The VideoLAN Forums

Hi ya there people
I've been using vlc for years (windows and mac).
I have this strange problem now. I've bought an external TASCAM Usb audio card for my iMac.
The card works perfectly for all application, but VLC.
I have it set up as default audio device, but no sound comes through it by VLC.
I've selected it through the Audio>Audio Devices menu too, no luck.
If I select Built in Output (which is the onboard iMac soundcard) sound is OK.
Any ideas? Anyone had a similar problem?
Thanks

What is the setting for audio output in the system preferences?

What is the setting for audio output in the system preferences?

The Tascam.
Thanks

Other questions:
- Do you see anything in the VLC logs that look relevant?
- Does the audio play through the Mac speakers?
- Have you tested this with other media?
- Does the same video have audio though the device when using Quicktime?

- Do you see anything in the VLC logs that look relevant?

Haven't checked that. Will do

- Does the audio play through the Mac speakers?

If I select the internal speakers output, yes it does

- Have you tested this with other media?

All kinds of video and mp3s, same behavior

- Does the same video have audio though the device when using Quicktime?

Yes

Thanks for your time guys

@Philosopher Which Tascam Unit do you have? I have the original US-144, not the US-144MKII. I think I've only had this problem since upgrading to Snow Leopard. I now have two programs that will output audio to the Mac's regular output, but not through the Tascam US-144. Fortunately Logic Express and Garageband work just fine with it or I'd be SOL.

I have the same exact problem, with a Tascam US0-122L. From within the Audio Device menu if I switch to the internal speakers, it works fine. Switch to the Tascam, no dice. The tascam works with everything else.

Bug report time?

Do any of you have any VLC logs that might indicate an error?

Without access to these particular devices it is hard to try to investigate, without supplementary information. Some other questions:
- Does is it work with MPlayer?
- Does it work with VLC on MS-Windows or Linux?

Either way could you open up a ticket in the VLC bug database and post the ticket number here, for tracking purposes.

Do any of you have any VLC logs that might indicate an error?

Any ideas where I can find those logs (Snow Leopard)?

Do any of you have any VLC logs that might indicate an error?

Any ideas where I can find those logs (Snow Leopard)?

Under the Window menus, then Messages.

I see tons of this:

main debug: audio output is too slow (42777), trashing 46440us

Complete log:

I am no expert here, but I wouldn't be surprised if VLC is dealing with a full audio out buffer.

Are there any tools to configure the buffer, or similar, on the audio card side?

Also, if you find any open source applications that can output audio to the device properly, please could you list it here? The idea being that the VLC developers can see if something is being done differently.

Edit: Came across this thread: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=45582 . Although it is Windows oriented, see if any of the steps work for you on the Mac side.

lso, if you find any open source applications that can output audio to the device properly, please could you list it here? The idea being that the VLC developers can see if something is being done

Audacity works fine. http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

Edit: Came across this thread: https://forum.videolan.org/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=45582 . Although it is Windows oriented, see if any of the steps work for you on the Mac side.

I think that should be viewtopic.php?f=14&t=45582 No "httpS"

Are there any tools to configure the buffer, or similar, on the audio card side?

For my unit, the Tascam US-144, I can alter those settings, but only within the audio software I am using. I have those options in Logic Express and Garageband. My old Tascam US 428 allowed you to change those settings independent of the audio software, but I don't have it anymore.

I write audio recording software for the mac and pc. My software has the same problem--the Tascam audio output doesn't work on the mac even though other external cards and the built in output work. The Tascam does work with my software on the pc and midi works though that is irrelevant for the problem discussed. The Tascam also works ok with Garageband, so it's unlikely that the Tascam or its drivers are at fault. I've been unable to track down the problem, but perhaps the VLC log posted above will help. I'm both new to VLC, but I'm curious about what the VCL is using for its audio library. If I make any progress tracking down the error, I'll post back to this thread with my findings.

Piano For Dummies also has this issue, btw, so it's not just a VLC issue.

Playing around with the SPDIF optical output on my Mac I found out about the "Audio MIDI Setup" application (in /Applications/Utilities ) which comes with the Mac. There may be some settings in there that can be configured?

Also, see if, in the VLC preferences (all radio), changing the "audio device" in Audio/Output Modules/auhal changes anything. I have never used that, so it is a long shot.

I've just bought an iMac and a Lexicon IONIX Audio Interface and want to play MPEG2 files via VLC.
I am having the same problem with no sound via the interface on VLC. I have selected the Lexicon audio option and no sound - if I select the built-in option the sound plays through the iMAC speakers ok.

Does anyone know why this is happening

The Interface works fine for iTunes and my sequencer software etc.

Thanks

Not sure. Though does the "audio -> audio device" sub-menu display any items? Also, see what output settings are in the System Preferences.

Are there any open source audio applications that manage to play through the device - this would allow the developers to see if something different is being done.

Hi

The Lexicon Output is selectable in the VLC audio sub-menu. On selecting this - no sound plays through the audio interface i.e. through my monitor speakers, the video looks fine. If I select the built-in option in this sub-menu then sound plays ok through the Mac speakers!!
My reason for using VLC is so I can play MPEG-2 video from home movies but I have tried other formats (AVI, M4V, MP4, MOV) and DVD, video again ok but still no sound if the Audio Interface is selected - but works ok with the Mac built-in option.

Quicktime works ok through the audio interface for instance (obviously not for MPEG-2)

So my thinking is that there is an incompatibility between VLC and this Audio Interface but that is as far as my knowledge will take me - so maybe the developers know why this is - would be interesting if other makes of audio interface have similar issues.

Hi, this is slightly late, but in case somebody is still tuned up to this thread, I'd like to say that I experience the exact same problems with a different device, namely EE-MU Tracker pro by Creative, also on a Mac machine. Seeing that you guys had problems half a year ago and it's still here, I'm starting to be pessimistic. Cheers, R.

hi

i have the same problem , no sound out of external card with VLC ....
ive been searching , still havent found a answer
any help would be very much appreciated


regards

Larrikin

If anyone's still having issues with this, like I just was... I've discovered Soundflower works.

hi all,

I'm wondering if there has been any solution to this issue?

I recently purchased the tascam US-200.
VLC is the only media player that WONT play any sound through the external soundcard. I have to change it to internal speakers.

Previous to this I used an m-audio external sound card with no issues.

I'm wondering if its because of a conflict with VLC, Mac Lion and the tascam, and their tascam need to bring out new drivers for it?
Because when I go into system preferences/sound it does say that the select device does not have output/input controls.

I tried soundflower, but it has crashed a few times when using it.

i have exact the same problem with an alesis multimix 8 usb 2.0
any solutions yet?