Massive problem with audio interface

Can't confirm.

Larsmixbrukare wrote:

If you insist on making designer electronics then for f**k sake make sure the "guts" work first before you even consider the body.

Studio's are at a halt all over the world because of your Airplay, Notification, Facebook crap. Make a system that works and don't even bother catering to the makeup blogging self involved tweeters. They have apps for that. Its not an ideal system requirement.

Fix.

I have nothing to add that would solve the problems, but I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your comment.

siwy,

Core audio is going to be a software function. To even make a wild guess as to what your problem is people have to know what exact version of OS X you are using. Are you using the latest version of Mavericks? Does this happen while using different brands and types of recording software on the same computer?

I've read every comment in this thread. It is PRIMARILY about late 2013 iMac users with fusion drives using Yosemite and now Mavericks, read that as post Snow Leopard. At first people thought it was the fusion drive. Then the focus was on the version of OS X. More recently people have divined that the real problem might be the Haswell processor having a problem taking in USB audio data from USB 2 to a USB 3 input. Slice and dice, mix and match. Apple pretty much denies there is a problem, and in spite of this thread and people complaining at Apple Stores and to AppleCare by phone call, every time someone brings this up to any sort of Apple rep it is complete brand new news to them. No one at Apple seems to care one tiny bit and THAT seems to be the biggest problem in all of this.

Back to you. Have you tried your little interface on a PC running Windows? Or tried recording directly to an iOS device? I don't get any sense of due diligence from you. Asking about Core Audio while using an interface you have glued together in the context of people having similar problems with interfaces bought from reputable Big Audio makers might seem to make sense, but your home-made project HAS TO BE suspect FIRST.

Yes, there is a problem bringing in audio into recent Macs. No, we don't know if your wonder-box is related to your own problem. Try different software and different computers and pinpoint the problem. Act like a scientist.

Hello,

I've tried to act as the scientist and believe me, I really would like to pin point the problem. One thing I haven't tried yet is to connect Windows machine and check it, since I don't have too much PC machines easily to get, but I will do it.

I am using both 10.7.5 and 10.9.5 on the same machine, on different partitions on late 2008 Unibody Macbook with 8G RAM and 7200RPM HDD. As the software players, I tried two Audirvana Plus and Decibel and the effect is almost the same. Also I have read somewhere that it might help if I change the Mac OSX buffer size in core audio from default 512 to 1024, but anyone know how to do it?

Those clicks and pops mentioned here put me into attention, that's why I've decided to write down here as well. My DAC is connected via USB currently, so any tool to check in USB interface send bad data chunks on osx level or anything what I can check on Mac OSX as well?

I've checked with Windows 7 PC and Foobar. Nothing like this experience on my Macbook. Any idea?!

Core Audio is something that is or is not supported by the recording software you use. I can tell you where to adjust that in Apple's Logic app, but you do not mention using it. There are some settings at:

Applications > Utilities > AudioMIDI Setup.app

I don't see anything here that would do anything valuable. It would be interesting with your box plugged into the Mac to see if this Setup app would recognize and list it, and to see what if any parameters it offers to set. I don't think this will help, but it is something you should look at.

Within Logic, for example, you can go from the main menu bar:

Logic Pro X > Preferences > Audio (tab) > Devices (tab)

And from there select

º Input Device

º I/O Buffer Size

It is that I/O Buffer Size that one can change to hopefully get rid of the noise. I usually get a severe constant digital clipping sound. Simply changing this setting, even if you change it right back, seems to reset something and solve the noise problem. I have a Korg Kronos keyboard which acts as it's own USB audio and midi box, only needing a USB cable from the keyboard directly to the computer. Note that changing this I/O Buffer parameter does not always work, but for me is usually does.

Another thing you can try is to reboot the Mac and then immediately go to your recording software. I normally just sleep my computer — a late 2013 fully tricked out iMac with 3 TB fusion drive running Yosemite. All audio apps have the same sound issue for me. If the toggling of the I/O Buffer Size doesn't work, I restart the iMac. Usually one or the other will work.

I wish I could offer more insight into what is going on. This has been a very troubling issue for many. I do think it is a software issue, particularly since you too have it with a pre-Haswell Mac.

For myself this whole thing isn't that big of an issue. As a keyboard player, I can use pure MIDI and high-quality samples exclusively. When I don't transmit actual audio data this whole big mess does not affect me at all.

Do post if you figure something out.

Lastly it was enough to connect the DAC to USB port, wait till discovered by the system, change sound output to its Tenor receiver, open MIDI App and change resolution to 24/96. Clicks audible, change to 24/44 - nothing. What the heck!?

Regarding the i/o buffer my player bypasses it, but I can change this setting to use max i/o buffer size. In that case it makes it even worst. Also I have seen lastly that when moving trackpad pointer very fast on the screen it can even generate those clicks while playing the music. What the heck!?

Yeah, there is some electronic device "crosstalk" going on that Apple needs to address with future devices. The other day I was taking the audio output from my iPad Air to a speaker from the headphone output while the iPad Air was also plugged into the iMac via lightening connector so the battery wouldn't drain. There was a constant background noise going on. That noise stopped when I unplugged the lightening cable. I can also make that noise worse by scrolling the iPad screen. Weird things going on that should not be, like things are not properly grounded or isolated.

I myself feel as though I have exhausted every avenue of this issue and my last step is to switch to Windows. There is most certainly a problem with the USB chipset on almost every mac I have ever used. The problem for me began in 2011. I have had every iteration of iMac Apple has made since then, and the problem persists. I have had a macbook, a macbook pro, and two separate Macbook Pro Retinas (13inch and 15 inch). Every single one of those 8 machines produced these USB audio issues. With each one of these macs I have tried everything to get them to work.

The most incredibly frustrating thing about these audio issues is their intermittency. One day, everything will be fine, you can record all day with no problems, and the next, no amount of money/time/troubleshooting will fix the robotic distortion. I have wasted countless hours and hundreds of dollars trying to resolve this.

I make my living off of my macs, recording audio content on a very regular basis, so this issue is something that has threatened my livelihood many times because of missed deadlines and inability to produce quality content at certain times.

EXAMPLE OF ISSUE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2OnngA5SLQ4

- This is the intermittent robotic static

DIFFERENT AUDIO ISSUE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSEQka_Jl0k

- Booting into Windows produces more issues.

I have tried the following, of which nothing has been successful.

- Three different audio interfaces -

- M-Audio Firewire 410 - http://goo.gl/LVFX9

- This was with the early iMac, had adapters go from firewire 400-800 - Issues on Leopard, Snow leopard, Lion.

- I had distortion and robotic noises within core audio such as Logic and Pro Tools.

- Scarlett 2i2 - http://goo.gl/vltyPw

- This interface produced identical issues on Mountain Lion, Mavericks, Yosemite, AND booting into Windows 7 from iMac

- Contacting their customer support was pointless as all representatives didn't know the issue existed. Right....

- M-Audio M-Track - http://goo.gl/D8eOJL

- Produces issues on Yosemite and Windows 7 (Dual Booting)

- Tried over 5 different gaming USB headsets

- I will spare you from the links as you can just assume no USB headsets will work with a Mac.

- Tried using hubs

- USB 2.0 hubs

- Powered USB 2.0 Hubs

- USB 3.0 Hubs

- Powered USB 3.0 Hubs

- Thunderbolt Hubs

- Even plugging audio interfaces/headsets into a thunderbolt hub still produced the issue.

- Altering the USB Audio Kext File

- Did nothing to resolve the issue, only produced more issues

- Split the Fusion Drive

- For a while people believed that the Fusion drive was the issue, I successfully split it and the issues persisted.

- Adjusted Audio MIDI Setup

- There is an application that controls all the audio interfaces called Audi MIDI Setup

- A created every manor of Aggregate and Multi-output device with no success

- Soundflower

- Routed audio in every way imaginable through the system

- Boot Camp

- I successfully partitioned the drive and installed Windows 7. For a while it worked, then the distortion set in.

- Programs

- MAC

- Logic Pro - Clean Audio Through Core audio most* of the time.

- Premiere Pro - Audio interfaces behave erratically, producing distortion and disconnecting and dropping out.

- Screenflick - Least Amount of Issues while recording gameplay

- Screenflow - Terrible support and HORRIBLE audio issues on a mac

- Quicktime Recording - Audio Issues

- Elgato Game Capture - Recording Issues

- Wirecast (Same company as Screenflow) Produces horrible issues with not only bad support, but representatives that talk down to you.

- WINDOWS (Dual boot)

- OBS - Intermittent Issues

- Windows Movie Maker - Seems mostly okay but with clicks and pops

- Fraps - Clicks and pops

What it all comes down to is that its the internals of the mac that are causing the problem. I would agree with JimGr and say that is a problem with USB chipset converting 2.0 signals to 3.0 however It definitely is NOT exclusive to Haswell, however is most likely exclusive to intel.

So at this point, maybe the best bet is to find some Thunderbolt Audio interfaces OR USB 3.0 audio interfaces.

I feel my best option is to build a hackintosh that has both USB 2.0 AND 3.0 on board. What is the point of going with Apple if Apple doesn't support the issues you have anyways? It's not like I'm losing anything here. (This is painful to say as I was previously what people would refer to as an 'apple fanboy') The times have changed 😟

For the time being, if you wan't to record ANY audio, whether its music, commentary, or gameplay and don't have the time/money to resolve endless unexplainable issues, then don't buy a mac.

I have to agree. If someone asked me advice on what computer to get with an emphasis of capturing audio, I would definitely tell them to not get a Mac at present. I'm another Apple fanboy, but I don't intentionally steer people wrong. Before I buy another Mac I need to hear glowing reports from musicians FIRST.

Here's a good one: yesterday and today: no audio issues at all. I'm afraid to restart my iMac!

I have recently purchased an Alesis iODOCK II. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet but it would be 24 bit audio recording in iOS. I'm mostly in the realm of MIDI anyway or I would have sold my Mac and bought a PC by now.

It's now been a week since I have had any problem at all with my late 2013 iMac with 3 TB fusion drive, fully tricked out. I did NOTHING to fix the problem. I'm wondering if a system upgrade contained the fix. The Yosemite and Logic are fully up to date, I have installed no drivers as none are required by my equipment. So the only changes over time have been what the iMac has wanted to upgrade itself with software upgrades.

For me the case seems to be closed. I will post again if any problems crop up. I would like to know if anyone else's issues have magically vanished.

Still having the same issues as most of you.

My setup: rMBP 2012 with NI Audio 2 DJ and NI Audio Kontrol 1

I think it helps to change the sample rate in Audio Midi Setup to 192k to reduce the noises/ distorted echo sounds. But still have to do this after every login / reconnection.

I tried to create an automator script, which didn't work.

I contacted the NI support following that one tech guy said he couldn't help me, because my devices weren't officially supported on OSX Yosemite - thank you guys! If I could recreate the issues with Mavericks he might could start a support ticket.

BUT: In Bootcamp (Win7 Pro 64) everything is working absolutely flawless. So I can't imagine that it is an chipset issue. It has to be a problem how OSX (Mavericks / Yosemite ) is handling USB interfaces.

I'm trying to sell my devices, but as I read from other posts, it is a general problem with USB-devices, so it won't help to get a new one will it? Or can someone confirm that he is running a new audio-interface (for example an NI Traktor Audio 2) with Yosemite without any problems?

Regards, Chris

I'm adding another "Me too" post.

Using a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 USB interface.

Most recently MBP 15" Retina - fully loaded, top spec on Yosemite. After two minutes of playing audio, the audio starts crackling and it isn't more than 10 seconds until things have gotten so progressively worse that nothing but static and clipping noises can be heard.

If I stop playing audio through the device (i.e. stop iTunes for a few seconds), I get another 2 minutes of clear audio before it all goes wrong.

I also had the same problem on my earlier MBP Retina 15" (mid 2012 model) on Mavericks.

I have no problems on Windows, even on a £200 netbook.

I managed to solve my issue by running the "Class Compliant" script from Scarlett/Focusrite here:

http://global.focusrite.com/answerbase/using-a-scarlett-interface-on-osx-109-mav ericks

Using a Scarlett Interface on OS X 10.9 Mavericks

So, I finally sold my Audio 2 DJ since there weren't any improvements with the latest driver update (v2.70, November 2014) and my rMBP (2012). I personally think my Audio Kontrol 1 is running a little smoother since I switched the sample rate to 192kHz, but still have sudden dropouts or distortion/echo effects, but less often.

Has anyone experience with the Steinberg UR22 and Yosemite on a rMBP ? Or any other USB-audio-interface which he can recommend with the rMBP?