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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

Feb 10, 2014 7:46 AM in response to derKlecks

hi

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

as i already wrote it arrived to me with mountainLion and i used it with iTunes, Amadeus and an Apogee Duet: it was ok.

When i upgrade to Mavericks was a disaster and two weeks after i downgrade to MountainLion again.

After 1 mounth i began to use it with logic pro, a keyboard and two skoogs and i heard some bad-noises that with a MacBook 2013 or with a Mac mini 2009 there aren't ; this problem is with Duet, with iMic, with thunderbolt Belkin, with sistem output and so on.

in the apogee site i read about this discussion and i tried to make a partition and install there Mavericks (out of fusion drive since also Apogee tell somewhat about the no-problem of no-fusion drive models) but it was useless.

now i read here a lot of "rumours" about specific apps or particular "audio cards" with which the problem is solved; a read also here about one hope on the next refresh of Mavericks.

i'm not an expert but for me the problem, this great problem about Apple nothing tell and sell again a product with an audio target like this, is only in the FIRMWARE of this iMac fusionDrive late 2013 and all other solutions are partials: THERE AREN'T SELF-MADE SOFTWARE OR HARDWARE SOLUTIONS.

i don't good remember but some firmware revisions for some models emploies also years.

i have thought also to give back this iMac and buy a Mac Pro, the "drum", but in italian "drum" , "package" means also "bummer", "let-down" … noo (another) ! this iMac is, all things considered, a "pretty machine" (ach!) and i hold it to me.

now my mac mini server 2009 works better of this.

Feb 11, 2014 8:07 AM in response to derKlecks

Hi all


Same distortion issues on iMac 3.5i7 32GB RAM 1TB FD as everyone else on my NI KA6 audio interface.


Bought it through a very good company called Hard Soft in London. I have been liaising with them about the issue and today they agreed for me to go to one of their stores and install my audio interface on one of their non-fusion drive late-2013 iMacs. I brought a small pair of speakers with me to attach to my soundcard. There were no distortion issues using it on this (I tested it on itunes and Garage Band)!!! Just to be clear here I was running all audio through the Komplete Audio 6 device (and not through the internal speakers on their Mac).


Whilst there seem to be a number of other confounding variables in the equation the conclusion I have come to is that (for whatever reason) the problem relates to the fusion drive technology, as many others have concluded on here. The engineer agreed with me and said that Apple had rushed through the FD technology and that there are compatibility issues in lots of other areas (e.g. with certain makes of external HDs).


I am going to try the beta version of 10.9.2 tonight and also the partition technique. The shop have said that if this doesn't work I can trade in the iMac for an non-fusion drive option be that SSD or standard one. I will go fro the former - but just in case has anyone experienced this problem with a non-fusion SSD?


Thanks


Paul

Feb 11, 2014 10:23 AM in response to BrooklynQueensBorder

Hi mate


I went into an Apple shop today in London to test this exact issue. I have the late 2013 iMac with FD and a NI KA6 audio interface and had been experiencing the distortion everyone else is getting. The store wanted to install ML to rule-out the issue being Mavericks-related but I suggested testing my KA6 on a non-FD iMac instead....and there were no problems at all. I brought a pair of speakers with me, installed the drivers for the audio interface on a SATA drive 2013 iMac and tested the sound on iTunes and Garage Band and all was good. My conclusion is that the problem, as suggested by many, relates to fusion drives.


But, better still, I got hold of the beta version of OS10.9.2 tonight and have been running Logic X on my own iMac for about 30 mins with no distortion. I took a gamble with the beta version but it seems to have paid off. Prior to this instal I was getting distortion within a minute.

Feb 11, 2014 11:11 AM in response to derKlecks

I urge people to read through some of the earlier posts. In short I have done a lot of research regarding this issue as I received a new late 2013 imac i7 3tb Fusion drive. I initially was under the impression that apples "fusion drive" was one piece of hardware consisting of an ssd and slow 5400rpm platter drive. This is not true. This type of configuration would be called a "Hybrid Drive". Apple fusion drive is two separated Drives and they are only bound by software. The Platter drive is a 7200RPM seagate (I cant remember the specific model) This is the same serial ATA drive that you would be receiving if you bought the iMac configured without the fusion drive. The SSD drive is the same style that you would get if you ordered an SSD it is located on the back of the imacs motherboard. So with apples "fusion drive configured iMacs you are getting the best of both worlds except that the algorithems that run the fusion drive configuration crreat audio problems that we are all more than aware of. The fix is simple and "splitting the Fusion Drive" is simple to do and it works and in the end you can boot from the SSD and run all the applications on it and store all of your sample libraries on the platter drive yada...

Anyway I will wall you through the steps it is really simple.


Follow this link: http://macs.about.com/od/diyguidesprojects/ss/Split-Your-Fusion-Drive-Apart.htm

You have to follow the steps in this link with Terminal while you are booted in the recovery partition (Turn of your mac while holding down CMD+R and naviigate to terminal)


After you perform the terminal comands in the tutorial shut of your imac and power back on while holding CMD+R again. This will take you into internet recovery to reinstall the operating system.

Now you will see two hard drives to choose from to install the OSX. Choose the SSD and continue with the install. After that is finished you now have an even faster booting imac with two hard drives and none of that Fusion Drive B.S.

Feb 11, 2014 11:43 AM in response to derKlecks

Hi all!


Just want to give you my story.


As you can read in my previous comments in this thread, I have had the same problem as you guys. Yep, I wrote "had"! I recently went to the Apple Store and told the whole story. They sent out the manager of the store, and I got an excuse from him and also got an offer to return my late 2013 iMac i7 with 3TB Fusion Drive even that it was about three months since i bougth it. I accepted the offer, and ordered a new iMac i/ with 1 TB SSD. Now I have run the mew iMac for two days, and still havent got any problems with my Motu Track 16 interface.


Ok, two days aren't much of a test, but with the Fusion Drive I had clicks, and pops with the 10.9.2 (13C39) beta. Now I'm running the OS X 10.9.1 (13B42) lates released version, and with this version on the FD iMac, the Motu interface just worked for about 5-15 seconds!!!


So, for me it seems pretty **** cleal that the problem is strongly related to the Fusion Drive for sure. Compromises is never a good solution when it comes to hardware.


I wish you all the very best luck in order to fix your problems, but I recommend to return the iMac if you get the chance.


Best regards,


//Leffe

Feb 12, 2014 5:08 AM in response to derKlecks

i have bought this iMac 3TB FusionDrive in the apple store: the order is of late october 2013 and it arrived me 3 week later.

as i wrote there is this insormontable "massive audio problem".

today i compiled the form on line with serial nummer and the request of aid and two minutes later the apple support phone to me.

i related all the problems asking a way for the solution.

they, she, a gentle miss, told me:

1) substitution is not possible (only 2 weeks after and now are 3/4 mounths)

2) i can go to an authorized assistent center and substitute the fusion drive 3TB with another storage option:

i have this 3TB fusion drive: it cost XXX $ > with 3TB ATA > -200 $

with 1 TB FLASH > +650 $

if i decide for the 3TB ATA (-200 $ at buy) i must pay new hardware and work to mount it...


the miss told me that if i'm not satisfied the only one thing i can do is choose from the menu something like "send a feedback" and write something. (what ? LOL)


there's not something in the menu like "class action" ?

Feb 12, 2014 10:46 PM in response to derKlecks

GUYS


I haven't read this entire thread but I have a serial ata drive, and am using firewire and am experiencing major clicking and popping. Its unacceptable!


Please help, no idea what to do. I am using an apogee Rosetta 800 firewire. It seems like this stupid thunderbolt to firewire 400 adapter is being pulled down on from its weight and the vertical input on imac!


Ugh. I have such a serious recording setup, yet I'm getting clicks. So ******.

Massive problem with audio interface

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