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Do you have any issues with audio on the Mac Mini?

Do you have any issues with audio on macmini? (Internal/External audio) like clicks and pops.

  • Yes, I do have some clicks and pops occasionally

    Votes: 19 21.8%

  • Yes, I have some severe crackling sometimes during playback

    Votes: 10 11.5%

  • No, I don't have any issues

    Votes: 58 66.7%
  • Total voters
    87
System Configuration:

Mac Mini (Late 2018)
3.2 GHz Core i7
32 GB RAM
1TB SSD

Connected Peripherals:
Universal Audio Apollo Twin Quad MKII (TB2 Audio Interface)
Akai Max49 Keyboard (USB 2 MIDI Controller)
Kensington Wireless Trackball Mouse
Logitech K800 Wireless Keyboard
iLok2 USB Key
ACER 1080P H276 LCD (DVI>HDMI)

Audio Software:
Presonus Studio One (4.1.3)
Various VSTi & VST FX

I have been following this thread for some time now. The user poll was a source of concern for me going in. These problems shouldn't exist to the extent they appear to be. This IS why we use Apple computers for Pro Audio to begin with, no?

That said... I've been using my Mini for over 2 weeks now and have not experienced these infamous audio glitches. Not with 10.14.3 which it shipped with, and not with 10.14.4 after I updated. I did however have an issue out of the box installing my UAD interface. The Mini would not reboot. Couldn't even get into Safe Mode. I was forced to erase the internal drive and start from scratch. Nice feeling on a brand new mini. But I powered through, and its been relatively smooth sailing since. There are other minor issues I've experienced, but none of the dreaded T2 audio glitches, thankfully. I feel for you guys that have been dealing with these problems for weeks and months now. I've been there with similar problems and computers. It sucks. Hope you all have a resolution soon, if 10.14.4 doesn't end up being it!
 
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New interesting issue, all sound sources with just the internal speakers are interrupted by a loud low buzzing sound every 10 seconds. Anyone experienced this?
 
I just returned my i7 Mac Mini. Very disappointed as it was perfect for my home theater. The first irritating issue I could not resolve was the flakiness and disconnects with my bluetooth keyboard and mouse. They work fine until anything is plugged into the USB ports and then they flake out.

The second issue is audio dropouts with my iFi Idsd dac. I would get a dropout about every 20-30 minutes. 10.14.4 did not resolve this although it was less often.

I am just going back to my 21.5 IMac until these issues are resolved. Very disappointed because the 6 core processor would run all the filters in HQplayer at DSD 256.

Very disappointing. Can't believe they did not catch these in development.
 
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itguy61 said:
I just returned my i7 Mac Mini. Very disappointed as it was perfect for my home theater. The first irritating issue I could not resolve was the flakiness and disconnects with my bluetooth keyboard and mouse. They work fine until anything is plugged into the USB ports and then they flake out.

The second issue is audio dropouts with my iFi Idsd dac. I would get a dropout about every 20-30 minutes. 10.14.4 did not resolve this although it was less often.

I am just going back to my 21.5 IMac until these issues are resolved. Very disappointed because the 6 core processor would run all the filters in HQplayer at DSD 256.

Very disappointing. Can't believe they did not catch these in development.
Click to expand...

I find it interesting that 10.14.4 didn't fix the dropout issue for you.

It did for me, and I say that not simply because I cannot hear any dropouts but also because I have observed the changed audio processing behaviour in the logs.
 
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canyelles said:
I find it interesting that 10.14.4 didn't fix the dropout issue for you.

It did for me, and I say that not simply because I cannot hear any dropouts but also because I have observed the changed audio processing behaviour in the logs.
Click to expand...

I upsample via hqplayer and use filters that put a load on the processor. That could be the difference. It only happened about two times in an hour. I had updated to 10.14.4 first thing. I have read on some of the audio forums that this fix improved the issue, not totally eliminated it. Maybe it depends on what kind of dac and software is being used?

That being said, the bluetooth issue I was experiencing was enough by itself to be very irritating.

I could have bought a thunderbolt 3 dock and eliminated it. Hopefully they can get this totally resolved and I will buy another one, My iMac used for this is getting a bit old. Don't know what they will do about the bluetooth issue. I could use a Logitech KB and mouse with the receiver but with two other iMacs and a MacBook Pro I am very used to the Apple peripherals with their gestures and stuff. I am VERY used to using magic mice.
 
I want to buy mac mini 2018 but i'm afraid of the audio interface issue, so could any one confirm if the mojave update fix the problem or not yet ?
 
AymanArafa said:
I want to buy mac mini 2018 but i'm afraid of the audio interface issue, so could any one confirm if the mojave update fix the problem or not yet ?
Click to expand...

I have a consumer DAC, not a pro audio interface. After one of the updates earlier this year, I stopped getting glitches when using the DAC. It's rock-solid now.
 
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HeavyMantra said:
New interesting issue, all sound sources with just the internal speakers are interrupted by a loud low buzzing sound every 10 seconds. Anyone experienced this?
Click to expand...
Sounds exactly like the issues I had with my Macbook. I even timed it. 10 seconds every time... Went on for months. I had stuttering instead of buzzing but I'm sure it's the same overall issue....

Seems to be mostly resolved for some in the latest update, not for others... My stuttering is gone however I still get random crackles and pops when starting stopping playback so it's still an issue as far as I'm concerned... (As also indicated a two posts up.)
 
I've had issues since day one with Apple claiming fixes in various OS updates. Attached are 3 samples of audio thrashing (I call it that). My system config is as-follows: Mac mini (2018), 3.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 32 GB 2667 MHz DDR4,
Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB and just recently added a Presonus Studio 24c USB audio interface. Audio behaves the same whether through AI or 3.5 speaker jack. Can provide audio samples upon request.
 
Geminibassist said:
I've had issues since day one with Apple claiming fixes in various OS updates. Attached are 3 samples of audio thrashing (I call it that). My system config is as-follows: Mac mini (2018), 3.2 GHz Intel Core i7, 32 GB 2667 MHz DDR4,
Intel UHD Graphics 630 1536 MB and just recently added a Presonus Studio 24c USB audio interface. Audio behaves the same whether through AI or 3.5 speaker jack. Can provide audio samples upon request.
Click to expand...

There's no attachment
 
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I'm looking for something faster than my 2010 Mini (which barely runs Logic Pro X for audio recording... autodrummers sometimes cause system overload). This thread makes me think on getting a Server 2012, perhaps the best MacMini for audio production on the market. Also it has line-in/line-out, so I can use both my Apogee Element (without Thunderbolt adapter) or a simple mixer with decent preamps.
 
brdeveloper said:
I'm looking for something faster than my 2010 Mini (which barely runs Logic Pro X for audio recording... autodrummers sometimes cause system overload). This thread makes me think on getting a Server 2012, perhaps the best MacMini for audio production on the market. Also it has line-in/line-out, so I can use both my Apogee Element (without Thunderbolt adapter) or a simple mixer with decent preamps.
Click to expand...
if you get it for 400$ maybe, but the 799$ i3 will handle more.
 
Ploki said:
if you get it for 400$ maybe, but the 799$ i3 will handle more.
Click to expand...
I've seen an offer for a second-hand i5 2018 Mini / 8GB / 256GB for $1250, which is a decent price in Brazil considering a new one costs around $2000. But I'm afraid of paying this value and facing problems that a I'd not face with a 2012 Mini or an older iMac.
 
brdeveloper said:
I've seen an offer for a second-hand i5 2018 Mini / 8GB / 256GB for $1250, which is a decent price in Brazil considering a new one costs around $2000. But I'm afraid of paying this value and facing problems that a I'd not face with a 2012 Mini or an older iMac.
Click to expand...
which problems are you afraid of?
 
Ploki said:
which problems are you afraid of?
Click to expand...

1) Not being able of fully pushing my Apogee Element capabilities, e.g., turning latency as low as it supports. Someone said on other topic that Thunderbolt interfaces are not affected by the bug, but I'm still looking for someone with an Apogee Element interface to confirm that.
2) I have a USB keyboard controller which works only by using an USB 2.0 hub (otherwise, my Macbook Pro doesn't recognize it, perhaps for being unable to negotiate the USB protocol). I've read in the other topic that the Mini 2018 can produce glitches with passive hubs.
3) Paying a lot (e.g., in Brazil, a good price for a second-hand 2018 i5 Mini is ~USD 1300.00) for something that doesn't work as expected.
 
brdeveloper said:
1) Not being able of fully pushing my Apogee Element capabilities, e.g., turning latency as low as it supports. Someone said on other topic that Thunderbolt interfaces are not affected by the bug, but I'm still looking for someone with an Apogee Element interface to confirm that.
2) I have a USB keyboard controller which works only by using an USB 2.0 hub (otherwise, my Macbook Pro doesn't recognize it, perhaps for being unable to negotiate the USB protocol). I've read in the other topic that the Mini 2018 can produce glitches with passive hubs.
3) Paying a lot (e.g., in Brazil, a good price for a second-hand 2018 i5 Mini is ~USD 1300.00) for something that doesn't work as expected.
Click to expand...
1) I have an RME firewire interface and it works as low as it ever did. I haven't seen any reports of thunderbolt audio acting up - besides, it's up to manufacturer driver support. I wouldn't worry too much about that, Apogee and Apple generally play well together. I had 0 issues with my RME Fireface via Firewire (thunderbolt adapter)
2) Dont know the specifics, but none of the controllers I use, most are USB2.0 (Nektar Pacer, Behringer Touch Mini, Novation Launch Control, ROLI Blocks, Seaboard RISE) and all work perfectly fine via passive docks, active docks, and directly to USB3.0 ports.
3) I understand that completely, but i don't think you have anything to worry about!
 
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