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Pops and clicks on MBP


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Hey Louis, sorry to hear that! A shot in the dark, really, but...

 

Have you tried disconnecting the speakers and using the built-in speakers or headphones for a while? You know, to rule out your speakers.

 

I did some testing and determined the real problem in the audio chain responsible for the unwanted noises I experience. It's my Apple MacBook Pro (Unibody, late 2009) which generates those noises or is VERY sensitive to any voltage peaks on the line voltage and transmits it over the built-in audio jack! I tried it with several non-Apple audio sources (connected to line voltage) and played back some music - no noises at all!

 

I guess I'll have to get some firewire/usb audio device for my MBP as I've gotten no result with apple support on this problem (a classic...)!

 

Thanks David!

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I seem to get random pops and clicks everywhere in OSX using my Built-in audio MBP (late 2009 unibody) card with small computer monitors. Quicktime, Itunes, firefox, etc... Anyone had this?

 

I am actually having a similar problem since adding some equipment and using the audio output of the mac.

 

I will try and remember to post back if I figure this out.

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Hey Louis, sorry to hear that! A shot in the dark, really, but...

 

Have you tried disconnecting the speakers and using the built-in speakers or headphones for a while? You know, to rule out your speakers.

 

I did some testing and determined the real problem in the audio chain responsible for the unwanted noises I experience. It's my Apple MacBook Pro (Unibody, late 2009) which generates those noises or is VERY sensitive to any voltage peaks on the line voltage and transmits it over the built-in audio jack! I tried it with several non-Apple audio sources (connected to line voltage) and played back some music - no noises at all!

 

I guess I'll have to get some firewire/usb audio device for my MBP as I've gotten no result with apple support on this problem (a classic...)!

 

Thanks David!

 

For what its worth. I have a Unibody MBP which I normally use with a Fireface 400 via an 800 ---> 400 FW adapter.

 

I do also use the audio output for general stuff but have also used it (reluctantly) as a feed to some near field monitors for moderately critical listening. To be honest, the output is pretty reasonable. No expense had been made to make it a professionally acceptable audio output, but it's reasonable. I owned the previous Macbook Pro and felt about the same.

 

In all the times I have used both machines, I have never heard any unexpected noises or corruption in the audio output so i'm suspecting it might be a problem relative to your own machine.

 

A long shot. Considering the audio port is basically a small hole in the side of our portable computers, it wouldn't be unusual for it to have some crap inside there that is creating a bad join with your mini-jack connector. Either that, or there is some crap related corruption to the connection in there. Who knows.. Cheap mini-jack connectors are often an issue so it might be worth stuffing a quality connector in there to see if you can reproduce the issue (good headphones?)

 

Considering the price of an audio interface these days, it's probably a reasonable way out of your problem.. Best of luck

 

Regards. Rimmer

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Well, so far My issue seems to be with the crappy stereo cable that came with the MSC1 unit I recently purchased. Due to circumstances, I was forced to use that cable and connect it to the headphone out of the macbook.

 

That is when all the pops and clicks started. Seeing this post made me realized I needed to do something about it. Luckily, a software update for my audio interface now allows me to run the Liquid mix through my Presonus firestudio Project and I no longer have to use the headphone out of the Mac.

 

So I am thinking because the cable was of such poor quality that I was experiencing a static discharge. In fact, I have used other similar cable with the headphone jack will no problems.

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For what its worth. I have a Unibody MBP which I normally use with a Fireface 400 via an 800 ---> 400 FW adapter.

 

I do also use the audio output for general stuff but have also used it (reluctantly) as a feed to some near field monitors for moderately critical listening. To be honest, the output is pretty reasonable. No expense had been made to make it a professionally acceptable audio output, but it's reasonable. I owned the previous Macbook Pro and felt about the same.

 

In all the times I have used both machines, I have never heard any unexpected noises or corruption in the audio output so i'm suspecting it might be a problem relative to your own machine.

 

A long shot. Considering the audio port is basically a small hole in the side of our portable computers, it wouldn't be unusual for it to have some crap inside there that is creating a bad join with your mini-jack connector. Either that, or there is some crap related corruption to the connection in there. Who knows.. Cheap mini-jack connectors are often an issue so it might be worth stuffing a quality connector in there to see if you can reproduce the issue (good headphones?)

 

Considering the price of an audio interface these days, it's probably a reasonable way out of your problem.. Best of luck

 

Regards. Rimmer

 

I will try with another jack connector along with a little clean of the output port on the MBP and see if it solves the problem. But the RCA to 1/8 jack I use is the one that came with a decent pair of monitors and seems to be of good quality, but now I doubt...I'll post back the results. Thanks :)

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So I cleaned up the output (cleaned it with alcool à friction "rubbing alcohol??"), and the 1/8 connector and this seemed to have done the job. But I still had at very rare occasions a click.

So I unplugged a lot of useless stuff in the room, bought a power-bar (I needed one anyways) with a voltage "regulator?" (pardon me I'm not so sure if that's the term in English) and I haven't heard one click yet.

All this for a laptop...:roll:

 

Thanks a lot guys for the ideas! It was a real bummer. :)

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