Audio interface issues with Maverick

Question

I just got a new IMac and have found that four different audio interfaces won't work with it.  Most of these work with my old IMac.  I've tried the Apoge Duet, Saffire Pro 24, Presonus Audiobox USB and a new Mackie mixer with USB output.  The two of these that have software had lots of crashing issues.  Garage band and Itunes are crashing.  All of them work intermittently, but then fail with digital distortion or even Mac bluescreen (the little spinning rainbow thing). 
I imagine this means I just need to return the computer, but wondered if maybe I just picked four audio interfaces that all just happen not to work with the new IMac and new OS 10.9.1

Answer 1

Scott, I have a 2009 Macpro runing cubase 5.0 with a Mackie Onyx firewire audio interface that has run without major flaw for almost 5 years. I upgraded to Cubase 7.5 which required that I upgrade my OS, so I upgraded to Mavericks. I am now experiencing an unlimited number of dropouts, studders, clicks, and pops That make my$25,000+ studio virtually useless. I called Mackie, because my version does not have a driver as it is the older (non 1640i) version. They said that this version runs through Apple's core audio driver and there was really nothing they could do to resolve the issue (probably why the new 1640i has its own independant drivers). While with troubleshooting, the problem could still be a Cubase based problem, the forums I have read have shown problems like this occouring across a wide swath of different DAWS and audio interfaces. I believe the problem to be on apple's end, and specifically in some failure in Mavericks itself. I tried to call Apple about this problem, but apparently because my macpro is out of warranty they wanted to charge me $20 for my phone call (my Mackie is older than my studio computer, and though they couldn't solver my problem, they took the time to field my call free of charge). I believe what is going on is that they are using the free version of Mavericks to BETA test their OS, and will correct the issues as the complaints roll out. I am going to try and Install Mountain Lion on my computer and see if that solves the problem. It's only $20, and that is the cost of the support phonecall anyways. I'll tell you how it works out.
To the moderators,
I have been loyal to apple for over a decade. I currently own a 2009 Macpro, a 2011 macbook pro 17", a 2013 macbook pro 15", and a plethora of your gadgets. I have spent over $30,000 on apple products, and to charge me $20 for a phonecall for a issue that is most likely internal, and probably has a relatively simple solution is infuriating... Needless to say, the next time I spend $5-$10K on a studio computer, it will most likely not be an apple unless you resolve these issues. Thank you.