USB audio dropouts on Big Sur 11.3

Since I've updated Big Sur to 11.3, I'm having massive problems with short audio dropouts through my USB audio interface (Roland Rubix 22). The dropouts occur at least once a minute (mostly 4-5 times a minute) and it makes both listening to music and my professional audio work in Logic Pro X impossible, which is very frustrating. I've isolated the problem by testing my hardware and cables on different machines. It all works fine (as it did before 11.3). So it has to be the update.

I'm not alone with this problem:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Schiit/comments/n04yiz/dont_update_to_bigsur_113/

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/252189453

I hope that there are more people with that issue, so Apple will listen and fix that.

I'm on a MacBook Pro M1.

MacBook Pro (2020 and later)

Posted on May 3, 2021 1:44 AM

Top-ranking reply

RobE73

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Jun 11, 2021 11:12 AM

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.

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25 replies

May 5, 2021 11:11 AM in response to Markus Sander

I have the same problem, problems have arisen after 11.3

I'm also on a MacBook M1.

May 6, 2021 5:33 AM in response to steffen280

Which sound interface do you use?

May 6, 2021 5:52 AM in response to Markus Sander

No you are right, but the only solution right now,

at least for me.

May 24, 2021 11:19 AM in response to stephenjl

Has it been fixed in Big Sur 11.4?

May 24, 2021 10:34 PM in response to steffen280

Sadly not. 11.4 is stuttering just like 11.3. My hopes were dashed. 😢

Jun 1, 2021 6:00 PM in response to ippei8132

That is great news. Sadly I'm now waiting for the next update to see if my stuttering USB 2.0 audio output problem is fixed. 🤞

Jul 9, 2021 6:07 PM in response to ChuckAngel

Sadly 11.4 hasn't helped my problem. Still stuttering output through my USB dac.

Aug 14, 2021 4:29 AM in response to godisanastronaut

Sadly my audio output via my USB DAC is still stuttering on 11.5. So frustrating.

Jul 6, 2021 10:01 AM in response to Markus Sander

Late 2013 Mac Pro

128gb RAM

Xeon 6 core

Since 10.3, intermittent audio drops/stutters, almost always after a sleep, must reboot to resolve. Only affects my USB interfaces: Soundcraft Signature MTK 12. Tested against older Propellerheads Balance (2 different units), same issue. Switching to HDMI audio in my Asus monitors, no stutter. Internal to the Mac Pro, no stutter. Only on the USB Audio Interfaces.

On a fresh boot, issue doesn't appear (until this morning). If machine goes to sleep, audio drops every few seconds (youtube, itunes music, you name it) upon using audio after awakening. Rebooting was resolving issue, but as of this morning it continues after a reboot.

This is going to be a mess once I start recording again. Might have to downgrade back to Catalina.

Similar to RobE73, activity monitor shows no abnormal spikes/activity.

Jun 1, 2021 9:42 AM in response to Markus Sander

I upgraded OS to 11.4 a week ago. Since then I have not experienced the issue I had with 11.3 so far on MacBook Air M1. My USB audio device is USB DAC SMSL SU-9.

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USB audio dropouts on Big Sur 11.3