1 Topic by drunton (edited by drunton 2012-01-25 10:49:11)

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Topic: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

I had been extremely happy using USB connectivity on my UFX with Snow Leopard - lots of great quality recordings.  I got a new Macbook Pro with Lion, upgraded firmware/drivers and have never been successful getting the UFX to work.

I started with the November 2011 drivers and ran into the issues below.  The new January update (driver/firmware both updated) is still acting the same.

TotalMix is fine, meters work fine, no noise and standalone recording works great.  I can monitor the meters in TotalMix, adjust routing, and anything else with no issues, just as long as I DO NOT LAUNCH an audio application.

ProTools 9, Cubase, Logic all act the same, so it's not just the app.  Once you launch the DAW application, the meters start showing noise.  One of the ADAT channels shows repetitive, cyclical, meter overload to nothing - both with and without an external ADI-8DS connected.  Playback and recording are full of pops.

I tried to set the "system sound output" to the UFX and play in iTunes and it gives the same results.  Playback is full of pops, you know the ones that indicate the clocking is not synched.

An Mbox on USB port works cleanly.

The Fireface USB settings page shows internal lock.

HERE IS THE KICKER:
Using FireWire on the MBPro is perfectly clean - no issues at all! 
BUT, I sometimes use a macbook air and it has the same USB issues (so this is repeated on two mac Lion installs using USB).

Any suggestions?

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

I have access to a Windows 7 laptop and just installed the USB drivers.  Everything is working fine. 

This must be something I am doing on the mac front that is messing up sync.

Desperately looking for any pointers.

  • Knut
  • Knut
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 1,618

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

A fresh install of Lion is recommended: See here

best regards
Knut

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

Hello Knut

Both the Macbook Air and Macbook Pro were fresh installs of Lion 10.7.2 with no previous user migration.  They were installs from Apple using the "over the network" refresh after completely wiping the Air's SSD drive and a brand new larger drive installed in the MBP.

I even just did a complete search/destroy of all RME files on the MBA and refresh of the driver software - no difference, nothing by crackling.  The versions are driver: 1.65, firmware: 351

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!
Dave

  • Knut
  • Knut
  • DAW Mastermind
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  • Registered: 2007-04-06
  • Posts: 1,618

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

Is VMWare or Parallels installed on both computers?

best regards
Knut

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

No, the apps I have installed are fairly limited on the MBAir (due to SSD limitations), nothing too exotic:

iLife, MSOffice, Adobe Elements, Network Drive Utils (QNAP and Netgear), Toast, Adobe FlashPlayer, VLC player, menumeters (but it's off)

DAW apps: PT9, LogicPro, Cubase 6, ilok, syncrosoft (for cubase), melodyne, waves, Lexicon, izotope, McDSP, Antares, Mbox drivers and UFX-USB drivers

Anything that might be interfering?

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

OK - so as requested, I just did a complete fresh re-install of Lion and NO LUCK!

Computer is Macbook Air i5 1.6GHz.  I deleted the HD partition, re-partitioned and started a fresh install (Apple recovery over WiFi) of Lion 10.7.2.  I did not do a migration of anything.  It's all completely new.  I then downloaded iLife items (Garageband, iMovie, iTunes, iPhoto). 

Next I installed the RME USB drivers - 1.65 (firmware is v351 already). 

I copied some files over from an external drive to put my media back, but no migration of settings.

I added a few movies to the iTunes library and changed the system preferences to use the UFX for system output.  I played a movie from iTunes and the sound is all garbled and full of clicks.  As before ADAT 15/16 playback and it's Output are also showing random clicks and noise also.

Firewire on another Mac (but not USB) and USB on Windows 7 are still working fine.

HELP!  I need to do a recording...

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

Still looking for some help.  Fresh install of Lion, still not working.  No VMWare or Parallels, just fresh Lion 10.7.2, iLife, and UFX drivers.

Any diagnostics I can run?  Anything?  Open to suggestions.

  • From: Germany
  • Registered: 2007-04-10
  • Posts: 9,782

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

Could you test USB operation on a PC...?
Have you exchanged the USB cable?

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

Regards
Daniel Fuchs
RME

RME Support's Website

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

USB operation on Windows7 PC has been confirmed to be OK (using the same cable, see 2nd post in this thred)

Firewire operation on a Macbook Pro has been confirmed OK

USB operation on the same Macbook Pro and 2nd Macbook Air is confirmed NOT OK


I did not swap the USB cable, but felt that the Windows functionality validated the cable was OK.

Older C2D based Macbook Pro with Snow Leopard functioned perfectly with USB, but that computer is gone.

11 Reply by drunton (edited by drunton 2012-02-10 10:08:40)

  • From: Arizona
  • Registered: 2012-01-25
  • Posts: 9

Re: UFX with OSX Lion - USB clicks constantly

In desperation, I changed the USB cable and everything is PERFECT!

I can't believe it.  2 months of lost time, full recreation of one machine from scratch, and no sign of cable issues... just shows that even the simplest things will get you.

Thanks for the help!
Dave

http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n270/Bubblehead_2006/FACEPALM/double-facepalm.jpg