Macbook Pro-Dac skipping problem±

I'm thinking that it is perhaps a driver issue. Have you checked with Chord that you have latest driver for your DAC?

Otherwise check that the Macbook isin't busy trying to do stuff in the background. Look at the activity monitor for any processes that might be hogging the cpu or memory. Check your console log for weird stuff going on, too. Audio processing is pretty trivial for modern computers, but if it is given very low priority compared to other things, your computer could still be pausing it to get on with what it thinks are more important tasks.

As winky says, the MBP background processes can cause this. I strongly recommend installing Audirvana+. Run it in hog-mode and your problems should disappear. You can run it solo or integrated with iTunes, and you can trial it before buying. The greatest gain though will be in sound quality ; it is very good.

Jan

I would push audio through something like bitperfect. 6 quid on the app store.

BitPerfect is a very good in iTunes. But (if I'm not mistaken) it doesn't disable Spotlight, Time Machine and Detection of iDevices on USB, which Audirvana does (Hog Mode, sort of).

Jan

Audirvana+ is excellent. I currently use Amarra because it can be used with iRC room correction software (which is the biggest single upgrade I think I've made recently). This has an inbuilt buffer; maybe Audirvana does too? A buffer certainly helps avoid problems with computer processes interfering with music delivery.

Another vote for Audirvana+. It works very well indeed.

+2

Audivarna Plus has great SQ and is a well thought though piece of software for working around the issues in Mac OS regarding audio.

If you decide to trial it, I wold recommend allocating as much  RAM to AV+ which doesn't cause Mac OS to use memory swaps (Activity Viewsr will show whether memory swaps are being used).  In this way Mac OS can go about it's other essential tasks with the remaining unhogged RAM without needing to use the HDD or SSD to make up the shortfall.

I would also use Disk Utility on the MBP to check and repair the HDD/SSD a well as permissions straight away as this may resolve your current issue.  Ideally you would do this from the Mac OS Recovery Partition (Command R when're starting the. MBP.

HTH

Jude

The memory 'load' may be the reason for the skipping and is the reason I use a dedicated MacMini for the iTunes/ Audirvarna only. No other software, email, Time Machine etc.

I've never got even a 5 year old mini to skip on a dac, even with Plex and Transmission running in the background. 

Its not a memory load issues what ever it is. I fancy the dac.

Agree that it is something to do with the MBP or the DAC.

The easiest check would be to use try another  Mac and see if the issue  is still there.

If this not possible, I would check that the MBP's Mac OS is working OK (doing a basic check of  the file system as mentioned earlier is good enough for that), assuming that it is a fairly standard configuration/set up of the MBP.  

If the issue still persists then it could be a hardware issue on the MBP ( a local Apple store or authorised reseller could do this for you).  If the issue still exists it's the DAC.

As @ Wat infers it would also be good to know more about the precise set up of the MBP.

J

Yeah, the Hog mode on BitPerfect isn't too intrusive. I'd recommend BP. Cheaper than the others.

Audirvana sounded great but  it skipped constantly . Finally gave up

Thanks all for your comments and advice..Ive been away for the weekend so haven't had a chance to explore possible cures yet but hopefully will be able to tonight!

James

Hi again,

It has been a few days now after i have installed Bitperfect, and alas this has not helped my issue. i still get sporadic crackling/skipping/music stopping. It is so annoying! Listened to Billy Joel last night..A particular song skipped, so i started it again and it stopped skipping...i liken it to a scratched cd...It will only happen every now and again..Maybe one in every 8-10 songs.

I can't understand it...I have a high end dad (relatively speaking), a high end macbook and am connecting it with its advised connector (supplied usb cabe) and i am still having issues!

As mentioned before..All files are Aiff and i am using iTunes with Bitperfect in the background.

Can anyone help? Is there anything else i can use other than usb that will sound as good and eliminate this issue?

Thanks!

James

Are there any other USB devices connected besides the DAC?

Might be the externald drive or the connecting bus. Try copying some of your music to the local drive on the MacBook and play it from there. See if that helps.

Really strange. Have you tried a full re-install of iTunes? What about the OS?

I wouldn't be fingering the mac here. Does the dac work with other things?

Swap the optical cable to see if there is a defect -- happens to the best of 'em.

Right...Samsung Windows laptop doing the same thing, but worse actually..i.e. more frequently.

Changed usb cable to be sure...So it has to be the Chord Dac unfortunately...Its the only thing i can think of...

Ill give them a buzz!

Thanks for the responses..

James