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

Jan 5, 2014 10:06 AM in response to Subterranean Jack

Here is what I would recomend, because they most certainly do change out custom machines, I did it recently. Unfortunately there will be some work involved.


Call Apple Support and get a case opened. Go through whatever troubleshooting steps they want to, there will be several. Let them know you want it fixed prior to the 14 day window ending. When they are unable to fix the problem they should put you into contact with aftersales who can work out the details of the exchange. It will be a little bit of a PITA to go through the troubleshooting, but you can get your exchange done in the end.


Good luck!

Jan 5, 2014 11:04 AM in response to Deadphish42

Update on my situation. Took the late 2013 imac back to the shop. I was told apple were not aware of the problem and that software companies had not caught up with apple. I was also advised maybe mac was ' not for me ' ( killer sales technique there guys 😉 ' The apple genius also told me not to update till at least 6 months after release when working with logic software. So full refund and currently macless. Neeeeeeverrrrrmiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnddddddddddddd :-/

Jan 6, 2014 2:09 AM in response to Subterranean Jack

Apparently the problem is with the iMacs late 2013 Fusion Drive still a popular topic and as you can see from various forums , it affects hundreds of users of this hardware configuration. An update on the part of Apple is not yet in sight.

I have here a temporary solution which I have tried and that works. Condition and to save a lot of installation work - a recent Time Machine backup !

I Partitioned my 1 TB Fusion Drive into 2 parts. Importantly - the second Partition must be large enough for the backup of Time Machine .

Now i have the backup on the second Drive installed. My Mac now looks like I have 2 500GB drives with identical systems . The second Disk is now WITHOUT Fusion Drive. In the system settings is the 2nd Partition as the boot volume.

Cubase and the audio interface now work Impeccable without any clicks and drop outs .

That 's like saying only a temporary solution , since I so have to do without my fast fusion Drive.

Once there is a solution from Apple , I'll merge the 2 drives back and so can use my fast fusion Drive again .

Jan 6, 2014 3:01 PM in response to Deadphish42

HOLY CRAP!... just seen this on Apples website.. and it ENDS TOMORROW!


Holiday Return Policy

Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between November 1, 2013 and December 25, 2013, may be returned through January 7, 2014. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. All purchases made after December 25, 2013 are subject to the Standard Return Policy.


and this is for actual physical Apple stores:


Extended Holiday Return Period:

Items purchased between 1 November 2013 and 25 December 2013 may be returned through 8 January 2014.

Obviously this is for the UK but i would seriously consider it if any of you guys bought yourt iMac's within that time. you have until tomorrow online or wednesday with a real store!!


Hope this helps!


JP

Jan 7, 2014 3:54 AM in response to Deadphish42

Ok, I don't want to spread false hope, but I've been running with the 10.9.2 beta that was posted here a couple of days ago, and I haven't experienced a single drop-out yet. Tried with multiple apps (Logic Pro X 10.0.5, Live 9.0.4, iTunes, Youtube, etc.).

I also purposefully initiated lots of disk activity while playing audio in Logic (ie. Running a time machine backup, or a disk doctor scan) and for the past hour it's been working fine.

If things change will post back of course, for now I'll keep my fingers crossed...


Set up: iMac 2013, 1Tb Fusion drive, Focusrite Saffire 2i2, 10.9.2 Beta, Logic X 10.0.5

Jan 7, 2014 4:51 AM in response to Maxesse

Same, no drop out for me with the 10.9.2. But no improvement for the static. I still hear many interferences when the disk is in use. I'm not the only one with the problem but maybe it does not come from the iMac anymore.

The thing is everything works fine with my Macbook Pro 2010.


@Simon: Speakers are plugged through the Apogee, which is linked to the iMac with Firewire/Thunderbolt adaptor. I don't have any static with the internal speakers of the iMac.

Jan 7, 2014 4:55 AM in response to Philip Custer

Sorry for the silly question, but could it be that the macbook, even if it's plugged into the mains, still uses the battery as main source of power and 'stabilises' it, thus avoiding the statics problem?


It may be worth trying to plug mac and speakers in different outlets and avoid using extension leads, years ago I had a problem of frequent static bursts with a pair of Genelec 8040a, iMac and MOTU 828 connected in the same extension lead, which went away by putting them into different mains outlet in the wall.


Of course I'm just shooting in the dark here...

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clipping sound on new iMac when Logix X is running

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