Hello,
iMac users and MacRumors, there is a major hardware issue regarding the Fusion Drives in the 2013 iMacs.
USB and FIREWIRE interfaces are cutting out or are causing clipping/distorted noises. These devices include interfaces that record or playback audio.
My audio interfaces (Avid MBox Pro 2 and Digi 002) work on my 2008 iMac, but do not work on my 2013 iMac (with the Fusion Drive). They both run Mavericks 10.9 and I'm not alone. Other interfaces, including Blue USB mics, USB Logitech headphones, Apogee products, interfaces that do not need driver updates, etc are all doing the same thing, as you will discover by reading the threads from below.
It has been addressed by Focusrite, AVID, and other audio hardware manufactures via Tech Support calls with users that the Fusion Drive is *in fact* the issue. I have been following this issue on 20 or more threads from Gearslutz, Apple, AVID, Focusrite, etc:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5484036?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5479208?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0
http://duc.avid.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15
http://www.gearspace.com/board/music...dio-problem-new-imacs.html
Apple has yet to say anything except from one source that AppleCare said that "they're working on it"... AppleCare messaged him back to tell him that they cannot replicate the issue... I called AppleCare as well and they didn't know anything. I cannot find any Apple source acknowledging this issue publicly.
As of right now, Focusrite is the only company to have made a fix for a few interfaces. However, Apple must address this because there is no way for a non-driver interface (e.g. a USB Blue mic) to be fixed because it does not use software (or a driver)...
Focusrite Update:
http://global.focusrite.com/answerba...on-osx-109-mavericks
Here is one poor solution for USB and FIREWIRE interfaces- to partition your drive...
http://www.macworld.com/article/2015...ion-drive.html
To Audio Users Who Have This Issue:
Do you want to have to return your fusion drive iMac for a SSD iMac, partition your drive and have your iMac work slower, wait for a driver update that may never happen from your hardware manufacturer or Apple, or just buy another interface?... I certainly do not want to do any of these options and frankly, I feel Apple should give us some answers on what is happening... They do not even put a disclaimer on the fusion drive option that *all audio interfaces do not work* at the moment. This is a huge inconvenience and has wasted too much of many Apple customers' time. Instead of continuing to make complaints on forums, I advise doing the following...
***Here are 5 simple things you can do to help speed up the process for a response or firmware update from Apple or from your audio hardware manufacturer***:
1. Keep sending Apple feedback at:
- http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html
2. Keep contacting AppleCare and Apple Support. Keep asking about the status on if Apple is working on a solution or not:
- 800 MY APPLE
- http://www.apple.com/support/
3. Keep calling your tech support for your audio interface (AVID, etc)
-Ask what is the situation is... Are you working on fix? Are you working with Apple on a fix?
4. Contact your friends who work at Apple. Tell them to give feedback.
5. Go to the press:
- Send a tip to https://www.macrumors.com , http://www.engadget.com , http://gizmodo.com/ , http://www.t3.com , etc.
Please help out if you are having the same issue an audio interface. I would greatly appreciate it if MacRumors would post something on this so it can gain more attention. Thank you!
iMac users and MacRumors, there is a major hardware issue regarding the Fusion Drives in the 2013 iMacs.
USB and FIREWIRE interfaces are cutting out or are causing clipping/distorted noises. These devices include interfaces that record or playback audio.
My audio interfaces (Avid MBox Pro 2 and Digi 002) work on my 2008 iMac, but do not work on my 2013 iMac (with the Fusion Drive). They both run Mavericks 10.9 and I'm not alone. Other interfaces, including Blue USB mics, USB Logitech headphones, Apogee products, interfaces that do not need driver updates, etc are all doing the same thing, as you will discover by reading the threads from below.
It has been addressed by Focusrite, AVID, and other audio hardware manufactures via Tech Support calls with users that the Fusion Drive is *in fact* the issue. I have been following this issue on 20 or more threads from Gearslutz, Apple, AVID, Focusrite, etc:
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5484036?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5479208?tstart=0
https://discussions.apple.com/thread...art=0&tstart=0
http://duc.avid.com/forumdisplay.php?f=15
http://www.gearspace.com/board/music...dio-problem-new-imacs.html
Apple has yet to say anything except from one source that AppleCare said that "they're working on it"... AppleCare messaged him back to tell him that they cannot replicate the issue... I called AppleCare as well and they didn't know anything. I cannot find any Apple source acknowledging this issue publicly.
As of right now, Focusrite is the only company to have made a fix for a few interfaces. However, Apple must address this because there is no way for a non-driver interface (e.g. a USB Blue mic) to be fixed because it does not use software (or a driver)...
Focusrite Update:
http://global.focusrite.com/answerba...on-osx-109-mavericks
Here is one poor solution for USB and FIREWIRE interfaces- to partition your drive...
http://www.macworld.com/article/2015...ion-drive.html
To Audio Users Who Have This Issue:
Do you want to have to return your fusion drive iMac for a SSD iMac, partition your drive and have your iMac work slower, wait for a driver update that may never happen from your hardware manufacturer or Apple, or just buy another interface?... I certainly do not want to do any of these options and frankly, I feel Apple should give us some answers on what is happening... They do not even put a disclaimer on the fusion drive option that *all audio interfaces do not work* at the moment. This is a huge inconvenience and has wasted too much of many Apple customers' time. Instead of continuing to make complaints on forums, I advise doing the following...
***Here are 5 simple things you can do to help speed up the process for a response or firmware update from Apple or from your audio hardware manufacturer***:
1. Keep sending Apple feedback at:
- http://www.apple.com/feedback/imac.html
2. Keep contacting AppleCare and Apple Support. Keep asking about the status on if Apple is working on a solution or not:
- 800 MY APPLE
- http://www.apple.com/support/
3. Keep calling your tech support for your audio interface (AVID, etc)
-Ask what is the situation is... Are you working on fix? Are you working with Apple on a fix?
4. Contact your friends who work at Apple. Tell them to give feedback.
5. Go to the press:
- Send a tip to https://www.macrumors.com , http://www.engadget.com , http://gizmodo.com/ , http://www.t3.com , etc.
Please help out if you are having the same issue an audio interface. I would greatly appreciate it if MacRumors would post something on this so it can gain more attention. Thank you!