Quiet Your Noisy G5 Mac Audio Output
This was news to me, so I assume it'll be news to others. I've been living, teeth clenched, with the noisy audio output on my G5 Mac since I bought it a few years ago. Apparently the knowledge of how the quiet the durn thing down has been around since 2003, but I'd never found it, despite a few "I can't stand it any more!" Google searches. And apparently it was also news to Electronic Musician, because I came across the fix in their May, 2007 issue.
The problem is this: despite the G5's wonderful suitability as an audio platform, its analog audio output can produce a LOT of background noise - and it's ugly noise, to boot (the digital audio output is fine). When I first heard this crap coming up through my mixer, my first instinct was, of course, to blame my Wintel PC - that's how ugly this noise is. But lo and behold it was the Mac. Kind of like reflexively blaming the cat, and this one time it turns out to be the dog.
Anyway, it turns out there's an easy and free fix (requires OS 10.4.3 or higher):
- Go to developer.apple.com/tools/download/
- Click the link for " Computer Hardware Understanding Development (CHUD) Tools version 4.4.4" to download the CHUD tools. If you want to go straight to the download, click here.
- Double-click the DMG file to mount the disk image, then double-click the CHUD pkg file to install the CHUD tools.
- You should get a new Processor item in your System Preferences panel:
- Click the processor item and, in the next panel that appears, de-select the Allow Nap checkbox:
Voila! The noise is gone! I'd be happy, if I weren't so mad about the last three or so years.
Some notes: The Electronic Musician piece, a sidebar in a review of the Mackie Onyx Satellite written by Rusty McCutchin, links the noise to the connection of a Firewire audio interface. I had the problem with just Firewire drives connected, and no Firewire audio interface (I was using a pre-Firewire TC Electronic Gold Channel, connected by lightpipe). And McCutchin cites an artice at xlr8yourmac.com for more information - dating back to 2003!
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Half way there for me --- CHUD "nap off" killed an annoying scratchy capacitor dying kind of background noise for me but now if I move the mouse, or type then i can hear clicks, squelches etc --- but do now have the music off and the external speaker up loudish.
FYI -- using OSX 10.3.9 on my G5 1.6 I found a copy of CHUD 4.3.3 worked OK.
Note, this fix doesn't work with Intel Macs. Nope. Their dialog box doesn't offer an "Allow Nap" checkbox.
Note, this fix doesn't work with Intel Macs. Nope. Their dialog box doesn't offer an "Allow Nap" checkbox.
Okay, so I found and downloaded the version recommended here (4.4.4) and got the Processor panel, followed the instructions, and no difference.Crap. I was all excited there. But my outputs are still a squeaky, chirpy, noisy mess.
The current version of thie CHUD is 4.5.0, and I just installed it on my INtel Mac and NO Processor pane in my pref panels!
Crap.
Ronald, to get to the CHUD tools you have to register, but it's free to do so.
I was trying to get CHUD version 4.5.0 at this address:
https://connect.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MemberSite.woa/wa/getSoftware?bundleID=19886
But there is only access for apple developer members...
Does anyone know a way to get it (it is supposed to be freeware...?)
Thanks.
ronald@istedgade103.dk
Is there any known fix for the same problem on PC's?
Keith,
I don't know of any evidence that it will harm your processors, though it will use more power and may shorten the life of the fans, I'd guess. David Battino has more info here:
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2007/07/mac_noise_reduction.html">http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2007/07/mac_noise_reduction.html">http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2007/07/mac_noise_reduction.html
and cites this discussion:
http://www.oreillynet.com/mac/blog/2007/07/mac_noise_reduction.html
So how bad is this for your processors? I love the quiet but I'd like to make sure I'm not burning up my processors.
Amazing. Noise gone! So happy! G5 Dual with Pro Tools but when you use Peak or Jam you have to monitor through the Mac outputs. This is very cool.
holy crap this completely worked! but i'm still going to need therapy for the next 5 years to get over the %$%$#in digital evil death noise i've been hearing for years...
in other words, thanks very much for posting this.
Thanks for the fix on this! It's so nice to not have to listen to this awful noise. I have been dealing with is since 2004. MUCH MUCH THANKS!!! (G5 Dual 2.0)
Apparently the Mac reverts to nap-enabled status every time you restart. Here’s a log-in script that should overcome that.
Wow! That erased the squeaky-wheel noise I’d been enduring every time my dual-G5 ran certain screen savers or iTunes visualizers. Now if I can just get the friggin’ fans to quit kicking in every time I turn on a mic....