Audio dropouts on Big Sur 11.3.1 update - Playing music on safari - YouTube and AmazonMusic etc.

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All.


A separate thread on this same issue - but different hardware - As M1 MBA, using only Safari with no ad blockers.

I upgraded to macOS 11.3.1 on last Friday, 07/05/21, and now have this music issue on Safari.
I did no other updates apart from the macOS update over the weekend etc.

Since the macOS update, I now continually get sound drop outs every so often on safari, specifically playing music in the background on You tube. It goes quite for a second, then the music just carries on again, like the track was paused for a second. To test if it could have been only that website, I also tried another music website, amazon music, and I had the same drop out issue.


Hope other users can advise


Regards
Martin




NB:
The other thread with the same issue, but a different set up - chap suggested from there that I start up a new thread for native M1 / safari setup I have.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/audio-dropouts-on-big-sur.2271849/post-29870018

 

[iOS Geek]

I'm having an audio issue as well...but it's ONLY with Podcasts and YouTube while using AirPods and it doesn't seem to matter if it's in the background or front and center. One experience was an entire day with that issue, another was one that lasted maybe a few minutes and was fixed by putting the AirPods back in the case and then connecting them to the computer again (doing this did NOT help on the day I dealt with this for the entire day). Then there's today...haven't had an issue at all.

It's so random and unpredictable that I can't even try to narrow down what's causing it, sooooooo I'm hoping a future Big Sur update takes care of it 😂 (Or even an AirPods update)

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Not having much luck fixing this.

Tried:

1. Different audio lead.
2. audio lead from MBA headphone jack - a lot less frequent cut outs but still happening.

3. tried our cheap Windows laptop with the same hardware set up, no dropouts, and played it For over an hour Sunday night.

4. installed and tried MS edge browser - cut outs a lot less frequent, when back to USB-C HUB audio port, but cut outs still happening.


From research, I got the below:

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-fix-audio-issues-in-macos/
Reminder about MacOS updates
If you are a veteran macOS or Apple user, chances are that you have had to deal with the time-consuming nature of repairing kinks that come with updating Apple apps. If you still experience MacOS sound problems, AirPlay issues, or other audio complications, make sure you install all new updates for your Mac. You might have to wait for Apple to release patches that fix these problems, but in the meantime, you can search the help topics to see if anyone has found a workaround while waiting for the patch.


Really?! Great

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi all,

This morning I tried the music app on the MacBook.

Played music that was locally on the hard drive only. No cutouts for 30mins, using the same hardware set up

So it looks like it’s something to do with streaming music online with the MacBook only, whether through Safari or Microsoft edge.

Hoping somebody out there can advise!

Regards
Martin

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi all,


I may have worked out what the issue is!

Had a brainwave..... Bluetooth!
After all those threads I've been reading about Macs with bluetooth issues.... I'm not the quickest learner



Tonight:
Been playing online music streaming from amazon music and You Tube tonight, say an hour so far, and no drop outs .

OK, I've been going cold turkey tonight - no Bluetooth or wifi on - I've my iPhone plugged in via cable for a hotspot connection.



Tomorrow morning:
Will have wifi set, but again no bluetooth, and see how well it goes. All fingers and toes crossed!


Best wishes
Martin

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Morning All,

Argh, as i wrote the above post last night, the cut outs started again
Also the iphone as a wireless hotspot does not work without bluetooth


So onto Next test this morning:
Use the mba internal speakers only - rest of set up stays the same
I.E. working backwards with the hardware, to trouble shoot



Result:
50 minutes, no cut outs


hhhhhhmmmmm food for thought!

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi all,


This is beginning to feel like a Robinson Crusoe diary!



Wednesday was a disappointment
Wednesday's test - MBA speakers only:
Cut outs happened again!




However, a pattern is emerging:
It is too early to jump to conclusions and guess what the reason is. I need give it a few weeks to be more sure.



The pattern:

1. mba is connected to usb-c hub.


2. Cut outs happen when I walk pass the hardware setup
- These cut outs do happen when I'm in another room etc. However they have happened on a number of occasions when I walked pass, close to the mba.
- Originally I thought it could be an apple watch bluetooth thing - But tried turn't watch off etc. last week, cut outs still happened.
- Then I thought it could be dodgy cabling / connectors being upset by moving floor boards as I walk past. Hence the swapping out of audio cables etc.


3. Put cup down next to mba - cut out then.
- This happened last night. I then wiggled the loose usb-c cable lead connector into the mba - there was another similar cut out again. I could not easily make it happen again, and left it there. I didn't want to force it and snap connectors to try and prove a point.




So Thursday Test Today:
mba does not have the hub lead plugged in. The mba is running off battery only
mba is plugged into the ext speakers directly
mba bluetooth and wifi is on.
Connecting to iPhone as a hotspot.

So far - No cut outs at all today!




So Tests for the next week:
Exactly same set up as today.
hopefully the same results!



Regards
Martin

 

[jagan]

This was also an issue on T2-equpped Macs earlier.
Does anyone on a Pre-2015 (non-T2) Intel Mac with Big Sur 11.3.1 have audio dropouts?

 

[IceStormNG]

These drop outs where already there before Big Sur. Almost all T2 Macs have them more or less. And the T2 is now sort-of "embedded" into the M1.

My 2013 Late and 2015 I have here, both run Big Sur without any issue (although I "downgraded" all my devices from Big Sur for other reasons). The 16" on the other hand....we better don't talk about it.

Also no matter how you output the audio. Internal speakers, external DAC, Bluetooth. It's always the same.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

These drop outs where already there before Big Sur. Almost all T2 Macs have them more or less. And the T2 is now sort-of "embedded" into the M1.

My 2013 Late and 2015 I have here, both run Big Sur without any issue (although I "downgraded" all my devices from Big Sur for other reasons). The 16" on the other hand....we better don't talk about it.

Also no matter how you output the audio. Internal speakers, external DAC, Bluetooth. It's always the same.

hiya there,



So why is this 'T2' an issue?

and what an earth is 'T2'?



Cheers
Martin

 

[IceStormNG]

So why is this 'T2' an issue?

and what an earth is 'T2'?

The T2 is a co-processor in Intel Macs from 2017 to 2020. It handles a lot of tasks. It's the audio controller, SSD controller, handles USB, encrypts the disk, handles TouchID, does Video Encode and Decode, is also responsible for your computer going on when you open the Lid or tap any key even if you shut it down (Grrrr), and much much more.

It runs a modified OS based on watchOS. So it's like a little computer, that controls your computer. Since its first release, it has caused all sorts of issues and trouble. I cannot remember one good purpose it serves for except keeping us busy solving issues. But there it is.

 

[Marty_Macfly]

Hi All,

Been on macOS 11.4 for a while now, and all these problems just went away.

Bit crap that I couldn't just reinstall a sound driver, but hey, just glad no hardware was broken!

Best wishes
Martin