Question

After the latest UC update (3.4) I cannot set anymore the sync between my 2 Quantum, nor via BNC or Adat. I'm using Big Sur (mac OS) but with UC.3.3 on Big Sur (before the update of UC to 3.4) all was working ok. Now, even if I revert back to 3.3 I have the same issue.

Short video of the issue at this link:

Any help?

Answer 1

Hey guys.  Good news for anyone who's been left flapping in the wind on this since Nov. 2020!!!

Universal Control v3.4.2.63992 seems to have resolved this issue.  Latest release did NOT do any firmware update, so I guess our wordclock issue was with the Universal Control software \ driver end of things.

I can now distribute wordclock from a master clock to all wordclock 'slaves' in my system, INCLUDING the Presonus Quantum.

Answer 2

I too am having this exact issue.  Opened a ticket with Presonus and have been underwhelmed with their responses thus far.  They seemed more interested in steering me towards just using Internal sync as the 'solution'.  Ultimately I outlined my troubleshooting which effectively narrowed it down to their most recent UC and/or how it works with BigSur.  I asked that they escalate my ticket to an engineer, and they say they've forwarded this issue to their development team.  So hopefully this will get resolved with the next update?  I'm frankly not expecting too much from them, after pulling teeth with PreSonus 'support' for over a week to get them to the point where they seem to only begrudgingly acknowledge there MAY be an issue at all!   :(

FYI:  I just forwarded the link to your video to them to illustrate the behavior we are both seeing.  There are at least two of us experiencing this issue!

Answer 3

Sad to say but I had to fill a formal claim before being "heard". Support was just bouncing me back on the issue (in.a rude way too!). The only progress after that is that now they said have forwarded to dev team and.. I (we) have to wait for next UC update. So are trying to keep me calm, but the issue is that the studio cannot operate without clock sync. Planning to switch these Quantum(s), maybe.

Answer 4

Hi!

I am also having this issue, however I downgraded my OS to Catalina briefly to test this problem and I could sync the interfaces via BNC on the same version of Universal Control (3.4.0.61835) on Catalina on the same computer, but not from Big Sur.

I have also after contact with presonus support been told that they forwarded my issue to the dev team just like you. At least it feels good that I'm not alone with the problem, hopefully if more people write them they will feel a bigger need to fix the problem.

Thanks for starting the thread!
Björn

Answer 5

Thank Bjorn for the test.  The interesting part is that I had Catalina with 3.3 and then upgraded to Big Sur. Initially the 3.3 was still working and syncing via BNC but the updated to 3.4 stopped.  Even going back to 3.3 on Big Sur didn't fix it. Anyway we all now have hope to see asap the fix.

Answer 6

Not sure what happened. Try recreating the aggregate device that holds the Quantums after installing 3.4.

Answer 7

Hi, connorguiberteau. I tried it just now and it didn't help unfortunately. 

Have any of you heard anything new from presonus' side? 

Björn

Answer 8

@Bjorn

I did the test of the aggregate device during the initial discover of the bug, but nothing helped, I just forgot to mention that recreating the device was not helping. In any case.. no news from support yet.

Answer 9

----- EDIT THIS DIDN'T WORK AT ALL ----- It just happened to sound fine on the first synth I tried it on, other sources sound absolute trash.

I have found a temporary solution. I don't know if maybe everyone already knows this and if there is something with doing it this way that is not good, if so please let me know.

Go to audio/midi setup and go to your aggregate device, you can check a box all the way to the right of each "slave"-device called drift correction. If I understand correctly, it's software doing the wordclock cables work.

I just happened upon this, so again, if there's something wrong with this procedure, let me know, I just needed to share this as soon as possible since I know you are going mad with this problem just like me...

Björn

----- EDIT THIS DIDN'T WORK AT ALL -----

Answer 10

@Bjiorn: using the drift is not the same as using the BNC cable The drift is a software attempt to sync audio between different device, actually when you are using BNC cable the drift should be unset to risk desync. There is no difference in the current situation of using the drift or not since the issue is on the Presonus firmware.

Answer 11

@ermannobonifazi Okay, my bad. I don't quite understand the difference in result although I do understand the difference in procedure, but that's a bit off topic. Lets just hope Presonus offers a fix soon, it's been two months now.

Answer 12

I just noticed that the ticket was close "due not feedback from customer". This is outrogeous. What should be my feedback if after 2 months we are still waiting for a fix and to make function devices we have paid!!!!! The support is terrible.

Answer 13

This really sucks. I'm looking into replacing my quantum and quantum 4848 with two ua apollo x16s. The price difference is massive though, but maybe the support is as well...

Answer 14

I am also having this issue with my quantum 2 and syncing it to my ADAT device after I updated to Big Sur and updated Universal Control. I, like others, tried going back a version on Universal Control.  It is extremely frustrating. I will most likely dump the quantum 2 and move on from Presonus

I had Universal Audio apollos (Twin, X6 and X8) and while they are good, they are a huge pain in the *** if you do any work OTB. I would also prefer to spend under $1k. What are the other thunderbolt options? Or, is it back to USB?

Answer 15

yes, same here, cannot also work with the D8 via adat as well, since clock is not synching. @adampalmore: I'm leaning toward the new Motu pro, they have both traditional input and as well AVB support (on top of the analog input) that augment and increase input flexibility. They are not yet certified for Big Sur but customer care confirm is going to be this month of Jan.

Answer 16

Same problem here. Just upgraded to Big Sur. Running 3 *Quantum's  (26/32 and 2* 48/48) with BNC. Universal control 3.4 does not   allow wordclock to slave (same as video) on unit 2 and 3.  So no audio. No outboard. No studio.  Sounds like a downgrade to Catalina is the only option.

Answer 17

@elliorireland: it looks like, since after almost 3 months we still do not have a fix!!!!!

Answer 18

Yes! Going back to Catalina works perfectly. 1* 26/32 and 2* 48/48 syncing again via word clock with Universal Control. Thanks @bjrneriksson3 for mentioning you'd tried this successfully. Saved a lot of time and head scratching. My pal on PC has the same rig and has to split the BNC signal leaving the master Quantum A with a BNC splitter as he has a issues chaining the BNC through quantum B into Quantum C.  I don't have that issue but for sure Big Sur and Universal Control isn't there yet for multiple devices and BNC sync. 3/4 of a day lost re installing. Hey Ho. Love S1 and a working system is the only way forward. 

Answer 19

Got the latest UC update 3,4,1. Problem is still present even if support promised the fix to be in this update. Shame.

Check video of the issue here:

Answer 20

SAME ISSUE!!! I’ve had an open ticket with tech support for over a month and they still don’t have an answer or solution... They won’t answer anything in person via phone calls so I have to reply through the ticket and wait another day or two for a response. It’s become part of my morning routine for the past 5 weeks; Log in, hope for an answer and get nothing, wait for another suggestion implying that I’m the one doing something wrong or that it’s not their fault and then go about my day WITHOUT being able to use my quantum’s as an aggregate. I’ve spent over $100 replacing thunderbolt and BNC cables and they still have no answers. Glad I’m not the only one. Considering how little their tech support has helped tells me that they’re NOT invested in their products OR customers so I’ll be looking for other interfaces. For the record, my tech ticket is #645593, opened 01/21. It’s now a day and a month later with ZERO RESOLUTION.

Answer 21

Dear @andybill I totally share your frustration. I discovered the issue in Nov. 2020, not a patch was release and my ticket was always closed since was marked as bug. I was promised with the fix in the new UC release, but know what...the UC was released last week and the issue is still there. I opened again another of the many ticket and they just  ..confirmed is a bug! Presonus have great idea and vision, just their approach to customers is not ready for prime time.  Good luck with your ticket that will be closed soon for you not following up after 5 days and good luck to all of us for being left in the desert of no solution.

Answer 22

I thought I'd just say that I purchased the uad apollo x16 after some consideration and saving money, and seeing that the issue is still here another month later I now feel it was the right thing to do. I was lucky enough that the company that sold the presonus sound interfaces bought them back from me, so I got off pretty easy. 

I really hope they fix this in a patch for those of you who are still hanging in there, it really is the most awful customer handling I have dealt with. Good luck and thanks for the support you gave me in looking for a solution! 

All the best, 
Björn 

Answer 23

v3.4.1.63149 released Feb. 9, 2021 does NOT resolve this issue.  I've endured snarky support emails, my support tickets being auto-magically closed, and have checked for updates almost daily since late Nov. 2020.  Was initially excited to see the Feb. 9th release but after installing it quickly saw the issue with Wordclock has not changed.

This is extremely disappointing.  My take-away thus far is that Presonus doesn't value me as a product owner.  And they don't care very much about fixing a feature they broke months ago.  I was getting ready to expand my system with a Quantum 4848, but Presonus has demonstrated I would be foolish to do so.  

I'm left to explore other options for AD/DA, so good bye Presonus!

Very frustrating.

Answer 24

Thanks @mattewfoster8 for the message. I updated to the latest version and finally after months, I'm back in the game as well. Despite the long wait, I still want to say thanks to Presonus. Hopefullly in the future the wait will be shorter and less bitter.