Apple definitely have a major issue here - I upgraded from the 2016 MBP to 2018 MBP (max'ed out specs in both cases apart from SSD size) and audio dropouts etc when using Mainstage for live performance with virtual instruments (sound sources) have increased greatly. I'm a (piano) keyboard player and low buffer sizes and latency (<5 ms) are essential for turning my MBP into a responsive and expressive musical instrument. Unfortunately such settings reveal harshly the huge degradation in audio performance that has occurred and I am not any longer be prepared to use my MBP in a live performance situation. (Even if a larger buffer size reduces the dropouts I don't want to play an unresponsive instrument.) It's just ridiculous to see my powerful MBP running at very low percentage CPU utilisation and performing so badly.
Interestingly yes I experience issues with my USB2 interface (RME Babyface Pro) but also when using the MBP's headphone jack or the interface via USB ports on my LG Ultrafine 5K monitor (which has its own USB chip). I do wonder if the root issue may be along the lines of this poster's theory about poorly written Apple driver code (since Apple probably wrote new driver code to accommodate T2): https://www.gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php?p=13492144&post...
Interestingly yes I experience issues with my USB2 interface (RME Babyface Pro) but also when using the MBP's headphone jack or the interface via USB ports on my LG Ultrafine 5K monitor (which has its own USB chip). I do wonder if the root issue may be along the lines of this poster's theory about poorly written Apple driver code (since Apple probably wrote new driver code to accommodate T2): https://www.gearslutz.com/board/showpost.php?p=13492144&post...