Level 1

24 points

Macbook Pro 16 inch speaker pulsating noise?

Hi everyone,

I purchased a MacBook Pro 16 inch back in December 2019 and - like most people- got issues with my speakers (popping, crackling, all that jazz).

BUT, there is also ANOTHER ISSUE that NO ONE seems to talk about and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

So I updated my Macbook to now macOS Catalina 10.15.3 and no more popping and crackling, great but there is that pulsating sound/distortion coming from the speakers (since I purchased it but I was told by Apple that I had to wait for the update to come since it was software related).

it's a weird echo sound coming from the speakers when I watch videos (online or downloaded), when I use Logic Pro/Dorico/Sibelius/Garage Band/Itunes/etc. It comes on and off randomly as well.

Does anyone else has that problem? As a musician is very frustrating, I don't know what to do.

Thank You

MacBook Pro 16", macOS 10.15

Posted on Feb 15, 2020 7:19 PM

Top-ranking reply

lloydml

Level 1

35 points

Posted on Jul 23, 2020 4:22 AM

Thanks for the advice guys. I was just happy to get it working. I've now changed the Project settings to 48khz in Logic by going to File>Projects Settings>Audio

and changed the system settings by searching "Audio Midi Setup" in spotlight and choosing Window>show audio devices to bring up the settings for the speakers and have changed them to 48khz too.

The lowest I can get the buffer in Logic, without it going full "Rice Krispies" - snap crackle and pop on me is 64 though. I can confirm that the galloping sound has gone for me with those settings too. I'd be interested if anyone has got it down to 32 although I suspect at that level of latency it's more accurate than my actual playing :-)

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127 replies

AColombi

Level 1

27 points

Aug 31, 2020 2:06 PM in response to Grant Bennet-Alder

It's not a workaround for the unfortunates that work in GarageBand, however. :(

Sep 7, 2020 5:08 PM in response to Simon_UK101

Awesome Simon.

I'd be surprised if it's fixed in the next update.

Fingers crossed.

TMN_TMN

Level 1

12 points

Sep 8, 2020 6:19 AM in response to AColombi

Hi, just for the sake of recording my observations - I first noticed this problem in Garage Band before I had gotten around to downloading and installing Logic.

Sep 12, 2020 4:35 AM in response to TMN_TMN

Great, thanks for the update.

AColombi

Level 1

27 points

Sep 21, 2020 9:02 AM in response to TMN_TMN

I’m pretty sure you cannot reproduce it in the 15”. I tried to at some point in the past without success.

Oct 1, 2020 5:44 AM in response to Simon_UK101

Unfortunately Big Sur has already been tested for this issue. No good.

Oct 1, 2020 5:47 AM in response to TMN_TMN

Did you try this? No OS update required and it fixed my speakers.

https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT201295

Oct 1, 2020 6:14 AM in response to drummalone1965

Tried that on the first round of support calls with Apple. It didn't have any effect back then but will

try again with 10.15.7 installed to see how it goes. Will let you know.

Oct 1, 2020 6:19 AM in response to JScomputeruser

If that's the case then who knows...

Maybe updates to Logic and Garage Band will solve the issue for both sets of users.

Oct 1, 2020 2:08 PM in response to Simon_UK101

I have had speaker issues from multiple audio sources.....Logic Pro x, the chime when I get an email, Spotify web player,

iTunes, ( I still call it iTunes)...

rainkid

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2020 1:17 AM in response to Pepi_Aly

Is this issue resolved under Big Sur?

rainkid

Level 1

4 points

Nov 15, 2020 9:45 AM in response to Pepi_Aly

Is this issue resolved under Big Sur?

Is this issue a known bug on all Macbook Pro 16" ?

I'm asking cause I want to know if a replacement makes any sense?

suns_13

Level 1

16 points

Nov 26, 2020 5:33 PM in response to S2keyz

I want to update to Big Sur but I don't think my plug-ins and instruments (native instruments/kontakt, Soundtoys) are ready for it yet so I'm stuck waiting.

Apr 5, 2020 7:07 PM in response to AColombi

I have some news.

I downloaded Logic Pro X to see how different this DAW might be. I didn't have a playhead issue with this program, which

was a plus.

Then - since the pulsing felt more pronounced (and more frequent), I just played with sample rate. I took it from 128 to 256

at first and the pulsing had paused. Got excited and it came back a little - so I pumped the sample rate up to 1024, where it's

at - and there is no pulsating anymore.

Not sure what the ramifications will be of having things at such a high sample rate - I imagine when I am mixing, I will have

to either use headphones or use external monitors and bring the sample rate down - but for now, when I am composing, I have gotten rid of the popping.

Jul 12, 2020 7:25 AM in response to lloydml

Just got a new MBP 16 about 6 hours ago.

Installed logic 10.5 and started making a beat with 808 plus synths.

Noticed something weird going on in the background. As song as you hit stop you hear the weird gallop continue and fade away. Seemed to be only noticeable on the 2 X Kik drum samples. There is also very fast delays happening on each kick drum but randomly, never consistent, but almost always. Like the sample is sounding multiple time very quickly.

Headphones seemed to be fine. Issue only with built in speakers.

Changing the buffer from 128 to 32 made it go away, then 1024 also tested clean. But I only did that shortly before retiring to bed.

Will test a session at 48000hz as opposed to 44100 tomorrow.

This computer is meant to take over from my pro tools HD Mac Pro 3,1 from 2008. This is not looking good.

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Macbook Pro 16 inch speaker pulsating noise?