El Capitan USB audio problems.

Yes, i also having the same problem, everytime i boot on sierra, my volume is maxed out at 100% and volume balance is off to the left. Im using also external DAC, its sad, and it's bummer to do a clean install, this is the first time i own a mac that i need to clean install it, my whole life trusting mac as my workstation because i often clean install windows because of its error and stuff, and windows is easy to re-install and quick.

.MacOS Sierra Volume Balance Error

for those who didnt know the problem, can watch my 30sec video https://youtu.be/AkhN45fQSDw
its annoying as ****, it blast your sound everytime you boot and you get a notification...
*someone can nearly die if they got a heart attack though

i hope apple take this issue seriously. its not good to ask people to clean install, when the i brought this mac since 2013 never have this issue until 2016, my DAC is plug and play, no software needed.

So I did the clean install thing and nothing. The A1 still isn't recognized. I went to the local Apple Rep, explained my problem to them and then I tried the A1 with a bunch of the showroom Macbooks (Air and Pro) with no success. They told me that it's an OS thing and that there was nothing they could do for me. I'll try and find somebody who'll let me download Yosemite from the App store and see what I can do, but I've pretty much given up on this. It's been very frustrating.

I'll try and find somebody who'll let me download Yosemite from the App store and see what I can do,

You would need to do that with your Apple ID, and it would olnly work if you previously downloaded it. In addition the installer would only run from a system that is running an OS X between Snow Leopard and Yosemite. Otherwise, you would need to make a bootable USB or DVD with the installer.

Using Sierra with a MacMini and USB connected KEF X300As which include a built-in DAC, jut got another dropout, seemingly triggered after an unanswered Facetime video request.

Does installing Sierra fix the USB problem??? I have El Capitan 10.11.6 and same issues........PLEASE HELP!!!

As I previously stated in an earlier response:

Well, my issues with the KEFs were not fixed with Sierra. In fact, a new issue was introduced. Now on every startup or restart, I have to readjust the left to right channel balance.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7253452?answerId=30722756022#30722756022

I got half of it to work (meaning only 1 side, works on my studio monitors) ....the other side is too low to hear.....and I can't record ANY midi???.....PLEASE HELP!!!

Update:

The Kanex Thunderbolt to USB3 & eSATA port adapter has definitely resolved my USB audio dropouts problems.

Still need the "Balance Lock" app though.

Now using 10.12.3.

thanks for your quick answer 🙂 i will try it , but shame on you apple....

but shame on you apple....

Actually, the issue may be traceable to Intel. There have been suggestions that it has something to do with Intel's implementation of USB3.

Now you're tempting me to pick up a USB3 card for my MacPro 5,1.

Who is Lenny?

Sorry, Lanny.

Luis, I did say above that I've already tried that. I installed a brand new version of Sierra on an external hard drive and booted from it only to have exactly the same problem.

Just got Sierra 10.12.4 update. Now my NuForce µDAC 2 is broken again. Sigh.