USB Mic Static

I have a MXL USB .007 microphone. I just got a MacBook Pro and was excited to record on it, but come to find out, the audio drivers for Leopard create static in recordings. I've looked around the forum and there doesn't seem to be one answer to this problem.
Should I expect a software update from apple fixing this problem or should I give up on the hope that this problem will ever be fixed...

I'm having exactly the same problem, I doubt it is MXls' fault. I confirmed it by listening to Typeshape's recording.
Its such a frustrating sound to hear.
I'm running a MXL mike or Roland Digital Piano into a Behringer Xenyx 802 mixer which is going into a Behringer UCA202 USB DAC.
I updated from 10.5.2 to 10.5.4 hoping that the update would solve the problem. While I was given about 40 minutes of static free recording, it came back with a vengeance after the that. At low levels. Coming in from the microphone or the keyboard.
At first I thought it was the behringer gear as admittedly equipment made by that German-Chinese collaboration doesn't really have the sturdiest reputation. However, based on these threads it appears to affect many makes of equipment:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=7298133&#7298133
and here:
http://www.homerecordingconnection.com/forum.php?action=view_thread&id=14657&frm =1
I did attempt to use the 'go back to the pre 10.5 USB audio driver hack' included in the above link but it only had limited success. Worked for a while then kept on staticing.
This has got to be the most frustrating problem. Its surprising, given the high number of music users that are mac loyalists, that Apple have not been able to solve it through 2 revisions of Leopard.
I don't have any solutions. However, perhaps others might take comfort in the fact that they are not alone!
Further insights here:
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/05/28/mac-os-x-1053-released-addresses-usb-au dio-issues/#comments
http://createdigitalmusic.com/2008/07/01/mac-os-x-1054-fixes-airport-issues-with -logic-what-about-other-apps/#comments

Similar Messages

USB Mic (static, robot sounds)

Only in the last month or so, I have been having problems with my usb mic(s). When I am using Ventrilo, Skype etc., after a while people say I sound like a robot and or get a ton of static. I have tried using different headsets, different usb ports etc etc., only to have it keep occuring.
Any ideas on what I can do? Is this a sound board going bad? Is it maybe something with 10.5.7?

This likely has to do with USB Clocking. Mac OS 10.5 is actually pretty bad with this. Have a read of this article and follow their recommendation for creating an aggregate audio device. Even if you have only one mic it sometimes seems to fix things:
http://www.macworld.com/article/138535/2009/02/audio_input.html
Message was edited by: CdaveC

USB mic static, robot noise after period of time

Hello everyone,
This is the original issue: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2166616?start=75&tstart=0
I have some answers (not solutions) for this issue and a response from Apple's engineers regarding the it.
After extensive testing, recording the audible issue, sending system captures to Apple and working with Tier 2 support - I've finally recieved a response that they are acknowledging there is a software problem within OS X. They initially told me this was likely hardware issue or third party problem but finally concluded they needed to fix Apple drivers.
HOWEVER - there is currently no timeline for this fix. In order to show Apple how important this problem is to us all there are 2 things you can do (please do BOTH):
1) Submit a bug report here: https://bugreport.apple.com
     - be very detailed!
     - the more bugs apple gets regarding this issue the higher they will prioritize a fix.
     - Apple DOES NOT monitor these forums and will not accept your complaining here as official report.
2) Call Applecare (if you have coverage) and report the issue.
     - Offer to send them a system capture (a small tool they will send to capture your system details etc.)
     - tell them about the many discussion on thier offical forums where they can get more info
     - offer to assist them in any way possible to have this problem further identified and fixed
Doing these things will help fix the issue faster. Please take 10-20 minutes of your day to do these things!
I can confirm that the issue hapenns on ANY Mac post-10.5.7 with virtually ANY (7 different brands tested) third party USB microphone.
I hope you will all take quick action and help apple solve this annoying problem.
Thanks and goodluck!

This likely has to do with USB Clocking. Mac OS 10.5 is actually pretty bad with this. Have a read of this article and follow their recommendation for creating an aggregate audio device. Even if you have only one mic it sometimes seems to fix things:
http://www.macworld.com/article/138535/2009/02/audio_input.html
Message was edited by: CdaveC

USB Mic Problems - Static/Echo/Weird Noises

When I am using my USB Mic (Tritton AX 720) is sometimes get static echos and weird noises. Its very sporadic it randomly comes and goes, I have tried a lot of combinations nothing works the static comes when it wants and leaves when it wants. Does anyone have any solutions?
Thanks a lot!

I'm having the exact same issue on two different Mac Pros with three different USB based headsets. It happens consistently with every single use, after about 45 minutes or so. In fact, almost 45 minutes on the dot.

Output sound distortion when USB Mic Connected

Hi everyone,
Really appreciate anyone’s help on this sound distortion problem.
I have been using the new 2014 iMac 27' for last 8 Months, bought Brand New, and recently updated to Yosemite. Everything worked fine including recording, until this update.
I'm using Blue Yeti USB Mic for recording, and few days after the update I was trying to record in GarageBand and the output sound (via headphone connected to USB MIc) started to distort and then suddenly dropped the bitrate/ sound and I could only hear some clicks. I reinstalled the GargeBand, still its the same distortion happens. The sound gets back to normal, only for few seconds, after I unplug the USB cable from the Mic device. And I tried changing the bit rate and again sounds starts to drop after few sec. This happens only when I connect the Blue Yeti USB Mic and sound output from the Mic itself. Same thing happens with iTunes as well. Output sound from Internal mic and speakers are working fine as normal.
I tried connecting the USB Mic to my Windows laptop and its working fine with the Cubase 5 without any problem. So the problem is with the output sound, when external Mic connected.
I don’t know the solution for this. Have checked on every single blog/ thread, sill couldn’t find the answer I’m looking for, to fix this.
It would be great if you have any kind of a solution for the same.
Info : FYI
Mac
OS X Yosemite: Version 10.10.2
iMac (27-inch, Late 2013)
Processor : 3.2 GHz Intel Core i5
Hard-drive : 1 TB SATA Disk
Ram: 8 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GT 755M 1024 MB
Built-in Output:
Default System Output Device:       Yes
Manufacturer:                                  Apple Inc.
Output Channels:                             2
Current SampleRate:                      48000
Transport:                                        Built-in
Yeti Stereo Microphone:
Default Input Device:                      Yes
Default Output Device:                    Yes
Input Channels:                               2
Manufacturer:                                 Blue Microphones
Output Channels:                            2
Current SampleRate:                      48000
Transport:

Nope. The larger buffer didn't work. What did work was running a cord out of the 1/4-inch jack from the direct box to a 1/4-to-1/8-inch adapter and then into the mic/line-in jack on my computer. I set GarageBand to use the built-in line-in and had no static problems. It's a stopgap until this gets fixed.
A post by LinuxMercedes on Oct. 3 at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8158914 may provide a solution.

Distortion with USB mic and Logic Pro/Garage Band

I have read a ton of posts, but I have yet to find an answer to this question. I have a USB mic that used to work wonderfully before upgrading to Leopard. When I make a recording now, it usually works well for about 5 minutes, and then out of nowhere I get horrible distortion. I have read that if I changed the frequency from 48000Hz to 44000Hz it would correct the problem. It seemed to work, but the problem keeps coming back. If I switch the microphone profile from built-in mic back to USB Mic in Preferences>Audio, it corrects the problem for a little while. It happens in Logic, Garageband and any other program that I try to record to.
I read in a Leopard update note that one of the past few upgrades was supposed to fix this issue, but it hasn't been fixed for me. Does anybody know of any solution to this problem? I would be greatly indebted to you!

Nope. The larger buffer didn't work. What did work was running a cord out of the 1/4-inch jack from the direct box to a 1/4-to-1/8-inch adapter and then into the mic/line-in jack on my computer. I set GarageBand to use the built-in line-in and had no static problems. It's a stopgap until this gets fixed.
A post by LinuxMercedes on Oct. 3 at http://discussions.apple.com/message.jspa?messageID=8158914 may provide a solution.

Crazy USB MIC

If it's not one thing with this mic, then it's something else. At first I could not get this USB mic to work at all. I finally set up an aggregate device. It was working fine for a few weeks. Now this thing is all messed up again. When I choose the aggregate device on the Logic Pro settings sometimes I don't hear any output at all from the mic. Other times when I use the mic I hear some crazy static going on throughout the whole recording. Not only that but the output sounds slower. There is an error message that keeps coming up too. It says that there is a problem between Logic Pro and an external device. Another error message keeps coming up every other time I use the mic. Is there a problem with the mic or is there a problem with Logic. Is there something I can do so that I'm there is no problem between Logic and the external device. Somebody please help me.

You might have a sample rate mismatch between your microphone and Logic:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1366300
https://tnttutorials.macprovideo.com/forum/logic/logic-pro-express&id=5532
Try setting them to be the same, like 44.1 for starters.

ZOOM H2 usb mic issues

I am having volume and intermittent static issues when trying to use a Zoom H2 recorder as a usb mic going directly into my macbook. In Garage band and the sound preferences the volume being registered is almost half of what the little H2 screen is registering. So what is recorded by GB is alot softer than the mic is picking up. Also there is intermittent pops of static in the GB recording.
My GB records using the built-in mic just fine and even line-in fine (other than the low volume for line-in).
when I use my H2 as a portable recorder it works great. no static and no volume issues but when usb to my macbook i have those issues.
I have the lasted version of H2 firmware.
Also if i up the mic gain on the H2 it reds out on the H2 screen but more volume with the distortions on GB.
any thoughts??

I'm having the same problems with my Zoom H2. Actually, it works well as a USB mic for about eight minutes, then it just sends static into the notebook. The static crops up in GarageBand and Skype.
I tried removing the batteries, switching the sampling rate, and installing the new firmware. Nothing worked.
Called Zoom today and they said they don't have the problem with their Macs. They told me to exchange the unit for another one and see if the problem persists.
The Zoom tech did mention that people have similar problems with PC USB ports that are underpowered. Similar, but not the same.
I have a Santa Rosa MBP, if that helps anything.
I'm going to exchange this recorder for a new one and hopefully that'll fix things.
I'll post here if it does.
Good luck.
P.S. I've also read of static problems with the Zoom USB mic. Perhaps a QC issue with Zoom? Or some strange incompatibility with certain Macs?

Using the firebox/ to record an external synth via audio outs and a USB Mic

I have the following set up:
firebox Firewired to the QuaD.
ALL audio in and out is PRESONUS FIREBOX
in GB prefs/sound/audio midi utility
will i be able to record vocals with the USB samson
and add
an external synth coming in to channels 1/2 in the front of the Firebox 1/2 channels
and ofcourse use GB as the recording studio and use this all together.
the outs in the back of the Firebox go to a minidisc whose audio outs go to monitors so that i can record what i do in case genius strikes me fiddling around
as we all do.
so 1 Firebox, Firewire, Samson Mic ( USB ) GB 08 , minidisc, monitors
with all drivers to PResonus together.
i notice in audio midi i needed to change to device not mac to rid static
Is this a plausible set up?
can this work:
The synth is taking up 1 real track ( i set monitor on and mono presonus track )
the samson mic is taking up another real track
can i hear record the synth and sing at the same time with them on both tracks
Chris said use aggregate in the midi audio
i do not understand how to do that and what that means?
would someone be kind enough to explain this?
please take it a step at a time.
i essentially want everything working at the same time
external synths/usb mics/Gband/external recording/monitors
using the presonus firebox
thanks for your time
bless u all
someone mentioned using aggregate in the audio midi utility.

Funny you should say that. It used to work fine, then suddenly last night it stopped working in the line-in jack. It's crazy, I'm not sure what the deal is, still trying to figure out what happened.
Cheers,
Jose

Two USB Mics at Once?

I would like to start a podcast using my MacBook and Garageband and was wondering if I could use two USB headsets with mics at once without needing anything extra?
Any help would be huge.

Yep, non-obvious but completely doable:
1. Plug in the two USB mics.
2. In the Applications > Utilities, launch Audio/MIDI Setup.
3. In the Audio menu of the Utility, select Open Aggregate Device Editor.
4. Click the plus sign to create an aggregate device.
5. In the lower box, select both USB mic AND the Built-In Audio.
6. Use the clock from the Built-In Audio, and check Resample next to both USB mics. This will synchronize all the clocks using the one associated with the internal audio.
7. Call the aggregate device whatever you want.
8. Now go to your System Preferences and select Sound.
9. Set the levels for each mic separately -- you can't set the levels using the aggregate.
10. Finally, in GarageBand, create a track for each mic, and select any Mono input (in the Track Info Details section) that happens to work.
I've occasionally had trouble where the signal gets static. Just make some changes in GarageBand, or unplug the mics to make it go away.

How to record a USB mic and a guitar at the same time?

I have an Audio-Technia AT-2020 USB mic and an Ovation acoustic/electric guitar. I wanted to record both of them at the same time, so i plugged the mic into the USB port (duh!) and the guitar into the 1/8" port on the computer (with a 1/4" to 1/8" adapter and a male/male headphone cable). However, when i went to select the inputs for the diffrent tracks, it was either one or the other. My question is, do you need an audio interface to be able to do multitrack recording? If so, could I use a USB hub, 1/8" to USB adapter, and plug both the guitar and mic to fool the computer into thinking i have an audio interface? I would rather not spend money on an audio interface ($200) and a new mic ($120) when i already have something that could work!
Thanks to anyone who can help!

beberhard14 wrote:
do you need an audio interface to be able to do multitrack recording?
create an aggregate device from the mic and line-IN:
http://www.bulletsandbones.com/GB/Tutorials.html#allaboutaggregatedevices
(Let the page FULLY load. The link to your answer is at the top of your screen)

Using usb mic with logic output stops

using usb mic with logic output stops

Aggregate devices are setup in the Audio/Midi setup of OSX Utilities, (Not in Logic). It gives you a way of having for than one audio i/o device. Once you have set up your aggregated devices in Audio/Midi, when you start Logic you will need to go into Audio preferences and choose the Aggregate device.

IMovie 10.0.5 crashes into millions of colored pixels when I add v/o narrative using Pages to read script from and using a USB mic attached to my iMac. I am running Mavericks OS X10.9.4

Hi, I have been editing a project for a week and over the past 2 days iMovie 10.0.5 has crashed into millions of colored pixels about 6 times. I am working on a 27" iMac running OS X 10.9.4 with 6GB of Ram, plenty of space on start up disc (217 GB's) The crash seems to coincide with any effort to use an external USB mic plugged in to record a narrative. I can record the voice over but a few minutes later I get some awful audio scrubbing sounds and then it pixelates. Why is this happening and how can I work around this to record a voiceover please? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm nervous to continue if my work is going to ultimately be lost. My project is currently about seventeen mins and includes, video clips from 2 different cameras (both Canon) a music track from iTunes and some still images (jpegs.)

Thanks Erik,
If nothing else, this huge list of updates and fixes, shows clearly that the Logic Dev team is working hard on fixing and improving LPX to a major degree.... and from the list of fixes done.. show they do read the bug reports submitted!
As an aside....
I recall how all the 'naysayers' prior to LPX (and in some cases, since...) were proclaiming how Logic was dead, the team was being disbanded, we won't see any further development, the Dev team doesn't listen or care... and so on....... I wonder where those people are now?

USB Mic won't show up in Drivers Menu

I just bought an Audio Technica 2020 USB microphone, and I can't get it to work with Logic Pro 7.2.3.
When I open up the audio/midi setup it is listed there, and it works with other programs, but it doesn't show up in the Driver drop-down list on the Drivers tab in Audio Preferences in Logic Pro.
I even tried setting up various aggregate devices, but none of these show up in Logic Pro. The only 2 things that show up are Built-in Input and Built-in Mic.
I've tried restarting Logic, restarting the computer, and nothing seems to help.
Does it make a difference if this is the academic version?
Please someone help!!!
Thanks,
Justin

In the Audio / Midi settings under the Audio menu, create an aggregate device one for the usb mic and one for the output. Then in your Logic pro settings in the core audio set the aggregate device as the default device.
Well that works LP 8 w/10.5.3
Message was edited by: Mac Pro 8core - x86

Cannot switch back to built-in output after connecting USB mic

I cannot get playback unless I plug back in my USB mic (Blue Yeti) on Mac OS X.
I get this notice:
"The selected audio device has no output channels."
I select Default Output to be "built in output" then go to Audio Channel Mapping tab and my output device is saying Yeti stereo microphone (not working).
It is obviously not working because it isn't plugged in. My question is why isnt it using my built in output when the mic is unplugged. Even through the Sound tab in system preferences my output is set to "built in"
I get playback through the mic when it's plugged in, but I need to be able to get playback through my built in output when the mic is not plugged in. Any ideas on this greatly appreciated.

Start out with these ! Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC) - Apple Support How to Reset NVRAM on your Mac - Apple Support if issue still persists look inside the audio jack see if the light is on.

USB Mic Static

Similar Messages

Maybe you are looking for