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

gswinton

Level 1

0 points

Oct 16, 2013 3:17 PM in response to Deadphish42

Hi, I was interested to read this thread as I'm having the same issue.

I've been using a Focusrite 6i6 audio interface and Logic Pro X on a MBA (2011) and have had no problems. I was recording 4 tracks at the same time and other than the fans kicking in quite quickly the MBA handled it well.

However recently I've just got an iMac 27" with 3TB Fusion drive and 16GB of RAM and my recordings have clicks/pops. I did a complete reinstall of OSX, deleted FocusriteUsb2Audio.kext from my System folder (advice from another forum) and then only installed Logic on the iMac and the recordings were better but still there were clicks. Like other people on this thread I'm very disappointed.

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 3:29 PM in response to gswinton

Hi Gswinton,

Sorry to hear about your iMac you seem to have the same configuration as mine. I just sent it back yesterday. With more and more people chimming in with the same problem. I don't have high hopes that the new one they send to me will perform any better.

I would make sure you contact Apple as soon as possible to start the replacement process.

Good Luck,

DeadPhish

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 4:19 PM in response to Deadphish42

Hello All,

Apple just got back to me. There shipping a new computer to me now. They also threw in a Thunderbolt to Firewire adapter and Superdrive for the trouble.

I let them know about this thread and sent them a link to it also.

Hopefully there is no issues with the new one.

Good Luck All,

DeadPhish

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 5:38 PM in response to Deadphish42

A quick favor from everybody with a 2013 iMac

Is there anybody with the new 2013 iMac with this configuration-

3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz

16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM- 2X8GB

3TB Fusion Drive

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5

Apple Magic Mouse

Apple Wireless Keyboard (English)

That is not experiencing the snap crackle pop issue? Art of sound you said you were good but I never confirmed with you if you had a fusion drive or not.

If you do have a different configuration and are exeriencing the problem. Could you please post your configuration.

If you have a 2013 and are not experiencing the snap crackle pop issue could you please take the time to post your configuration.

You can go to the apple online store and punch in your configuration in the buy imac link and take a screen shot like this and it makes it really easy.

I know it takes a few minutes to do but I would really appreciate it. I'm in a situation were this computer is a replacement for a older computer that doesn't work anymore and I need Logic to be working 2 weeks ago. So if theres a better chance of getting a working computer in a different configuration I want to find out what it is.

So thank you all in advance if anybody can help out. I will collect all the data for two days and post all the numbers Friday night at 5:30 pacific time.

Thanks everyone,

DeadPhish

Oct 16, 2013 6:30 PM in response to Deadphish42

Deadphish,

I don't have a Fusion Drive... so maybe that is why I don't have this issue....

Interesting......

Anyhow, here are the official specs of the 2013 iMac I bought, as requested...

Specifications

3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz
16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X8GB
3TB Serial ATA Drive @ 7200 rpm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5
Apple Magic Mouse
Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad (English) & User's Guide
Accessory Kit

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 6:43 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

Thank you Art of Sound,

I think that is a key peice of information. Thanks for sharing. Maybe there is a way to disable the fusion part of the drive until they figure out a fix.

I think that is more than interesting! Thank you Again!

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 7:07 PM in response to Deadphish42

Here is a older article about splitting up a fusion drive.

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

If anybody has the snap crackle pop problem, has a fusion drive and knows what there doing this article might be a good starting point.

My 2013 iMac with the snap crackle pop is on its way back and I'm waiting for a replacement. If the new one comes back with the same problem I'm going to see if Tech support can walk me through disabling the fusion drive the proper way until they can figure out a fix. Just to see if that is causing the problem.

If anybody tries please post your results.

Thanks,

DeadPhish

Oct 16, 2013 7:15 PM in response to Deadphish42

Deadphish,

I don't think that would work as the Fusion drive would still attached to a particular Bus and active even if you are not using the "Chip" bit... ... though maybe the load would go down... but i suspect, it could be a controller issue with the Fusion drive.. Therefore the only way to test this would be to physically remove the drive and it's controller board.. (I think the controller board is part of the Fusion drive assembly...but I am not sure.. .) and replace it with a standard HD but I could be wrong.

I know some people have created their own Fusion drive using an SSD and a standard drive... with Mac Minis... simply by issuing a few commands in Terminal... but again, I think the 'all in one' version that Apple fits... may have it's own controller board...

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 7:34 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

Art of Sound,

Bummer. I'm sure you would know better than me. Can you set up a iMac to boot off of a external drive? And disable the fusion drive? Sorry if these are silly questions. I just have a bad feeling that new iMac is going to get here and have the same exact problem.

Oh well maybe Apple will have figured it out by then.

Thanks for the input,

DeadPhish

Oct 16, 2013 7:41 PM in response to Deadphish42

It might be possible to simply disable the drive in software but

1) I would have no idea how to do that.. I checked a few websites i know that often have such info and no luck at all...

and

2) It may not make any difference anyhow.. unless you physically disconnect it from the Logic(Mother)Board

and doing that would require such steps as... needing some tools to remove/fit back on the screen glass... so you can get to the components.. Not an easy task.... but possible.. Then you could boot up from an EXT drive and the Fusion Drive and it's controller stuff, wouldn't be on the bus at all...

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 8:19 PM in response to The Art Of Sound

Thanks for looking out Art of Sound!

Thats to bad I was hoping you could boot from a externial and just change some settings and be in buisness. I don't want to take anything apart thats not an option for me.

Thanks again for getting all the info,

DeadPhish

Oct 16, 2013 8:39 PM in response to Deadphish42

Adding my voice, similar issues.

New 27 inch iMac, arrived last Monday, downloaded LPX

3.5GHz Quad-core Intel Core i7, Turbo Boost up to 3.9GHz

16GB 1600MHz DDR3 SDRAM - 2X8GB

1TB Fusion Drive

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M 4GB GDDR5

Apple Magic Mouce

Apple Wireless Keyboard.

Downloaded LPX and additional content.

Also new RME Fireface UCX, updated drivers.

Apple have suggested disconnecting the RME and to try using the built in Mic and Speakers. Will do tonight.

Opening a new project, just a drummer track and it'll distort, happening any buffer size. Demoing guitar sounds is hit an miss, sometimes distorting, other times feedback lock ups. Happening in recording and playback. During recording it pops up "Error while trying to synchronize Audio and Midi" (any buffer size)

Changing a setting in Audio preferences resets, even if back to the original setting.

Deadphish42 Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 16, 2013 9:01 PM in response to AndySomething

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the feedback. Sounds like its the same issue were all having and you have a fusion drive as well. I've taken down your info in my notes and I'll post a compalation of everything I've collected over the next two days to see if we can confirm its only iMacs with fusion drives or something else we all have in common.

Thanks again,

DeadPhish

mats_j

Level 1

9 points

Oct 16, 2013 9:46 PM in response to Deadphish42

Chiming in again. I've been in contact with Apple and a replacement iMac is on it's way. No high hopes the new computer will work any better. And yes, mine is also a Fusion drive.

Oct 16, 2013 10:20 PM in response to Deadphish42

Mine is the 21" 2.7 i5, 8GB RAM and 1 TB FUSION DRIVE.

Let me know how you get on Deadphish.

Do we all get a free superdrive? 🙂 Wishful thinking. 😁

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clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running