• matta
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Topic: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

I've tried reporting this bug via email directly to the varioous RME support emails I had from previous issues but I'm getting no reply.

IT's been happening ever since I got my RME AVB system around two years ago, but has got worse in recent months to the point where it fails nearly every time I switch my studio on - and I lose 30mins of production time every time.

My system is:
- macOS laptop or desktop
- RME digiface AVB
- RME m1610 pro
- Presonus AVB switch

Steps to reproduce:
1) power switch on and wait a few minutes (or leave it on)
2) power on all AVB equipment.
3) connect RME digiface AVB to laptop or dekstop
4) audio input streams work but no audio output streams work

Codex says

"Codex said:

"Yes—with high confidence, this is a software robustness fault in RME AVB Controller 0.9891 or one of its bundled AVDECC/libpcap components.

What is proven:

- The Controller received `SIGSEGV` while one thread was using a pcap network handle and another was closing the AVDECC network layer.
- Ethernet, discovery and gPTP remained healthy.
- Restarting only the Controller restored the AVB streams.
- A network device appearing or disappearing must not crash the application, regardless of switch timing.

The likely bug is an unsynchronised close/use operation—possibly a use-after-close. `pcap_get_selectable_fd` is where it crashed, but that does not necessarily mean libpcap itself is defective; RME’s code or bundled AVDECC library may have passed it an invalid handle.

The incomplete connection restoration after relaunch appears to be a second robustness problem: the Controller failed to reconcile the desired connection state with the actual network state.

What we cannot yet prove without RME’s symbols/source code is exactly which internal component owns the defect or whether a newer Controller release fixes it. But from a customer/support perspective, this is legitimately an RME Controller software defect. The switch may have supplied the timing trigger; it did not justify or directly cause the process crash."
"

I have a crash log too which may be useful (and I've sent via email)

  • waedi
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

Does the USB Settings open and show firmware and driver version ? What numbers ?

What is the MacOS version ?

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • From: Germany
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  • Posts: 11,142

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

Please excuse the delay here, I had to forward this and then it somehow got overlooked.

There is a newer version of the controller, 0.9915
Make sure to use that.
Also, in what sequence are you powering up things, does that make a difference?
Does the application crash or does it just fail to make connections?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

waedi wrote:

Does the USB Settings open and show firmware and driver version ? What numbers ?

What is the MacOS version ?


Tahoe 26.5 - but it's been the same for at least 18 months and I've been through a number of OS versions in that time.

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

RME Support wrote:

Please excuse the delay here, I had to forward this and then it somehow got overlooked.

There is a newer version of the controller, 0.9915
Make sure to use that.
Also, in what sequence are you powering up things, does that make a difference?
Does the application crash or does it just fail to make connections?

Hey Daniel

Since the email report, I upgraded to 0.9915 but it's identical in behaviour.

Power up sequence is:

1) Presonus switch - typically I always leave this powered up because that used to reduce the frequency of the problem - but doesn't seem to anymore. It's not the root cause but perhaps the time it took to power up exacerbated the issue.
2) 1610m
3) Digiface AVB via laptop/desktop USB (laptop already powered up of course)

This was working maybe half of the time - but when it failed I was spending the next half an hour power cycling my studio and computers and bringing them up in a random order until it worked.

I didn't find a reliable path/reason, other than now codex suggesting it's the RME AVB controller sw crashing. But it's not clear to me when that happens - I assume the moment I connect the digiface AVB via USB (sometimes)

Also it's not clear to me why incoming streams are unaffected by a crashed controller but outgoing streams are?

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

matta wrote:
waedi wrote:

Does the USB Settings open and show firmware and driver version ? What numbers ?

What is the MacOS version ?


Tahoe 26.5 - but it's been the same for at least 18 months and I've been through a number of OS versions in that time.

Digiface AVB info:

Firmware: v269
Driver: v4.27

  • Registered: 2022-10-26
  • Posts: 84

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

Is the switch on the latest firmware?

  • Registered: 2022-10-26
  • Posts: 84

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

Also, since you have only the 1610, what happens if you disconnect the switch and wire the 1610 direct to the Digiface?

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

mrkahuna wrote:

Is the switch on the latest firmware?

Yes I believe so since the email the report: 2.0.0.108005

10 Reply by waedi (edited by waedi 2026-08-09 23:41:36)

  • waedi
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

matta wrote:
matta wrote:
waedi wrote:

Does the USB Settings open and show firmware and driver version ? What numbers ?

What is the MacOS version ?


Tahoe 26.5 - but it's been the same for at least 18 months and I've been through a number of OS versions in that time.

Digiface AVB info:

Firmware: v269
Driver: v4.27

The actual firmware for Digiface AVB is 272.

Your interface has outdated firmware, download the FUT and perform firmware update.

https://rme-audio.de/downloads/fut_df_avb_mac_272.zip

Also the driver actually is number 430, you may update that as well.

https://rme-audio.de/downloads/driver_usbdk_mac_430.zip

There is a chance it will work after that, no guarantee, just a try.

Edit : MacOS 26.6.1 works fine here with the driver 430, I think this has no influence on your issue, its just for having the entire system up-to-date.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

mrkahuna wrote:

Also, since you have only the 1610, what happens if you disconnect the switch and wire the 1610 direct to the Digiface?


The switch is there so I can expand the system.

I did also send RME support an email regarding system expansion, and best path forwards, back in July last year but didn't get a response to that one either.

The plan is to add at least one more 1620 and wire in both macOS machines - but I've been holding off due to stability issues

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

waedi wrote:
matta wrote:
matta wrote:

Tahoe 26.5 - but it's been the same for at least 18 months and I've been through a number of OS versions in that time.

Digiface AVB info:

Firmware: v269
Driver: v4.27

The actual firmware for Digiface AVB is 272.

Your interface has outdated firmware, download the FUT and perform firmware update.

https://rme-audio.de/downloads/fut_df_avb_mac_272.zip

Also the driver actually is number 430, you may update that as well.

https://rme-audio.de/downloads/driver_usbdk_mac_430.zip

There is a chance it will work after that, no guarantee, just a try.

Edit : MacOS 26.6.1 works fine here with the driver 430, I think this has no influence on your issue, its just for having the entire system up-to-date.


I've done the updates - fingers crossed that helps.

Any chance we can get notified at AVB controller startup (or something) that updates are available please?

  • waedi
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

matta wrote:

Any chance we can get notified at AVB controller startup (or something) that updates are available please?

Update-notification-feature was requested many times. Afaik it was not excluded per se by RME but also was not confirmed to get realized.
I think it is complicated as every computer is different, Defenders and protection blockings in all directions and firewalls etc.

Visiting the RME website periodically is best you can do and if you are unsure ask the forum.

M1-Tahoe, Madiface Pro, Digiface USB, Babyface silver and blue
  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,142

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

matta wrote:

I did also send RME support an email regarding system expansion, and best path forwards, back in July last year but didn't get a response to that one either.

I usually forward things like that internally, as it isn't specifically a tech support matter, but I don't recall this one offhand. Perhaps you would like to just send it again?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • Registered: 2022-10-26
  • Posts: 84

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

matta wrote:
mrkahuna wrote:

Also, since you have only the 1610, what happens if you disconnect the switch and wire the 1610 direct to the Digiface?


The switch is there so I can expand the system.

I did also send RME support an email regarding system expansion, and best path forwards, back in July last year but didn't get a response to that one either.

The plan is to add at least one more 1620 and wire in both macOS machines - but I've been holding off due to stability issues

Yup, just suggesting it as a debug step in case it’s the switch that’s causing issues. It would be good to know if you see errors without the switch.

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

RME Support wrote:
matta wrote:

I did also send RME support an email regarding system expansion, and best path forwards, back in July last year but didn't get a response to that one either.

I usually forward things like that internally, as it isn't specifically a tech support matter, but I don't recall this one offhand. Perhaps you would like to just send it again?

Will do!

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

I've had a crash this morning with the Fireface USB Settings application - where shall I send the logs to?

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

RME Support wrote:
matta wrote:

I did also send RME support an email regarding system expansion, and best path forwards, back in July last year but didn't get a response to that one either.

I usually forward things like that internally, as it isn't specifically a tech support matter, but I don't recall this one offhand. Perhaps you would like to just send it again?


I checked again - the email was sent to RME support and Max. I don't see an email for you

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 11,142

Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

I'm afraid there is no trace of this mail from last year in my inbox. But that may be because you only sent it to Max, not to my address....

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • matta
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

RME Support wrote:

I'm afraid there is no trace of this mail from last year in my inbox. But that may be because you only sent it to Max, not to my address....

Did you get the resent email from earlier today?

I'm using RME Support <support@rme-audio.de>

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
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Re: Repeatable failure with AVB Controller and outgoing streams

Yes.

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website