Spotify stutter OSX Yosemite App

[ibbutler]

Hi

I am running OSX Yosemite on a one year old iMac, and the Spotify APP sort of goes on and off. And I have had no problem with the app, up until recent updates. 

And I imagine that it has something to do with Spaces. I locate the Spotify in my second Space (to keep it out of the way, yet reachable with ease), and usually work in the primary Space. It has always been like this, but the app now only works if its located in the primary space.

If I relocate the app in another Space then,

1. Play on the spotify app comes and goes - as if connection is lost and is regained.

2. But two things can maintain play:

- if the active window/app is spotify, play resumes without fault. (i.e. if I sit and stare at the app and use it, it works just fine)

- or if I keep clicking my computer mouse in other apps, e.g. browsing, emails etc. (moving the mouse does not help)

It sounds strange, but if play suddenly stops, I just click once with the mouse anywhere on the screen and play resumes, only to stop or become notchy almost immediately after. If I use the spotify webplayer there does not seem to be a problem - so far. So I imagine the internet connection is not at fault, and that the app is. 

There is no option in the spotify menu to help; i.e. the Edit--> Preferences--> hardware acceleration mentioned in some ofher thread, does not exist at all. 

If I have to access preferences its through File-->Preferences - and there still is no option to disable, or enable hardware acceleration. The option to stream high quality is there but it has no effect if it is on or not. 

I have done clean installs, with all the trimmings, which means removed the app, removed files and folders from the cache etc. restarted, reinstalled a clean version - and the problem persists. 

Everything worked just fine up to the recent software update - so whats up? 

[bitonio]

Same behavior here. I can browse without stuttering, but when I work with my text editor (Sublime Text 3), it starts to stutter. Drive me crazy...

Clear cache/Application support and reinstalled the app without success.

Mac OS 10.10.3, output is a USB Dac (AudioEngine D1).

[rprime]

I noticed the same problem, it has gone to the point where I cannot use the desktop app anymore. It starts out OK but then it degrades, constant stutter. Does the same for all songs, locally cached or fresh, never played tracks. Also the time between OK and stutter varies greatly, although I haven't observed any behavior related to the other apps usage, seems random.

I am using a USB DAC (audioengine d1) as well.

Edit: (22 Jun)

Something I just noticed, if the application is minimized in the dock or the windows is behind other applications it will stutter, if it's above even if not focused, no stutter whatsoever. Weird behaviour, I assume some weird process prioritization. 

[electricbrew]

I've been experiencing these exact same symptoms as well as other bad behavior that all seems related to losing and regaining network connectivity. This could be due to Yosemite wifi issues or just coming out of suspend. If I have the window open in my current Space, it works fine. If I move to a different space to do work, it starts stuttering. I use Spotify on my Macbook Pro that functions as my workstation for work. I take my mac home every day, so every morning I'm bringing it out of sleep/suspend. I've noticed that if I quit all the way out of the app and restart, the behavior subsides and function goes back to normal for the rest of the day unless I get some kind of network hiccup, which happens more than it should on Yosemite.

The other symptoms that I've noticed that also seem related to network loss/gain are no sound output even though songs say that they're playing and occasionally stuck in permanent offline mode until I quit/restart the app. At this point I've pretty much gotten used to just killing/restarting the app every time I come out of suspend, but would love it if I didn't have to do that.

[bitonio · Accepted solution]

Update: AudioEngine DAC was plugged into a USB port on the monitor (as USB Hub), not directly on the computer.

Unplug and replug the DAC helped but the problem disapearred totally when I move the DAC on the computer directly and tada, the problem vanished.

I assume the direct connection is required to have the DAC clock run properly.

Hope this will help similar cases reported here.

[jamiesnell]

I have a similar issue but I don't like the solution of plugging directly into the computer.. I have my laptop's USB ports all in use and I'm using a docking station.. My audio source plugged into the docking station causes stuttering.  Are there any solutions that don't require plugging directly into the laptop?

[fracturetrey]

I was hopeful when I found this post, and plugging directly into the computer did help for a day or two, but the problem soon returned.

[1249298551]

Any update to this? I still find that Spotify/OSX/Mojo stutters at least a few times a day. My fix is to PAUSE Spoitify, wait a few seconds and click PLAY again. It's just annoying...

[ibbutler]

Hi

I posted the original problem. And for some reason the problem disappeared, and since upgrading to El Capitan I have not had any problems at all. Sorry for not being any more helpful