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User profile for user: Jseeca
Jseeca Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Cracking speaker noises when adjusting volume

Hi

Whenever I change the volume of my MacBook Pro M1 using an external device (either my keyboard or mouse, neither apple branded) the volume slider stutters and there is a cracking noise. Additionally for some weird reason whenever I press the caps lock key similar behaviour, sound cuts out for a second with a crackle. When I use the inbuilt volume slider on the Touch Bar, no issues at all.


This is not a hardware issue as I previously did not have this issue out of the box for a few months, I only encountered this issue ever since 11.3.1. Have updated to the latest one (11.5.1) and has not been fixed so far. To confirm this is not hardware, even when connecting earphones or external speakers the behaviour is exactly the same. Pressing caps lock via an external keyboard or changing the volume replicates the same behaviour. So it's neither the inbuilt speakers nor the headphone jack, nor a faulty keyboard. Just a software issue.


Restarting the machine does fix the issue temporarily but it will come back within a day, so it is not the solution. Googling around I don't see others mentioning the same issue although I have found one redditor mentioning the same. I am assuming it's because most people don't use their Macbooks a like desktop with other perhipherals hence no issue.


A solution or forwarding the bug to the development team would be appreciated.

Thank you

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 11.5

Posted on Aug 7, 2021 4:35 PM

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,019 points

Posted on Aug 7, 2021 4:54 PM

Before ruling them out, have you tried using another external keyboard & mouse, other than these? Also are these devices, wired or wireless? If wireless, do they use Bluetooth or a propriety protocol (like Logitech's Unifying)?


As far as forwarding this to the development team, we are not Apple employees here. Apple representatives, may or may not, respond to posts.


Ref: Bug Reporting - Feedback Assistant for Developers - Apple Developer

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,019 points

Aug 7, 2021 4:54 PM in response to Jseeca

Before ruling them out, have you tried using another external keyboard & mouse, other than these? Also are these devices, wired or wireless? If wireless, do they use Bluetooth or a propriety protocol (like Logitech's Unifying)?


As far as forwarding this to the development team, we are not Apple employees here. Apple representatives, may or may not, respond to posts.


Ref: Bug Reporting - Feedback Assistant for Developers - Apple Developer

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User profile for user: Jseeca
Jseeca Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Aug 7, 2021 6:06 PM in response to Tesserax

Keyboard is wired (Coolermaster MK730) and the mouse is wireless (Logitech MX master 3). Same behaviour both though bluetooth and the unifying receiver. For reference I do use my MacBook docked to an external monitor that connects my peripherals. I haven't tried other devices as I don't own any, but I doubt it is the case as it previously did work fine.

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User profile for user: Tesserax
Tesserax
User level: Level 10
152,019 points

Aug 7, 2021 8:16 PM in response to Jseeca

If I understand you current set up, your monitor has USB ports that you have both the Unifying Receiver (for the wireless mouse) & wired keyboard connected to. In turn you have your notebook "docked" to this monitor ... correct? Are you using a docking station for this purpose?


Typically, when you here "crackling" noise when adjusting volume the culprit is a faulty volume control. Back in the old days this was a electromechanical potentiometer. We're obviously well beyond that now-a-days. Where are you adjusting the volume: at the notebook, the keyboard, or the monitor ... or somewhere else?


Since most of us do not have your particular set up, it will be hard to duplicate the issue you are having. All I know at this point, is that your Mac works fine with nothing attached, but has these issues with these peripherals. I understand that you are saying that this was working fine before, but I'm a bit perplexed to understand how an OS update would have changed this. Of course, anything is possible.

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User profile for user: Jseeca
Jseeca Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Aug 7, 2021 9:09 PM in response to Tesserax

Yes that is correct, single USB C cable from the monitor to the MacBook in clamshell mode, with all the other peripherals (mouse, speakers, keyboard) connected to the monitor. So the monitor acts as both a display and a dock. Hence I control the volume via my keyboard or my mice as I've programmed the side scroll wheel to do so. Keyboard and mice are of different brands and different connections but still have the same behaviour.


It could be the peripherals but it doesn't explain why a restart temporarily fixes things, so I'm inclined to believe it's not. I've sent a report via the feedback assistant anyways, but that you for pointing me in the right direction.

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User profile for user: Modeho
Modeho
User level: Level 1
4 points

Aug 10, 2021 11:54 PM in response to Jseeca

I am facing the same issues on my device and I don't use any external devices so I don't think the external devices that you are using are causing the issue...


Also, the same thing happens to me when I restart the device...the issue does go away for like a day then it comes back. It must be the new update :/

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Cracking speaker noises when adjusting volume

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