Audio crackling on MacBook speakers when game mode is turned on

[smallketchup82]

Type

Performance

Bug description

Supersedes #27475
Relevant discussion: #27484
Opened a new issue to track this since we've now determined that game mode is causing this

From the old issue:

When using lazer on my 14" Macbook Pro, I notice audio crackling at random moments while the game is open. It only seems to occur when using my MacBook's speakers and doesn't occur when using wired headphones.

The issue seems to only occur when osu! is open. Crackling does not occur when playing media or other files while the game is closed, so I doubt it's an issue with my hardware. Although it also seems to affect my entire system audio but again only when osu! is open. Adjusting system volume while osu! is open results in a crackle (if you have the beep when adjusting audio setting turned on in system settings). Closing osu fixes the issue entirely. I've tried restarting, but the issue persists after restart but only when osu! is open.

Turning game mode off fixes the issue entirely

Laptop: MacBook Pro 14" Nov 2023 M3 running Sonoma 14.3.1

Screenshots or videos

No response

Version

2024.302.1

Logs

compressed-logs.zip

[peppy]

Last time we had something along these lines, it was due to floating point bass + apple arm chips. Not sure if this is similar.

[Moebits]

Hello, I can reproduce the same issue. Lots of audio crackling in borderless/fullscreen with game mode on, happens with wired headphones as well. Playing in windowed or turning game mode off fixes the issue.

[smallketchup82]

It seems as though apple checked the report I sent them.

It says that their investigation is complete and that they couldn't diagnose the issue with the information I've provided them, but they haven't inquired for more information either.

They haven't closed my report thread so it's possible that they might revisit it in the future, but it seems unlikely. Our best bet here is probably to find a workaround, or at the very least keep this issue thread up so that people who experience this issue know that it has to do with game mode.

[devi59]

I just purchased a used like new display model M3 15" from Best Buy. I used to have an M1 13" and I used the migration tool to move my games and everything over. When I used GameMode on the old MacBook Air, it did NOT have the crackling issue but now with my new M3 it does. I at first freaked out thinking maybe it was the speakers since it was a floor display unit but I can watch Apple TV, Hulu Etc. or listen to Apple Music just fine and if I don't have full screen I am fine as well. This really needs to be resolved by Apple.

[smallketchup82]

As an update, the report I sent to apple still shows "Investigation complete - Unable to diagnose with current information". It doesn't seem likely that apple will look into it any further than they already have.

For me, the crackling has not occurred since ppy/osu-deploy#184 which disables MacOS from turning game mode on for osu!