6.08 Introduced the Audio Popping/Static to Mac players

[Fiel_Tana]

So support got back to me today.

They said they won't be fixing the issue because I am using an M1 Mac and they are not supporting that system yet.

I am so sad

Wait, what?!?! Did they say "never", or "not right away" (a week? until Apple verifies whatever it is they need?)

So, let me understand this. The game doesn't work well on older macs (from my personal experience with my Intel based mac and seeing the same game-breaking graphical and other issues in various videos), and they won't fix this current issue for the current (M1 Macs)... yet they are willing to continue selling the Mac version? On top of that sell the Mac version separately from windows despite it being just a windows version wrapped in a wine bottle? Which means even if we have access to Windows (which I don't) we'd have to re-buy it?

Also, they have been telling us to hold off on updating our OS since EW release since the current one isn't supported. So, which do they support? Only old Intel Macs on an outdated OS? But not too old as to be incapable of running the game?

My Mac is a 2020 M1, we're in 2022, 2020 tech is not exactly cutting edge.

That can't be right. :/

*takes a deep breath*

They must mean "we're working on it but in the soon-to-be-released updated version for the current MacOS", right?



Edited to add:
My bug report was moved to accepted bugs (https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...rackling-audio), so I think they really must mean that it will be fixed in the (hopefully) soon to be released Mac version of FFXIV that includes support for the current OS. Hopefully my worry / frustration / upset was all for naught.

[AsunaSaturn]

Wait, what?!?! Did they say "never", or "not right away" (a week? until Apple verifies whatever it is they need?)

So, let me understand this. The game doesn't work well on older macs (from my personal experience with my Intel based mac and seeing the same game-breaking graphical and other issues in various videos), and they won't fix this current issue for the current (M1 Macs)... yet they are willing to continue selling the Mac version? On top of that sell the Mac version separately from windows despite it being just a windows version wrapped in a wine bottle? Which means even if we have access to Windows (which I don't) we'd have to re-buy it?

Also, they have been telling us to hold off on updating our OS since EW release since the current one isn't supported. So, which do they support? Only old Intel Macs on an outdated OS? But not too old as to be incapable of running the game?

My Mac is a 2020 M1, we're in 2022, 2020 tech is not exactly cutting edge.

That can't be right. :/

*takes a deep breath*

They must mean "we're working on it but in the soon-to-be-released updated version for the current MacOS", right?



Edited to add:
My bug report was moved to accepted bugs (https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...rackling-audio), so I think they really must mean that it will be fixed in the (hopefully) soon to be released Mac version of FFXIV that includes support for the current OS. Hopefully my worry / frustration / upset was all for naught.

Here's the email in it's entirety:

Thank you for contacting the Square Enix Support Centre.

We are sorry to hear that you have been having issues with FINAL FANTASY XIV: Online.

Unfortunately we have noticed that your system is not compatible with the game. We therefore would be unable to guarantee that the game would work correctly. You can find the minimum system requirements for the Mac version of the game here;

https://eu.finalfantasyxiv.com/mac/download

We apologise for any inconvenience caused, and thank you for your understanding. If you have further queries, do not hesitate to get back in touch.

Kind regards,

The Square Enix Support Centre team

It is so frustrating indeed. M1 Macs are releeased in 2020. They really have to step up and fix these problems.

[Fiel_Tana]

Thank you! To me that looks like a generic copy / paste form response maybe?

These are the Mac Endwalker notes, so they are working on an update but looks like they hit problems.
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...9aa2dcfe7186c2
The most recent follow up (that I’ve found)
https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...4d6e0270a0b22e

Still, it’s not great since Monterey was released October 2021 and M1 has been the current Mac chip since November 2020, neither are anywhere near cutting edge. Even Apple is dropping / not giving certain features for Intel Macs in the current OS (Monterey) at this point.

Not trying to white knight but there has been a lot going on in the world causing delays and I’m sure lots of extra work for them… but from a player perspective I *really want them to update us about what’s going on*, especially now with the new sound problems making the game unplayable without muting or resorting to forbidden external apps.

[fireflydreamer]

I'm finding something of this nature too on Big Sur 11.6.2 running on a late 2013 Mac Pro (coffee pot type)

i'm running in Windowed mode and all is fine with the audio *until* I minimise the window or take focus off to another window for a length of time

Then when I come back to FF14, the sound is distorting and oscillating pretty horribly.

Only way I have found to correct it then is to completely close and restart the FF14 application ... until the next time I minimise and trigger it of course

Edit : just found that toggling the Audio MIDI Setup between a few sampling options on sound output can correct it after it's glytched without restarting the game, which is a slight improvement, but still a potential pain each time I need to tab out or check another window.

Footnote :

I shifted the Audio format to 96 khz and it was still failing on focussing back to FF14, with an even worse distortion more like a motorbike engine ..

However ... if I keep the Audio MIDI Setup utility open and active while I use FF14, the problem seems not to re-occur when I tab out or minimise .. so far. No idea why that should be so, but using it as workaround and keeping fingers crossed !

[FaxPaladin]

The reason there's no support for Apple M-series chips has to do with how the game was ported to Mac in the first place, which is: it's a WINE bottle of the Windows version that takes specific advantage of the Intel processor. This has turned out to be the reason Stream Deck shortcuts for the chat interface don't work (conflicting PC/Mac character sets). I suspect the Windows fix on this specific issue for 6.08 breaking the Mac release may also be related.

A version for the modern Mac (and as a current Intel Mac owner for whom this is the third time of being on the trailing edge of a Mac processor change — 68000 to PowerPC to Intel to M-series — boy does the phrase "modern Mac" feel weird) would thus have to be built more or less from scratch, which Square Enix may not find economically feasible.

[Fiel_Tana]

Before 6.08 it worked beautifully on the M1, far better than it had on my 2015 intel macbook pro, though in fairness at that age I'd expect lagginess and bugs in games and heavier apps.

There is an external launcher for Mac that completely fixes the current audio issues and makes it run smooth as butter again on the M1s (from what I've head). Though installing that of course is not officially allowed, it does mean that the fix is possible and should be reasonably easy for Squeenix to find (if they don't already know how to fix it) since the external app is open source and in active development.

Since none of the current options are ideal (accepting terrible sound, playing muted or installing the forbidden eternal app) feel like great options, I really hope they get to it soon though or at least update us on what's happening and when we can expect a fix.

[jawstick]

I have an intel Mac, with the latest OS Montenery 12.2.1
It worked fine on Montenery for 1-2 months until endwalker came out

I made a video of my game, I was hoping to catch more voice acting, but this time it didn't happen, that much on the voice, but you can hear the static throughout the entire video. I will try to add them to my open in game ticket or a new ticket. Feel free to share them if you think this will help solve the issue. I can do more if needed.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed3-OxLLEgc

In the next few days/week if I get some voiced dialog and it's static I will hopefully remember to record it.

I tried the "Audio MIDI Setup" I did nothing for me, I tried a number of the settings.

My hardware.
Model Name: iMac
Model Identifier: iMac17,1
Processor Name: Quad-Core Intel Core i5
Processor Speed: 3.2 GHz
Number of Processors: 1
Total Number of Cores: 4
L2 Cache (per Core): 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Memory: 24 GB
System Firmware Version: 447.80.3.0.0
OS Loader Version: 540.80.2~11
SMC Version (system): 2.33f12

[jawstick]

I have an intel Mac and am having the same issue, but since SE doesn't support MacOS Monterey, due to Codeweavers Crossover issues. they tossed my ticket back at me saying "Unfortunately, we do not support Monterey OS and the latest updates"

I told them it ran fine for 2 months until version 6x. Will see what they say.

From what I have been reading over at the Crossover forums, I will NOT be installing 12.3 as this will break the game and I will not be able to play at all.

[jawstick]

I got this response today

Greetings,

Thank you for contacting Square Enix support center. We apologize for the inconvenience you have been experiencing with sound static on your Mac when attempting to play the game. Regarding MacOS's latest version macOS Monterey, verification has been in progress for the Mac version of Final Fantasy XIV with the aim of adding support around the end of December, but several issues were confirmed in the inspection process so at this point in time it will be difficult to begin support around end of December.

Verification will proceed and depending on the prospects, we will provide another update.

If you use the Mac version of Final Fantasy XIV, we ask that you please refrain from updating to macOS Monterey until support has been added.
You are able to fin any further updates on the following link:
https//na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodestone/news/detail/80a110ffc18448b48c6d5e856a4d6e0270a0b22e

If you wish to adjust the settings for the audio output frequencies on the device, please launch "Audio MIDI Setup".

If issues persists please report the issue to the Final Fantasy XIV Bug Forum so we may further investigate this issue: https://sqex.to/vzc

[jawstick]

The issue with M1 and Monterey is the Crossover bottles/linux wine. SE & Codeweavers are working on this. Also do not install 12.3 this will break the game and you will no longer be able to play. We need to wait for an update from SE before doing this.