1 Topic by coolcontent (edited by coolcontent 2019-02-10 18:53:46)

  • Registered: 2019-02-10
  • Posts: 5

Topic: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

Hello there,

I have read about the problems with 2018 MacBook Pros and USB2 connection in another thread in this forum, and recently also on heise.de. I think I have a quite similar issue with my MacBook Pro 13" 2015.

I'm using

  • MacBook Pro 13" 2015 with 2,7 GHz Core i5
    RAM: 8 GB 1867 MHz DDR3
    128 GB SSD

  • Fireface UC connected to USB3 connector on the MacBook directly (left side)

  • 256 GB Samsung SSD T5 USB connected via ANKER USB 3.0 HUB to the MacBook Pro (right side)

  • OSX Mojave 10.14.3

  • Latest RME driver version

I am running

  • Ableton Live 10

  • Native Instrument Komplete 11, samples are saved on the external Samsung SSD T5

Now the problem: The Fireface UC has audio glitches
when I'm using 44,1 kHz and 128 Samples, even if I only use one track with Komplete Kontrol VST or a standard instrument from Ableton.
44,1 kHz and 64 Samples is not useable at all, it's horrible with this setting and the playback is slower...
With 44,1 kHz or 48kHz and 256 Samples I get no glitches but that is rather high setting for performing live.
at 88,2 kHz I need 512 Samples
at 96 kHz it must be set to 1024 Samples.

The Konsole gives the following error:

standard    18:45:57.533139 +0100    coreaudiod    HALS_IOContextDescription.cpp:1113:PushStreamUsageToEngines_block_invoke:  IOContext 134: pushing 3 output stream(s) to 'de_RME_driver_USBAudioEngine:16A3A09'

So the lowest settings that I can use are:

  • 44,1 kHz with 256 Samples

  • 48 kHz with 256 Samples

  • 88,2 kHz with 512 Samples

  • 96 kHz with 1024 Samples

What is the problem here? What can I do to run with lower Sample rates?

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 13,179

Re: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

coolcontent wrote:

Hello there,

I have read about the problems with 2018 MacBook Pros and USB2 connection in another thread in this forum, and recently also on heise.de. I think I have a quite similar issue with my MacBook Pro 13" 2015.

If you have read the other threads then you should know the answer.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2019-02-10
  • Posts: 5

Re: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

ramses wrote:

If you have read the other threads then you should know the answer.

Thank you for your fast answer.

Yes, I have read other threads, however I wasn't capable to find the information for older MacBooks or Mac Mini than 2018 (in my case the 2015 MacBook Pro). Maybe you could help me?
Does that mean that the problem with 2018 MacBook Pros also occurs on older MacBook Pros?
And it might be solved with a Thunderbolt 3 dock? In 2015 MacBook Pro there is only TB2, so would need to use adapter cable from TB2 to TB3.

4 Reply by ramses (edited by ramses 2019-02-10 19:31:28)

  • ramses
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • From: UTC+1
  • Registered: 2012-10-14
  • Posts: 13,179

Re: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

If you had read the relevant threads then you should know that there are 2 issues
1. Mojave (OS), can only be fixed by Apple
2. HW issues with new models, USB not useable for recording, workarounds are thunderbolt HW docks with USB ports

I really don't get it that you claim having read all the relevant (2 or three) threads and still don't know / understand.

BR Ramses - UFX III, 12Mic, XTC, ADI-2 Pro FS R BE, RayDAT, X10SRi-F, E5-1680v4, Win10Pro22H2, Cub14
  • Registered: 2018-12-21
  • Posts: 322

Re: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

The 2015 model should not have any hardware problems with USB 2.0, but Mojave is known to cause problems on lower buffer sizes. Pro Tools for instance is still not compatible with Mojave (and it is just their latest version which guarantees lower buffer sizes under High Sierra). I would try to update Ableton, if this does not help I can only recommend downgrading to High Sierra.

  • Registered: 2019-02-10
  • Posts: 5

Re: Audio glitches with UC and MacBook Pro 2015

Thank you, guys, that really helped me out!
I've downgraded to High Sierra and didn't recognize glitches yet. Awesome!

Sorry, if I bothered you @ramses. It wasn't my intention to do that. Thanks for your help!