Is there something wrong with my Studio Display or Mac Studio?

[limitin]

I am able to reproduce this weird condition on both my Mac Studio and my MacBook Pro when connected to my Studio Display. I was wondering if anyone else has this issue or can reproduce it.

I have a Mac Studio with MacOS Monterey 12.3.1 (21E258) with an M1 Max chip and 32GB of memory.

I am having a weird issue where having a browser with video playback + attempting to use the webcam or microphone will perma-lock video on my device until I reboot the computer at worst, or unplug and replug in the display (best case). This holds true for videos on any site (YouTube, Reddit, etc) OR local video on the computer. At this point, the webcam will also begin freezing like crazy.

The issue appears to show itself when something attempts to use my Studio Display's microphone.


Reproduction Steps:

1. Open Firefox or another browser (this problem seems worse when Firefox is the browser initially playing a video). Go play a YouTube video.
2. While that YouTube video is playing, start up a video meeting with Zoom, Google Meet, Slack, etc in Safari or another browser. Allow it to see your microphone / camera.
3. The issue should begin happening if it is going to for you. At this point, my camera starts cutting out, audio gets choppy from the video, and you start seeing loading indicators on any video being played.

 

[limitin]

Also, video of the issue:

 

[PieTunes]

The other day I was starting to get random choppy, and even seized up, audio from my Studio Display, regardless of audio source. It happened once at first then a few days later happened near continuously. I had my display since day one and it's always been connected to my Mac Studio and has always been put to sleep.

I was able to rectify my issues by completely unplugging the display from power, waiting about 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. You will see the three dots on the screen indicating it is booting up. No audio issues since then.

Other people on the Apple discussion boards experienced the same random issues a few weeks after they got the display, saying that their random glitchy webcam or audio or mic issues seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. With the display essentially having an iPhone board running it, maybe something glitches out over time and it needs to be reset/rebooted.

If this is the case, hopefully it's something Apple can alleviate in a future firmware update for the display.

 

[limitin]

Yeah I was getting choppy audio as well! Even when using the microphone on the Mac Studio, all I got was noise.

 

[StudioMacs]

The other day I was starting to get random choppy, and even seized up, audio from my Studio Display, regardless of audio source. It happened once at first then a few days later happened near continuously. I had my display since day one and it's always been connected to my Mac Studio and has always been put to sleep.

I was able to rectify my issues by completely unplugging the display from power, waiting about 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. You will see the three dots on the screen indicating it is booting up. No audio issues since then.

Other people on the Apple discussion boards experienced the same random issues a few weeks after they got the display, saying that their random glitchy webcam or audio or mic issues seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. With the display essentially having an iPhone board running it, maybe something glitches out over time and it needs to be reset/rebooted.

If this is the case, hopefully it's something Apple can alleviate in a future firmware update for the display.

Just a few days ago Gruber wrote on daringfireball.com about a similar problem with garbled audio requiring him to unplug the Studio Display since it has no power button.

 

[limitin]

The reproducible camera and video freezing when all this is going on is what surprised me the most.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Just a few days ago Gruber wrote on daringfireball.com about a similar problem with garbled audio requiring him to unplug the Studio Display since it has no power button.

Although I don't expect to have to plug/unplug the Studio Display, I did end up using one of these. Which is much easier than trying to physically unplug it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XTQN2NG/?th=1

 

[PieTunes]

Just a few days ago Gruber wrote on daringfireball.com about a similar problem with garbled audio requiring him to unplug the Studio Display since it has no power button.

Thank you. I found the blog entry he posted back on the 13th, his data point coupled with the others I read, I guess it’s nice to know it wasn’t just me! Seems weird how for those of us experiencing it, the issues seemed to coincide with having the display running continuously without reboot for 3-4 weeks.

 

[dogface1956]

Yeah I was getting choppy audio as well! Even when using the microphone on the Mac Studio, all I got was noise.

I have been having an issue, when I am listening to music and pause, leave music open and then start playing a song again, it plays at 2 or 3x time so it sounds like the chipmunks. I have to quit Apple Music and reopen and the music plays at normal speed again.

 

[HazardousT]

Yeah that's an issue that obviously needs addressed.

 

[dugbug]

wow thats crazy. I don't yet have my studio display but am curious bout this. What is your security system preferences for microphone access set to? maybe the OS is blocking it and the behavior is flakey

Control access to the microphone on Mac

On your Mac, control which apps and websites can access the microphone.

support.apple.com

-d

 

[limitin]

wow thats crazy. I don't yet have my studio display but am curious bout this. What is your security system preferences for microphone access set to? maybe the OS is blocking it and the behavior is flakey

Control access to the microphone on Mac

On your Mac, control which apps and websites can access the microphone.

support.apple.com

-d

I allow it to be used on all sites.

 

[JerryDon]

Bring back the 27" iMac . . .

 

[Jeven Stobs]

This thing just keeps on giving…

 

[Mr Owl]

Studio Display and Zoom problem


I’ve just bought the new Studio Display and it’s connected to my MacBook Air (2019). It works brilliantly… BUT


When I ran a training course on it with Zoom running a Keynote deck I’ve used several times before when I got to slides with embedded video it all went very jerky and sometime went to a black screen at the receiving end of the Zoom call.
Weirdly when I unplugged the MacBook Air from the Studio Display it all worked perfectly.


I tested this again with Microsoft Teams and it was exactly the same.

Hoping it’s a simple Apple patch will fix this but very irritating given the price of this display.

Keen to know if anyone else has had a similar problem.

Thanks

 

[PieTunes]

Studio Display and Zoom problem


I’ve just bought the new Studio Display and it’s connected to my MacBook Air (2019). It works brilliantly… BUT


When I ran a training course on it with Zoom running a Keynote deck I’ve used several times before when I got to slides with embedded video it all went very jerky and sometime went to a black screen at the receiving end of the Zoom call.
Weirdly when I unplugged the MacBook Air from the Studio Display it all worked perfectly.


I tested this again with Microsoft Teams and it was exactly the same.

Hoping it’s a simple Apple patch will fix this but very irritating given the price of this display.

Keen to know if anyone else has had a similar problem.

Thanks

You said you just bought the new display? Have you ensured it's been updated to the latest firmware, 15.4?

 

[Mr Owl]

You said you just bought the new display? Have you ensured it's been updated to the latest firmware, 15.4?

yup all updated

 

[MikeDr206]

Although I don't expect to have to plug/unplug the Studio Display, I did end up using one of these. Which is much easier than trying to physically unplug it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XTQN2NG/?th=1

Even better is something like this.

DEWENWILS Indoor Remote Control Outlet, Expandable Remote Light Switch Kit, Wireless On Off Power Switch, 100ft RF Range, Compact Design, White

DEWENWILS Indoor Remote Control Outlet, Expandable Remote Light Switch Kit, Wireless On Off Power Switch, 100ft RF Range, Compact Design, White

www.amazon.com

 

[Nismo73]

The other day I was starting to get random choppy, and even seized up, audio from my Studio Display, regardless of audio source. It happened once at first then a few days later happened near continuously. I had my display since day one and it's always been connected to my Mac Studio and has always been put to sleep.

I was able to rectify my issues by completely unplugging the display from power, waiting about 30 seconds, then plugging it back in. You will see the three dots on the screen indicating it is booting up. No audio issues since then.

Other people on the Apple discussion boards experienced the same random issues a few weeks after they got the display, saying that their random glitchy webcam or audio or mic issues seemed to just pop up out of nowhere. With the display essentially having an iPhone board running it, maybe something glitches out over time and it needs to be reset/rebooted.

If this is the case, hopefully it's something Apple can alleviate in a future firmware update for the display.

I had that happen for the first time the other day with my M1 Air and saw in the Discussions to unplug/plug and that worked for me too.

 

[ADGrant]

Although I don't expect to have to plug/unplug the Studio Display, I did end up using one of these. Which is much easier than trying to physically unplug it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08XTQN2NG/?th=1

It is absurd that the display has neither a power switch or a removable power cord.

 

[StudioMacs]

It is absurd that the display has neither a power switch or a removable power cord.

The power cord is removable, just not a good idea to do it over and over again.

I do think a power switch would be a good idea, and excluding that a way to shut it off with software from the Mac would be nice.

 

[Fravin]

It is absurd that the display has neither a power switch or a removable power cord.

Well, I don't think so.

With your previous display, when didi you turned it off by pressing the on/off switch?

The display goes offline itself to save energy. So, Why would I need to power it off? It's the question designers and engineers must do during the design process. And that is a really good question: Do we need to put a on/off with on it?

Knowing how engineers think and how intense are those meetings, it would be too difficult to prove the on/off switch to such a device.

A dedicated power switch is something that you will see last in future products.

For instance, smartphones (including your iPhone) doesn't have a dedicated on/off switch. Your external hard drives don't have it neither. Your bluetooth headphones (including AirPods) and several of other BT devices does not have it.

So why one would require a dedicated power button if no one uses it?

The issues reported here are software related. Since it gets fixed, you won't think again on the button.

 

[StudioMacs]

Well, I don't think so.

With your previous display, when didi you turned it off by pressing the on/off switch?

The display goes offline itself to save energy. So, Why would I need to power it off? It's the question designers and engineers must do during the design process. And that is a really good question: Do we need to put a on/off with on it?

Knowing how engineers think and how intense are those meetings, it would be too difficult to prove the on/off switch to such a device.

A dedicated power switch is something that you will see last in future products.

For instance, smartphones (including your iPhone) doesn't have a dedicated on/off switch. Your external hard drives don't have it neither. Your bluetooth headphones (including AirPods) and several of other BT devices does not have it.

So why one would require a dedicated power button if no one uses it?

The issues reported here are software related. Since it gets fixed, you won't think again on the button.

I usually agree with Gruber, and the way he appreciates “all the little things“ about Apple. He’s often called an Apple apologist, which I personally don’t agree with, but even he is asking for a way to “turn it off and on again.”

 

[has.marvel]

Well, I am having a little different problem but it may have the same source. My screen blinks every so often. By blink, I mean it will go black and then come back on after maybe a second of being dark. Very annoying. I have not been able to find a pattern for when it does it. Did not happen right away, took a week or so for it to show up.

It also does not go into or stay in sleep mode when I am not using the Mac Studio attached to the display. I even have it set to go dark when I move the cursor to the lower right hand corner but it can still come on or at least glow dark with the backlight when it is in that position.

All very annoying when you spend that much money for a display and have these issues.

 

[Fravin]

Well, I am having a little different problem but it may have the same source. My screen blinks every so often. By blink, I mean it will go black and then come back on after maybe a second of being dark. Very annoying. I have not been able to find a pattern for when it does it. Did not happen right away, took a week or so for it to show up.

This can be related with the cable Apple provided with it. Some users are saying that a new cable solved it.