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tttxx Author

Level 1

10 points

Sound stuttering after Mountain Lion install

Dear community,

after having installed OSX Mountain Lion my sound startet stuttering whenever there is rapid movement on my screen.

This includes e.g. window movement, scrolling through image loaded websites or video playback (flash player, quicktime).

A restart didn't help. I'm using stereo output, not digital.

I have connected a second monitor but the problem persists after disconnecting it. Movement on the second monitor also causes the sound to stutter.

My GPU Diode temperature is at 85°C (there is some bug that keeps the GPU under load while a second monitor is connected AFAIK), but I guess it was the same under Snow Leopard.

In Snow Leopard the sound output was always perfect even under heavy load or heavy HDD I/O.

Any ideas?

iMac (27-inch Mid 2011), OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Jul 28, 2012 5:48 AM

Top-ranking reply

chilblane

Level 1

5 points

Posted on Jul 28, 2012 3:22 PM

I am also having this issue as well.

I opened Activity Monitor and noticed that during the stuttering, coreaudiod jumps in CPU usage, often past 5%. I have also noticed graphics lag when this occurs if I'm doing something like watching full-screen video or gaming.

I'm currently experiencing this on mid 2011 iMac 27" as well as a 24" iMac 2009 model I use at work.

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1,223 replies

sixfour

Level 1

0 points

Aug 24, 2012 9:32 PM in response to Anthonysanto

So I reinstalled Mountain Lion again, reset my PRAM... the problem does seem gone. I will do a longer test.

sixfour

Level 1

0 points

Aug 24, 2012 11:05 PM in response to sixfour

starting to stutter again.. 😕 oh well.

Aug 24, 2012 11:34 PM in response to sixfour

I just have one thing to say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX7wtNOkuHo

laba

Level 1

4 points

Aug 25, 2012 8:45 AM in response to tttxx

Hello,

just a short message to let you know the problems are still there after upgrading to 10.8.1 ... Even using Ethernet and WiFi OFF the problem is there just the same (using the latest MBA + THB)

tttxx Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 26, 2012 6:59 AM in response to sixfour

sixfour, I think resetting the PRAM doesn't do as much as it used to a few years earlier. I don't think it's really worth trying to fix bugs with it anymore.

Furthermore, I can confirm the problems persist on an iMac 2011 after 10.8.1. As 10.8.2 is already being tested, I would suggest waiting for it. But then this problem has to be fixed!

Do I undestand correctly, that I have no chance to swap the iMac in for a new one because it's already 14 months old? I mean it's really a problem if 2000$ devices stop working 2 months after warranty expires. And I don't think I'm supposed to buy more warranty time to protect myself from software bugs from the only OS I am able to run anyway!

Aug 26, 2012 11:47 AM in response to tttxx

I am still having the same problems...😠

Do iMacs have a Native Instruments Audio Interface?

(sorry, I don't know how to remove the red backgound 😕)

"Due to USB audio driver issues present in recent versions of OSX, some NI products will experience a degraded audio signal when used with OS X 10.8 “Mountain Lion” on any Apple hardware. The same issue occurs with the current-generation MacBooks under 10.7 using USB 3.0. Specifically, the following NI products are affected:

AUDIO 2 DJ / AUDIO 4 DJ / AUDIO 8 DJ
AUDIO KONTROL 1
GUITAR RIG MOBILE
GUITAR RIG SESSION
KORE 1
RIG KONTROL 2 / RIG KONTROL 3
TRAKTOR AUDIO 2
TRAKTOR KONTROL S4

Native Instruments has provided beta drivers* for these hardware devices to make them fully compatible with the newest Apple technologies. If you own one of the affected devices and run the latest MacOS version 10.8, or have a MacBook with USB 3.0, you can download and install the beta drivers from our unprotected drivers and updates page…."

davidvoy

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2012 2:11 PM in response to FrederikY

I updated to 10.8.1
Reset SMC
Reset PRAM
Still get Crackling Audio over USB from my Line6 PODxt

Audio Example.....
http://soundcloud.com/davidvoy/osx-ml-10-8-1-stillcrackles

davidvoy

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2012 3:22 PM in response to davidvoy

I found 10.8.2 on torrent downloaded it, isnatlled it.

still Audio Crackles... ****.

Example audio......

http://soundcloud.com/davidvoy/osx-ml-10-8-2-stillcrackles

Lvivske

Level 1

8 points

Aug 27, 2012 3:26 PM in response to davidvoy

sounds like feedback or something

i havent played guitar in a few years, but i have heard that sound issue before, I'm just drawing a blank on the cause since I haven't recorded in a while

davidvoy

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2012 3:56 PM in response to Lvivske

Regardless.... It started happening as soon as i updated to Mountain Lion.

Aug 27, 2012 6:57 PM in response to davidvoy

I'm giving up on Apple. In all my time as a apple customer and over $50000 I've spent those 6 years, I've never seen hardware and software from a company as lacking as they are. QC is gone and they are now coasting on the momentum they worked hard to have their name o ce again symbolize. I've put my macs on Craigslist and have found myself recommending my connections buy competing products other than apple if possible. It's disturbing all the issues there are outside of ML. I'm just not happy being a paying beta tester. That's why there is a phase called Beta. It's to work kinks out before customers get it. ML has a lot more than it's fair share and Apple hasn't resolved anything in my eyes. Plus, since ML, I've noticed pixels failing because ML has my iMacs running so much hotter than it used to and is affecting the LCDs.

Absolute garbage. Thanks Apple.

Gondor5

Level 1

0 points

Aug 27, 2012 6:59 PM in response to davidvoy

So far, the only solution I have found to the sound problem is to revert to OS X 10.7 Lion. I will stay there until Apple post a fix for Mountain Lion.

davidvoy

Level 1

9 points

Aug 27, 2012 9:19 PM in response to BarrettF77

I love apple products and understand they dropped the ball on ths one issue.
If you wana dump all your apple Gear, can you post LINKS to your sales?

Sell it all to me dirt cheap, please, that will get back at apple. 🙂

Dave

tttxx Author

Level 1

10 points

Aug 28, 2012 3:10 AM in response to Gondor5

Maybe you should call Apple then.

I've just talked to the Apple Support over phone and they say this is behaviour caused by a hardware bug (maybe only triggered by 10.8) or by installed software.

I will test a fresh installation and then bring the iMac to the local Apple reseller.

It's unlikely this will get fixed by an update because the bug hasn't shown up yet and obviously they control the hardware.

Really weird there are more people experiencing this!

davidvoy

Level 1

9 points

Aug 28, 2012 5:19 AM in response to tttxx

Its all BUGY Mountain Lion, I have had my mac since 2007, flawless, soon as i upgraded to Mountain Lion, Issues with sound .

Sound stuttering after Mountain Lion install