This is kind of a mess.
Following the release of the most recent versions of Adobe Premiere Pro, a number of MacBook Pro users have cited that the software may have blown out the speakers on their notebooks.
The issue, which has been reported by multiple users on the Adobe support forums, described how
Premiere Pro suddenly caused loud, distorted audio to play through their MacBook Pro speakers, resulting in permanent damage. In many cases, the issue arose when users were editing the audio settings of video clips.
“I was using the Adobe Premiere 2019 Audio suite for background sound and while tweaking the settings it made a loud distorted noise that hurt even my ears,” wrote one user. “After that my speakers are unusable.”
The issue was first posted back in November, with replies on the topic stemming through January. This, in turn, suggests that the bug is present in both versions 12.0.1 and 12.0.2 of Premiere Pro CC for macOS. It’s unknown how the issue began or how widespread the possible damage might be.
Adobe, in turn, has advised that users try disabling the MacBook Pro’s microphone in Premiere Pro by selecting No Input under Preferences > Audio Hardware > Default Input, although the issue persists for some users.
Our tipster Shen took his MacBook Pro to the Genius Bar at an Apple Store in Canada and was provided with an over $600 repair quote for his 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro. The price is so high because Apple replaces the entire top case assembly containing the speakers, keyboard, trackpad, and battery.
It’s unclear if Adobe, Apple, or both companies are at fault.
Stay tuned for additional details and if you’ve seen this issue on your end, please let us know about your experience in the comments.
Via MacRumors and the Adobe support forums