clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running

I'm in a similar boat - as a Logic Pro user. Got a new iMAC i5 in November - (loaded it w/ 32GB of RAM cause my 5 year old iMAC was chugging) - have a Focusrite Saffire (firewire) & Scarlet (usb) - both have audio problems with this new iMAC. I tried to go back to the Saffire via firewire 400 + belkin firewire 400 to 800 wire, then to Apple's Firewire to Thunderbolt dongle, and I can get a little audio for about 30 seconds. I'm about ready to use my 5 year old iMAC instead - just so I can work on something.

I had the same problem with a Saffire 24. Neither the firewire/thunderbolt or usb would work. With the firewire, I got a horrible loud screeching noise with an occasional few seconds of clear sound. USB would just cut out after a few seconds. Focusrite support didn't seem to be aware of the problem with the new iMacs.

waiting for a fix...

I have the exact same problem. I am currently working off an external thunderbolt drive until the fix. Zero issues, zero problems with my Saffire Pro 14, Mix Control software using thunderbolt to FireWire connection. Can record to my hearts content on Logic Pro X and using Final Cut Pro X too.

Just wish Apple would sort this or at least to a hardware exchange if there is a known hardware comparability issue. I want to use my fusion drive and back up with the thunderbolt drive. Thank the stars I decided to buy the Thunderbolt drive (Lacie 4TB) otherwise I would be screwed!

Come on Apple. Stop promoting the MacPro and fix what is already out!

ges8ges wrote:

I had the same problem with a Saffire 24. Neither the firewire/thunderbolt or usb would work. With the firewire, I got a horrible loud screeching noise with an occasional few seconds of clear sound. USB would just cut out after a few seconds. Focusrite support didn't seem to be aware of the problem with the new iMacs.

waiting for a fix...

If you are using a Fusion drive the fix should come from Apple as it is the Fusion Drive software (that controls the two drives) that is causing the interference. Users that split their Fusion Drive or boot from external drives run smoothly. (see johnpaulmusic's post)

Yes, Pancenter, I've been reading about the possible Fusion Drive connection to the audio problem. I don't want to split my Fusion Drive, but I may try booting from an external drive.

I keep hoping we'll hear something about a fix coming from Apple.

ges8ges wrote:

Yes, Pancenter, I've been reading about the possible Fusion Drive connection to the audio problem. I don't want to split my Fusion Drive, but I may try booting from an external drive.

I keep hoping we'll hear something about a fix coming from Apple.

General feeling is if/when it comes it will appear as a Software Update.

General feeling is if/when it comes it will appear as a Software Update.

Surely there will be a fix. If not then I think Apple would be stuck replacing any of these computers that were bought in order to do recording.

I just bought a late 2013 27" imac 32gigs of ram, 3 TB Fusion Drive the works! I got home unwrapped it, installed Logic Pro X and hooked up my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 and all **** broke loose. I'm getting audio drop out, weird crackles. The only thing I don't have is flying monkeys. I am trying to record Bass and Metronome scratch tracks for my drummer to record to. I was on the phone all day with Logic Pro X People , Apple Care People, and The Mac Store where I bought it. They ran me around for 3 hours trouble shooting everything that could possiblly be wrong. Meanwhile it's the Fusion Drive software. I don't want to split my Fusion Drive. I sure as **** don't want to shill out $200 for an external drive. I want apple to fix this ridiculous problem but, from what I'm seeing in this thread, that's not happening anytime soon. I am going to take me computer back and swap it for the same one but with a 3 TB Serial Drive. Has anyone else done this and had any sucess? Does doing this actually work? Somebody help me out here, I actually contemplated buying a PC. I'm losing my faith.

If you look through the various posts on this and related issues, you will find that you basically have a few choices

1. Wait for the next OS X update which word on the street has it, will fix the problem

2. Split the fusion drive as you stated

3. Add a partition to the fusion drive, use super Duper to clone to the new partition and run off it until the fix happens

4. Buy an external drive and run off it.

5. Return the iMac and get one with a large SSD drive

As to why after four months, Apple is still taking people on a wild goose chase, who knows

Jack,

No Fusion Drive fitted to a 2013 iMac... No Audio + Fusion Drive + 2013 iMac issue.....

It's that simple....

🙂

Hi jack

I had the fusion drive late 2013 machine and after much disappointment returned it for the 27 with 7200 hdd which I will add a SSD thunderbolt drive later.

Using focusrite Scarlett 2i4 and the imac with no issues at all now, it can be used all day without a crackle. Just get your machine sent back it was the best advice I got from apple support but they had to say very quietly.

Still shocked about apple pro apps and apple care not admitting straight away that there is an issue I'm sure that most areas in which iMacs are sold in numbers have had these problems.

I'm a first time apple user and this has destroyed thoughts that they were a really reliable platform compared to pc it's just not true anymore .. Shame

Hope you get it sorted either with a SSD or hdd in the machine

Subterranean Jack

Re: clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running

02-Jan-2014 23:14 (in response to ges8ges)

I just bought a late 2013 27" imac 32gigs of ram, 3 TB Fusion Drive the works! I got home unwrapped it, installed Logic Pro X and hooked up my Focusrite Saffire Pro 40 and all **** broke loose. I'm getting audio drop out, weird crackles. The only thing I don't have is flying monkeys. I am trying to record Bass and Metronome scratch tracks for my drummer to record to. I was on the phone all day with Logic Pro X People , Apple Care People, and The Mac Store where I bought it. They ran me around for 3 hours trouble shooting everything that could possiblly be wrong. Meanwhile it's the Fusion Drive software. I don't want to split my Fusion Drive. I sure as **** don't want to shill out $200 for an external drive. I want apple to fix this ridiculous problem but, from what I'm seeing in this thread, that's not happening anytime soon. I am going to take me computer back and swap it for the same one but with a 3 TB Serial Drive. Has anyone else done this and had any sucess? Does doing this actually work? Somebody help me out here, I actually contemplated buying a PC. I'm losing my faith.

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I have just tried splitting the fusion drive on my iMac, but unfortunately that did not solve the problem... I have also made a clone of my entire system, and when I boot from the external hard drive the issue is completely gone....

Now I just can't figure out why the issue persist even though I have splitted the fusion drive?! Maybe the problem is not just with the fusion drive software?

But I guess I'll refuse the drive again and hope that Apple can fix the problem in a firmware update.

Now I just can't figure out why the issue persist even though I have splitted the fusion drive?! Maybe the problem is not just with the fusion drive software?

Some people have reported the same issue after splitting... Not sure why it only seems to affect some people however.. as others report complete success after splitting the drive. Maybe due to the method use to split? Maybe the FD software is still running somehow, in the background? All guess work at this stage....

The problem persisted with me as well after splitting the Fusion Drive. I do not exactly remember how I split the drive, I think I followed a blog post linked here some time ago.

However, I went back to use a Fusion Drive later since splitting did not solve anything in the first place. I just booted into recovery mode and started the Disk Utility. It automatically noticed that there was a problem with the Fusion Drive and asked me whether it should rebuild it from the two disks in the system. I suppose somewhere in the OSX is still the information that this iMac was configured for FD-usage - maybe this is an issue - maybe not.

Maybe someone who has fixed their problem by splitting the FD could boot into recovery mode and start Disk Utility just to confirm if they get the warning too or if not.

-act

I have actually used two different methods to spilt my fusion drive.... First I follow the description from macworld:

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

When that did not solve the issue I refused my drives again and then tried another method:

http://macs.about.com/od/diyguidesprojects/ss/Split-Your-Fusion-Drive-Apart_3.ht m

But again that did not solve the problem on my computer... So, I'm back waiting for a fix from Apple.