MDR-100ABN headset. I've tried all the above mentioned tricks and still running into this issue.

Thankyou so much for this post.

My hardware and the steps that worked for me:

1) MacBook Pro 2016/16GB/512GB/15"/2.7GHz I7

2) Sound BalsterX Katana

3) I already had XCode installed

4) Used the provided link to download the additional utilities

5) Had to find the official Apple doc

6) Activate/Launch Bluetooth Explorer (no windows appear, however the menu is active at the top).

7) Click Bluetooth Explorer in the dock (Menu at top becomes active)

8) Click tools/Audio Options

9) Check "Disable AAC"

10) Click Close

11) Reboot - I could not find the "Reset Bluetooth Module" in version 11.

12) Connect to you SBX Katana

13) Click/Press Alt-Bluetooth logo in the top meny bar - Hold this combination/Do not release

14) Move the mouse to hover over SoundblasterX Katana - Note: Codec is SBC

15) Play music and be happy :-)

From my limited understanding of what I did, I think the Apple bluetooth module cannot determine the appropriate Codec to use. This means using the wrong/incompatible codec results in no sound which, from my reading, is where everyone is as of right now.

The remaining problem here is, that while this process may work, it requires a reboot between devices that need AAC and SBC or whatever other codec your device needs. Also it is unclear to me if it is possible to manually force a particular codec on a particular bluetooth sound device.

Hope this helps someone.

PhillB

Replying to my own reply....

Further reading of what Apple may be trying to do with the various Codecs. This is a good thing, it just has a couple hiccups right now. When it's fixed it will be very advanced:

https://www.rtings.com/headphones/learn/sbc-aptx-which-bluetooth-codec-is-the-best

A further reply to my reply:

Sound BlasterX Katana official web page states:

Supported Codecs

SBC, AAC

https://us.creative.com/p/speakers/sound-blasterx-katana

Conclusion:

Apple's AAC codec has something wrong with it. Workaround is to force it off and use SBC.

SBC *must* be supported by all audio devices because it is defined in the bluetooth standard.

This worked for me:

https://btu.bose.com/

Hard to find on Bose's website but when i got to it, it was a simple update to the device. Just follow the instructions and see if it works for you.

Hope it helps!

Oh, what we have to endure in this forsaken feature-crammed bug-filled unreliable wasteland Apple calls "modern tech".

After thinking about my next road-trip, I had to make some tough choices.

If you are contemplating reverting back to an old OS...

Just do it!

I downgraded all the way back to 10.13... and how beautiful it is! Everything is fast, snappy and reliable. Like the best of times. Like the Steve Jobs years. When every color was a little brighter, every click a little bit more satisfying. There's more RAM/CPU available. The Wifi is stronger. And of course the bluetooth/audio is rocksteady. As it should be.

I'd like to thank my fellow mates in this thread for at least giving me hope during the last couple of months. You guys truly are the orchestra aboard the sinking ship.

I wish you well. May god have mercy on your souls.

At last, I am free.