derKlecks

Q: 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

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Q: Massive problem with audio interface

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  • by Toni Montana,

    Toni Montana Toni Montana Jan 11, 2014 2:14 PM in response to derKlecks
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2014 2:14 PM in response to derKlecks

    have some information that could be interesting for the most of here...

     

    nothing has changed after the second tarnish by apples service provider (with the motu ultralite and the studio monitors for simulate). the provider heard and confirmed the problem immediately. He called me via phone two days later after testing the components with the apples inspect and test program. but it came at exactly the same statement as the first time. there is no error to find. he said i should be contact apple care.

    from then it has become ridiculous. i have phone more than an hour with apple care and I explained that I would have a technical solution for this problem. finally, I have also paid money for the fdrive option. the esiest way would be split the fdrive but this isn't that what i like to have. the convesation goes on and on...

    apple care has made me at the end the following proposition. which was more than just embarrassing

    I could easily expand the disk from the service provider. but the costs would willing to expend by my self and i could be sell my ssd disc.

    häää? this was to much for me and i detect the people from apple care could not hear to what you say and they have so good as no technical skills. next time i renounce and save my money. when me offered those solutions.

    the problem with the fdrive still excist since late 2012. this offered as the first iMacs with this option. now we have 2014. i pay extra money for the fdrive but can't use this option. almost two years and nothing has happend.

     

    this is an unreliable crap. Inbuilt drives that don't work for audio. and it looks like nobody at Apple actually tested them nothing clear. my oppinion is apple know about this issue up from the first time...

  • by little_,

    little_ little_ Jan 11, 2014 2:37 PM in response to derKlecks
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2014 2:37 PM in response to derKlecks

    I recently experienced exactly the same issue with a late 2013 iMac with a 3TB Fusion Drive whilst using a Universal Audio Apollo interface.

     

    As I'm a musician and rely on my Mac for my work, I registered with the developer program as I heard that the newest beta fixed this issue.

     

    I'm pleased to report that all of the issues concerning audio interfaces have been resolved with 10.9.2 for me.

     

    I have tested both my FireWire and USB interfaces and they both work perfectly now!

     

    Hopefully Apple should release this software update soon.

  • by AlexGowers,

    AlexGowers AlexGowers Jan 11, 2014 4:12 PM in response to little_
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 11, 2014 4:12 PM in response to little_

    That's amazing to hear, as a developer I know you don't know anymore than most but did you have an idea of when we are likley to get the public 10.9.2 update?

  • by Wattsy69,

    Wattsy69 Wattsy69 Jan 12, 2014 1:41 AM in response to Paul1808
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 1:41 AM in response to Paul1808

    Hi Paul,

    I was having the sound drop out problem as well but using the SATA drive.

    Not that we should have to do this but.

    I'm using the duet 2 iOS as well.

    I'm maestro 2 send the audio out to the mixer.

    Then go to mixer and change sample rate (think that's it) to 96k

    See if this stops the sound drop out.

    I have found this fixed the problem enough for it to work with no sound drop outs.

    When I put the mac to sleep then wake up, looks like the Duet re connects.

    The apogee logo comes up on the LCD.

     

    Worth giving it a go as it fixed as I said on my SATA HDD.

  • by Paul1808,

    Paul1808 Paul1808 Jan 12, 2014 11:22 AM in response to Wattsy69
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 11:22 AM in response to Wattsy69

    Thanks Wattsy - I'll give that a try now. I have to decide today whether I want to go back to my original iMac with either the 3TB FD, 3TB 7200 HD, or a 1TB SSD. I like the Macbook Pro but don't really need a portable, and the extra horsepower in the iMac is probably better. I guess I'll call the Apple Store and check they have one in stock. From the few recents posts I've read it looks like 10.9.2 fixes the issues - it's just the problem of not knowing when it will be available.

  • by shnicshnac,

    shnicshnac shnicshnac Jan 12, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Paul1808
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 11:38 AM in response to Paul1808

    Hey Guys

     

    I do have the BETA of 10.9.2 and everything works fine on my side.

    I am working with Apogee Duet Firewire with a late 2013 iMac, corei7, 32gb ram and 3tb FD.

     

    If someone wants the BETA, give me your mail and I'll send you the link.

     

    cheers

    shnicshnac

  • by AndyH,

    AndyH AndyH Jan 12, 2014 2:45 PM in response to derKlecks
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 2:45 PM in response to derKlecks

    Just bought a new iMac 27" with a 1 TB fusion drive and was saddened when it arrived to find that I had massive issues with my Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP. Audio dropouts happening every 30 seconds or so.

     

    Foolishly, without doing much research, I went out and bought a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. While the dropouts had stopped, I'd run into distortion/clicking/popping every few minutes. Not usable.

     

    I bit the bullet and updated to 10.9.2 beta, and plugged the Saffire Pro 24 DSP back in. It seems my issues with that interface are resolved. Been running for about an hour now and haven't had any dropouts.

     

    I'm going to plug in the Scarlett 2i2 in a bit and try that unit. Will update the group when I know whether or not the clicking/popping on that unit has been resolved.

     

    Good luck to you all--it seems like a resolution is finally on it's way!

  • by anthony81l,

    anthony81l anthony81l Jan 12, 2014 3:01 PM in response to AndyH
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 3:01 PM in response to AndyH

    Yes please do as much testing as possible .. Maybe with multiple plugins and max out the track limit . If this is the case I have to figure out how to refuse my drives since I split the fusion. Do you have a dev account or just installed without one . If without one could you point me in the right direction as to how to install beta. Normally I wouldn't ask to do so but since apple has caused all of us a big delay on our production and work and hobbys they could kiss my @ss right now I'm going to update without an dev account if it fixes the fusion issue

  • by anthony81l,

    anthony81l anthony81l Jan 12, 2014 7:01 PM in response to derKlecks
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 7:01 PM in response to derKlecks

    OK GUYS .. so far these guys are correct . i have re-fused my split fusion drive and found 10.9.2 and updated and i tested recording 5 vocals with an instrumental playing . used heavly plugins and not one problem for me to report .  it wasnt heavy testing but it sounds good and im confident it will stay this way. i backed up my system to external hd with time machine . fused the 2 drives back to how apple had them in the first place. restored back to my fusion, than updated to 10.9.2 after fully restored and up and running . because apple screwed me and all of us up for so long and did nothing to help me after 4 days of communication i am going to share the link to the beta 10.9.2 where i d.loaded it becuase people deserve to have their audio working properly. i dont have a dev account or anything and there is no checking for a dev registration by apple unlike the ios7 betas. here is the link you dont extract it you just double click it and run it but remember do this after you are re-fused if you split your fusion already. if you didnt split your fusion and you are still on your fusion drive the way it came out of the box than you dont have to do anything but install and restart when your fully installed . check your about mac and it should say 10.9.2 or go to your imessages and click on somebodys name and the top right corner there should now be a phone icon for facetime audio which i tested and works perfect also. im very happy my computer is running back the way it was suppose to from the start . speed of fusion and clear audio . heres the link once you click it it will just download . once again i usually dont condone betas without dev registration but in this case it need to be done.

     

    http://goo.gl/zYwcMm        <<<link

  • by BiggusDikkus,

    BiggusDikkus BiggusDikkus Jan 12, 2014 10:35 PM in response to derKlecks
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 10:35 PM in response to derKlecks

    Jumping in on this thread. I have some interesting data. I'll be as concise as possible...

     

    I just received my new (late 2013) Macbook Pro 15" Retina 2.6 i7, 1TB flash, full-spec, $3299.

    Using Behringer U-Phoria UMC204 96kHz interface

     

    Interface worked well on my mid-2009 MBP, which I was finally upgrading.

    As you probably expected, falls on its face with the new MBPr (on either USB port)

     

    Connects and is recognized immediately as a Behringer UMC204 by the system.

     

    Output test with iTunes: plays crackle-noise for a few seconds and then goes silent.

    Output via Safari, YouTube video: plays crackle-noise for a few seconds and then goes silent.

    Connection test with Garage Band: Gets dropped after a few seconds with message "no longer available".

     

    No change with powered USB hub.

    No change with passive USB hub.

     

    Also of note: About this Mac/More Info/System Report/Audio gives this message:

    "There was an error while gathering this information."

     

    Spoke with Apple Care, level 1 rep (friendly but clueless) and supervisor (friendly but unable to help).

    Told to take entire setup in to local Genius bar and test against other new machines for possible hardware problem with my specific machine.

     

    I did so today.

     

    Interface failure on 15" MBPr 2.0

    Interface failure on 15" MBPr 2.3

    There was no 2.6 unit in stock for me to test.

     

    Neither of the in-store machines had the error message I get in my System Report, but behaved identically to mine.

     

    We decided to test an in-store Apogee ONE interface.

    ==> Worked immediately on all machines tested! <==

     

    Very interesting.

     

    This doesn't help me (or any other audio pro) but it does cause me to question what Apogee is doing with firmware or architecture or whatever that other manufacturers are unaware of.

     

    Obviously, my issue is not with a Fusion drive.

    (I use a Seagate hybrid in my 2009 MBP, and new model is 100% Flash)

     

    I don't know if my issue is with USB3, or Haswell/Crystalwell, or both.

     

    Nobody else seems to know either.

     

    Maybe Apogee engineers know.

     

    Hopefully Apple will know soon, and from this thread it sounds like 10.9.2 could be the answer.

     

    The Genius is escalating my case to Apple's engineering department.

     

    One final comment for the few people in this thread who feel as though they have not been heard by Apple:

     

    Clearly, this is a major headache that has cost us time, money and trust.

    In my business, I wouldn't be able to sleep if I sold my customers something that performed as horrifically as this.

     

    But I must say that everyone I spoke with at Apple seemed to take this problem very seriously, and while not acutely aware of the ins-and-outs of pro audio (no pun intended) I did not detect any diminishment or invalidation of my problem as a "minority" or "boutique" issue.

     

    After all, Apple sells Logic and includes Garage Band with every Mac.

    They also want their stock to go up.

    And we tend to spend money.

  • by anthony81l,

    anthony81l anthony81l Jan 12, 2014 10:40 PM in response to BiggusDikkus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 10:40 PM in response to BiggusDikkus

    Your situation seems a little more complicated than most of us . Stupid question did you update all your drivers to  compatible mavericks drivers? Try the last post I put up before yours . It's the 10.9.2 update for mavericks . Just download , double click and run the installation and reboot. Don't extract . Might help and runs smooth. Hope this helped

  • by BiggusDikkus,

    BiggusDikkus BiggusDikkus Jan 12, 2014 10:48 PM in response to anthony81l
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 10:48 PM in response to anthony81l

    Thanks anthony81I,

     

    As for drivers, I contacted Behringer and they said no new drivers available for Mac (just Win)

     

    Concerning loading up the 10.9.2 beta: will I have to uninstall/revert/reinstall once actual 10.9.2 is complete?

  • by anthony81l,

    anthony81l anthony81l Jan 12, 2014 11:03 PM in response to BiggusDikkus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 11:03 PM in response to BiggusDikkus

    No problem brother I feel your pain.

     

    If there isn't a updated driver that could be a huge problem . For me I have a tascam and there was actually a mavericks update for the driver . When selecting my input and output I actually have 2 options . 1 is tascam core audio and the other tascam bit accurate . A lot of people are using the bit accurate option and that's what tascam suggests . So I would see about different settings and hopefully a mavericks update drops for you soon.

     

    As for 10.9.2 it doesn't replace or delete anything . It's a simple update to mavericks. But it's smooth I been running it for about 7 hrs now with not a single complaint . Very smooth very stable and it fixed my audio problem. Once you update (if you choose to do so) just reboot your Mac and everything will be where you left it. You've tried everything else. Worse case just restore from time machine if you can but I don't think you'll want to

  • by BiggusDikkus,

    BiggusDikkus BiggusDikkus Jan 12, 2014 11:19 PM in response to anthony81l
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Jan 12, 2014 11:19 PM in response to anthony81l

    Thanks again amigo.

  • by AndyH,

    AndyH AndyH Jan 13, 2014 3:49 AM in response to BiggusDikkus
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 13, 2014 3:49 AM in response to BiggusDikkus

    While it does sound like your issue is different than ours, it is still a USB audio issue and certainly couldn't hurt to install the 10.9.2 beta. You've spent the money, so you might as well give everything a shot before you throw the thing out the window.

     

    I can confirm that 10.9.2 has solved all my problems with both the Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP (Firewire via the Apple Thunderbolt adapter) and the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (USB). I've had no dropouts, static, clicking, popping, or anything of the sort. I will continue to test over the next few days, but it seems like Apple has been listening, and this is the solution.

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