Level 1

5 points

clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running

I just got the new iMac that was released two weeks ago yesterday. All I did was set it up with Logic X, Main Stage, and Aperture all from the app store. nothing else was put on it. I opened up logic just to check it out and see how much faster the performance would be. I just wanted to give it a quick test and played some apple loops I immideatly noticed it was making a clipping sound randomly. The meters were not peaking everything was in the green and if you turned down the gain the clipping just got quiteter. I called apple support thinking it was a hardware issue. They had me do some trouble shooting like playing the same loops through quicktime and the clipping persisted. they also had me play a youtube video to see if I could hear the clipping. It wasn't as noticible but it was there. Apple decided that it would be a good idea to reformat the computer tomorrow and start over. Sounded fine to me seeing how I didn't have much installed yet. I did a little more trouble shooting on my own after I got off the phone with apple. First I made a copy of three apple loops and put them on my desktop then restarted the computer. Then after a fresh restart and nothing running I opened one of the apple loops off the desktop with quicktime player and it sounded great no clipping. Same with You Tube. I then opened Logic Pro X. Did nothing with it but minimize it. I then went back to quick time player and tried to play the loop again. This time the clipping was back. Same with You Tube.

My conclusion for some reason when logic is running the audio makes a random clipping sound no matter what audio program you play the audio through. (Clipping sound comes out of the internal speakers as well as headphones)

All of my software is up to date.

I am running:

27" iMac

3.5GHz Intel Core i7

16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3

If anybody has experienced this same problem or has any recomendations they would be greatly appreciated.

I am going to reformat in the morning and try and start again.

I will post my results

Thank you,

Aaron

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.5)

Posted on Oct 8, 2013 11:22 PM

998 replies

Babw

Level 1

0 points

Oct 23, 2013 3:14 PM in response to Deadphish42

Excellent news.

I've got a 6 more iMacs on order for my office. Decided to order them with SSD's so will check if it was a fusion drive issue.

Oct 23, 2013 5:14 PM in response to Deadphish42

Hi guys, I upgraded to Mavericks tonight and the problem is fixed for me as well!

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 23, 2013 5:26 PM in response to Babw

Hi Babw,

Wow 6 SSD's what size did you go for if you don't mind me asking? I think the SSD is a good idea for a office enviorment. I wouldn't imagine you would need very big drives on the actually desktop. I'm assuming most of your data would be on a network in a office enviorment. That's alot of assumptions on my part but that's great your getting a bunch of new ones. I like this computer alot now that the sound is fixed. I cant beleive how much cooler and queter it runs than my mid 2011 iMac.

Good luck with the fusion drives let us know how they worked out,

DeadPhish

gswinton

Level 1

0 points

Oct 24, 2013 5:52 AM in response to Deadphish42

Hi Deadphish42,

Can I just confirm, you have an iMac 27" with the 3TB fusion drive and since upgrading to Mavericks the audio problem has completely stopped? Have you installed 'other' apps now and still no problems. Do you use a USB interface to record audio into Logic Pro X, any problems with that? I sent my iMac back as I didn't want to be in a cycle of being sent replacement machines and it happening again. I did this before the Mavericks release... had I known it was to be released so soon I would have waited another week or so.

Thanks

Oct 24, 2013 5:57 AM in response to Deadphish42

Don't want to speak to soon but,

Mavericks, Logic 10.0.4 and Apogee Duet 2 ( with new 10.9 driver) all seems good this end.

Kontakt and omnisphere arn't poping like they were.

Well, so far so good.

Oct 24, 2013 6:27 AM in response to RobboHuddo

The client of mine with a 2013 iMac with Fusion Drive who was having the same issue.. has confirmed to me that using the new Mav compatible drivers for his Duet... resolved his issue too....

Initially he stated he was still getting the Rice Crispies effect with LPX... but since updating his Duet's drivers that problem resolved itself...

So, maybe the public release version of Mav does fix this?

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 24, 2013 7:32 AM in response to gswinton

Hi Gswinton,

Yes I can confirm I have a 27" iMac with a 3TB fusion drive and since upgrading to Mavericks the Audio problem has stopped. I have been taking it really slow setting up this computer. I've installed only Apple apps at this time but I can confirm Logic, Garage band, Aperture and itunes are all working as they should. I have not pluged in my AI yet it is firewire so I will be using a thunderbolt to firewire adapter. I dont anticipate anyproblems though. I am also using two Seagate 4TB thunderbolt drives (a note on the 4TB seagate drive, there is a driver that must be installed before plugging in the drive or the mac will not recognize it, something about the drive being over 2TB. the driver should come with the drive on a usb thumbdrive).

This was my second replacement as well. They sent it out on a Friday and I received it on Monday. It didn't work Monday but then Mavericks came out Tuesday and everything got better.

I Hope you get your replacement soon. The computer is really nice now that the sound works.

Good Luck,

DeadPhish

Oct 25, 2013 8:39 AM in response to Deadphish42

Hey guys.

OK. I am having the same issue... clicking, popping distortion with Logic Pro X & Garageband...

but with mavericks!

Have an imac 27inch, 3.5ghz i7, 3tb fusion drive, 4gb graphics, 8gb ram.

The iMac is flawless in every way and so **** fast!

But play BACK audio through my Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 which is usb 2 & after about 5minutes, the clicks & drops begin and build up to an inaudible mess. there is also an echo that appears too!

Wondered if it was something as simple as the internal microphone so turned that 100% down... no.

Upgraded to Mavericks and re-installed logic pro x which runs great on the imac's own speakers, but as soon as i try to record or playback through a device.

Spoken to a senior advisor from Apple support over the phone for over 40 mins.. and also spoken to focusrite. Have re-installed Mavericks, got rid of the focusrite USB driver and still no joy.

The same thing has happened with my frineds audio interface with a different cable.

So its either fusion drive or a prblem with the USB3 - USB 2 issue i think.

😟

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 25, 2013 9:05 AM in response to Johnpaulmusic

Hi Johnpaulmusic,

It sounds like its your AI. You are saying everything works ok without the device?

DeadPhish

Oct 25, 2013 9:17 AM in response to Johnpaulmusic

JohnPaul,

Please read this thread and then contact Focusrite again as it appears there is a file they can send you that fixes this issue for many people...under Mountain Lion so maybe the same thing will work under Mavericks..

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5416304

Oct 26, 2013 12:59 PM in response to Johnpaulmusic

Hi John

My config very simil but using the focusrite 2i4 with new imac with i7 and fusion drive 16 GB ram and its not a week old yet. Also installed Mavericks and still having exactly the same problems as you describe.

Its fine for 20 mins then starts to click and pop with weird distortions BUT what has work as a temporary fix is when this occurs I change the io buffer settings in LPX from say 128 to 256 and this clears the issue for a while. I can only gues that it clears or frees up a memory address ???

I'm sure that this is a problem with the mac and the focusrite interface and interested to see if a small bit of software from focusrite solves it.

Was advised that i should not load any drivers as the focusrite is a core audio product

thanks

mats_j

Level 1

9 points

Oct 26, 2013 1:01 PM in response to Deadphish42

I got hold of another interface to try, and it also has troubles. Not as bad as my Octa-Capture got after I updated to Mavericks, but there's occasional interference.

I've decided to return my replacement iMac as well. I'm so sick of trouble shooting and tech support right now, I just want my money back and be done with it. Hopefully this problem will get resolved in the future, and I can get a working new iMac, but right now it's back to the old trusty 2009...

Oct 26, 2013 5:10 PM in response to Deadphish42

Hi. Just did a test.

My config is:

Brand new Imac 27", i7, fusion drive 1tb, 16gb

Apogee duet (with mavericks fw), 2 ext usb2 drives, couple of master keyb, mackie mcupro, akai mpd

Have severe clicks, pops and audio stuttering, never seen on previous late 2009 imac 27.

Problem showing in itunes, logic x, live 9, even through internal speaker.

Used mountain lion and maverick

Anyways, made a bootable clone of my hd on a cheap usb2 external drive, booted from there, absolutely no clicks, pops or anything. Rebooted from internal and after a while audio problem was back. Tested for only 30 minutes so not very scientific, i'll keep on testing tomorrow.

I already ordered a replacement machine, hope I'll be able to ask them to send me one with a std drive, if my tests will be confirmed tomorrow.

Sad because the fusion drive was real fast in booting and opening apps.

Hth.

Oct 26, 2013 6:15 PM in response to Deadphish42

Hey guys and gals... SOME (hopefully) useful information!

OK... been having a look at the issue for a few days now. The Scarlett 2i2 is flawless on my older 2007 macbook pro.. running mavericks, under USB 2.

So.. I have looked at my OTHER device which can be used as a USB audio interface, my TC-Helicon Voicelive Touch 2 and this is have exactly the same issue with the iMac i7.

therefore, i began to research more regarding backward compatibility and came across an article from www.creatingdigitalmusic.com which is ALL about the lack of backward compatibility with USB 3 to USB 2 when AUDIO is concerned. Its almost like USB 3 is pushing all this information and the USB 2 cant handle it.

http://createdigitalmusic.com/2012/06/usb-3-0-backwards-compatible-in-theory-but -some-audio-drivers-arent-cooperating/

Have a read.. it a BIG eye openeer. Now, YES I know EVERYONE yays that USB 3 is 100% backward compatible with USB 2 and I'm sure if you plug in a hard drive, it is.. but we ALL KNOW now that this audio problem is proving a big issue. I spent 1hr 40mins on the phone with Apple support last night and the guy in Pro Apps for Logic Pro X said that this was the 4th call he has regarding this problem in 2 days with DIFFERENT audio interfaces.

FOA CLANDESTYNE:

I have since found out that Focusrite sell a better audio interface (The Saffire PRO 14 for around £30 more than the Scarlett) which is 100% thunderbolt compliant (with an apple firewire to thunderbolt adapter). so in have swapped the 2i2 for this in Dawsons today.

It has worked flawlessly on firewire and Mix Control software they supply and ZERO latency.. tested with again my old 2007 MBP.. just need the adapter and I will report back.

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 26, 2013 6:43 PM in response to Johnpaulmusic

Hello Everybody,

It sounds like alot of people are still having issues even after installing Mavericks. I have only done a quick test with loops in garage band and didn't encounter any problems but I have alot more testing to do. I did plug in a Apogee Jam today just to test it out and it seemed to work ok for the 5 minutes I used it in garage band. It sounds like the people that are having trouble are getting it after extended use and I havent tested that yet. I haven't tried out my firewire AI yet either or Logic.

I did talk to Apple today. It was a call back from a senior tech that is working on my case and had sent a report to engineering. She had heard back from the engineers and they are now aware of the problem but do not have a fix yet but are working on it and expext a update to be released soon. That's what she told me anyway.

So as far as sending your machine back for a replacement you might want to hang on a little while or get a refund and purchase again when a fix has been released. I think a replacement would only produce the same results unless you maybe loose the fusion drive.

If you do keep your machine you might want to see if they can start your warrenty from the date the issue is resolved.

Good Luck everybody and I will let you know how further tests go with me,

DeadPhish

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clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running