Yamaha Home Theater
Mac OS X 10.4.10 Special Report: Audio popping, other sounds issues: Apply Audio Update 2007-001, other fixes
Though Apple makes no direct reference in its release notes for Mac OS X 10.4.10, it appears that this update makes significant changes to audio output on some Macs. Unfortunately, these changes have resulted in user reports of compressed or distorted sound at higher volume levels.
Some readers have also reported that every 1-2 minutes or so, a "pop" comes through the speakers even if the sound is muted.
In most cases, this issue can be resolved by installing Audio Update 2007-001, released a week or so after Mac OS X 10.4.10. Apple also released Mac OS X 10.4.10 v 1.1, which incorporates Audio Update 2007-001. The only change in Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update v1.1 relative to the initial Mac OS X 10.4.10 release is the inclusion of Audio Update 2007-001. If you already applied Mac OS X 10.4.10, you only need to install Audio Update 2007-001. Also, these updates are only for Intel-based Macs.Per Apple's release notes, this update directly addresses the "popping" noise issue:
"The Audio Update 2007-001 addresses an issue with version 1.0 of the Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update in which a 'popping' sound might be heard with some external speakers on Intel-based Mac. This update is recommended for all Intel-based Macs running Mac OS X 10.4.10."
Download links are as follows:
- Audio Update 2007-001 [660KB]
- Mac OS X 10.4.10 Update v1.1 (Intel) [72MB]
- Mac OS X 10.4.10 Combo Update v1.1 (Intel) [297.2MB]
Problems after applying these updates? Please let us know.
Regarding audio distortion, a MacFixIt reader did some digging on this subject with very interesting results and some graphs to back up his preliminary findings:
"I upgraded to OSX 10.4.10 and found that there were problems with audio playback in my MacBook Pro CoreDuo, 2.16GHz. I decided to measure this since we use these machines for quick measurement and demonstrations for students. I am including some graphs and explanations below.
"Below is a Frequency response graph, input to output, for all settings of the volume control in the MacBook Pro (CoreDuo, 2.16GHz). The lower red curve is the setting just before turning off (15 clicks of the volume down button in the keyboard). The red curve at the top, that skirts differently at low frequencies, is the full scale, max volume, setting.
"Graph zooming in to look at the -10 all the way to full scale settings. (From 10 clicks below full volume, to full volume, step by step). Notice how as you go up past 8 clicks below full volume (the green curve), the sound output is heavily compressed. Furthermore, high frequencies are attenuated above around 7kHz.
"A look at just three curves: Full volume (in red at top), 8 clicks below full volume (pink) and 9 clicks below full volume (green). Notice the difference in the output curves. Basically, anything above the -8 setting will sound compressed and even distorted. This is painfully obvious when using the internal speakers of the MacBook Pro, and the sound is also being colored and altered at the line out."
Meanwhile, some users are reporting no or little sound at all after applying the update. Yabo Obien writes:
"I upgraded last night, now I get NO sound from PDFtoMUSIC PRO and other sequencing and notational programs like Sibelius. What a disaster for me when I have a performance tonight. Upgrades up to this point never messed with output. My startup bong is barely audible and I have all volumes set to maximum."
Miscellanous audio problems:
- USB audio device (eg. Alesis IO2 or Photon X25 and many more 2-in-2-out units) are causing system freezes for some users.
- Some users are reporting much louder overall system volume after the update, reducing the ability to fine-tune lower volume settings.
Index:
- Release notes, properly installing the update
- Important files modified by this update, downgrading components
- Downgrading to Mac OS X 10.4.9
- Applications will not launch
- Audio popping, other sounds issues: Apply Audio Update 2007-001, other fixes
- Common workarounds for when things go wrong post-update
- Display brightness stuck at maximum
- Finder crashes -- fixes
- FireWire audio interface issues -- fixes
- Printers missing -- fix
- Problems starting up
- RAM incorrectly (or not) recognized
- Sound input issues, fixes
- The problem with the Mac OS X 10.4.10 version number
- USB issues (serious), fixes
- Wireless connectivity (AirPort) fixes
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Clint Bradford
909-241-7666
Apple has issued an update to address this sound problem - which for me started with Apple Update 10.4.9 - for INTEL Macs. I run an Apple PowerMac G5 Quad, with two 500GB hard drives and 8GBs of RAM. Apple, seemingly, is forgetful or is an extremely callus vendor to give my NON-INTEL Apple computer NO ATTENTION. I was not invisible when I paid them!
Further, my desktop computer and my notebook have been rendered useless since Apple Update 10.4.9. Apple Technical Support took close to four weeks just to get replacement installation disks to me. Seems they were and are not sure which disks are peculiar to my machine. It's so much fun to stick that Disk 2 in only to find out it isn't the right one for your computer, won't run. You get to then do a NEW INSTALL - only after so diligently erasing the messed-up hard drive - THREE TIMES! You can't go back at that point! Oh, and let's not forget the four week delay because FedEx lost their address database, mapping systems, GPS, docks, planes, and trucks!
Most insultingly, Apple Tech always gets around to laying the problems at the doorsteps of third-party vendors, both software and hardware. For well over two months, Apple has left me without use of my Quad or my notebook, because Other World Computing didn't issue a firmware update that would put anything Firewire back in my System Profiler. G-Tech's lack of updates for their external drives caused the Firewire section of System Profiler to do "now, you don't see me tricks." Firewire Bus and all.
Wish someone had clued me in prior to my 10.4.9 update! Just where are all the crystal balls these days?
I just decided to post "my very first MacFixIt Pro comment" while here under Audio, although it is one of my lesser torments. My notebook - that hardly ever gave any problems prior to Apple Update 10.4.9 and 10.4.10 - is now the stuff graveyards are made of! Its AppleCare warranty ran out in the nick of time for Apple update 10.4.9 and 10.4.10. Apple doesn't want to hear about it. Just as well, the Quad AppleCare warranty is in full swing but it's just as impotent as the notebook. After two months, where are Apple's little blue pills?
The Quad's logic board, four processors, power supply, and all 8GB of RAM have been replaced, again! After being unmounted randomly but consistently due to these horrible Apple updates, I have a 500GB G-Tech external drive, a 1TB OWC external drive, and a 500GB OWC external drive that must be cared for. LaCie, don't fail me now!
I really want to say (what I REALLY could say would take a book): When will Apple show some real concern for its base customers or "used to be" base customers. Alas, my Quad is NOT the new starlet, iPhone! When does Apple pull their noses out of market hype and the next new thing long enough to get some of its more long-time efforts right or at least off the silly farm? When will Apple get a hefty nudge to being responsible for actions that affect a customer so terribly?
If Intel or whoever else provides life blood to its corporate health caused Apple to become non-functional for two months and provided materials to them that caused their entire inventory of computers to fail so completely, we would have the answer to international war. They just couldn't compare to the carnage we would see right here!
After these updates, I have crippled, blind, and crazy computing functionality. Null and void. I have three large, NEW external drives that virtually are no more. And hitting directly on the audio problems: WHY could my PowerMac G5 Quad not have an audio update to stop the noise?