Q: Massive problem with audio interface

Hey all..

I've been running 10.9.2 Beta bulid 13C59 for 3 days now, NO MORE PROBLEMS.

I had all the same issues you all had for months! Unfortunately, I got bought a custom iMac from Tekserve and they wouldn't let me return it because it was custom. I almost went and got a brand new computer, was gonna take the hit because there are NO EXCUSES when you're a musician and need to make music.

Anyway, this beta works perfectly, so I will most likely stick with it. I use the RME Babyface (highly recommended) and have been recording vocals and guitar with NO ISSUES. Even listening to Rhapsody on Chrome is way better, no drop outs. Ihighly recommend getting the beta version and SCRAPPING your cheap interfaces and getting a Babyface cuz this thing is truly the best.

Sounds good, Philip - your words comfort me.

I do confide that all these issues are software related so I'll be waiting for 10.9.2 to be released and then decide.

Apogee claims that my device - which is the Apogee One for mac - is Mavericks compatible and they released the new software so I don't think, or at least I wouldn't hope, that those usb issues will affect my setup.

Speaking of usb connections, I have a question: my iMac late 2013 support usb 3.0 but my Apogee One support usb 1.1 only - may be this a problem?

I don't think so, do you? Supporting 3.0 means that it naturally support 2.0, 1.1 and so on, doesn't it?

Again, thank you for your help.

Giuseppe

I have a late 2013 with a 1TB SATA and although I don't have problems recording, I do have an intermittent screech that is recorded over every track with signal lasting 5 or 6 seconds at a time.  I also get very fine, low-level digital clicks which sound almost like a hiss when they are closely spaced.  These occur regardless of which DAW I use (Reaper and Logic Pro X).  The interface is USB 2 and part of an Allen & Heath Qu-16 digital mixer.  A&H have told me that this is a problem with how the late 2013 iMac handles USB data.  My Qu-16 works perfectly with pre-2013 MacBook Pros.

There do seem to be two separate problems with this iMac; one with the Fusion drive and one with the way it handles USB data.  Apple will not give A&H the information that they need to fix the issue.  It seems as though Apple want their own software releases to solve this problem.  Great for them, lousy for us.

I've got a 2013 iMac i5 with the upgraded Maverick 10.9.1 and I am experienceing constant loud distortion as an input through my PreSonus AudioBox.  Is this problem you all speak of just related to iMac or is it macs across the spectrum with Mavericks?  I had no issues with Moutain Lion!

-Same problems here.

-I have a Symphony i/o running on the latest firmware and audio goes crazy after a minute. Distortion.Clicks.Pops.Dropout etc.

-Bought a UAD Twin to test out thunderbolt and got perfect playback for about a  hour and started getting ONLY drop outs. So, definitely a huge improvemnt using TB which leads me to believe also, that there are two issues at hand:

1) USB 3.0 - Causes distortion/pops/drop-outs etc. Very inaudible when used with a Fusion-Drive and a USB 2.0 interface.

2) Fusion Drive - Causes ONLY drop-outs when connected with a interface NOT using USB

-Don't know if this only a software issue and/or hardware.

Im just realizing this problem now, after stumbling upon this forum, as my 3 month old iMac was sitting in my studio, un-used, still in its box! I then decided to set it up and check it out, and sure enough misery ensued. This ***** bad as Im well beyond the 14 days you get to return it, thinking it was gold and ready to go. This is the second iMac I'm having issues with, after my last one forgot it was a machine and needs to start up when I press the power button. It was **** to get them to return it first time around and I know it won't be pretty this time. Sorry if I'm ranting but I'm steamed. Apple is so used to being praised that its soooooo hard for them to believe there *ish does stink at times.

*********IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING FROM THIS POST, PLEASE LET IT BE THIS***************

If this turns out to be a hardware issue and 10.9.2 does not solve our problems, this should be a just cause for a factory recall and or some form of compensation (perhaps allowing us to return our DEFECTED machines and IMHO a affordable upgrade to SSD). But WE need to to stick together and let our voices be heard in as many ways as possible. Forums / Customer Feedback / Calling Apple! However and wherever: iMAC = DEFECT

As you know, many of us musicians experience big trouble when connectiing audio interface to the late 2013 iMac.

I've been down my  Apple store  meeting one of the tech team who is also a musician, guess what : he told me he's still using Mountain Lion as he quickly found out an upgrade to Mavericks was not too reliable xhen it was issued en of 2013 !!!    

Some say it has to do with the Fusion Drive unit (do you have one?), others say it's a hardware problem, the new HAaswell chip causing random I/O interruptions in the USB Bus, etc etc.

After buying a brand new 21" i5 iMac to replace the previous (also with FD, MAvericks) that was running fine, but got stolen unfortunately...

I've been stuck for 3 weeks now, in touch with the Focsurite tech-team who are willing to help (issued 2 new drives, 1.7  and 1.8b that fix some problems but leave the main trouble uchanged), ...

I'm quite desperate: it is simply impossible to record under these circumstances, you get a dirty, glitchy sound right there inside your track !!

It seems all we can do is hope and pray for this BIG **** won't be lasting too many weeks anymore.

Otherrwise : just get your money back!  Personally I'll wait until, say 10th of March to take that decision...

Meanwhile I'm trying other soltuions : disconnect /switch of the FD device, run the sound trhough Soundflower, and see what happens, as a "solution provisoire", just to keep working ... as we all need to !

This is the recent answer I received yesterday from one of the Focusrite engineers, worth readiing :

Hi Jean

Sorry for your continued issues. I don't believe the issue is caused by USB power saving, but instead, the Fusion drive installed in your iMac.

We have seen a number of reports from people using various audio interfaces (from other manufacturers as well) who are reporting audio issues when using the Apple fusion drive. Luckily, Apple have acknowledge the bug and are releasing a fix in OSX 10.9.2 (currently in 7th beta).

Unfortunately, I cannot offer you an immediate resolution but we expect 10.9.2 to be publicly released shortly. Installing this update should resolve your glitchy audio.

Kind regards,

--

David Emery // Focusrite Technical Support

http://www.focusrite.com/answerbase/en/category.php?id=108

Focusrite Audio Engineering Limited

Windsor House, Turnpike Road, High Wycombe HP12 3FX, United Kingdom

Hi,

I have a 2013 Macbook Pro 2.6 ghz. My audio interface is an USB 2.0 interface (Propellerhead's Balance). I have two problems: 1st one is high latency and the second is drop outs and occasional noice when recording. I was wonder if any of you have tried the latest beta build and got the same issued solved?

Where can I download the latest beta build, if I decide to try myself?

Sorry I can't help you, as the beta versions are in the hands of agreed Apple developpers until a public 10.9.2 gets an official release. Best to do is contact your local Apple store and also the apple support assistance...  and have your request officialy recorded. Just to make sure you prevent any further guarantee problems if you bought a new Mac recenty.

For as far as I know the problem occured with the late 2013 production and seems to concern not only the iMac's with Fusion Drive (optional) but also Macbook's (Retina display in particular).

So it might be more than a simple software bug, it could also be hardware defect there are trying to fix, bypass or deny, who knows after all these weeks the mystery smog becomes thicker and thicker...

Also I can only repeat my previous (late 2012) 21" i5 iMAc was running fine even after the first Mavericks upgrade.

It was identical to the one I'm using now (except this one's a late 2013 series with a different chipset) - so the question is .... ? Guess what causes big trouble 

JN

    I to have the i5 series iMac but mine is a constant distortion added to the mix.  I used to record all the time when I had mountain lion installed and it seemed to work fine.  Once I upgraded to mavericks I can't even get the iMac to assign the interface as the output and input device for audio let alone get the crazy loud distortion squeal to stop.  Just wondering since you had an i5 if you had any suggestions?

It sounds as though you have same problem that Actraiser and I have.  I don't have a fusion drive, but I do have a late 2013 iMac i5.  There are two separate problems; one with the fusion drive, and one thatconcerns changes in the way USB is handled.  This does not occur with my 2012 MacBook Pro using the same DAW and interface.  What is your interface?

I'm using cubase 6 and a PreSonus Audiobox.  I wonder if this issue is just USB related or if a FireWire interface will remedy it.  I know the folks with the fusion drive seem to be having issues with either or.

Sorry I have but few answers, I'm also desperate. As I wrote in my last reply my previous (late2012) identical 21" i5 Mac was donig fine. At the Store one adviced me to reboot all from scratch to see what happens.

Well , I didn't because I know the bug lies somewhere else.

When I first called the Apple Support service I was answered "Mavericks is the best OS ever made!", isn't that one foolish of an answer?

It seems some people supposed to help us are trained to deny reality against al odds,  just to preserve their job or trade reputation...

Luckily all are not like that, I  just thanked this idiot for willing to not help me and made a later call and finally got the right person to speak to... yet there is no way we can acces to 10.9.2 until official release.

So I guess one must be patient. Learn to meditate   Call the Dalaï LaMa (c)

Let's all hope our new 9.2  Messiah shows out soon...

Yesterday I was able to work & record  Midi in Logic & Garage Band  & also Mainstage : Midi causes no problem (except after  1/2 hour or so I get some squeeks but then I just toggle the sample Freq switch (from 44,1 to 48 and back) on my Focusrite and there we go again.  Recording audio from an external source is quite hasardeaous though, that's when you get the cracks and constant distorsion after 30 seconds !

Coming to suggestions, did you query your sound device's technical support? Do they have a late drive to fix at least some of the problems, like the crash ? What soundboard do you use?

I'll be testing the latest Motu 828x "Thunderbolt" next week, see what happens...

Having acknowldeged that there is a known software issue with Mavericks and Fusion drives   Apple are replacing my Fusion Drive MM with an SSD MM tomorrow.

i7 16gb RAM

I'll let you know how Mavericks fares on that machine....

10.9.2 seems to have patched/solved the issue. At this time, I have only limited testing to prove this. However, I have no more crackling or popping when recording in Logic on my Fusion Drive 27" 16gig.

Here is what I did to get the 10.9.2 beta release.

1. Had a Fusion Drive Mac + Logic X.

2. Called Apple and asked for a Logic specialist.

3. Referred to our issue and this thread.

At this point, ask for an "Apple Software Customer Seeding" invite. This got me an email from Apple inviting me to participate in beta testing of 10.9.2. Follow the instructions in the email and you're set to test the build yourself.

Good Luck!

Any word on whether or not this fixes the issue on iMacs with out the fusion drive with mavericks installed?