USB audio dropouts on Big Sur 11.3

Okay, so I 'fixed' the issue.

I logged a call with Apple, tried the usual troubleshooting steps, didn't really get anywhere. 11.4 still has the drop outs issue.

Solution: Set up a new volume, installed Catalina 10.15.7. and now have a dual boot setup. Works perfectly with my devices and the latest Audacity, no drop outs.

I had this same problem. Im running on a Macbook Pro M1 with Big Sur 11.3. I had my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 connected via a USB C Multifunction adapter. I had audio dropouts occasionally during playback through any media, even on Youtube. I just tried upgrading to 11.5 and it seems to have fixed the problem now. Hopefully it stays the same way.

Updating to 11.4 seems to have solved the issue on my MacBook Air M1. No dropouts anymore. (Presonus AudioBox iTwo with Logic Pro 10.6.2)

I installed 11.4 yesterday, from 11.2.3, and something they have changed, for my problem has disappeared.

I have exactly the same problem with behringer u-phoria umc202hd as well as with PreSonus Audiobox iTwo since updating to MacOS 11.3 . Apple support promised me to forward this issue to the development department as it obviously seems to be MacOS related. I use latest Logic Pro on MacBook Air M1.

Okay, I've upgraded my MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015) from Big Sur 11.4 to 11.5.2, and so far so good.

No more audio dropouts when recording via either of my USB A to D equiped phono pre amps. Going to wait a while before deleting my OSX Catalina volume though.

Thanks for sorting it so far Apple!

I have exactly the same problem.

MacBook Pro 13" Retina early 2015 - 2.7Ghz i5, 16GB RAM

OS 11.4

Occurs with two devices, both using generic 'USB Audio Codec' (neither has their 'own' driver):

Rega Fono Mini

ART USB Phono Plus

Both devices are used for connecting a Turntable via USB. Both have worked faultlessly for years.

Tried alternate cables, and both USB ports on the Mac

Same issue in both Audacity (tried multiple versions from 2.4.2 -> 3.0.2) and WavePad. Makes no difference if I use the internal SSD or a RAM disk to cache the recording.

Activity monitor shows no spikes in CPU/disk writes etc. Have also verified the SSD is fine using a disk read/write test application that shows its performance fine for applications requiring much faster disk writing than audio recording requires.

Tried full fresh re-install of the OS.

Very frustrating as pretty much the only 'serious' thing I use the machine for is importing my record collection.

behringer u-phoria umc202hd

Now I'm Rollback for 11.2.3 and it seems Perfeckt again

I am having continuing problems with listening to audio output from my Mac mini through my USB 2.0 Audio Research DAC using Big Sur. The audio output is now stuttering.

I have a 2018 Mac mini. I use an Audio Research DAC 8 (USB). It worked beautifully with Mac OS 10.14.6. 

Big Sur has only caused me audio problems. Previously, with OS 11.1 and 11.2, I was unable to get any audio output via my DAC. Now with OS 11.3.1 I get audio but it is constantly stuttering and thus unlistenable.

I have tried rebooting, restarting, unplugging and changing ports, resetting the nvram and smc.

Interestingly my son's MacBook Air (apple chip) does not have this problem. If I plug the Apple chip Air into the DAC it plays normally.

I have contacted Apple Support - they couldn't help. I have contacted Audio Research - they blamed Apple.

Praying for a fix from Apple in an update soon.....

Sadly, I have the same problem. I'm using different audio interfaces and different DAWs but audio dropouts always appear. Checking the CPU in Logic Pro, it never overloads, so the problem is different. The message given from Logic Pro is "Error while trying to synchronize audio and MIDI so the problem could be the clock. I already experienced this problem before but I was able to solve it. Now I can't find a way out. I'm updating to 11.4 right now, I'll let you know. If someone finds a solution please share.

Still getting stuttering audio output via my USB 2.0 DAC. This is with system 11.5.2.

If I adjust the Hz format setting in MIDI, the higher the frequency the faster the stutter.

The DAC company say its an apple problem. Apple say its a DAC problem 😬😬😬

Wish i could fix this problem. 😢

This is a link to the Native Instruments forum concerning the same issue: https://www.native-instruments.com/forum/threads/osx-11-3-bigsur-update-native-s3-dropouts.454127/ . Native Instruments now seems to be in direct contact with Apple.

Count me in as well. I've had the exact same problem going all the way back to High Sierra. I had great hopes after upgrading to Big Sur 11.4 because the problem appeared to have gone away. Oh happy day!

After just upgrading to 11.5, it's back :(

My Mid-2014 Macbook Pro is connected to a Pro-ject Maia integrated amp via USB. I should note that when connected to my Schitt MAGNI 3+, I have no problems whatsoever. Of course, this points to my Pro-ject Maia being the problem, but their support blames Apple. <Sigh>