Mac USB Audio Woes: M-Audio Says Avoid the Left-hand USB Port?

[Sound Unsound Bot]

Is your MacBook Pro a rightie?

Something’s going on with the one or two left-hand USB ports on all MacBook Pros. I’ve heard some issues with hard disks, and now some problems with audio. The solution: use the right-hand USB port.

M-Audio (now Avid) has gone as far as to tell its customers to avoid the use of that port for audio entirely. Via [Only registered and activated users can remove adverts and see links. ] :

The use of USB Audio Devices on the Left-Hand USB Port Is Not Recommended. This applies to ALL MacBook Pro Models (Core Duo and Core 2 Duo).

• The 15" MacBook Pro models have 1 USB port on the left side, and one USB port on the right side.
• The 17" MacBook Pro models have 2 USB ports on the left side, and one USB port on the right side.

Due to the current USB configuration of the 15" MacBook Pro under OS X, use of USB audio devices is supported on the right-hand USB port only. Use of such devices on the left-hand USB port(s) is not advised because it may cause audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok on the left-hand port has been qualified and is fully supported.

Due to the current USB configuration of the 17" MacBook Pro under OS X, use of USB audio devices is only supported on the right-hand USB port, and the left-hand USB port farthest from the screen. Use of such devices on the left-hand USB port closest to the screen is not advised because it may cause audio interrupts and/or dropped samples. However, the use of an iLok on the left-hand port has been qualified and is fully supported.

These USB port recommendations are specific to USB Audio devices only (such as the FastTrack USB or Audiophile USB). USB Keyboard and Control Surface products do not have a recommended USB port at this time.

[Only registered and activated users can remove adverts and see links. ]

That’s got to be a tough technical advisory to issue, like having to tell your users they should turn around in their chair three times counter-clockwise and shout “Mimmymabby” before recording. But I’ve heard indications that devices other than M-Audio’s are seeing symptoms, so I’m inclined to believe there may be something to this.

Now, before you use this to assume this means FireWire is better than USB or PCs are better than Macs or veganism is better for your love life or the end times are upon us, there’s actually no evidence of any of that. (Or, erm, at least not the first two.) What I’d like to know is why this is or specifically what the symptom / result may be – if anyone has a guess to that, I’d love to hear it. I haven’t noticed any difference with the multiple USB ports on my non-Pro MacBooks or PCs, and any issues I’ve had with any of them under any OS I have found were related to drivers. This is apparently a physical, logic board issue, which is very unusual.

Actually, as I think about it, maybe this means your Mac is a leftie, and assumes more creative left-handed people will plug a mouse into the left-hand side, using the right-hand side for audio.

I’ve got nothing, folks. I think the sad truth of it is, even Apple with a significant amount of control over hardware and OS seems unable to ensure quality for music production all the time, and that’s really disheartening.