usb-c to ethernet problems (audio over ethernet)

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11 points

usb-c to ethernet problems (audio over ethernet)

I work as a sound engineer, and often do multitrack recordings and multi-channel playback. A couple of ways doing that, is sending audio over Ethernet via Dante or Soundgrid protocol. It's now very common that modern systems from Waves and other digital audio consoles and workstations uses audio over some kind of Ethernet protocol, and also control, processing and routing via a computer.

I have encountered problems with the new MBP touchbar generation. The Apple USB-C to Ethernet adapter simply doesn't work. Audio gets constantly interrupted, reminding of sync issues.

I have tried several other USB-C to Ethernet adapters, like Belkin, Satechi etc. Same problem.

Only thing that works is by going from Thunderbolt 3 -> Thunderbolt 2, (Apple adapter) and Thunderbolt 2 -> Ethernet (Apple).

I suspect this has to be an issue either with the new MBP touch bar generation hardware for USB devices, or how MacOS handles USB traffic.

The reason i suspect this, is because I can run an USB-Ethernet adapter on a Microsoft computer with no issues, but the very same adapter gets ticks and pops connected thru an USB-C to USB 3.1 adapter. (Apple A1632).

Does anyone have a solution other than dual adapters, or is this a hardware issue with the new mbp?

MacBook Pro (13-inch, Late 2016, 4 TBT3), macOS Sierra (10.12.6)

Posted on Sep 6, 2017 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

gustav239 Author

Level 1

11 points

Sep 6, 2017 2:32 PM in response to Innocepts

Thanks for your reply! It was helpful checking the differences, and I've found a major one. AVB.

Ok.. So I've connected every ethernet adapter and checked the settings. Screenshots as below. Every one of them checks as a USB device, and does work as an ethernet adapter for lesser things, but not with audio over ethernet. They show full duplex gigabit ethernet, no proxy, no funky adressing, just standard auto configure DHCP. Both Dante and Soundgrid should be fairly plug and play with an auto setup ethernet network.

The thunderbolt adapter checks as a PCI device and is the only one that has a box to tick under the hardware tab, "AVB/EAV mode".

From wiki about AVB:

"Requirements

Requirements included synchronizing multiple streams to ensure they can be rendered correctly in time; a simple example of this is lip synch. For more stringent applications, such as keeping multiple digital speakers properly in phase within a professional environment, synchronization within 1μs is needed. Worst case delay, including source and destination buffering, must be low and deterministic. For example, consumer user-interface responses of about 50ms, or about 2ms for live performances. Applications must be able to reserve network resources, sometimes called admission control.^[6] AVB is also considered for industrial control applications.^[8]

IEEE standardization

In July 2004, the IEEE 802.3

started a residential Ethernet

study group for A/V streaming.^[9]

In November 2005, work moved to the IEEE 802.1

working group, responsible for cross-network bridging

standards. In particular, the group wanted the technology to be scalable from inexpensive consumer applications to professional standards."

As far as I can see and experience, no adapter I have tried using the USB protocol supports AVB on the USB-C enabled Macbook Pro's.

The thing is, I know that the USB-ethernet adapter (haven't tried the USB-C ones, my PC has no such connections) works with Soundgrid on my PC.

I wonder.. Is it the touch bar generation MBP's hardware that doesn't support AVB over devices recognized as "usb devices", or may it be Mac OS? A driver issue?

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Answer 2

Sep 6, 2017 1:56 PM in response to gustav239

I would check your 'System Report...' from the 'About this Mac' and see how the adapter is connecting to the computer. Through the USB or Thunderbolt interface and make sure how and is it being recognized by the logic board.

Have you checked your network settings for that particular adapter? Especially the advanced settings. There might be automatic setting or a proxy setting that might be conflicting with that particular connection. Verify what your settings are suppose to be for the Dante or Soundgrid protocols to communicate correctly with the Network connection.

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Answer 3

Dec 8, 2017 4:46 AM in response to gustav239

I am also on macOS Sierra, and I am connecting a Mac Pro with Dante to a Macbook Air no USB.C though. There seem to be a similar problem with the connection. Finally I have to be careful how to connect and how to setup network connections. I run Ethernet through an Elgato thunderbolt hub, and plug it directly into the pro. I must not have WLAN be connected on the pro or the faster ethernet connections will be ignored, and Dante requires the faster connection anyway.

So I need to have my Air running before I start the Pro. I guess its macOS Sierra which is the source for the problems, it does not take the faster path... Also just normal network connections seem to break if I didn't have established the cable before. But I am still in the state of testing things out...

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