Audio pops and crackles on MacBook Pro

Help!!!
I have a Late 2011 15' MacBook Pro, 256gb SSD, 750gb (7200) and 16gb RAM. When listening back to music after about 30 seconds to a minute the sound starts to randomly pop and crackle. I've go to find a fix for this.
I am running 10.8.4. I have already reinstalled Mountain Lion, reset the SMC and reset the PRAM. Nothing seems to work.
It doesn't seem to be a hard drive issue as it happens on any hard drive I'm playing from.
I haven't heard it using the onboard speakers. I've only heard it so far with my external speakers connected through USB. This makes me think it could be a USB problem.
Does anybody have any other suggestions? I'm going mad!!
Thanks!

I think I figured it out. I found a firmware update for my audio interface (REM - Babyface) and so far so good.
I'll post again if it comes back.
Thanks.

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I think I figured it out. I found a firmware update for my audio interface (REM - Babyface) and so far so good.
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Here is my system:
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And the popping and crackling even continues after I exit the game, even in Windows, but to a lesser extent. And it seems to quit completely after a few minutes. Very strange.
Also, I tried disabling SLI and it did not seem to make a difference.
What is going on here? I just want to play this game with 5.1 surround sound and, preferably, EAX, because I do like the way it sounds. It's just that I can't play with EAX because it starts jacking up after awhile.
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I've been playing for about an hour with no pops or crackles at all, let's hope it stays that way!
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Originally Posted by Thalyn
Well, I found my copy of FEAR and loaded it up. Patched it to 1.08 (which meant re-downloading the patch, since the one I got before was the US version - mine game is apparently the UK one, which actually has a patch half the size) and fired it up.
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I just noticed that I get popping, crackling, and eventually game-freezing in Left 4 Dead 2, as well.
I used Alchemy to enable EAX for Left 4 Dead to (I read in the FAQ on Creative's Alchemy page that you could enable it for source engine games), and while playing, I starting hearing pops and stuff just like as in F.E.A.R. Eventually, the game started lagging as well (like in F.E.A.R.), and I had to quit out. It even persisted in windows for a bit as I would notice it when changing the volume and hearing the little "ding" with a pop or crackle in it. I restarted my computer.
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It just seems especially strange that, although diminished, the pops and crackles continue even when I quit to my desktop. I don't hear them unless a sound is playing, though. And even then, it is quite diminished from they way it was during the game.
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Do different versions of Alchemy exist for different Creative cards? For example, perhaps 1.41.02 IS the most recent version for my x-fi titanium, but not for your recon3D.. Or can I use any version of Alchemy? Maybe getting the most recent version would fix my problems.
Edit #2: I found version 1.43.06 of Alchemy. I went to the x-fi titanium's page on Creative's site and clicked on "beta application", and it was there. Downloading/installing now and testing.
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Last edited by themusicalduck (2012-11-23 23:23:59)

I think I figured it out. I found a firmware update for my audio interface (REM - Babyface) and so far so good.
I'll post again if it comes back.
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I HAVE THE POP AND CRACKLING PROBLEM FIX FOR ME ANYWAY..

my set up is......
asus

okay sorry....
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SEEMS to me many with my MOBO asus a7v8x variations are having the pop and crackle problem....
sorry if my explanation is confusing but im good at fragging not english....any questions reply i will check back.....
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Audio pops and crackles on MacBook Pro

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