Korg Forums

Hi all,
I'm new here.

When I connect the Kronos (ver. 2.1.2) to a MacBook Pro (15" Retina, OS 10.9.5) via USB and use the audio signal coming from there, I get random bursts of noise, heavily distorted sound and glitches.
I use both Logic 9 and Pro Tools 10 and setting the session at 48kHz doesn't fix the problem, nor does changing the buffer settings. Any ideas? Has this already happened to anybody else?
My audio interface is an Mbox Pro 3rd gen., but I experience the same problem also without it (using the built-in internal speakers).

Thanks

Try setting the kronos to be re sampled in the mac audio settings.
It will show the "drift" box ticked.

Or set up an aggregate device....and do the same there for the kronos.

pedro5 wrote:Try setting the kronos to be re sampled in the mac audio settings.
It will show the "drift" box ticked.

Or set up an aggregate device....and do the same there for the kronos.

Hi pedro5, thanks for your reply.
I already tried messing with the "drift" checkbox/Pro Tools Aggregate I/O settings, but it still didn't help!

Try avoiding the aggregate device altogether. Meaning, when you're using the K as audio device, also monitor through it.

SanderXpander wrote:Try avoiding the aggregate device altogether. Meaning, when you're using the K as audio device, also monitor through it.

Hi SanderXpander,
I tried setting the Kronos as Input+Output Device in Logic and (with a higher buffer size) the noises weren't there anymore.
But this way I got the current sound mixed with the monitoring signal when recording and there's no way to record the sound solo unless muting the other tracks.
Bypassing the audio interface is not ideal if you need to record other sources (especially in Pro Tools, where you need to close and open the software again everytime you want to change the interface).
I know I can always use the analog output of the Kronos (and it probably sounds better), but it would be nice to take advantage of the digital signal option sometimes. Just don't understand why it shouldn't work for me.

I had some problems with the aggregate device at one point with both my imacs,until I applied the re-sample method mentioned.
Not sure if it's possible to re-sample more than one device,but perhaps worth checking.

Also found that the bit rate for the imac works well left at the default 32bit float,even though the kronos is fixed at 24 bit.
The sample rate needs to be the same for all,though (I prefer 48000Hz for everything, personally).

Not sure if this is the same thing but I have a laptop connected to my Kronos USB. I get noise when moving the mouse or when the computer is accessing the hard drive. I put a ground lift adapter on the computer and it went away.

Geo

Forgot to mention that the imac microphone is muted in the audio midi setting.
Also,in my case, when using the aggregate device set up,it is shown in the system preferences applet for both input and output when everything is on etc.
(This should alter automatically,but sometimes doesn't).

As a quick check for setting up,try using the free "audacity" software to record the audio.

beurre wrote:

SanderXpander wrote:Try avoiding the aggregate device altogether. Meaning, when you're using the K as audio device, also monitor through it.

Hi SanderXpander,
I tried setting the Kronos as Input+Output Device in Logic and (with a higher buffer size) the noises weren't there anymore.
But this way I got the current sound mixed with the monitoring signal when recording and there's no way to record the sound solo unless muting the other tracks.
Bypassing the audio interface is not ideal if you need to record other sources (especially in Pro Tools, where you need to close and open the software again everytime you want to change the interface).
I know I can always use the analog output of the Kronos (and it probably sounds better), but it would be nice to take advantage of the digital signal option sometimes. Just don't understand why it shouldn't work for me.

I realize this but there have been problems with aggregate devices before and in general I don't think the system is as stable as Apple claims. Now you at least know that the Kronos works fine. For serious music production, I would recommend buying an audio interface. If you're concerned about the digital connection, get one with an optical input.

Have you updated the Mbox ?

If you haven't recently,do visit their website and have a look.


The following may not help you directly..... just my thoughts.

While it is desired to keep audio within the digital domain for recording,the kronos provides an excellent healthy output via usb for most programmes.
Also,the audio outputs are quite useable as well and can produce acceptable results.

A number of iMac users,including myself, have had serious problems with audio recording,especially using mavericks,with the aggregate device settings being awkward to set up.
( I've decided to stay with mountain lion as it works just fine).
However,during the past few months things have improved dramatically for me,having had horrendous usb audio recording difficulties since using a newer imac(late 2013) with the kronos.
The kronos worked ok with a pc,plus the older imac(to a degree) and was also confirmed to be working correctly by the service centre,during a repair for something else.

As two of the usb3 ports on the new iMac had stopped working and while I was about to prepare a demo video of the problems with the audio recording using the kronos…to my surprise everything worked as it should…..no clipping,no distortion,no harsh screeching noises etc.
Don't know how or why that happened,but the reasons are no longer an issue……I'm happy that it works.

I have since had the iMac repaired,(they replaced the logic board) and it continues to work correctly, together with recent adjustments to the aggregate device settings I mentioned earlier, my usb audio recordings are wonderful,including a pa900 that's fed through the kronos etc.
(I'm talking about the technical quality….not the composition… ).

So,it could be that the later iMacs can have usb port problems and become intermittently faulty (or even fail completely) which can be difficult to detect initially.
(Other users have had problems with connecting external hard drives to the usb3 ports).
I'm not suggesting that this applies in your case,as you don't actually have an imac model,but it's worth bearing in mind,especially when all else fails.

Best Wishes.

geoelectro wrote:I put a ground lift adapter on the computer and it went away.

Geo

Hi Geo,
also tried with the ground lift but nothing changes.

Thanks for your contribution.

Speaking in general, it is not recommended to hook up audio interfaces to USB3 ports. The standard has changed just enough that some low level operations are different which may (or may not) interfere with stable low latency audio performance. This goes for any audio interface, not just the Kronos.

Thanks SanderXpander.

Very important points indeed.

The workaround for this is to connect usb audio devices via an usb2 hub,which will configure the usb3 port accordingly.

pedro5 wrote:Forgot to mention that the imac microphone is muted in the audio midi setting.
Also,in my case, when using the aggregate device set up,it is shown in the system preferences applet for both input and output when everything is on etc.
(This should alter automatically,but sometimes doesn't).

As a quick check for setting up,try using the free "audacity" software to record the audio.

Hi pedro5,
I get the noise with or without using the aggregate device option, as well as with or without external interface.
I checked with an audio editor (Audition) and a demo version of Ableton Live and still get that problem.

I also checked with an old M-Audio Firewire 400.
I connected the Kronos via optical s/pdif and the signal is fine (after setting the clock at 48kHz).
Unfortunately I'm still getting the noises when using the USB audio signal.

pedro5 wrote:Have you updated the Mbox ?

Yes, the Mbox is up to date.

A brief note:
I also changed the usb port and, although this seemed to solve the problem initially, the problem showed up again.

I'm going to check with another macbook (same OS version) now.

What do you mean by changed the usb port ?

Just to be clear....
You have tried different usb cables ?....yes.

Also,muted the microphone on the mac ?

Does the input and output applet (system preferences) actually correspond to what you have selected elsewhere ?
eg- If using aggregate devices....does it display them correctly ?

Using an alternative computer could help,as long as you use exactly the same set up,hardware and cables etc.