1 Topic by Notherman (edited by Notherman 2026-07-06 12:29:49)

  • From: Helsinki
  • Registered: 2022-08-16
  • Posts: 31

Topic: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

This is a very new issue, probably about a week old. Whenever I change the sample rate of my UFX+ via the Thunderbolt settings, macOS Core Audio will hang, and I have to kill and restart it via terminal with 

sudo pkill -9 coreaudiod

which solves the problem. This issue started suddenly and without any (knowing) updates of the system. How can we troubleshoot this?

macOS Sonoma 14.8.4 (23J319)
Macbook Pro M1 Pro (2021), has the USB III issue that forces me to use UFX+ via thunderbol
UFX+ firmware 112
Driver 1.25

FireFace UFX+ (Thunderbolt)
MacBook Pro M1 Pro (Sonoma)
  • waedi
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  • From: Swiss Zürich
  • Registered: 2020-12-08
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Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

If you change the sample rate in the Audio-midi-Setup ?

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue

3 Reply by Notherman (edited by Notherman 2026-07-07 23:23:13)

  • From: Helsinki
  • Registered: 2022-08-16
  • Posts: 31

Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

If you change the sample rate in the Audio-midi-Setup ?

It seems to happen whenever the sample rate is changed, e.g. by opening a program that changes the sample rate automatically or when changing the sample rate in a DAW. So it's not limited to just the Thunderbolt settings, apparently.

EDIT: it also looks like the Thunderbolt settings program is losing contact with the Fireface completely very often. Right now, changing the sample rate in the settings doesn't do anything at all. This has happened before and I can just relaunch the settings program to make it work again, but this has started to occur much more frequently together with core audio hanging.

FireFace UFX+ (Thunderbolt)
MacBook Pro M1 Pro (Sonoma)

4 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-07-08 00:28:42)

  • waedi
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Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

In the settings app there is an error counter ? Does it show some numbers ? I don't know if Thunderbolt Settings has an error counter...

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,059

Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

Does this also happen when an audio application changes the sample rate? Or with the USB driver?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • From: Helsinki
  • Registered: 2022-08-16
  • Posts: 31

Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

In the settings app there is an error counter ? Does it show some numbers ? I don't know if Thunderbolt Settings has an error counter...

I can't find an error counter in Thunderbolt settings, no

Does this also happen when an audio application changes the sample rate? Or with the USB driver?

Yes, as mentioned above:

It seems to happen whenever the sample rate is changed, e.g. by opening a program that changes the sample rate automatically or when changing the sample rate in a DAW. So it's not limited to just the Thunderbolt settings, apparently.

USB is a no-go for me, because I've only had issues with USB III on this specific computer (Macbook M1 Pro). I had to "downgrade" from UFX III to UFX+ due to this, since UFX III doesn't have Thunderbolt.

FireFace UFX+ (Thunderbolt)
MacBook Pro M1 Pro (Sonoma)
  • waedi
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Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

Notherman wrote:

USB is a no-go for me, because I've only had issues with USB III on this specific computer (Macbook M1 Pro). I had to "downgrade" from UFX III to UFX+ due to this, since UFX III doesn't have Thunderbolt.

What driver was it then ? Now the driver number is 4.30, you may test it ?

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,059

Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

Notherman wrote:

USB is a no-go for me, because I've only had issues with USB III on this specific computer (Macbook M1 Pro). I had to "downgrade" from UFX III to UFX+ due to this, since UFX III doesn't have Thunderbolt.

I was not suggesting to use USB henceforth, but a test would be helpful to see if this specific issue affects both TB and USB operation on your system.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • From: Helsinki
  • Registered: 2022-08-16
  • Posts: 31

Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

Got it, I will try out USB once I'm back at the studio next week and report!

FireFace UFX+ (Thunderbolt)
MacBook Pro M1 Pro (Sonoma)

10 Reply by MC

  • MC
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Re: Changing sample rate in TB settings causes core audio to crash

Sounds more like an unstable TB connection to me. Replug ports, try a different cable...

Regards
Matthias Carstens
RME

MC's Website