volume fluctuation on macbook air

A "fix" may have been issued, and yes, it stops the massive random drops in volume.

However, it's painfully apparent that there's some kind of dynamic range compression going on, probably to raise the volume on content with low volume. Which would be a valid reason if there were an off button for this feature.

I actually use the internal speakers to test mixes before rendering songs for CD (you really need to test sound mixes on all kinds of crappy audio hardware, and these tinny Air speakers have previously been a very valuable companion for that purpose), and this feature is totally destroying that.

The volume is not just boosted, it is boosted extremely poorly for one, and it also clips and crackles while exceeding the 0db ceiling.

I need an off button for this feature or I'll have to return my Air as defective.

Broken goods delivered, finally a fix is avaiable, of course we should all be worried, tis is not how any nr 1 company should behave.

Apple is loosing a lot of confidence by this.

I am having a problem with my MBA 2013 after the patch where certain videos at high volume causes the left speaker to cracke, buzz a bit at certain times during the video. I watch the same video in my Windows 8 Bootcamp and it sounds softer and smoother. Could the dynamic range compression you were talking about be the reason?

I bought my MBA 2013 after the patch and I wish I could have tested it before...

I've just bought my MBA last week, but the patch didnot come preinstalled. I'd to install it after the initial setup, which I didn't. If it ain't broken,..... Don't know if it is possible to deinstall a pacht after it's applied. (First time mac user.)

The patch will come inside future versions of Mac OS, anyway.

Most definitely, this is exactly how the "feature" works.

Usually, when applying compression to boost volume, you also add a "clipping" algorithm. That is, a piece of software logic to handle the cases where you boost the volume so much that you're beyond what is possible within the digital domain (0db).

Unfortunately, Apple don't seem to think this is necessary. Overall this implementation seems like a pathetic hack, and even if it were implemented properly, you really need a way to turn it off.

I will purchase a 13-inch MacBook Air this weekend and am inclined to purchase it online than in any of the nearby local stores, in hope that I receive a unit with a new firmware or pre-patched that absolves this volume issue. I'm a DAW user as well and understand exactly what you're saying, Daniel. That said, what's that current status (Aug 9th) of this bug for current MBA owners?

I wouldn't expect Apple to fix this at all. They don't exactly have a great track record for listening to explicit consumer needs, and it's pretty apparent that this is considered a feature. I'd expect a downgrade to Lion to "fix" it, though, unless it's some kind of EFI-based thing...

Dr. Daniel is incorrect, sanlui, this issue is resolved, it was only a power issue with the speaker system tolerances for power variances.

If you buy online or in a retail store, there is utterly no difference, any you buy, if the patch isnt installed, its a 10 second download, either way, same result.

As for the comment about "apple not listening to consumer needs", this is a baseless ad hominem conjecture..., Apple is and has been #1 for a long time, and in the foreseeable future as well

enjoy your new Air asanlui 😊

Oh dear Lord, not Mr. PlotinusInveritas.

Seriously, dear friend, your "speaker system tolerances for power variances" theory is as wrong as it is inept and poorly confabulated.

If you'd care to read what's been written, no one is disputing the existence of said "fix", we're merely addressing it as being not a proper one. The dynamic range compression is still being applied to audio when played through the internal speakers. It's slightly less problematic than before, but it's still making music sound wrong, and more problematic for those of us in the music making business, it makes the speakers unpredictable and unreflecting of actual sound reproduction.

And, seriously, you need to stop writing here in the form of presenting facts (it was only a power issue) when no such facts exist.

On another note, thanks, at least for not all-capping, -bolding and -italicizing your post this time 'round.

Unfortunately there is no fix. This is a hardware problem and this is what I was told by Apple Reps. I returned my Air before the 14 days and got my money back. This is unacceptable and I am sure it going to hurt Apple in ways. I got the Mac Pro instead because all the Airs currently being sold are affilcted with this volume fluctuation problem.

Cambyses wrote:

This is a hardware problem and this is what I was told by Apple Reps.

Well, if they really said that, then they lied to you. There's no issue at all in Windows on this machine.

But, on the other hand, if you got to return your Mac, good for you! 🙂 Perhaps next year they won't use this technology, and you can get the 2014 Air. Or maybe a better PC is available right now 😉

I also got the Mac Air 13" last week. It had the annoying volume fluctuation problem that I noticed right away. I returned mine because the Apple reps told me that it is a hardware issue. It is probably too late but I was going to tell you not to bother getting the Air because you will encounter the same problem. I got the Mac Book pro instead and I am very happy. A lot of people bought the Air because of the battery power advantage but other than that it has had it's share of problems.

I have problems too, but in my case i hear a noise like "clack clack" when i´m listening a video in youtube, or music in soundcloud or iTunes. It is my second MacBook Air 2013 with sound problems. More than 1500€ and the sound doesn´t work good. Great Apple!

Yeah unfortunately sound is very important to me. I also use the Apple to record music in GarageBand and it was the most annoying thing playing back the music I had recorded. There was big time fluctuation going on. I don't know why you get the "clack clack" noise when playing videos, maybe they tried to use a patch to fix the fluctuation problem but ended up causing another type of sound problem.

The way I looked at it I didn't pay over $1300 to get a flaw in the sound. Imagine watching videos or movies and having the fluctuation! It was unacceptable, so I returned mine and got the Mac Pro instead. I don't care about the 11 hours battery power if they have in effect compromised other functions. Thanks for your comment and good luck.