• Kaoss
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Topic: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

Hi there,

When I'm not doing audio work I often use my RME UFX to listen to other stuff. Recently I was editing some graphics in Pixelmator Pro. As I added some graphical effects (eg: gaussian blur which I believe use the Mac M1 GPU) the audio stutters. This happens if I'm listening to audio with Apple Music.

I tested the internal audio of my Mac Studio via headphones and also with a USB-C to spdif I have lying around. Both of these play back fine.

I contacted Pixelmator but as it's specific to the RME interface they couldn't offer any solutions.
I'm running:
OSX Sonoma 14.6.1
Mac Studio M1 32gb, 1tb, 32 gpu cores.
RME Fireface UFX
Driverkit driver
Firmware: 361
Driver 4.14

If anyone knows if this can be resolved I'd be grateful. I'd prefer not to install the kernel driver but maybe that's what's required.
Thank you!

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX

2 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-09-05 11:36:16)

  • waedi
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

Today new driver 4.16 came out please try and report.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

I've just installed 4.16 and unfortunately this still happens.

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX
  • From: Germany
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

Does this also affect other audio software or streaming services?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

5 Reply by MC

  • MC
  • MC
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

You could try to use driver 3.33 and use the Safety Offset setting Large.

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website

  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

RME Support wrote:

Does this also affect other audio software or streaming services?

Hi, not Logic or other DAWs. I think it's probably a small buffer on Apple's own apps. Thanks

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX

7 Reply by Kaoss (edited by Kaoss 2024-09-06 09:57:54)

  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

MC wrote:

You could try to use driver 3.33 and use the Safety Offset setting Large.

Hi, thanks for this - I did that. Inadvertently I installed the Kernel driver! (I realised too late, but booted into the Startup Security Utility.

It works fine there, even with a short safety buffer.
If I decided to try the driver kit version again, how would I remove the Kernel one? I seemed to struggle with this previously. It's most likely me and lack of knowledge so apologies for that.

I take it that the Kernel driver is essentially more efficient, despite improvements by Apple on the driverkit side.

Thanks for you help.

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX

8 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2024-09-06 12:54:46)

  • waedi
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

The readme text in the driver tells,
Installing the driverkit driver will remove the previous driver also kernel kext.
So you just have to install the new driver and reboot.
And read the readme text file.

M1-Sequoia, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

waedi wrote:

The readme text in the driver tells,
Installing the driverkit driver will remove the previous driver also kernel kext.
So you just have to install the new driver and reboot.
And read the readme text file.

OK thanks a lot NP I'll read;)!

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX
  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

Just an update to this. I'm still finding this is an issue with some applications. It appears to be something to do with OSX graphics performance and audio priorities. As I see it, if the GPU is under strain, the sound can, at times be interrupted. Currently I'm on Firmware v361 and Driverkit driver 4.16.

This doesn't appear to be an issue with the kernel based driver. Is there any negatives to me rolling over to the kernel drivers? I mean is the performance better or negligible?

Thanks

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX

11 Reply by Kaoss (edited by Kaoss 2024-11-19 11:19:38)

  • Kaoss
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

An update. I've gone back to kernel drivers. It's not just general gpu performance that tanks. It appears to be the whole UI with a bunch of applications. This is on a Studio M1 Max 32gb with maxed out additional gpu cores. I'm more convinced that it's software/OS related as opposed to RME related. My UFX has been rock solid for years and years so...!!

Mac Studio M1 32GB 1TB | MB Pro 2017 3.1ghz 16GB 1TB | RME UFX
  • Registered: 2024-11-05
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Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

So is it better now? Or does the problem still exist?

  • Registered: 2023-01-20
  • Posts: 63

Re: RME UFX audio skipping in Apple Music

I have the same issue, only with Apple Music, so I thought it was the application, but I think it doesn't happen when I play thru internal audio.

UCXII | ARC | MBP M1Max | MacOS 14.6.1