MBox Causes Clipping of audio with MBP

[scariaga]

So I recently purchased a Macbook Pro 2.4 17inch and I'm having issues with my external sound card/interface. I'm using an Mbox (Digi Design) which I bought about 4 years installed using a standalone driver. My main use of the MBP is for music production (Logic, Live, native instruments etc). Ever since I switched over from my G5 to the MBP I've noticed some issues with clipping & pauses during my production sessions. This is wierd since the processor is much better in my MBP than my G5 so it doesn't make sense that I would have more clipping. Even when I'm using itunes just listening to a song I will get clipping when I open another application. I've checked in with a Mac genious on this and they don't know anything. Also looked on the digi design site to see if there are known issues like this but I don't see anything. Has anybody else heard of any compatability issues with the Mbox & MBP?

thnx

Seb

 

[xpovos]

Assuming you're connecting the Mbox via USB, it might matter which USB port you're using. Try the left-side port which is farthest from the Magsafe inlet and let us know if you still get clipping.

All SR MBP models are currently affected by a bug that causes clipping when recording audio through USB ports sitting on the main logic board, but generally only when running on battery power with AirPort enabled. That second left-side port on the 17" sits on a separate I/O board, which is why audio on it comes out clean.

Geniuses are very unlikely to be aware of this problem, which was reported by me to Apple engineering several weeks ago, and it's still virtually impossible to get information about it on the Internet.

Maybe this will help. I hope so, anyway.

 

[scariaga]

Assuming you're connecting the Mbox via USB, it might matter which USB port you're using. Try the left-side port which is farthest from the Magsafe inlet and let us know if you still get clipping.

All SR MBP models are currently affected by a bug that causes clipping when recording audio through USB ports sitting on the main logic board, but generally only when running on battery power with AirPort enabled. That second left-side port on the 17" sits on a separate I/O board, which is why audio on it comes out clean.

Geniuses are very unlikely to be aware of this problem, which was reported by me to Apple engineering several weeks ago, and it's still virtually impossible to get information about it on the Internet.

Maybe this will help. I hope so, anyway.

thanks for all the info I actually did read about that issue. I've been using the left side USB since I got my MBP (assuming by left you mean the usb port next to the ac power adapter connection). I still have this clipping problem. I'm almost ready to purchase another interface if I can't resolve this issue.

 

[xpovos]

thanks for all the info I actually did read about that issue. I've been using the left side USB since I got my MBP (assuming by left you mean the usb port next to the ac power adapter connection). I still have this clipping problem. I'm almost ready to purchase another interface if I can't resolve this issue.

On the 17" there are two USB ports on the left, one right next to the ac power connection, and then another one. The one right next to the power connection does sit on the main logic board, so it would exhibit clipping. The other one (the one that's NOT right next to the power connection) sits on a separate I/O board and should produce clean recordings.

If that doesn't work, then you're encountering a different issue. Hope this helps, though.

 

[scariaga]

On the 17" there are two USB ports on the left, one right next to the ac power connection, and then another one. The one right next to the power connection does sit on the main logic board, so it would exhibit clipping. The other one (the one that's NOT right next to the power connection) sits on a separate I/O board and should produce clean recordings.

If that doesn't work, then you're encountering a different issue. Hope this helps, though.

I'm still having issues with this. I don't have the clipping anymore but when I have the mbox hooked up (to the correct USB) the fan on my MBP starts to crazy. Doesn't seem to be healthy for the MBP. Ive tried everything and it just seems like this mbox will not work properly with the mbox. Anybody have these issues?

 

[oYx]

did you solve the clipping by using another usb port or was it another solution?

try running protools and see if you have the same problem. if it does, then perhaps the mbox is only meant to play nice with its original intent.

 

[scariaga]

did you solve the clipping by using another usb port or was it another solution?

try running protools and see if you have the same problem. if it does, then perhaps the mbox is only meant to play nice with its original intent.

ya switching the usb solved the clipping but now I have this problem where the fan goes crazy if I have the Mbox hooked into any USB port. I haven't been able to use Pro Tools since I upgraded to Tiger. Right now I'm using the MBox using a standalone driver so I can't see if Pro Tools runs well with the MBP.