[QLab] Intel mac built in sound woes

[Paul Gotch]

I usually use QLab with an MOTU Ultralight and a Core 2 Duo Mac Book Pro and
it's great, now that the MOTU/Intel bug is fixed. However while designing on
the move I've been using QLab with the built in audio and been getting all
sorts of pops and crackles at the start and end of clips.

After a bit of research the problems seems to be the Sigmatel chip that is
put in all the Intel Macs. When it's not playing audio it appears to go into
a power saving state. Waking up to play audio causes a pop and going to sleep
once it's not playing anymore cause another one.

Apparently Apple are aware of the issue (at least at some level) and say
it's expected behaviour and not a bug.

It did get me wondering if QLab could work round the issue by playing
digital silence constantly while it is running. Trying to coerce Apple into
fixing the issue would be ever better.

On a completely different note I was wondering about QLab licensing. I
realise that licensing is per machine however it does mean that if you have
a primary system and a backup then you need two sets of licenses even though
the backup will only ever get used if the primary fails during a
performance.

-p
-- 
Paul Gotch
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