Mac Mini M4

[AzooxRex]

Hi All. I have a question re: my Mac Mini M4 (specs attached) sound issues. I'm confused about an annoying sound distribution conflict. Traditionally, when you play multiple sound sources on any computer, each source is independently audible without any conflicts, e.g. two or more videos playing simultaneously, or a video and song, or what have you. If you decide to mute or shut down one or more sources, the other one that you want to listen to keeps playing without fail. However, on my Mac Mini M4, unlike my previous and current Mac laptops, that isn't the case. If I am playing one video and start another video or sound source, and I shut down or mute one, the other one automatically gets patchy, i.e. short moments of sound and silence alternate as if something were cutting it off or the connection were bad. Sometimes it gets fixed when I refresh the source, sometimes it doesn't, both scenarios annoying the heck out of me because it shouldn't be happening. What gives? Does anyone experience the same issue? Has anyone found the origin? How do I fix this? Your advice/assistance is most welcome.

Thank you.

 

[BrianBaughn]

Is your sound out via built-in or is it via an external (USB) sound device?

Is this the first M-series Mac you've owned?

 

[AzooxRex]

Is your sound out via built-in or is it via an external (USB) sound device?

Is this the first M-series Mac you've owned?

The sound is out via a Tribit unit (external), which is attached to the Mini with an audio cable (not Bluetooth). I've used the same unit and connection with my laptops before as well, and I've never had any issues.

My work laptop is actually an M-series Mac as well, and I've never had any sound issues on it, either.

 

[EugW]

I also have the M4 Mac mini. I don't have this problem using the built-in headphone jack or an Apple USB-C to headphone jack adapter.

 

[BrianBaughn]

I think there may be an audio issue with my M1 Mac Studio every once in a while. Seems like sample rate conflict when two different apps are putting out audio…but I'm just guessing. I'm using a USB audio device (Audient iD4).

 

[AzooxRex]

I think there may be an audio issue with my M1 Mac Studio every once in a while. Seems like sample rate conflict when two different apps are putting out audio…but I'm just guessing. I'm using a USB audio device (Audient iD4).

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing. It looks like M4 may be plagued with the same or similar issue, although not all units appear to suffer from it, as EugW mentioned above. I also use the built-in headphone jack. Such a mystery!

 

[AzooxRex]

I also have the M4 Mac mini. I don't have this problem using the built-in headphone jack or an Apple USB-C to headphone jack adapter.

Thanks for sharing this information. The built-in headphone jack is precisely how I connect with the computer as well. I have never experienced this on any other Mac or device before, so it's a first for me. I'm still stunned.