REW Gremlins

[John White]

I often have difficulty using REW on my MacBook. Over the last nine months or so, I have only been able to get it to work sporadically.
A recent Java upgrade helped for a while when using version 4.0 but not with 5.0
(I know there is a brand new version, but not for Mac.)
Now, again, I'm at a loss. Would love to go through some trouble shooting with someone and hopefully help others in the process.

I may just buy Fuzzmeasure and be done with it, though I'd like to identify if there is a problem with my hardware or probably just user error.

[Laptop-
Onyx BlackJack (USB DAC Interface)-
Monitors-
and back again
Mic to either channel, gain up]

Sweep registers a signal on the interface.
Sweep is registered on Left (or Right) "Check Level" on "Make a Measurement". Yet, always reads, "Level is Low -129.4dB"

The sound of me cursing and throwing things also makes the meter jump.

Any input appreciated.

[DanDan]

I'm not sure if I follow you but I am using REW5 on Macs.
It cannot communicate properly with my HD192. Nor did it do well with the wonderful Lexicon iONIX, due to Lexicon software driver inadequacies.
That's USB, so it's not just Firewire.
However, I have been using REW very successfully on an iMac and MacPro using the onboard I/O. There is no quality issue.
You may be able to use your interface pres by getting a Direct Out from a hardware Insert, if there is one.
Just get or make up the whatever to minijack.
Remember the Headphone output is fully useable as Line Out.
Try this to prove it using the MacBook speakers and internal mic. Gradually introduce the In and Out to better louder outboard.

DD

[squirreltrench]

Yep, same thing for me with a Focusrite Saffire Pro 24. What it means when you are getting a signal reading of "-124 db" is that there is NO signal returning. -124dbFS is a wonderfully low noise floor.

As DanDan suggested, I got it to work by: routing the sound out of REW to the default (set to my Saffire interface in the Mac's sound control panel). Then I have my mic going into to channel 1, and using the Saffire's software interface, routed the channel 1 input to the Output 3 (outputs 1 and 2 go to my amplifier/main speakers naturally), and then plugged output 3 to my MacBook Pro's internal line in.

It's one extra step than you'd like, but, hey, whatever makes it work.

[darkbuddha]

Ditto... I'm using REW on a Macbook Pro with a Presonus Firestudio Project. Audio out of the Firestudio, audio in through the Macbook mic in. Works well enough for REW purposes.