REW (on a Mac) and HDMI connectivity issues.

[Chuck Gerlach]

I have llitte issue with get REW up and running at home, but I also use it when I travel to calibrate other theaters (that typically use a Trinnov) and 100% of the time I have issues getting started. Whle the Mac ALWAYS 100% of the time "sees'" the Trinnov (System Preferences/Sound), most of the time (or maybe all of the time) it is random that I can get sound initially from Audio Midi Setup. Then when that finally works, it is still random whether REW will be able to get audio to work (even after I have set it up in Preferences). So I eventually end up having to restart the Trinnov and/or restart REW and/or restart my Mac - but it is random on which of those activities actually gets things to finally operate so I can do what I came to do. I absolutely LOVE REW (once up and running) but it is always a painful (and usually extended) and very a frustrating experience to get it up and running.

So my question is this. Should the various components be powered up in some special order, or is there some other "process" that will get me up and running the first time, every time?

I typically connect the HDMI to a powered up Trinnov, then to a powered up Mac and then start up REW. But this fails 100% of the time.

I just returned from a 2.5 day calibration trip and probably had to go through this exercise at least a dozen times - easily wasting probably 5 or 6 hours (or more) since I am guessing each time on the best way to get it to work.

Any assistance would be most helpful.

 

[Jack1949]

I use the Windows REW version, so I have no suggestions. But I know that enricoclaudio (from Rythmik Audio) wrote a guide for MAC REW users that's in the first post of the
REW for macOS - How to Setup your Mac for REW thread. You could try posting your question there also. Good luck!
https://www.avsforum.com/threads/rew-for-macos-how-to-setup-your-mac-for-rew.3075106/

 

[ddude003]

Typically, in the realm of computer systems, peripherals and cables, all components should be powered off when attaching peripherals and cables to computer systems... Then power up the peripherals... And finally the computer systems... I am aware that Apple has gone to great lengths to make their systems dynamic and user friendly... However, try unplugging a rotating disk or a SSD while writing data to it... Yea, boom!!! HDMI and HDMI cables can be a little touchy with the _handshake_ to other devices... 8 out of 10 times I can attach a powered up printer to my MacBook via USB and all things work... However, those other 2 times things need powered down and up again in sequence... And I am not familiar with the Trinnov systems...

In the realm of stereo systems, preamplifiers are the first on and the last off... Again, all components should be powered off when attaching components and cables to any other part of the system... Hope this helps...

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

Typically, in the realm of computer systems, peripherals and cables, all components should be powered off when attaching peripherals and cables to computer systems... Then power up the peripherals... And finally the computer systems... I am aware that Apple has gone to great lengths to make their systems dynamic and user friendly... However, try unplugging a rotating disk or a SSD while writing data to it... Yea, boom!!! HDMI and HDMI cables can be a little touchy with the _handshake_ to other devices... 8 out of 10 times I can attach a powered up printer to my MacBook via USB and all things work... However, those other 2 times things need powered down and up again in sequence... And I am not familiar with the Trinnov systems...

In the realm of stereo systems, preamplifiers are the first on and the last off... Again, all components should be powered off when attaching components and cables to any other part of the system... Hope this helps...

Then, started up in what order???

 

[ddude003]

As I said above

power up the peripherals... And finally the computer system

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

Peripherals in this case is a Trinnov processor??

 

[ddude003]

Unless there is some unknown trick here, I would call the Mac the computer and the Trinnov processor the peripheral... Have you tried a couple of different HDMI cables? And have you tried other AVRs? I have had no issues connecting my MacBook via HDMI to my Yamaha AVR to run REW in the past... Is the Trinnov running HDMI 2.1 and the Mac 2.0?

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

Unless there is some unknown trick here, I would call the Mac the computer and the Trinnov processor the peripheral... Have you tried a couple of different HDMI cables? And have you tried other AVRs? I have had no issues connecting my MacBook via HDMI to my Yamaha AVR to run REW in the past... Is the Trinnov running HDMI 2.1 and the Mac 2.0?

The Trinnov does not yet support 2.1 but I can make it 1.4 or 2.0. But it may be a Trinnov thing. Unfortunately, 99.9% of the systems I calibrate use Trinnov processors. I have used in on a Marantz in our family room and it does not have that issue - and , in fact, I don't have the issue on my personal Trinnov - but it has occured on EVERY SINGLE TRINNOV I have tired it on other than mine. - VERY frustrating and very time consuming (walking back and forth to wherever the processor is to turn it off)

 

[ddude003]

VERY frustrating and very time consuming (walking back and forth to wherever the processor is to turn it off)

Maybe an issue with long HDMI cable runs?

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

Possibly.

 

[sam_adams]

@Chuck Gerlach, what model Mac are you using and what is the OS version?

 

[Chuck Gerlach]

I use two. The one I have with me at the moment is not the one I typically use for REW and it is as follows. The other one is older and doesn't have enough memory to support the latest Mac OS. I may try using this one to see if I get any better results.


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