Finally got a set of AirPods Max [USB-C] and I looked forward to using them in Wavelab Pro 12 for editing /trimming audio on my 2024 MacBook Air without annoying my partner
I have a standard 44100 Hz stereo WAV file which plays fine thru the internal speakers.
But when I select AirPods Max as audio device and attempt to play the file, I get the error message "the audio device could not be set to this sample rate 44100 Hz’ [see attached screenshot]
I figured maybe I needed to resample the file, which I did - to 48,000 Hz. - couldn’t find any info on the Apple website about the actual sample rate.
But I still get the same error.
I’ve searched pretty comprehensively to find info about this, but to no avail.
Hey there - the AirPod Max’s are a bit different in that their built-in DSPs are exposed by the driver as single device, though the device itself is a Mic Input with a hardware setting of only 24kHz at 32b, and a “separate” stereo output switchable between 24/48kHz. If you look in the Audio-Midi setup tool, you’ll see they are represented by AirPod Max 1 and AirPod Max 2, and not necessarily in the same order each time.
In WL (and others), even if you identify which input/output and disconnect the input via:
It still won’t work. All I’ve ever been able to do is use Loopback to create an aggregate device which will automatically strip the exposed input and using that device instead. But I’ve had to cross-patch the left channel into the right to get it to work over BT.
I remember first trying the “direct” USB connection to bypass that restriction, but that also bypassed the internal DSPs and it sounded like a tin can. I wouldn’t normally choose to use the AirPod Max’s for any “direct” audio application (or any BT/wireless for that matter) but I was prepping for work to do on a plane. I just used my Audio-Technica which I always have in my go bag.
Just sharing my experience - maybe you can get them to work.
Thanks for sharing your detailed experience - very helpful.
Looking like these will just never work with Wavelab (or Cubase, Spectralayers either ). Just wanted the convenience of wireless for editing basics, really, but…
Yes, because the input channel is fixed at 24k and exposed as part of the driver presentation to core audio. The driver includes the 24k mic input, and WL is (apparently) iterating through the device settings to ensure there’s no conflict - in this case, there is.
That’s what I was saying - you can’t do that unless you obfuscate the input channel from the driver itself with an aggregate device with something like Loopback (not just the built-in utility).
Thanks
Am I interpreting the Apple article correctly? Does it mean I can use the Apple USB-C to 3.5mm lead to plug the AirPods Max into the audio out of my MacBook running the latest version of Sequoia?
With this update, AirPods Max will unlock 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, preserving the integrity of original recordings and allowing listeners to experience music the way the artist created it in the studio."
I was more thinking about WaveLab and sample rate
Sequoia and your other question I don’t know…
Thanks
This is what intrigued me from further on in the Apple press release:
**Elevated Music Production
Lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio enable music creators to fully utilize AirPods Max throughout their entire professional workflow on Logic Pro and other music creation apps. Using the USB-C cable, AirPods Max will become the only headphones that enable musicians to both create and mix in Personalized Spatial Audio with head tracking.1 By delivering lossless, high-resolution digital audio with low latency, artists can seamlessly record and mix with AirPods Max without compromising fidelity”
It seems you need the USB-C cable and the latest version of Sequoia for it to work.
] wired [via USB-C, supposedly lossless mode]
