Some macOS 10.12.4 users complaining of stuttering or distorted audio with USB headsets
Monday's macOS 10.12.4 update is resulting in stuttering audio for some users of USB headsets, according to multiple complaint threads on Apple's support forums and reports from social media.
The glitch doesn't appear to be linked to a single Mac model or headset brand, and many troubleshooting methods -- like resetting hardware or changing USB ports -- don't seem to work. People reporting the problem have noted that the issue isn't solved by a clean reinstall of macOS 10.12.4, and only seems to vanish after restoring to 10.12.3 or an earlier OS.
AppleInsider has been unable to replicate the issue in limited testing. It may be that only specific headset brands are affected, something supported by the fact that many of the complaints involve Plantronics gear. Testing continues across a variety of headsets and macOS hardware.
Some forum posters have speculated that there could be trouble with the audio drivers in 10.12.4. If so, Apple will likely have to prepare a follow-up update, with arrival dependent on how severe Apple considers the situation.
The macOS 10.12.4 update is intended to make a variety of minor improvements, most notably bringing Night Shift from iOS to the Mac for the first time. The feature "warms" display colors at night, in theory making it easier to go to sleep.
The update also includes new PDFKit APIs, cricket results in Siri, and more options in iCloud Analytics.
The glitch doesn't appear to be linked to a single Mac model or headset brand, and many troubleshooting methods -- like resetting hardware or changing USB ports -- don't seem to work. People reporting the problem have noted that the issue isn't solved by a clean reinstall of macOS 10.12.4, and only seems to vanish after restoring to 10.12.3 or an earlier OS.
AppleInsider has been unable to replicate the issue in limited testing. It may be that only specific headset brands are affected, something supported by the fact that many of the complaints involve Plantronics gear. Testing continues across a variety of headsets and macOS hardware.
Some forum posters have speculated that there could be trouble with the audio drivers in 10.12.4. If so, Apple will likely have to prepare a follow-up update, with arrival dependent on how severe Apple considers the situation.
The macOS 10.12.4 update is intended to make a variety of minor improvements, most notably bringing Night Shift from iOS to the Mac for the first time. The feature "warms" display colors at night, in theory making it easier to go to sleep.
The update also includes new PDFKit APIs, cricket results in Siri, and more options in iCloud Analytics.
Comments
Don't know if this helps anyone- I get stuttering for about 30-60 seconds when I have some kind of audio playing through the built in speakers and turn on bluetooth headphones. IIRC this doesn't happen if nothing is playing and I connect the BT headphones first.
It does go away though.
When I installed v10.12.4 beta:
1) My AudioEngine 2+ USB connected speakers stopped working. As part of this issue all audio-video content such as YouTube, CNN, iTunes, etc., would lock up when attempting to play. Selecting an alternate audio connection like the built-in headphone jack would unfreeze the video.
2) Some of my USB connected iDevices would not show up in iTunes.
I tried the usual reboot, resetting PRAM, etc., but the symptom would either not change or shift to a different issue, e.g., the speakers would com back but no all iDevices would show up.
The workaround for involved the Network connections in System Preferences. For some strange reason, and new to macOS 12.10.4 pretty much ALL of my iDevices (6) displayed a USB connection, like "iPhone USB," "iPad USB," and even "iPod USB." The last one makes no sense since an iPod cannot provide a hotspot. In fact, none of the devices that I have that can provide a hotspot have the hotspot enabled. But in any case none of these rogue connections have shown up prior so something is amiss. I then deleted each of these rogue connections but I had to do it one-by-one:
1) Select the rogue connection
2) Unplug the physical device corresponding to the connection
3) Hit the minus sign
4) Hit "Apply"
5) When you get a popup asking whether to reconnect the device connection, say "No"
6) Repeat for every rogue connection
For some reason, if you simply delete all of the rogue connections and then bulk Apply explicitly or by closing the form the rogue connections show up again. If everything works all of the rogue connections will be gone when you close the Network form and open it again.
7) Plug in the physical devices
8) Reboot without clearing PRAM (normal reboot)
After I rebooted my USB speakers returned to life and all of my iDevices show up in iTunes.
Your results may vary but it took me a while to come across this workaround and it seems to be holding. It's almost as if the OS's USB driver is running out of connection resources by creating these rogue/bogus USB connections. The first sign of something being wrong on my system was some iDevices not showing up in iTunes. If I unplugged one device that it saw then it would find the missing one but it would never find all devices unless it whacked some other device, like my speakers, off the USB connection list. That's what leads me to believe the USB driver is running out of resources at a fairly small number. Just a guess.
I am one of the users to have reported the issue (see https://discussions.apple.com/message/31570200?ac_cid=op123456#31570200)
To date, users have experienced the same issue with the following makes of USB headsets:
I think the Plantronics might be over-represented simply because there are a popular make.
As far as I know, macOS uses a generic OS driver for all the USB audio devices (which is why most devices just work when you plug them in, or at least, they use to work).
Some technical info at https://developer.apple.com/library/content/technotes/tn2274/_index.html
I just tried a Plantronics USB headset/mic combo that was a gimme with Dragon Dictate years ago and they work just fine on my USB 3 hub.
However the other night I noticed that when streaming from my Mac to my Apple TV using AirPlay the streaming Mac went to sleep (display) and became unresponsive to wired Keyboard, wireless trackpad (Bluetooth) to awaken. I had to do a hard reboot to get the screen up.
Who is doing Quality Control at Apple- especially on the Mac?
Maybe the problem is the hub you are using or the USB port you are connected to. The performance is the same on all my Macs from a Mac Pro tower (3rd party USB Card) to a Mac Pro 13" Retina to a Mac mini.
I onter words you are not doing service at all except providing non-constructive PC supression. Just stop doing this.
Trying to Google a solution is what brought me here.
- Reset SMC and PRAM
- Tried on multiple Macs
- Unplugged all devices, did hard restart
- plugged in only headset, using multiple USB ports
- Downloaded and played with Plantronics Hub, their utility, but it doesn't even recognize the plugged-in headset, so there nothing to access in the utility.
- Had Plantronics even send me a new replacement headset (same 655), but identical stuttering issue.
- Downgraded one Mac to 10.12.3 and this headset works fine.
I have 4 other headset and headphones, all different manufacturers, all which work fine. Currently the only problem is with this brand new Plantronics headset.If anyone has a file or .plist to delete, I'm game.
I get choppy sound when plugged in to the back of my iMac, but it works fine again if it's plugged into the wired apple keyboard.
Weird. Hope it gets fixed soon!