1 Topic by leolabs (edited by leolabs 2023-12-21 17:20:24)

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Topic: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey everyone,

I've recently updated my M1 Max MacBook Pro from Ventura to Sonoma. Since that update, I've been experiencing dropouts and glitches with my DigiFace Dante every 5-15 minutes. The dropouts occur system-wide – so far, I've encountered them in Safari, Spotify, Apple Music, Ableton Live, Logic Pro, and the Apple TV app.

These are the steps I tried already:

  • Updated to the latest firmware (v56) and DriverKit driver (v4.09)

  • Disconnected all Ethernet cables from the interface so only USB and headphones are connected

  • Uninstalled the DriverKit driver and installed the Kernel Extension driver

  • Used different USB cables (original that came in the box, one from Lindy, and one from Hama) connected directly to the computer, so no hub that might cause trouble

  • Made sure that no other devices are connected to the computer

  • Disabled Wi-Fi and Bluetooth just in case

  • Tried other interfaces (internal, iConnectivity AUDIO4c and PlayAUDIO1U, Focusrite Scarlett 2i2), but they didn't have this issue

  • Bought a new M1 Pro MacBook, updated it to Sonoma (14.2), and installed just the DriverKit driver and Spotify

So far, none of these steps made any difference with the glitches, unfortunately. These are my Fireface USB Settings: https://imgur.com/XbUmCNp

The CRC Errors value always stays at 0 even with the dropouts occurring. I've also checked the macOS Console and each time a glitch occurs, I see the following lines:

default    16:34:52.497204+0100    coreaudiod    193091                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:173   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is consecutive, host time is not consecutive.
default    16:34:52.561151+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!
default    16:34:53.436508+0100    coreaudiod    193091                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:183   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is not consecutive. Ring buffer size: 8192.000000, sample diff: 24576.000000
default    16:34:53.499505+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!

Sometimes, the following line is also logged after the first two:

default    16:34:53.500188+0100    RMEUsbAsp    ClipOutputSamples: Samples not written: (5050)

Searching for these log lines on Google leads to no results, unfortunately. I'm truly at my wit's end with this issue. Has anyone else experienced this as well and maybe found a workaround?

Please let me know if there is any further information I can provide to troubleshoot this.

Thank you in advance!

  • Max
  • Max
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  • Registered: 2007-05-09
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Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

  • Bought a new M1 Pro MacBook, updated it to Sonoma (14.2), and installed just the DriverKit driver and Spotify

That is some expensive debugging!
Thank you for the thorough error description. Your Fireface settings show that Dante handles the clock, but the network interface is down. Also, you set it to AES67 mode, which means (IIRC) that Dante uses PTPv2 instead of PTPv1. Without testing this myself, maybe this causes some issue with Sonoma?
Could you activate "preferred leader" in the Digiface settings, and see if that fixes the problem; if not, could you configure the Digiface Dante NOT to use AES67 mode and see if that makes a difference? Also, when connecting multiple clients to CoreAudio (two or more of YouTube, Spotify, Logic, etc.), please use the kernel extension driver.

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey Max,

Thank you for your swift reply!

That is some expensive debugging!

I just wanted to make sure there was no other piece of software that could've gotten in the way.

I've just disabled AES67 and checked the "preferred leader" checkbox in the settings panel so now it looks like this: https://imgur.com/LW3VqXe

Unfortunately, that didn't fix the issue. I still get glitches every 5-15 minutes, and the logs are still the same:

default    13:13:11.079818+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!
default    13:13:11.128576+0100    coreaudiod    383087                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:173   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is consecutive, host time is not consecutive.
default    13:13:11.934588+0100    coreaudiod    383087                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:183   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is not consecutive. Ring buffer size: 8192.000000, sample diff: 24576.000000
default    13:13:11.945839+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!

I find it interesting that the sample diff is always exactly 24576, not sure if that is of any help.

Just as a test, I wiped my new MacBook and installed Ventura on it along with the DriverKit driver and Spotify, and that works as expected without any dropouts or glitches, so it seems this issue is isolated to macOS Sonoma.

Do you have any ideas for further troubleshooting?

4 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Questions: is the DF Dante directly connected to the MacBook (recommended)? How many network ports are used, and do you use the external power supply for it (recommended)?

Note: the other tested interfaces are neither USB3 nor have that amount of channels...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey MC,

Thank you for taking a look at this issue!

Regarding your questions, the DigiFace is connected directly to my MacBook. I've tried the original USB3 B to A cable that came in the box using a USB-A to USB-C adapter from Anker, another USB3 B to A cable from Hama, and a USB3 B to C cable from Lindy to make sure the Anker adapter isn't the problem here.

There are no other devices connected to my MacBook and I'm only using the USB and Headphone port of the DigiFace to ensure this isn't an issue with my Dante network. The dropouts also occurred while the DigiFace was connected to my Dante network using the first Ethernet port so I wanted to eliminate that factor for troubleshooting.

Unfortunately, using the external power supply doesn't make a difference. I still get dropouts every 5-15 minutes.

Regarding the other interfaces I tested, I just wanted to make sure this isn't an issue with CoreAudio on Sonoma itself. I don't have any other USB3 interfaces that I could test at the moment, unfortunately.

One thing I noticed is that often, when the dropouts occur, there's a status message from audioclocksyncd in the console right before the error message from your driver. The dropout occurs a few seconds after this status message. However, this status message is logged every minute so this might just be a coincidence:

16:12:29.695549+0100 audioclocksyncd  ==========================================
16:12:29.695640+0100 audioclocksyncd  Clock Statistics for 0xf4d4888eb6910001
16:12:29.695667+0100 audioclocksyncd      Clock lock state: Locked
16:12:29.695694+0100 audioclocksyncd      Mach Rate Ratio: 125/3 (41.666666666667)
16:12:29.696850+0100 audioclocksyncd      Mach Anchors: 0, 0
16:12:29.696916+0100 audioclocksyncd      TimeSync Rate Ratio: 1/1 (1.000000000000)
16:12:29.696948+0100 audioclocksyncd      TimeSync Anchors: 0, 0
16:12:29.696981+0100 audioclocksyncd  PTP Clock Statistics for 0xf4d4888eb6910008
16:12:29.697011+0100 audioclocksyncd      Grandmaster Identity: 0xf4d4888eb6910008
16:12:29.697057+0100 audioclocksyncd      Clock lock state: Locked
16:12:29.700175+0100 audioclocksyncd      Mach Rate Ratio: 125/3 (41.666666666667)
16:12:29.700432+0100 audioclocksyncd      Mach Anchors: 303715968612, 12654832025541
16:12:29.700452+0100 audioclocksyncd      Mach Sync Identity: 0xf4d4888eb6910008.0
16:12:29.700495+0100 audioclocksyncd      TimeSync Rate Ratio: 2199023255552/2199023255552 (1.000000000000)
16:12:29.700516+0100 audioclocksyncd      TimeSync Anchors: 12654832025541, 12654832025541
16:12:29.700690+0100 audioclocksyncd      TimeSync Sync Identity: 0xf4d4888eb6910008.0
16:12:35.117573+0100 coreaudiod    175711                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:173   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is consecutive, host time is not consecutive.
16:12:35.128599+0100 RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!
16:12:35.986479+0100 coreaudiod    175711                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:183   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is not consecutive. Ring buffer size: 8192.000000, sample diff: 24576.000000
16:12:35.997628+0100 RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!

Is there anything else I could try to fix this issue?

6 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Not yet. Let's check this first. It's very unusual so far.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey MC,

Just checking in, did you manage to reproduce this issue on your end?

Let me know if there’s anything else I can do to help solve this.

8 Reply by ax

  • ax
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  • Registered: 2023-11-27
  • Posts: 12

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Have you tried using a USB 2.0 cable instead of a USB 3 cable?

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey ax,

Thank you for your suggestion! I'll try this when I have access to my interface again.

Unfortunately, I'll need USB3 to support the number of channels we use on stage, so this wouldn't be a definitive solution.

10 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
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Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Try Kernel Extension driver 3.31, in both Normal and Large settings for Safety Offset (Settings dialog).

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Registered: 2023-11-07
  • Posts: 7

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hey all,

I just tried using a USB 2.0 cable and that seems to be a lot more stable. I haven't gotten any dropouts in the past 40 minutes, so I could likely use this as a workaround. Still would be interesting to know what's causing the dropouts with USB 3.0 on Sonoma.

The new Kernel Extension driver didn't help, unfortunately, both with Normal and Large Safety Offset settings. I kept getting dropouts every 5-10 minutes while I was testing it, with the same log output:

13:18:49.629776+0100    coreaudiod     53295                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:173   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is consecutive, host time is not consecutive.
13:18:49.640335+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!
13:18:50.489712+0100    coreaudiod     53295                 HALS_IOClock.cpp:183   HALS_IORawClock::Update: Re-anchoring IO timeline. Sample time is not consecutive. Ring buffer size: 8192.000000, sample diff: 24576.000000
13:18:50.501259+0100    RMEUsbAsp    WriteOutputData: unexpected position!
  • Registered: 2010-09-12
  • Posts: 6

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hi all,

chiming in on this issue, I have the same on my system. Digiface Dante, macOS Sanoma, Kernel extension (driverkit appears to be a bit worse), 2021 M1Pro 12-core Macbook Pro 16", dropout apx every 10 minutes. The issue was already there before Sanoma, but I misinterpreted it to be a Dante issue then. It is really a driver issue, it happens in the Digiface as it can be recorded via the loopback on Totalmix even with no Dante connected.

My solution indeed was to switch to usb-2, in fact through a really cheap usb2 hub it works fine and 64 channels is enough for me (actually it would be nice if usb-3 mode would provide a switchable mode to 64 or less channels as some software has a hard time dealing with all these channels).

One thing I discovered is that it seems to be related to the quality of the USB cable. With the original cable plus a usb-c -> usb3 adapter I get the dropouts, as with a dedicated usb-c to usb3b cable I bought. But with a (slightly) more expensive similar cable I got later (the brand: Assmann) it seems to work without dropouts (tested for about 3 hours). For my current use I keep it safe and connect via USB2 (actually via the built-in hub of my AOC usb-c monitor) but perhaps this gives some lead to where the issue could be?

cheers & thanks, Wouter

  • Registered: 2023-09-14
  • Posts: 2

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

I also have this issue on my 2021 MBP M1, not on my 2018 MPB Intel.

  • Registered: 2024-03-20
  • Posts: 1

Re: DigiFace Dante Dropouts and Glitches with macOS Sonoma

Hello, I recently received a Digiface Dante, I have switched from running DVS, but since I have this connected my DAW (pro tools) keeps glitching and freezing but no error messages.  I have tried switched and redundant mode with no luck. I am running Ventura on a MBP M1, the USB is via an Sonnectech hub. would I be better to try a USB3 to USB C cable?