Q: problem with usb audio in el capitan

I have a new macmini and am having problems with sound input and output.  I have a Buddy USB sound pod which has two 3.5 ports--one for microphone and for headset output.  With the OS El Capitan, the microphone works with this but no sound output, despite the OS settings being set for the USB soundpod.  If I change the sound output to in-line headphone, it works when I plug in the headset to the port in the back, but I can't get the USB pod to work both ways.  Only input.

Is this a Mac El Capitan issue or is it a general Mac OS issue?  Anyone have success with these devices?  Also, there is no microphone input port using the 3.5--only the headset port and an adjacent port which is for line leveling but not microphone.

I was under the impression that Macs were "easy" and "just worked". 

I'm also having this issue with Logitech USB (S-150) speakers.  OS X 10.11.2 did not fix the issue.  The speakers work for some time, then audio stops working, causing beach balls on Skype, Photos (when playing a video) and many other apps that try to send audio out to the USB speakers.  Disconnecting them from USB and reconnecting them solves the issue temporarily.  As soon as you reconnect them, a lot of "queued" sounds start to play.  Quite awful...  USB audio seems pretty basic.  What's going on?

p.s. I guess that for now I will have to buy a pair of analog speakers to workaround this.

Everyone  should get used to buying new stuff... if you upgrade the OS chances are some of your gear won't work, another OS upgrade or two and your computer will be non-functioning.

There have been USB problems on and off since Mountain Lion, I forget which OS it was, mavericks I think, one release rendered useless half the USB audio devices on the market (no input). It was fixed after a couple of incremental releases. 

I'm going to post some text I posted on another forum. In short, I just got a new MacBook and I can't do any USB audio recording (the reason I bought it). I'm sure I'm going to end up returning this, Apple loses £2000 and a lifetime customer, after I finally caved in and tried Apple. The computer is nice and robust but this is is a major joke and something I've never experienced with Windows. I've never spent so much time messing with computer issues - I just want to record music. Windows machine it is. VERY disappointed as otherwise would have liked to have kept this machine.

My posts:

Noooo!

I've been using the old (red-faced) Toneport UX2 and Gearbox for years on a Windows machine. Still works to this day.

I just bought a brand new high-end MacBook Pro with El Capitan.

Firstly, Gearbox won't install. I had to go into sub-folders and install the parts separately. It works but is a mess.

Secondly, whether I run Gearbox or the POD Farm demo, I get horrendous hiss / crackle out of the device. Sometimes (for some reason) it's ok, but it's hit and miss, so not reliable / repeatable.

Furthermore! If I try the "hum reducer" feature my MacBook Pro completely restarts due to some error. Every time!

Something is seriously wrong. I hate to say but I might have to ditch Line 6 and look for an alternative that works, even if it costs me money. Have to say the Support hasn't been great. I'm sure I've had an open ticket for about 5 years...!

FYI I'm on version 10.11.

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I've been reading several forums and it seems 10.11 is really messing up audio production in general. Apogee, Line 6 (especially!), Native Instruments, you name it. I've read reports of audio dropouts, crackling, audio pops - basically just unworkable. I thought it was something to do  with my interface but it seems no matter what I buy as a USB audio interface, there is a very high chance of it not working due to the OS.

--> I bought a Mac because I wanted LESS hassle and to PLAY more! But it turns out I was better off on my Windows machine.

Very disappointing. I'm seriously considering handing this back and buying a Windows machine with my £2000. What am I supposed to do? Wait in hope that this is all going to work out? I can't use the machine for the purpose I bought it for. A real shame as otherwise I like it - VERY unhappy with this. I'm going to look at alternative Windows machines now. Unless this is solved rapidly, Apple just lost themselves a customer for life, and £2000 is leaving their account. I only just switched to Apple as everybody was saying how I had to get one because they're so great for AV work but I've never seen any issue like this on my old Windows machine. I've never spent so much time faffing around trying to find out what the issue is. I was looking at upgrading to an expensive Apogee unit and that would have been a massive waste of money.

Doing the factory reset now and handing back tomorrow morning to get a full refund.

GUTTED!

Bye Apple.

It's been like this for a while... every new OS upgrade seems to break something, it eventually gets fixed just in time for the next Operating System upgrade which breaks more stuff.  I'm using OS 10.6.8 (Snow Leopard) originally released in 2009, last updated in 2011. Also stuck with Logic 9. Generally speaking, Apple is using it's user base as beta testers for both the operating system and some applications... nothing ever settles. Either you do it Apple's way or not at all, but that's how it's been for many, many years. I jumped of this ship a while back.

So are you a Windows user now (or Unix?).

It's just been a love-hate thing since I started with the machine a few days ago.

It's more akin to Unix than Windows in that things seem robust but you have to do a lot of digging to see what is compatible and the like.

I actually like the machine but this experience has completely crossed Apple off my list forever. Absolutely shocking. Imagine having USB 3 ports that are basically unusable! It's a scandal, to be honest.

Apologies I see yo're still an Apple user but are using an older OS etc.

I just packaged my MacBook Pro up and shall be returning it for refund tomorrow morning. After just two or three days.

Absolutely unbelievable from Apple, I'll never buy Apple again. Absolutely shocking.

Actually I use Windows 7 on my main computer and have built commercial Windows PC's for professional use. It a much more open system which makes it difficult for many to grasp  (too many choices) but Windows (at least 7 is) highly configurable and can be super fast and efficient.

Still use Logic a lot for personal use.

I used to be "in the loop" and spec my own PCs but I'm now "out of the loop" and so Apple appealed (a few good product choices, easy to choose).

I can see I'm going to have to get back into the loop...

I don't care about having the latest/greatest operating system, I'm more concerned with efficiency, handling speed and the OS being user configurable.

One thing Apple has done, I could get smacked around for saying this.. a good portion of Apple users have gotten used to letting Apple do the thinking for them... as an educator I know from experience this is not necessarily a good thing.  "It just works" can also mean "I don't have to think". I look for challenges in everything I do, If I'm not learning, I'm not happy. Anyway... from my experience with clients and online forums... a lot of Mac users can't figure out what to do when something is not working, they rely on Apple and not enough on themselves to patiently work through a problem... yes, it's old school talk, nothing is free, there's always a tradeoff. 

Started off writing a big reply but in short, I agree with you.

Has the USB audio issue been sorted ? Just upgraded to El Capitan and my B&W MM-1 speakers are sounding choppy when plugged into the USB socket or headphone plug on my Mac Pro

Greetings from Spain.

Same problem, I work with some usb audio devices (Dirac, ARC, RAW, etc...) and I can´t go to Yosemite again.

Apple!!!! fix the problem yet, please... Another MacBook to the trash bug...

K.R.

cgospsa.