Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 clapping and crackling issues with Logic Pro x new iMac 27"

I got and answer but no solution, unfortunately. Here is the reply from Focusrite support:

Yes I can see now that you're using a Fusion Drive. We have seen various problems with systems using these drives, spanning both FireWire and USB, across all brands and manufacturers. We are currently investigating the issue further to see if there's anything we can do on our end to remedy the issue.

lagstrom,

Yes, this matches the info I posted in another thread on this very issue,,, that affects all Audio Interfaces be it FW or USB2 etc.. (and also affects internal Audio for that matter...)

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5428602?answerId=23858272022#23858272022

The temporary workaround is to boot from an external Drive (or split your Fusion drive though the ext HD method is much simplier) until such time as Apple provides a reliable fix for the issue.. The Ext Drive workaround has proven to be 100% successful so far....

Finally, its worth noting that the FD issue only seems to affect 2013 iMacs with a FD fitted and not for example, the 2012 Mac Mini with FD fitted... All other models of Mac without FDs fitted are not affected by this specific issue.

This worked for me! Hope it helps you!

This is the email I got back from the support and the the solution for me.

"Thanks for your call and sorry to learn of the problems you are having with your Focusrite product.

Some users have reported experiencing audio glitches and drop outs with the Scarlett range of interfaces since updating to OSX 10.9 Mavericks. If you are experiencing these problems with your interface, it is possible to utilise Apple’s USB audio driver by downloading and running the class compliant mode application below, while we investigate further.

Please note: After the class compliant mode application has been unzipped, please right click on the application and choose "Open". If you do not do this you may get an error message from the Apple Gatekeeper service

http://d3se566zfvnmhf.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/answerbase/ClassComplia ntMode.app_.zip

Please feel free to call us back on +44 1494 462246"

Art of sound,

Thanks for replying. In my case with apple care now they want me to reinstall mavericks completely. I hesitate on that. I think your thesis on this problem is more accurate and a reinstall would not be the solution, only half a day wasted time.

Can you please post a link on how to split the fusiondrive through ext HD menthod as you mention?

I would need a step by step walkthrough or something.

Cheers!

Lagstrom,

Yes, I suspect that would be a waste of your time too.... as everyone who has tried that, so far, found it didn't fix anything.

So....

Bear in mind the splitting of the fusion drive and... the booting from an external drive... are two different workarounds...

I would recommend the Boot from an external drive method as it is the simpliest to accomplish...

Anyhow.. here is a link as to how to split your Fusion Drive...

http://www.macworld.com/article/2015664/how-to-split-up-a-fusion-drive.html

and here is a link as to how to install Mavericks onto a bootable external drive ..

http://www.macworld.com/article/2056561/how-to-make-a-bootable-mavericks-install -drive.html

Note: I personally use Option 3 via Diskmaker X to create bootable EXT HDs as I find that the easiest method..

Then all you do is hold down the option key when you start up your Mac and choose your external drive from the graphical menu that will appear... to boot from

or

Easier still is to use the Startup Drive app in System Preferences to set the startup drive to your external bootable HD so when you startup your mac it will automatically boot from your external HD...

Thanks Art of Noise for replying

Maybe this is a dumb question but if I make a external boot drive with diskmaster x, do I need to move all my content to that drive of will it just be the system there.

Can it in that case be done on a USB thumbdrive of say 32 gb or do i need to install it on a normal external hdd?

Hey Lagstrom

You have to put everything on the external drive that was on your internal System Drive so the FD isn't needed or used at all.... which is why a thumbdrive usually won't do because of it's limited capacity....

Now I have gone a couple of rounds with the senior advisors of apple care support and confirmed that reinstalling 10.8 does not help, going into safe boot does not help. Safeboot into 10.8 doesnt help either, but when trying the focusrite audio interface on a mac mini 2010 and macbook pro (2011) both non-fusion drive, with Mavericks 10.9, it works perfectly out of the box.

My god how many hours ive spent with Apple support now!!

Until now they have all said thet you have to wait for focusrite to release new drivers. Guess theyre prooved wrong now...

lagstrom wrote:

Now I have gone a couple of rounds with the senior advisors of apple care support and confirmed that reinstalling 10.8 does not help, going into safe boot does not help. Safeboot into 10.8 doesnt help either, but when trying the focusrite audio interface on a mac mini 2010 and macbook pro (2011) both non-fusion drive, with Mavericks 10.9, it works perfectly out of the box.

My god how many hours ive spent with Apple support now!!

Until now they have all said thet you have to wait for focusrite to release new drivers. Guess theyre prooved wrong now...

Surely Apple doesn't expect hardware manufacturer's to write drivers that get around their poorly programmed Fusion Drive software which seems to tie up the computer's bus system.

My guess is they're working on a fix but not everyone knows about it.. uhh.... hopefully.

My guess is they're working on a fix but not everyone knows about it.. uhh.... hopefully.

Yes, that is exactly what is going on...

The reason they go on about the drivers is because typically, it would be a driver issue that produces the symptoms being presented... and so, of course, if they don't know about the FD issue... then they would go for faulty drivers being the cause

More and more of them are apparently becoming more aware of the 2013 iMac and FD issue however... just not all (yet!)

I don't know but it seems like the crackling noise is gone or heavily reduced now after installing 10.9.1. Someone else noticing som difference? I have only been able to run music for 30 min. Sometimes I think I can hear a crackling noise but nothing as frequent as before, yet.

There was nothing written in the apple release note about fixing it.

As far as I am aware, in regards to the 2013 iMac with FD fitted issue... there was no specific fix in 10.9.1 for this issue.

Sorry to say I was mistaken. Problem appeared again, this time approx after 2 hours of listening

Often the crackling will subside after the computer has been on for a while and the FD is not accessed as much. Rebooting the computer usually gets it back right away. However... you can't use a system like this in pro or even semi-pro audio use, you can't have confidence in a hardware/OS combination that can corrupt audio. As of right now the Fusion-Drive systems are a no-go unless the drive is modified and split into two disks.

There's also other factors as Art of Sound has so expertly outlined.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-6421

Thank you Pancenter...

I have now placed the relevant info in a User Tip as that will allow us to easily update the information, as and when needed...

The User Tip can be found here....

Info on Issues regarding 2013 iMacs with Fusion Drives, USB2/3 and Driver Incompatibility with 10.9