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MAJOR 12" PB problem with sound!

B

bb0ys

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 14, 2003
58
0
I just got my 12" powerbook and I really love it. However, there is one serious flaw with it. Every few minutes I hear a POP from internal the speakers. I haven't been able to figure out what its related to (keystrokes, time periods, etc). It's really bothering me and I don't know why. Anyone know of a fix for this? Does apple know about this? I've read that it has to do with the sound sytem going to sleep, and then waking up and the speakers pop, but they pop even when no sound is being made. HELLPPP
Thanks =)
 
Re: MAJOR 12" PB problem with sound!

Originally posted by bb0ys
I just got my 12" powerbook and I really love it. However, there is one serious flaw with it. Every few minutes I hear a POP from internal the speakers. I haven't been able to figure out what its related to (keystrokes, time periods, etc). It's really bothering me and I don't know why. Anyone know of a fix for this? Does apple know about this? I've read that it has to do with the sound sytem going to sleep, and then waking up and the speakers pop, but they pop even when no sound is being made. HELLPPP
Thanks =)
Click to expand...

Mine doesn't have this problem...sorry.
 
That is a mal funcition of the digital to analog converter. Ask for a replacement.

Those kind of things are (were) common in the first Protools systems. That is a digital distortion, may be a condenser is broken inside the unit or the audio chip have some problem with the incoming voltage.

Do this, re install the entire software first, it may be a related to some Prefernce in OSX, as I'm not expert in OSX I can't tell you too much about it, if the problem persist is hardware related.

As your computer is brand new it makes me think it is hardware, it happends!.

Rememeber 17"and 12" are brand new logic boards configurations are you are testing a brand new model.

They will ahve to replace the entire logic board and even the entire Powerbook would be easier for them.

If the problem is hard to detect for them well... ltes hope they say there is a problem.
 
On the laptops, the speakers go to sleep after a certain period of time, and then the next time a sound is played, they will make that popping sound as they wake up to play it (rather than waking up before it is played). It's a bug, but I'm not sure if it's in hardware or software. It's been there for a long time (since 10.1.1 at least). You can make it less annoying by turning the volume down, or using an external audio interface if that's an option.
 
The same thing seems to be happening to my new PB 12. I've noticed it only happens on here when I'm on battery power, and always precedes events where a sound is played (ie: an e-mail arriving, or an IM coming in.) It happens, though, whether or not the system is muted. If I get an e-mail message, and the system is muted, I know because my speakers pop for no reason.

It only seems to happen with system events... if I listen to tunes in iTunes, or listen to a radio station over the Internet, there's no popping related to them starting up or playing.

Annoying... but not tragic.

Ah... I see Alex has an answer, and a very logical one for why it happens when on battery power (when I assume the speakers "go to sleep" must faster.)
 
Mine too

I was just about to write that I have no such problem, but i thought i'd boot the thing up and check. Sure enough, system events (i.e., when it seitches from the grey apple (I miss the happy mac still!) to the OSx screen and before sounds.

What to do?
 
Has anyone gone to an Apple Store with questions about this? I don't have the 12" AI, but I might just go ask for you. I really wanna know what this is about.

Also, I have that problem sometimes with headphones on my iBook when I work with pro audio apps. I always just ignored it, but it seems your pops must be worse.

Dan
 
Originally posted by alset
Has anyone gone to an Apple Store with questions about this? I don't have the 12" AI, but I might just go ask for you. I really wanna know what this is about.

Also, I have that problem sometimes with headphones on my iBook when I work with pro audio apps. I always just ignored it, but it seems your pops must be worse.

Dan
Click to expand...

Believe me, if they had Apple Stores to go to ask about it here in Canada, I'd be down to them like a shot. Unfortunately, my local retailer is pretty much useless on stuff like this. It hasn't really bothered me that much, to be frank about it... but I'd sure like to know if this is an issue on Apple's radar screen, and if so, if there's anything that can be done about it or will be done about it.

But in the meantime, I'll just enjoy my new little lapwarmer.
 
12" PB "popping speakerss"

I have the same problem.

seems to only happen on battery power, and usually "pops" right before it plays a system sound.
 
Re: 12" PB "popping speakerss"

Originally posted by MightyB
I have the same problem.

seems to only happen on battery power, and usually "pops" right before it plays a system sound.
Click to expand...

happens for every sound to me. like on ichat when no one signs on for a while and then someone does it makes a pop. this is crap
 
Ut oh...It is when on battery power. I never noticed it before, but I just went to battery and forced a system sound and it popped before the sound. Guess I do have this problem as well. What do we do now?
 
If it's only on battery power, then it could be power saving related. Try the application "keep soud awake" (search for it on versiontracker). It solved sound related problems on my PowerBook, but consumes more energy...
 
Two eMacs...

...a DP 1.42 and a 12" PB here, and I have *yet* to hear the popping sound you describe.

Of course, I can't hear my wife when she talks to me, either... ;)

Tom
 
Tom, try it for us

Tom, can you try to reproduce this on your 12" PB please? Run it off of battery power and leave it alone for a few minutes. Make sure 'system sounds' is on in the prefernces. Then, do something that would cause a system sound (drag something to the trash maybe). Let us know if you get a pop right before it plays the sound.

Can someone talk with apple about this? I'd rather not call and start my limited 90day phone support =/

Thanks!
 
Same thing happens on my brother's 17" iMac with Apple Pro Speakers. As soon as I noticed it, I phoned Apple.

Apple reps immediately knew the problem: OS X. According to the Apple people i've spoken to, OS X has many audio problems. Just learn to live with it. Hopefully they will have all the problems worked out once Panther comes out.
 
The TI books have the same problem. It is because the on battery power the sound system goes to sleep.

If you try it on mains power you shouldn't find it.

The problem with OSX is that it doesn't let you turn it off!!! The KeepSoundAlive (?can't remember name exactly) app does fix it. But your PB will use fractionally more power.
 
I have had an eMac, an FP iMac, and a Yaoming Book. All of them pop, however, the eMac nad iMac pop only once or twice (after sleeping, before launching itunes, starting up) The YaoBook, however, pops constantly! I feel all of ur guys' pain! Mine does it mostly when using AIM, however other stuff makes it pop too... When I have stickey keys on, it pops a whole lot (probably because of the interface sounds associated with then) It's definetly unacceptable.
 
Additional sound quirk

I have not checked my 12" to see if it pops but I have another problem which is driving me crazy. The sound balance keeps changing and going towards the right. I can't figure out what is doing it. Maybe it is a keystroke or a problem caused by some other application. Has anyone else noticed this problem?
 
Originally posted by JSRockit
Ut oh...I thought OS X was supposed to be superior?
Click to expand...

It is a NEW OS. Remember, Windows is still built on some of the same technology as Win3.1! Mostly built on NT technology which has been out for a long time. The OS is superior, but it has bugs which are steadily being worked out. Remember, the last thing a programmer CAN do is optimise code. People were screaming for the OS, so Apple had to release it and has been making enhancements and optimizing it ever since at as fast of a pace as possible. I write programs, and I know that although optimization of code saves you tons of space and can provide MAJOR speed enhancement etc, it takes forever. And rewritting tons of code can be very difficult when you are trying to maintain compatability. Give the OS a couple of years. I bet OS X.5 is going to be awesome. Hell, we are only comming up on essentially a version 1.3 for OSX. We were at version 9.2.2 for classic OS. Just give it time and we will see the benefits soon enough.
 
Sorry to bring up an old thread but mine started doing this perhaps a month ago. I usually only notice it when I'm not playing anything and maybe ever once in a while, someone IM's me and it pops, but today I was playing WoW and it would pop, then be silent for about 3 seconds then the sound would come back on.

Do you still think it is the OS? I'm running 10.4.5
 
Stinkythe1 said:
Sorry to bring up an old thread but mine started doing this perhaps a month ago. I usually only notice it when I'm not playing anything and maybe ever once in a while, someone IM's me and it pops, but today I was playing WoW and it would pop, then be silent for about 3 seconds then the sound would come back on.

Do you still think it is the OS? I'm running 10.4.5
Click to expand...

Are you running battery power?
 
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