Massive problem with audio interface

Booting off an external worked for a guy who posted in this thread a month ago:

Carbon Copy Cloner by www.bombich.com

*Temporary Fix # 2: Clone Your HD and Boot Off USB3 or Thunderbolt External Drive*

Just cloned my drive and booted off my USB 3 external. My Digidesign (Avid) MBox Pro 2 cut out in the first 10 seconds... But I then reset my settings for my Avid MBox Pro 2 in System Preferences from Internal to Wordclock, back to Internal and it seems to be working for now... Actually longer than it ever has.

Here's how to do it:

http://lifehacker.com/5926945/build-the-perfect-portable-powerful-mac-then-carry -it-in-your-pocket

Carbon Copy Cloner has a 30 day free trial:

http://www.bombich.com/ccc_features.html

Downsides:

1. Had some strange glitches at first... Failed to boot up the first time... Second time worked.
2. Slower iMac. All my apps and folders on my desktop took a long time to show up, but maybe it was only cause it was the first time it fired up. I would suggest buying a NEW external. The one I used is a few months old and used to have information on it... I did a Disk Speed Test and it significantly reduced to 90 MB/s write and 95 MB/s read from 200 MB/s (read) and 700 MB/s(write).
3. Logic Pro X opened up slower
4. You still have your internal drive that your iMac came with, but you cannot use it while you boot from your external. You can always boot from your internal again.

Advantages:

1. You can plug your boot external to any mac and it will be exactly how you left it on your iMac.
2. RAM performance still works great in Logic Pro X and Pro Tools 10...
3. Still have some use of the Fusion Drive...

I will update you if it continues to work or not. Crossing my fingers...

My Specs:

2013 iMac 27" 3.4 GHz

iCore 5

16GB

3TB Fusion Drive

*Note: 2012 iMacs with the Fusion Drive have ALSO reported audio interface problems...*

Just saw this on a tech support page (September 25, 2013). http://support.apple.com/kb/TS5166:

iMac (Late 2013): iTunes audio distorts via Thunderbolt display

Symptoms

iTunes audio may have distortion such as pops, crackles, or drops when played through a Thunderbolt display.

Resolution

To correct this issue, download and install the OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.5 update. To do so, choose Software Update from the Apple () menu

Got to be kidding me...

Update:

Have to say booting of my external fixed my issue 100%. I'm happy 🙂

So, is it the Fusion Drive? Your audio interface works fine? What will become of your internal drive? I wonder if Apple will replace them, or what the deal will be. OR if it's actually possible for a software update to fix it. That would be awesome. It would be nice to know, I'd get a new iMac right now if that were true.

Your internal drive can always be booted up and used again. Hopefully a firmware update in the next month specifically for FD users in 10.9.2. will do the trick... Testing has just begun for this. Or your hardware manufacturer will fix it...

http://www.iphonehacks.com/2013/11/apple-seeds-os-x-10-9-1-os-x-10-9-2-mavericks -employees.html

Usually a new OSX driver update by audio manufactures can take any where from 2 - 4 months after a OS release (based on AVID driver update releases).

But, late 2012 FD users are experiencing this same issue... which is very worrisome because that means this issue is A YEAR OLD!

All we can do is keep thoroughly complaining to the iMac Team by making cases at their feedback website:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html

And hopefully we will see this:

iMac (Late 2013): iTunes audio distorts via Thunderbolt display

Turn into something like this:

iMac (Late 2013): iTunes and Logic X audio distorts via Thunderbolt display and USB3

As mentioned, I have managed to eliminate my lockups by charging my iPhone via AC and not connecting it to the iMac. Also, I no longer use my USB headset for audio when using Plex. I use Flash-based web conferencing software for my work and while I am still able to use my USB headset with no issues for incoming audio, I cannot use it's microphone because the audio distorts and then cuts out completely so I am forced to use the iMac's internal mikes.

I really feel bad for Adam Swink and others who are forced to clone to an external HD in order to use their machines. If this was keeping me from completing my work or I was forced to go so far as to boot to an external drive, I would have returned the Mac already.

As it is, every day that goes by without Apple openly acknowledging these problems or indicating they're working on some type of fix makes me more upset that I may have made the wrong decision by not choosing to pack it in and wait for a bug-free machine like my last iMac.

Information on 2013 iMac FD issue / USB2-3 Issue and Driver Incompatibility issue

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5659615?answerId=24105504022#24105504022

^^^^^This thread sums it all up^^^^^

I'm not sure that he sums it up as succinctly as he purports to. For instance, his Issue #1 is

Issue #1 - If you own a 2013 iMac with a Fusion Drive fitted then you wil get audio dropouts, clicks and other audio issues.

Or complete system freezes where the keyboard/mouse input becomes impossible and the user is forced to hard reset the system by pressing and holding the power button.

And all you need to do is plug an iPhone into the iMac directly, via a hub or into the USB port of another device connected to the machine.

I just DL'd the OS update today and it made my issue even worse! I no longer get the 1-2mins of sound, then snap, crackle pop follwed by a "weeeee" and then LED lights 3&4 light up on Analogue out of Motu 828mk3, all that happens now is the LED lights of Ana Out 3&4 light up.....

THIS IS GOING EVEN MORE BACKWARDS!!!!!!!!

So do you think this warrants a product recall, free fix etc etc all paid for by Apple??

Does anyone know if this is happening with the Mac Pros? If not, Apple should be switching us over for free to these beasts!!

Obvious none of their products are fit for purpose at the moment.... Shoulda stopped trying to sue Samsung and concentrate on QA... SO ANGRY WITH THEM RRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Hi All,

I have been watching and reading all the post related to this issue.

I have a late 2013 with 1T FD and I wanted to thank all the people here, especially Nigel, for all the information sharing,

I wanted to share with you my experience with this issue.

I had the pops/crackling/noise issue.

had it on ML and Mav, on any audio software, when used Line6 UX1, and Motu MicroBook ii/Audio Express.

it took my some time and effort until I finally realized the problem is with my machine.

the first solution I tried: booting from external HD, did not worked well for me - I still got the pops.

I don't know why, maybe my system was still using the FD somehow.. I did not erase it.

the second solution I tried : splitting the FD worked for me.

I no longer get the pops! there is a nice article how to do it with the Terminal:

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

Unfortunately, I can not get a refund/fix/replacement from my local authorized seller (iMac was sent to lab and passed all tests), nor a solution,

Apple support help was poor because I am outside of US.

imagine that - spent a nice amount on iMac and interface, and I can get a decent sound.

really sad.

One more point : I got a few application crashes, it happened twice with Logic Pro X, and once more with another application - I don't know if it is even related to the issue.

so, my current state is: FD was spitted, I do get a decent sound now, nobody (local authorized seller/Apple)

really helped me, I am crossing my finger and waiting to Apple fix.

Peace, love and Rock'n'Roll,

Yo-C

Oh man, that would be Christmas coming early. Hoping!!!

I am having the same issue.... ( late 2013 iMac 3.5 i7 3tb fusion 780m (Maverics))

Duet 2 - Audio starts to decline after a certain amount of time and progressivly gets worse.

click click click click click click... 😟 I am a composer and it really takes away from my muse...!

PLEASE FIX, APPLE!!! From my research it seems to be an issue with Maverics and external audio interfaces.

Cheers.