USB Audio Problems Late 2013 iMac - Clicking / Popping / Dropouts

Just FYI:

I have a MacBook Pro late 2013 Retina, and I can report that I also have pops, crackles and glitches only when I connect my external USB 2.0 audio interfaces to the USB 3.0 ports. This does not happen through the internal audio output.

The audio interfaces are Traktor Audio 2 and Audio Kontrol 1 by Native Instruments, and the audio problems happen with every program I try.

I wrote to Native Instruments and asked about it, and they actually answered with a link to this thread...

By the way, I also tried switching which graphic card is in use with gfxCardStatus, but that didn't change anything.

Any more ideas?

These are the specs:

- MacBook Pro 15", late 2013, Retina

- OS X 10.9.1

- 2.3 Ghz Intel Core i7

- 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR RAM

- 1TB SSD

- graphic cards: Intel Iris Pro + Nvidia GeForce GT 750M

Greetings. I'm about 6 weeks into this struggle, having bought the new iMAC 2013, OS 10.8.5 and a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 (and new Neumann microphone). Some of the solutions I've read here include: 1) either splitting the fusion drive into SSD and HHD, or 2) replacing the fusion drive with SSD. This appears to have helped some people, but not all, or 3) getting an external hard drive.

This latter option is one I'm interested in, but I would love advice about: 1) I assume that the OS has to be installed on the external hard drive, and that Garageband has to be installed on that external hard drive. 2) I would need to boot my computer from the external hard drive. Here is where it gets confusing. I'm not sure how I would be recording once I had an external hard drive properly set up. How exactly does one set up an external hard drive. How do you install OS and GB? How do you boot from it? How do you record using the HDD, bypassing the fusion drive?

I went to BestBuy today, thinking I was about to solve the problem by purchasing an external hard drive, and not just a backup drive. They had the drive a Seagate 1TB SATA desktop HDD. However, it needs a case, which they didn't have...and I didn't like the idea of purchaing the external drive from one place, then looking online or at Frys for the case. So, my plan is to go to Frys and see if they have this desktop HDD and the case. If anyone can clarify these steps, I would greatly appreciate it.

I have spent some time with AppleCare, and was bumped up the line to higher and higher level technicians. I spoke with someone last Saturday. The fellow I spoke with Saturday said he'd be off work for a few days and was to call me today., Thursday. I didn't get the call, so I called AppleCare, and was passed up the line pretty quickly. I mentioned to someone that it was my understanding that my inquiry (and frustration) had taken me to one of the highest level people. The reply was, "Your question was taken to the highest level person." Great. I ended up reading the person there the best recommendations that I've gleaned here and read the summary to that person. He was a kind fellow and said, "It's got to be a terrible situation when Apple tells you that the problem is with FocusRite...and FocusRite and other audio interface companies say that the problem is with Apple." I asked what he thought about getting the Beta version of OS 10.9.2. A few people here have done that with good results. The fellow at Apple wasn't too keen about that suggestion, and thought that booting from an external hard drive seems like the best solution right now. By the way, going up the chain of command to perhaps the highest level person there was odd in that I basically summarized for him/them the best advise I've read here.

The issue of USB incompatibility didn't really get his/their attention. I do know that they are working on a newsletter, but they don't want to tell people bits and pieces about it until it's published.

Regarding splitting the fusion drive, that spooks me. I'm not a programming kind of person. More a point and click Mac person. I asked BestBuy if they could replace the fusion drive with an SSD and was told it would not be cheap, and that given the slim construction of the iMAC, the replacement is not as simple as it was with Power Macs, etc.

One difficulty in communicating with Apple is that, when I mention the new iMAC, a recording interface problem, and Garageband, I get transferred to someone who specializes in Garageband. So I end up explaining that the issues involved Garageband, a number of recording programs, and a variety of intefaces from Focusrite to Apogee, etc. That did help re-focus him.

My plan is to buy and set up an external HD and would love any assitance about this. I will probably also buy the $300 thunderbolt, whose name I can't recall right now. I've been looking at a lot of angles and most of the posts here for 6 weeks. If you just bought your iMAC, don't let time pass. If you're thinking of exchanging it, time passes quickly. If I had it to do over, I might buy a Mac that is a bit older, a Power PC, but it's too late for me to do that.

I'm yet another one with this highly frustrating problem! iMac 27" 1TB fusiondrive with MOTU Ultralite Mk3.

Guys, keep calling AppleCare - they really need to feel the pressure even though they just can't help on this one!

I too got bumped up to the highest level of technical support on my last call and had a pleasant chat but again, no solution other than time-consuming and unprofessional workarounds. I did however get the following postal address to which I should write a formal complaint - at least here you should receive a written statement unlike on Apple's feedback page, which we should also fill out to enhance the pressure!

Apple Customer Support

Hollyhill

Cork

Ireland

Apple has needless to say, recognised the problem and is apparently working on a fix for the next update, whenever that maybe!

I have tried an external SSD drive as boot drive. All apps live on my fusion drive, because my SSD is not huge. I still have problems.

I believe it is related to the USB bus as well as the fusion drive. I have a FireWire device that works off and on, so I'm not sure if the problem is actually ALL AUDIO or just USB with a fusion drive.

At this point I use my old Mac to do audio work, while I wait to see what 10.9.2 does for me. Using an external drive to boot from *****, in my opinion, since apps on the old drive need to be reinstalled in certain cases. Also it looks ugly.....

I have Apple Care at least, so if 10.9.2 isn't better, then I'll see what they can do for me.

C

Add me to the roster of people that are having this problem. In my case, I have a 2013 iMac with a 1TB Fusion drive, and am streaming to the Audioengine D1 and for me - after a song or two, I get a lot of crackling and popping...

- Thanx

- Jon

I am having the same issue. I use my iMac for personal listening, but am having the same issue with my Audioengine D3 as well as my Schiit Bifrost DAC. I do not have this issue with the same devices on my other Mac. Only my new late 2013 iMac w/ 3TB Fusion drive.

This is disspointing to find so many others are having this issue. I am left with few options.

I should not have to search forums to ensure basic functionality of devices. My audio equipment works without issue on systems that are 5+ years old.

Hey all,

Apple knows about this issue, but their suggestions for a fix are the same as what others have come up with here (doing that change to the Fusion drive where you have one part that's SSD only and the rest is regular HD).

For me, that's not a good solution. I mean, I BOUGHT the Fusion drive to get the speed that would be associated with using it. I don't feel that it's a valid workaround to lose one of the major features of the new iMacs!

So I'm gonna be returning my iMac and buying one with an SSD instead... Not a great solution either, but at least I'll get more speed...

I was unable to confirm if this was EVER going to be fixed in the upcoming update to Mavericks, or... ever.

- Jon

But am I the only one who has (almost?) the same problem as you guys, but with a new MacBook Pro?

Just thought I'd give an update.

I decided my next step was to buy a Belkin Thunderbolt Expresss Doc. I hooked it up my Focusrite Saffire Pro24 using the USB to thunderbolt adapter that I already had. No change. ****. So, today I'll pick up a USB 3.0 to USB 3.0 as my last hope that the Belkin can help.

If not, I'm not sure I want to take this further. It's too late to return this computer. I am concerned about the money i spent on the Focusrite and Neuman microphone. I am willing to set those aside until there is a fix, and just get a Yeti USB mic to take my current project to the next level. I am not totally positive that Apple is really going to fix this, and I am growing tired of the time I've spent between: BestBuy (where I bought the iMAC) GeekSquad (terrible), AppleCare, Guitar Center (where I bought the Focusrite and Neuman), lots of Internet searching, back to BestBuy to get the Belkin thunderbolt, 3 more calls to AppleCare. I am sure you've all been down a similar road.

This is consuming way too much time and energy. I'll know later today if a USB 3.0-USB 3.0 (Focusrite to Belkin thunderbolt) does the trick. If not, I'm at a turning point with this.

I wouldn't do anything too drastic as hopefully the next os update will fix this issue.

-chris

Sorry Chris,

I wouldn't get my hopes up for that. Nothing in the release notes...

- Jon

Would like to add myself to the list.

I am incredibly disappointed that our brand new 21.5" iMac with 1TB Fusion drive is experiencing issues recording audio with our Blue Snowball.

At first i exchanged the microphone three times, thinking it was some driver issue, but to no avail. There is a lot of static noise during Skype, Google hangouts, audacity, QuickTime recorder, but not GarageBand. Blue tech suggested i lower input volume, and this only helps for a few seconds. Eventually i read somewhere that using a usb hub helps, and indeed it does. But apparently only temporarily.

Trying to record a long video with a logitech C920 makes the video stutter every once in a while, and i happened to plug in a standalone logitech usb microphone to discover stuttering and static as well!

Using a cheap usb 2.0 hub helps, but i hardly have any security in knowing my iMac can record stuff properly, and I've had issues with the snowball audio getting stuck and needing to be unplugged to work again.

Will have to contact Apple UK this week, a shame i left it for so long.

Happy to report, 2 weeks and going, after switching out from Fusion Drive to SSD, problem gone. It's ridiculous though.

I'm not too happy about being forced to do something like that, and then having to deal with an external USB drive constantly spinning up/down. 1TB SSD's are pretty expensive, after all.

I wrote to Blue support, and I wonder if they have any news from Apple.

Let us know if the just released 10.9.2 fixes things....