clicky playback in Audacity when other apps open [SOLVED]

Audacity Help Forum macOS
1

Hello,
I am having difficulty running Audacity while other apps like Finale or Pro Tools are open (but not running - I’m not trying to play audio from two applications simultaneously). Audacity plays but it sounds “crackly” with tons of clicks and pops. I imagine it has something to do with problems sharing the hardware device. I don’t think this is a sample rate issue, the audio is not slow or fast.

I just upgraded to Yosemite and Audacity 2.1.0. This was not an issue for me in Mountain Lion, I’m not sure what version of Audacity.

I am using an MBox Pro.

Can you help me with any ideas to fix this, or reasons why this is happening now? I notice my device info is a mess with a lot of devices including the mbox, see below.

Thank you,
Jim

==============================
Default recording device number: 4
Default playback device number: 4
==============================
Device ID: 0
Device name: Built-in Microphone
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.001995
Low Playback Latency: 0.010000
High Recording Latency: 0.012154
High Playback Latency: 0.100000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 1
Device name: Built-in Input
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 2
Playback channels: 0
Low Recording Latency: 0.001995
Low Playback Latency: 0.010000
High Recording Latency: 0.012154
High Playback Latency: 0.100000
Supported Rates:
==============================
Device ID: 2
Device name: Built-in Output
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 0
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.010000
Low Playback Latency: 0.004292
High Recording Latency: 0.100000
High Playback Latency: 0.008958
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 3
Device name: Pro Tools Aggregate I/O
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 4
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.010000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005079
High Recording Latency: 0.100000
High Playback Latency: 0.015238
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 4
Device name: Mbox Pro
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 8
Playback channels: 8
Low Recording Latency: 0.010000
Low Playback Latency: 0.002698
High Recording Latency: 0.100000
High Playback Latency: 0.007365
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Device ID: 5
Device name: Aggregate Device
Host name: Core Audio
Recording channels: 4
Playback channels: 2
Low Recording Latency: 0.010000
Low Playback Latency: 0.005079
High Recording Latency: 0.100000
High Playback Latency: 0.015238
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Selected recording device: 4 - Mbox Pro
Selected playback device: 4 - Mbox Pro
Supported Rates:
    8000
    9600
    11025
    12000
    15000
    16000
    22050
    24000
    32000
    44100
    48000
    88200
    96000
    176400
    192000
    352800
    384000
==============================
Available mixers:
==============================
Available recording sources:
==============================
Available playback volumes:
0 - PCM
==============================
Recording volume is emulated
Playback volume is emulated
2

Audacity does not explicitly support MBox - it is really meant for use with ProTools.

Have you tried Audacity > Preferences… then the “Recording” section then reduce Audio to Buffer to 0 milliseconds? If audio breaks up or does not play, increase the buffer in 10 ms increments until it does play. That setting affects playback too.


Gale

3

Gale,
Wow, a 20 millisecond buffer works great. It sounds beautiful now. Problem solved, it is greatly appreciated.
AWESOME!!!

Thank you so much for your help,
Jim