Massive problem with audio interface

Other than talking to people on the Apple help-line (when I called they were about as much use a c**k-flavored lollipop), has anyone taken their machine into an Apple Store to get the so-called Genii to look at it, at least they could compare then and there with HDD/SSD/FDs to see if the problem is persistant across the machines. I cannot believe it is a USB error as all my other peripherals work just fine in all the USB ports.

I wouldn't rule out USB as a source of the problem. When I tried connecting a USB 3 audio interface it was pure garbage. My old USB 2 UA-25 EX works pretty well, with just an occasional glitch, and I have the Fusion Drive issue, too.

smiz86 wrote:

Other than talking to people on the Apple help-line (when I called they were about as much use a c**k-flavored lollipop), has anyone taken their machine into an Apple Store to get the so-called Genii to look at it, at least they could compare then and there with HDD/SSD/FDs to see if the problem is persistant across the machines. I cannot believe it is a USB error as all my other peripherals work just fine in all the USB ports.

There are two seperate issues - and this has been one of the factors complicating things. First is with the Fusion Drive, and second is with the USB 3 interface on Haswell macs. I took back me Haswell iMac with a 3TB FD and swapped it for a Macbook Pro with a 1TB SSD. I had the same issues. I have now exchanged that back to the original iMac I purchased. By installing the first 9.2 beta and also the updated firmware for my Duet iOS, the issues are practically eliminated. Looking forward to the official 9.2 because I think that will finally bring an end to all this nonsense. I reallt feel for you guys who have to make a living with this.

Just receiverd my new SSD today, 27" imac non-fusion drive, and just as i suspected the apogee duet works just fine, as it did on macbook air 2013. I used the updated apogee firmware from the apogee site, and only have mavericks 10.9, no freakin way i was gonna contaminate my new computer. Anyhow, if you play the cards right and be persuasive and nice to the apple reps, escalate from support to customer relations, garageband senior rep, and you may be able to persuade an extension on your return date, and some juicy free gifts like my 3 TB porche LaCie external. Love my new mac so far. have used GB with ITUNes no issues, do yourself a favor and upgrade to the flash drive. Rock On.

Decided to return my iMac for a full refund while I still could. Very disappointing. Hopefully Apple will fix it at some point in the near future and I'll get myself a new one. Just have to wait though :-/

Hi Jonny

How to:

"1. Go to Disk Utility and Partition your drive. (IT TAKES A LONG TIME. JUST WAIT)?

2. Install Mavericks on the Partition??

Hi all,

just wanted to add my experience to this incredible annoying error.

I've got a late iMac 27" with i7 3,5ghz, 16gb ram, GTX 780M 4gb and the 1tb fusion drive.

When it arrived it came with Mountain Lion installed and I quickly upgraded to Mavericks. A couple of weeks later, I noticed my mouse kept freezing with for no apparent reason so I had to take out my unifying usb-reciever and plug it in again, and it worked.

I then upgraded my stereo from FiiO A1 with AUX-entrance, to KingRex T20 with USB to my iMac and a couple of JohnBlue JB3's. There was quite a bit of crackling and pop-noises when I first played, but I thought the problem came from my "a bit too old" bananaplugs. I upgraded my plugs and cables, and still the problem is there. During this time I experienced massive problems with my external HDD which I've had no other problems with before. And my mouse kept freezing or loosing contact. My Western Digital HDD suddenly gave me an errorcode (-36) and I couldn't retrieve anything.

****.

I plugged it in my Macbook Pro of mid 2010 with snow leopard 10.6.8. No problem at all. huh. Did I do something wrong? Tried again with my iMac, same error. Tried again with my laptop. no problem. I tried a couple of solutions found on the web with the iMac and some of it work but now I got the same message when I try to transfer anything to or from it with both iMac and laptop. I decided to try another HDD that I have, and the same story happened to this HDD, a Samsung 1tb Internal HDD in an eksternal HDD.

And my mouse kept loosing contact on my iMac. No problem whatsoever on the laptop however. The problem is even occuring through Apple's corded keyboard with USB-hubs on each side. The mouse looses its signal, and even the keyboard sometimes falls out!

I'm going to try and downgrade to Mountain Lion because this **** is ridiculous. It is obvious that Apple has a serious problem with either the USB-busses on the mainboard, fusion drive or Mavericks.

I'll write an update after I've downgraded to Mountain Lion, hopefully it's a software-thing. I fear that it's not.

@ floogieboogie: I have had 3 major issues with my iMAc so far (and many smaller ones):

1. iMac late 2012 has weak USB 5V power, so I could NOT run an external 2.3" WD HDD my passport directly - now it works well with good USB 3.0 hub plus power supply (Anker)

2. Gapping / popping .... fusion drive issue....the issue has "magically" solved itself over time.

3. USB 3.0 cables / HDDs etc. will interfere with Logitech wireless mouse dongle and mouse gets unusable. That is not an iMac issue, but an USB 3.0 issue. This issue is nonexistent if all devices are in 2.0 mode.

It was quite hard to find / identify and fight these 3 issues.

Hi Jonny,

I have the same problem with Imac and Fusion drive and my firewire motu 828 mk2.

I have the opportunity to change it with a Imac with only flash memory because you can give back your mac to apple by 14 days of buying, but from what I understand from your experience the problem still exist also with flash memory!
The solution at today is only to run the OS with normal HD, is correct?

If you confim that has not to sense to do any change apply your solution and wait Apple resolution/update.

thanks a lot

Mauro

My understanding is that both the SSD and traditional HD Haswell iMacs are okay (with updated drivers from the audio interface manufacturers), and that it is just the Fusion Drive models that require something more exotic than updated drivers to make Snap, Crackle, and Pop disappear (e.g., splitting the Fusuion Drive, using the 10.9.2 beta, booting from an external drive, etc.).

Thanks a lot :-)

if I understand correctly the issue with audio interface exist only if you have installed a fusion drive

Audio interface work fine with the last Mac only with SSD or traditional HD Haswell installed! Is that correct?

I see that this discussion about audio interface issue started here in October... do you think Apple will be able to find a solution in short term?

I'm very surpriste that at today Apple still not find a solution and not give an ufficial replay to this issue that affect a lot of people!

Most of us bought a mac for music production etc. I hope they will found a solution without removing the fusion drive.

I received my new Imac just few days ago and I'm still able to give back to apple (I have 14 days for that) to replace it with a new Imac with the same caracteristics but with only SSD memory...

What do you suggest?

thanks a lot

Mauro

I'm sort of in the same situation as you, I have a few days left to return my mac. I did however install 10.9.2 beta 3, and that seemed to fix my issues. But i have not tried everything i have previously used for music priduction yet. And by the amount of people having these issues, I am sceptical. But I also don't want to have to wait a few weeks to get a new mac, as i really can't be without a computer. I am unsure of what to do.

Anyone know if it possible to get an Apple store/dealer to do a HD swap later on?

This is my suggest: give back to Apple the iMac with FusionDrive and replace it with a iMac iSSD only.

Ciao.

My hard ware is:

27" iMac, latest version/Late 2013, 3.5 Ghz Intel Core i7, 16GB memory, 3TB Fusion Drive, on OS X 10.9.1

My audio interface Mbox, connecting through USB has no problem running on it. Pro-tools, Logic Pro X, Reason working ok.

However, new iMac has no firewire port!

For that, using device from Universal Audio UAD-2 Satellite Quad, have to connect with Thunderbolt to Firewire Adapter. It is impossible to get it work... UAD plug-ins are disabled instantly, it's disabled whenever I engage it on DAW. Messages like "device error -50, -38" came out all the time. At times, new iMac just crash forcing it to restart... "Your computer is restarting because there's a problem". But what problem? No further info..

Is it the firewire devices problem?

Is it the Thunderbolt-Firewire adapter problem?

Is it the Apple OSX Maverick got problem?

Is it the Apple harware- Fusion Drive problem?

Anybody has similar problems and any solutions to this? What's the problem causing this?

It is the same problem, both on PT 11 and Logic, so I concluded it should not be the DAWs' issue.

I have been with the UA support, trouble shooting the running of UAD-2 Satellite Quad. Uninstalling and reinstallling UA program, and do settings. It didn't solve this problem yet. Now we came across this Apple forum. and I'm still waiting for his reply to get this UAD-2 device working on iMac, which was documented it should be working fine. I didn't get to test it out before the Apple return expires, because my UAD-2 device only arrived after. And now trying to trouble shoot the UAD-2 on new iMac over weeks already.

Like many, I bought iMac for music production too! I'm upset, having these 2 pieces of expensive iMac and UAD-2 Satellite Quad devices not working together. How would running music plugins so diffcult on the new iMac...?

It could be a new OS that can solve the problems, or it's Apple hardware (Fusion Drive, Thunderbolt-Firewire adapter) just got have problems, and Apple should call back all these iMac or try to solve with their updates?

There's thread on the other forum said OS X10.9.2 solve his audio interface problem, but apparently there's no 10.9.2 available on software updates.

There's also threads on Thunderbolt-Firewire adapter can't work the Firewire devices through new iMac. (although I checked before I bought, UA website indicated it is compatible using the adapter)

There's also threads on possible Fusion Drive problem here...

Apple products was supposed to be easy using, easy to integrate our music products, hence good for music production. I'm getting rather sceptical about this now having so much problems...

Seem like Apple didn't deliver it's promises about their featured Fusion Drive, and OSX Mavericks.. 😟

Hi feifeic,

I had the same crashes as you. It turned out that I had got 1.5V memory capsules instead of the low voltage that the late 2013 iMac require. I returned the memory, and got it replaced with 1.35V capsules. In my case 4 x Kingston KTA-MB1600L/8G.

Regarding the audio interface problem, it's a combination of Mavericks and Fusion Drive that seems to be the problem. If possible, return your iMac and replace it with an SSD or standard disk.

Good luck!

/L