There are a few factors that could contribute to pops, clicks and dropouts from a computer audio system. The following article addresses the most common causes when using the FA-66 on Mac OS X.
I. Buffer Size
The most common noise culprit is due to a buffer size issue. Be sure to check the Audio Buffer Size setting within the recording software that you are using. We recommend raising the buffer size to its maximum position in the software that you are currently working with.
Note: As each manufacturer's software differs from version to version, please refer to the software's current manual or online help for the proper buffer size adjustment procedure.
II. FA-66 Clock Setup
- Close down all software running.
- Connect the FA-66 to your computer and turn the unit on.
- In your Mac, open a Finder window and then select Applications.
- Open the Utilities folder and then select Audio MIDI Setup.
- If the Audio Devices window does not appear, click on “Window” in the top taskbar and then select “Show Audio Window”. The Audio Devices window will appear.
- On the left panel of the Audio Devices window, select “EDIROL (FA-66)”.
- Under “Clock Source”, select “Device”.
- Open up your software and test to see if the problem is resolved.
III. Sample Rate Mismatch
Be sure that the sample rate of the FA-66 matches the sample rate of your audio files and/or recording project in your software. If you need to change the FA-66’s sample rate, turn off the unit, switch the FA-66’s sample rate and then power the FA-66 back on.
Additional Troubleshooting:
- Try a different Firewire cable (if available) to rule out a faulty cable.
- Update Mac OS X.
- Test on different audio software. If the problem disappears then the issue is due to the audio software and not the FA-66. In this case, try updating the audio software's version and possibly contact the software manufacturer to troubleshoot the issue in their software.
- Test on a different Mac computer (if available) to rule out an issue with the original Mac--such as a faulty Firewire card.