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Massive problem with audio interface

Hi there.


I recently bought a brandnew iMac 27" Haswell i7. I encountered problems with my Focusrite Scarlett 18i8 audio interface. These are buzzing, clicking and noise immediately or after 3 minutes or so. I tried everything, re-installed the driveres several times, nothing, really nothing worked.


Then I bought an RME Babyface audio interface - and guess what? It's the same problem. I also have a massive sound noise after some minutes or the recording channel in Garage Band drops completely.


What is wrong here? I already tried using a different power plug, tried all USB ports, turned off WiFi, HDD sleep mode, etc. Nothing worked.


Do you have an idea?


I appeciate your help,

Adrian.

iMac (27-inch, Late 2013), OS X Mavericks (10.9)

Posted on Oct 25, 2013 1:29 PM

Reply
762 replies

Jan 29, 2014 3:00 AM in response to quattroquarti

I contacted Apple, I explain the issue I have... "and most of the users have" .... I propose to replace only the fusion drive with SSD.


They said that the unique solution Apple do is the replacement of Imac with a new one but the cost shoud be the same!


If the total cost change, I have to give back the Imac, wait the reimbursement and re-order a new one from beginning for a total time of about 15-20 working days!

With the same cost, they take back the Imac and replace with a new one in half time whitout to repeat the order etc.


My Imac have 1TB fusion drive, with the same cost I can buy the same configuration but with only 256gb SSD, to be safe I would like to buy at least 512GB SSD with an extra cost of about 300e. what is very bad for me is to wait all this time.. money and order repetition... I expect considering that the replacment is a need due an Apple bug, a little bit more of flexibility... get the replacment and pay the difference of cost!


But at the end I have to replace it, I can't take the risk to wait more time of 15-20days withouth a definitive solution from Apple about the massive audion interface that affect most of the people that bought a mac with fusion drive.


Are you agree? What do you suggest?

Jan 29, 2014 5:12 AM in response to MauroPe

last post from me for now, i have music to record. updating fd to ssd solved the issues, i havent update to 10.9.1, but have 10.9. spent some extra $$ buying the ssd 27" but apple has been courteous enough to also give a 3tb lacie hdd as consideration. oh and also the price of duet 2 just went down here in canada, and they reimbursed me another $50, not bad apple. anyhow, off to do some recording. best if luck to you all.

Jan 29, 2014 5:54 AM in response to right2thetop

SSD and 10.9 with almost all usb sound cards will work 100%


Clicks and pops occur on all models with 10.9.1 and usb cars without compatible drivers or updates from usb makers.


PLEASE DO NOT UPDATE MAVERICKS if you want to maintain a system that works.


I unfortunately have no way to downgrade to 10.9.0 to solve my issues i'm in limbo between any solutions.

Jan 29, 2014 7:44 AM in response to MauroPe

Do the replacement... fortunately you can do it! The beta upgrades do not work properly and people from Apple don't give an official answer. I tried to make the refund but the Apple policies don't apply in Mexico... but his expensive prices are the same all over the world... I don't want to sell this piece of **** to anyone. So, I wil have to wait till they decide to fix his error... since october, and counting...

Jan 30, 2014 6:34 PM in response to derKlecks

Just picked up a MOTU 828x Thunderbolt interface and hooked it up to my late 2013 model iMac 27" w 3T fusion drive. I perceived snap, crackle, pop after the first two minutes. Had to reset the checkbox on the MOTU audio set up "Enable Core Audio Volume Controls" on the 828 page in order to get the audio going again. The audio dropped out after two more minutes.

Jan 31, 2014 7:22 AM in response to Pete Buchta

Welcome to the club. Make sure you complain to http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html


They are aware of the problem, of course, but the more complaints the higher the priority to fix this....I would hope.



Pete Buchta wrote:


Just picked up a MOTU 828x Thunderbolt interface and hooked it up to my late 2013 model iMac 27" w 3T fusion drive. I perceived snap, crackle, pop after the first two minutes. Had to reset the checkbox on the MOTU audio set up "Enable Core Audio Volume Controls" on the 828 page in order to get the audio going again. The audio dropped out after two more minutes.

Jan 31, 2014 10:09 AM in response to actraiser75

Just to let you know that Apple support (UK) believe that my problem (and by inference, Actraiser75's?) might be different because I don't have a fusion drive; mine's a SATA 1TB. My problem is an intermittent high-pitched screech embedded in multitrack recordings across all tracks with content. It is highly intermittent (one day all recordings were pristine followed by a last session where the interference was present intermittently). Occasionally I get faint very fine closely-spaced digital clicks as well. Only Actraiser 75 has described similar interference and we are both A & H Qu-16 users. A&H have said that the problem resides in a change in the way late 2013 27" iMacs handle USB.


At least the Apple support guy (Nick Ryan) seems interested and very keen to help. He wants a clean installation after a full wipe and further test recordings and when the sound appears on the new recordings as it undoubtedly will, we'll see what solution he proposes. I'll let you know if this gets me anywhere.


Interestingly, in the UK we have the Sale of Goods Act which states that items bought must be fit for purpose. We can chose between a) a full refund, b) a repair at no cost to ourselves or c) a like-for-like replacement. This may be useful for those in teh UK who want rid of your Apple paperweights and who are beyond the usual return period.

Jan 31, 2014 5:43 PM in response to Pete Buchta

I have the same problem with same gear.



Pete Buchta wrote:


Just picked up a MOTU 828x Thunderbolt interface and hooked it up to my late 2013 model iMac 27" w 3T fusion drive. I perceived snap, crackle, pop after the first two minutes. Had to reset the checkbox on the MOTU audio set up "Enable Core Audio Volume Controls" on the 828 page in order to get the audio going again. The audio dropped out after two more minutes.

Jan 31, 2014 6:57 PM in response to AlexGowers

i have an iMac 3,4 GHz i5 3TB fusion drive.

It arrived me on november 2013 with mountainLion.

i used it with iTunes and Amadeus (all with apogee duet) and i don't remember if there was this massive audio problem.

When i upgrade to Maveriks the problem was so big that two weeks after i come back to MountainLion.


Since some day i use some new (for me) audio app like Logic pro X, piano keyboards and other (wow one/two SKOOGS!)

With this so fine audio production my iMac fusion is everytime a disaster (mountainLion=Maveriks)


i read here that if u made a partition and u install the osx inside it (out of fusion) there is not this massive problems: i made so and if with fusion after 2 minuts the problem begin now it begin after 20 minuts but also before this time there is something wrong (may be not enough bass tone)

WITH FUSION ALSO WITH AN extra PARTITION THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME.


now i can use a MacBookPro 2,3 i7 (early 2011) with Mavericks (skoogs, keyboard, logic pro x) and the audio is ok but the cooling impellers are so high …


Ok, i use the imac fusion for study english!

Massive problem with audio interface

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