| DJ-1800 and Mac OS 10.4.11 on Intel Macs |
|
|
Using DJ-1800 on Mac OS 10.4.11 on Intel Macs |
|
We have had reports of an audio problem when using DJ-1800 on Mac OS 10.4.11 on an Intel Mac.
We have narrowed the problem down to the recent "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update for Tiger".
This page provides information about the problem, and how to fix the problem on your Mac.
|
The problem |
|
Playing a track in DJ-1800 results in crackles and dropouts in the playing audio.
|
What is the cause of the problem? |
|
This problem is caused by the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update for Tiger", rather than a bug in DJ-1800. This problem also affects other real-time audio applications, such as Apple's GarageBand.
|
When does this problem occur? |
This problem only occurs if:
- You are using Mac OS 10.4.11 on an Intel Mac
- You have installed the "AirPort Extreme Update 2008-001 for Tiger" software update from Apple
The problem is more pronounced if you are using DJ-1800 v3.0.2 and have Pitch Lock turned on. However, it is still present in v3.0.2 with Pitch Lock turned off, and in DJ-1800 v2.2.2, especially when playing several tracks at the same time.
|
How can I find out if I have the "AirPort Extreme 2008-001 Update" installed? |
|
If you are not using an Intel Mac running Mac OS 10.4.11, then you will not have this update installed and should not be experiencing this problem.
If you are using an Intel Mac running Mac OS 10.4.11, then you can use the following test to find out if you have the "AirPort Extreme 2008-001 Update" installed:
- Select "About This Mac" from the Apple menu, and click on "More Info..." in the "About This Mac" window. This will open the System Profiler application.
- In System Profiler's left-hand pane, click on "AirPort Card" under the "Network" heading. If it lists a "Wireless Card Firmware Version" higher than "1.1.9.3", then you will probably be experiencing this problem.
On a MacBook Pro here, the firmware version displayed by System Profiler was "1.3.5" with the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update" installed.
|
I use Mac OS 10.5 ("Leopard"). Will I experience this problem? |
|
No. This problem only affects Mac OS 10.4.11.
|
I use Mac OS 10.4.11 on a PowerPC Mac. Will I experience this problem? |
|
No. This problem only occurs on Intel Macs.
|
I haven't installed the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update for Tiger". Will I experience this problem? |
|
No. This problem only occurs once the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update for Tiger" has been installed. If you are using DJ-1800 on an Intel Mac running Mac OS 10.4.11, and you are prompted by Software Update to install the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update", then you should not install it.
|
How can I fix this problem? |
|
The simple (if temporary) fix to the problem is to turn off AirPort when using real-time audio software such as DJ-1800. You can do this from the AirPort menu in your Mac's menubar, by selecting "Turn AirPort Off". This gets rid of the crackles whilst AirPort is turned off.
A more complete fix is to revert back to an earlier version of the Airport Extreme firmware. The previous version was "AirPort Extreme Update 2007-004".
The instructions below describe one way to revert back to the previous firmware.
- Download the previous Airport Extreme Firmware package from Apple (it's called "AirPort Extreme Update 2007-004"). Don't do anything with the downloaded file (AirPortExtremeUpdate2007004.dmg) just yet.
- Download Pacifist 2.5.2 from the CharlesSoft web site. (Pacifist is a shareware application to restore files from older versions of software. It costs $20, but you don't have to register in order to do the restore described below.) Many thanks to Charles Srstka for making Pacifist available.
- Launch Pacifist.app. You'll have to wait 15 seconds for the trial timeout, then click on "Not Yet".
- Click on the "Open Package..." button, and select the AirPort Extreme update file (AirPortExtremeUpdate2007004.dmg).
- This will open the dmg in a window within Pacifist. Click on the twisty triangle to open "Contents of AirPortExtremeUpdate2007004.pkg", and keep expanding the triangles until you have expanded to "System > Library > Extensions > IO80211Family.kext".
- Highlight "IO80211Family.kext", and click on the "Install" icon at the top of the Pacifist window. You will be asked if you want to install IO80211Family.kext - click on the Install button to say "yes". (You should leave the "Use Administrator Privileges" box checked.)
- You will be asked to enter an administrator's password. Do so and click "OK".
- You will be prompted that "A file already exists at the following location" - click "Replace" to overwrite the existing file. This will happen several times - click "Replace" each time.
- You can now quit Pacifist.
- You must now open and run the AirPortExtremeUpdate2007004.pkg installer, and work through the installer as if you were installing the 2007-004 update for the first time. You need to do this step, even though you have effectively just installed the files using Pacifist.
- Restart your Mac.
After restarting, you should find that System Profiler reports a "Wireless Card Firmware Version" of "1.1.9.3". The crackles should now be gone! You should obviously not reinstall the "Airport Extreme 2008-001 Update" when you are subsequently prompted to do so by Software Update.
Please note that whilst these instructions have been tested here on several machines, we cannot accept any responsibility for any problems they may cause.
|
