Rendering issue - audio interface beeps during render - M1 Max Macbook Pro

[eneratejosh]

Every time i render on my MacBook Pro M1 Max I'm having an issue where my audio interface is LOUDLY beeping through the left channel sporadically throughout the render. Only way to stop it is to uplug the audio interface.

It's incredibly annoying, and bad for my studio monitor speakers. Anyone come across this? Thanks for your help!

Specs:

Adobe Media Encoder v22.0 (Build 107)

M1 Max Macbook Pro 2021, 64 GB Ram

MacOS Monterey 12.2.1

Audio Interface: Motu 808x Thunderbolt

#audio #beep #render #adobemediaencoder

[Sumeet Kumar Choubey]

Hi eneratejosh,

We're sorry to hear about this. Is this also happening with other Adobe apps (like Premiere Pro or After Effects)? Also, have you tried running the app in Rosetta mode & checked if it's exporting properly?

Thanks,

Sumeet

[eneratejosh]

Sorry for the late reply! I can confirm that in most recent versions of Adobe video products this is still happening...

I've been doing some research and I believe it must be a MOTU + Adobe Render Engine interaction.

Whenever I render out of After Effects / Premiere Pro / Media Encoder on my M1Max Macbook Pro (specs below) The audio cuts out and i get pops and clicks - if i'm lucky this is all that happens - sometimes whilst rendering it lets out a MAXIMUM VOLUME digital squeal - fkn nightmare for my studio monitor speakers (and my ears).

It seems to be some kind of a clocking issue, because as soon as i switch my interface from 48khz to 44.1 and back again it's absolutely fine.

So it's like every time the Adobe render engine runs it tries to force motu interface hardware to Adobe's sample rate or something. anyway I'm so over it.

Worth noting this never ever happened on my previous mac (iMac Pro 2017 - Intel Xeon). And this has actually made me avoid using my new notebook for years!

I realise this is an ancient post - I'm so sorry for the late reply.

Macbook Pro M1Max 16" 64GB Memory (2021)
Motu 828x (Thunderbolt 2 via Thunderbolt 3 adapter)
Adobe After Effects ()
Adobe Premiere Pro (version 24.0.0)
Adone Media Encoder (version 24.0)

[eneratejosh]

To clarify - the render out of aftereffects/premiere/media encoder is absolutely fine - it's the audio coming directly from the audio interface which stutters and beeps and doesn't stop until i switch the sample rate on the audio interface and unplug. only ever happens when rendering with adobe products.

[EckiAME]

Sorry for your issues. Asking our audio experts…

[eneratejosh]

Thankyou @EckiAME 🙂

I also found this reddit post around simular issues:
https://www.reddit.com/r/AfterEffects/comments/rb2jo8/media_encoder_make_my_sound_crackle_stutter_wh...

[mstegner]

Can you please post screen shots of “Preferences>Audio Hardware…” for both AME and Premiere (and After Effects also if it is also having issues) se was have a baseline of how you have all the different applications set up.  With out this information we cannot begin to move forward on trouble shooting or attempting a fix.

Thanks,

Matt

[eneratejosh]

Thanks @mstegner here are the audio hardware prefs for all apps.

I find it most commonly happens in After Effects. And sometimes happens in Premiere Pro and Media Encoder.

[mstegner]

Thanks, that is incredibly helpful.  I'm waiting to get access to the hardware so I can't test this yet, but all the screen shots you posted look normal.

Could you post one additional screen shot of Audio MIDI Setup.app, with the MOTU 828X selected?

[eneratejosh]

Amazing, thanks so much for looking into this @mstegner . Here is the Audio MIDI setup app

Thanks,

[eneratejosh]

Amazing, thanks so much for looking into this @mstegner . Here is the Audio MIDI setup app

Thanks,

[mstegner]

Ok, thanks.  Nothing looks out of the ordinary there.  I will be getting the hardware soon and will investigate.

[eneratejosh]

Thanks mate! Much appricated!

[eneratejosh]

Hi @mstegner just checking in to see if there was any movement here? Or are you still awaiting hardware?

Thanks again, 
Cheers,
Josh

[eneratejosh]

Hi @mstegner wondering if there's any update here?

This probelm is still driving me crazy, as i have to remember to manually turn off my speakers before hitting render.

I've attached 2 videos below so you can hear exactly what is going on with the audio when rendering. as stated, this happens when rendering from Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Media Encoder. 

Would love an update if there is one, thanks so much for your help!

[mstegner]

Hi,

I’ve been trying to investigate this afternoon.  On an M1 Mac mini, running Mac OS 14, I cannot get the MOTU 828 working at all with thunderbolt.  Similar to you I’m using an Apple Thunderbolt 2 to 3 adapter.  I’ve tried getting it working for a few hours now and it will into work to output clear audio at all, even outside of any Adobe software.  So I’m at a bit of a dead end.  ALL audio coming from the 828x on this test system is stuttering badly, and un-usable.

I did try using the 828x USB connection with the same computer, and it seems to be working just fine.  I can cleanly hear audio, and rendering does not have any side effects.

I know this is probably not super helpful for you though. Could you try using the USB connection for the 828 and see if that eliminates your issue?

-Matt

[eneratejosh]

Hi Matt,

Thanks so much for testing, and for the update. Really appriciate it.

Hmm that's so odd. Maybe it's something to do with MacOS 14 where i'm on 12.6 (Limited OS upgrade capacity because of my ProTools system at the moment - working on rectifying this so I can upgrade OS).

I'll try via USB and see if that sorts it. It'll still be through some kind of adapter because I have limited ports on my MacBook Pro M1Max ( all thunderbolt3) I do definately prefer using interface via thunderbolt due to microphone latency - 50% of my work is straight up audio.

Looking to potentially upgrade to a UAD apollo (thunderbolt 3) but that wont be for a while because $.

I'll test connection via USB and get back to you.

Thanks again for your help!!

[mstegner]

Yes, let me know if USB works or not, it is good to collect enough data.

[eneratejosh]

Hi @mstegner.
Sorry I dropped off here. Still trying to work out this issue though! I tried it over usb but the interface apparently doesn't work over usb on Apple Silicone Macs. It works via thunderbolt only... i tried usb anyway - the OS recognises there is a usb device there, but no communication audio wise.

I've tried everything here - i guess it's just a matter of saving up for a new audio interface 😞 thanks for your help though.