Audio popping issue back on MacOS 11.3 for 16 inch MacBook Pro

[davidb2002]

In my case, I contacted AKG's support to run through standard troubleshooting. They could not come up with a solution and suggested contacting Apple. Therefore, I contacted Apple's live chat and explained everything, as well as referencing this thread. After a small handful of troubleshooting questions, the chat agent suggested that I submit feedback regarding the problem and that she would do the same. I think that is the only thing that can be done to get to the developers.

With any hope, Monterrey will resolve this issue.

 

[skardvin]

UPDATE — macOS Monterey 12.0.1 RC 2 (21A559)

For me no popping sounds when playing audio/video content except on Firefox 93.0 and when I do speech — start speaking — after the text is done being read back a popping sound occurs. Apple Feedback Team contacted me and asked for another ktrace when playing videos in Firefox and when doing speech text. Hopefully they will fully resolve the popping sound in macOS Monterey 12.1 but at least it is not happening in Safari, Chrome, Opera, Tv app etc.

 

[davidb2002]

Thanks for the update! I'm glad you are getting some coordination with Apple. With any luck, it'll fix issues in Spotify too.

 

[RougeCode]

Hello,

Could you please test now with macOS Big Sur 11.6.1 and Firefox 93.0?

 

[Ifti]

Just downloading Monterey now......

Anyone tested on the official release?

 

[farbodvaand]

Hello,

I've downloaded and installed MacOs Monterey 12.0.1 on my MackBook Pro 16 inch, and I have no crackling or any sound related issue while using chrome or spotify (skipping video or music), except for the firefox which the problem still persist which is actually weird considering the problem is solved for other apps.

The bug drove me nuts for months as I had to open quicktime all the time. It's gone now everybody.

 

[skardvin]

I as well installed macOS Monterey 12.0.1 from the App Store today, and I have not any popping sounds except in Firefox and also when I do speech — speak text — after the text is done being read, there is a slight popping sound that occurs, but besides that, it has been fixed. Hopefully, 12.1 will address the popping sound in Firefox 93.0.

 

[skardvin]

Hello,

I've downloaded and installed MacOs Monterey 12.0.1 on my MackBook Pro 16 inch, and I have no crackling or any sound related issue while using chrome or spotify (skipping video or music), except for the firefox which the problem still persist which is actually weird considering the problem is solved for other apps.

The bug drove me nuts for months as I had to open quicktime all the time. It's gone now everybody.

This issue drove me crazy as well. Yes, it is weird that it is still occurring in Firefox. Maybe it is Firefox's audio encoder? I sent Apple a ktrace of the popping sound in Firefox. If you have the time to conduct a ktrace, you should consider sending it to Apple via the Feedback App, the more people that complain, the more likely it will get fixed faster.

 

[Ifti]

when I do speech — speak text — after the text is done being read, there is a slight popping sound that occurs,

Yes Ive noticed the same when using Audacity and trying to edit - certainly better then before though!

 

[farbodvaand]

Oh wow, I put the laptop into sleep last night, next day put on my laptop, going to youtube, guess what? it's back again. This is a shame for a company worth $2.4 Trillion dollar and it's most "Pro" product to have this bug over the years and not fixing it for good.


Watch the video below.

 

[jterp7]

damn...it was probably the restart that "fixed" it then.

 

[skardvin]

Oh wow, I put the laptop into sleep last night, next day put on my laptop, going to youtube, guess what? it's back again. This is a shame for a company worth $2.4 Trillion dollar and it's most "Pro" product to have this bug over the years and not fixing it for good.


Watch the video below.

What web browser are you using?

 

[MacScape]

yeah there is a fix which is temporary as of now, open up QuickTime player and open up a new audio recording, don't do anything else just minimize that tab and use it as the way you normally do, the popping sound isn't heard. Hopefully apple will address it and fix it

Does this trick still work in MacOs Monterey? If it doesn't I'm not going to update because the popping is driving me crazy (read how silly this is).

And do the new 14 and 16 inch M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pros have this popping problem too? Maybe that will get their attention...

 

[skardvin]

Does this trick still work in MacOs Monterey? If it doesn't I'm not going to update because the popping is driving me crazy (read how silly this is).

And do the new 14 and 16 inch M1 Pro/Max MacBook Pros have this popping problem too? Maybe that will get their attention...

Yes, for me opening a new audio recording in QuickTime Player on macOS Monterey 12.0.1 (21A559) still works and eliminates the popping sound that is still present in Firefox. Do take note that for me, macOS Monterey fixed all the popping sounds I was having prior in macOS Big Sur 11.3 — macOS Big Sur 11.6 in Safari, Chrome, TV app, etc., except Firefox 93.0.

I asked @farbodvaand what web browser they were using because if they were using Firefox, the popping sound in Firefox has not been fixed as of yet in macOS Monterey.

Apple has contacted me regarding this issue and requested ktraces which I have sent to them. Hopefully, with the information I sent they will be able to fully address this issue in the upcoming macOS Monterey 12.1 update.

 

[Ifti]

Have been using safari on Monterey - no popping on YouTube videos.
Using a program like Audacity, I get very slight popping when pausing or stopping an audio clip, but no longer when starting playback.
Its certainly an improvement for me so far.

 

[farbodvaand]

What web browser are you using?

I use Chrome mainly, the problem exists for Firefox, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi which is no surprise because most of them use chrome engine.

But interestingly Safari is fine. This reminds me of old Windows days that Microsoft tried all their best to shove Internet Explorer.

 

[skardvin]

I use Chrome mainly, the problem exists for Firefox, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi which is no surprise because most of them use chrome engine.

But interestingly Safari is fine. This reminds me of old Windows days that Microsoft tried all their best to shove Internet Explorer.

Have you tried a PRAM reset since updating?

 

[mr_bam]

I've updated to macOS 12.0.1 release version on my work Mac and the popping external speaker over USB-C dongle to Audio Jack is back AFTER the mac Sleeps still. The initial first boot is fine. No popping whatsoever. After a sleep... it's back.

Infuriating. So much so that I've restarted to plugging the speakers into the headphone jack on the MBP instead. Doesn't happen from there. Why is it only over UBS-C/TB3 that it happens?

 

[skardvin]

I've updated to macOS 12.0.1 release version on my work Mac and the popping external speaker over USB-C dongle to Audio Jack is back AFTER the mac Sleeps still. The initial first boot is fine. No popping whatsoever. After a sleep... it's back.

Infuriating. So much so that I've restarted to plugging the speakers into the headphone jack on the MBP instead. Doesn't happen from there. Why is it only over UBS-C/TB3 that it happens?

Have you tried a PRAM reset since updating to macOS 12.0.1? If not, I would recommend trying it and seeing if it helps with the popping sound. If a PRAM reset doesn't help send feedback to Apple, they seem to be more attentive to listening to feedback than they have in the past IMO.

 

[mr_bam]

Have you tried a PRAM reset since updating to macOS 12.0.1? If not, I would recommend trying it and seeing if it helps with the popping sound. If a PRAM reset doesn't help send feedback to Apple, they seem to be more attentive to listening to feedback than they have in the past IMO.

No but I have reset my SMC. I can reset the PRAM tonight and have a go again. It's worth a shot. Thanks

 

[skardvin]

Installing macOS Monterey 12.1 now. Will report back on the popping issue after the update has completed.

 

[skardvin]

UPDATE 10/28

Tested Firefox 93.0, 94.0 Beta, and nightly build of Firefox (95.0a1 (2021-10-28)) on macOS Monterey 12.1 Beta (21C5021h) popping sound is still present on all three builds of Firefox. All current builds of Opera, Chrome, Safari (15.1), etc., do NOT have any popping sounds for me on my Macbook Pro 16" 2019. Speak text still has a slight popping sound on 12.1. But overall, the popping sounds for me have me 90% fixed in Monterey, so if you are having popping sound issues in Big Sur, I would recommend you backup your system and try to update and see if it helps.

 

[mr_bam]

I reset the NVRAM (PRAM) last night, did some stuff then and put the Mac to sleep. I've plugged into Thunderbolt audio this morning and it's popping away after every sound (as soon as the sound chip sleeps)... so it's a no go.

I've plugged the speakers into the headphone jack on the Mac instead and there's no popping.

So the bug is definitely audio out over thunderbolt (/usb-c).

 

[skardvin]

I reset the NVRAM (PRAM) last night, did some stuff then and put the Mac to sleep. I've plugged into Thunderbolt audio this morning and it's popping away after every sound (as soon as the sound chip sleeps)... so it's a no go.

I've plugged the speakers into the headphone jack on the Mac instead and there's no popping.

So the bug is definitely audio out over thunderbolt (/usb-c).

Sorry that resetting the PRAM didn't fix the popping sound. Send Apple feedback via the Feedback Assistant app. Maybe they will fix it in the upcoming 12.1 update if enough people complain about it.

 

[mr_bam]

Thanks. I've just sent feedback. We'll see how that goes.