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

Reply
998 replies

Nov 2, 2013 1:42 AM in response to poinggo

Hello poinggo.


Do you have other stuff connected via USB?

I'm asking this because having the same problem I noticed that the problem was more severe when connecting all my usb (2) stuff to the computer. I have the problem even just using internal audio and speakers, even with itunes.

Hope they will find a solution. I sent back my iMac 27 fd but I'm they will replace it with an identical unit.

Nov 2, 2013 10:44 AM in response to Inkaroads

I am using a Presonus AudioBox 22vsl USB AI and seem to have a slightly different problem. As long as all Presonus software, drivers, prefs, etc. are removed, it works perfectly for about 20 minutes then a severe stuttering of the output begins to build until it shuts down. The temp fix is to reset audio and get another 20 minutes but this won't work for doing recording sessions.


Although the impact is primarily on Logic because I don't need an AI for other apps I use, the problem is there no matter if Logic is running or not. As long as the AudioBox is plugged in the stuttering will start after 20 minutes.


My gear is iMac 27 i7 1TB Fusion.


I have a ticket into Apple and a ticket into Presonus. My bottom line question is do I send back this iMac and order one without the FD? Is the FD the problem or is it something else, Mavericks or USB3?


Is there anyone with a new iMac without a FD that is problem free? My 90 day return time is counting down and I would love to know what to do. Both Apple and Presonus are dragging they're feet here.

Nov 2, 2013 10:50 AM in response to Pancenter

Hello all


Spoke with focusrite and apple pro apps support again re issue and pops etc


Firstly focusrite state the the problem is with apple hardware after testing there setup again and they are submitting a bug report to apple . So that's that


Apple pro apps support in UK do accept there is an issue here in uk with new imac but said it was more likely to be USB hardware or controllers and not the fusion drive as they have had same problems with standard hdd setups, they are submitting all the uk cases to developers and senior technicians at apple HQ.


So things are progressing behind the scenes it seems


The pro apps guy ask me too run my imac using LPX with the inboard sound card without my focusrite 2i4 and I have done this today for four hours WITHOUT any pops or glitches but I did have logic quit during the four hours. During test ran a song playing in virtual instruments and drummer plus some recorded audio from guitar recorder at an earlier time.


Seemed stable ... Although no midi to trigger my out board keys, used ipad remote as a keyboard and mixed with that also.


Thanks

Nov 2, 2013 1:47 PM in response to Clambake

Hi clandestine,


There is somebody on this thread that is very knowledgable and has a 2013 iMac without a fusion drive and is not experiencing any problems.

On your second question about getting a replacement. I'm sure apple would give it to you without any hassle I have gotten two and offed a third but just decided to wait until they figure out and fix the issue before I send it back again. I also asked Apple if they could start my warranty once the issue is resolved. They are supposed to get back to me on that. But they have been really good to me I don't think it will be an issue.

I do have one piece of personal advice for you. I don't know if you looked at the price for a iMac extended warranty but there only $169 dollars and you get 2 extra years of coverage plus unlimited phone support for the entire time. My last warranty I got for my 2011 iMac was over $300 dollars so they have come way down in price it's almost a no brainer to get one unless your that tight for money.


Good luck,


DeadPhish

Nov 2, 2013 2:32 PM in response to Deadphish42

TY Clandestyne.


I will get the extended warranty and I will send my 1TBFD back and get one without a FD since there are no advantages having a FD when recording audio. The only thing that will change that plan is Apple putting out a fix early next week. Somehow I doubt that will happen. Note to self, never buy a brand new release no matter how much I think I need it.

Nov 2, 2013 4:40 PM in response to Deadphish42

To be honest..

I am thinking if they don't sort out this issue then I will be asking Apple to swap the iMac for a Base model MacPro for the trouble and get a screen for myself. This amount of downtime on a machine that is promoted at running Pro Apps is so frustrating. We are all hoping that we wake up and the next day a fix is waiting to be downloaded but how long that will be is unsure.


Ok, fair enough they have to have time to test and fix but this shouldn't of happened in the first place in my opinion.

Sigh..

Ok.. Rant over.

Nov 5, 2013 8:19 AM in response to Deadphish42

Just an update.

Yesterday I got another Imac 27 i7 FD as a replacement from the original. Identical issue still there. After about 30/40 minutes of listening music through Itunes the audio starts stuttering heavily.

After some tests with my hardware I found that the best results (just a few cracks/pops every now and then) I have them when I plug in the apogee duet (with maverick fw update) directly in the mac and all the other stuff (Mackie mcupro, drives, keyboards) connected through what appears to be a solid USB3 hub by Orico that I bought the other day, I was previously using a USB2 hub.

Now I have 10 days to decide if to give back the Imac and get a refund or keep it hoping in a fw update from Apple or something. Maybe I could get a SSD version or a standard drive. Really don't know.

This whole thing has been so time consuming.

Ciao

Nov 5, 2013 9:19 AM in response to AdInfinitumband

Hi. I'm in no way a tech so I could be totally wrong but I did notice also on the previous imac (the one I sent in to be replaced) that the presence or not of usb stuff connected to the iMac would affect the severeness of the audio problem.

So, out of ignorance, I bought the USB3 hub with the intent of trying to "clean/sanitize" up that area.

Apparently this does have an effect as with all my usb2 stuff going through the new hub (which is USB3, has a USB3 cable but has ports compatible with usb2 and usb1.1 ) the problem is minimized. At least on my setup.


Really don't know if this is the problem and if it could be fixed through software or hardware.

I think holding off a bit to see what happens is the best strategy.

Sorry for the "stuttering" english. :-)


Ciao

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clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running

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