choppy audio in VLC

[Siyfion]

I hate to resurrect posts from the dead, but I'm having similar issues:

- Playing an *.avi file with VLC causes the audio to constantly stutter.
- After investigating further the audio also stutters when playing an MP3 too.
- Playing either file with Windows Media Player causes no issues what so ever.
- The log states the following when playing an MP3:

main debug: processing request item Rolling In The Deep node Playlist skip 0
main debug: resyncing on Rolling In The Deep
main debug: Rolling In The Deep is at 0
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Rolling In The Deep'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:220)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\Users\Siyfion\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///D:/MP3/Adele/21%20%282011%29/01.%20Adele%20-%20Rolling%20In%20The%20Deep.mp3' gives access `file' demux `' path `D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\01. Adele - Rolling In The Deep.mp3'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' path='D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\01. Adele - Rolling In The Deep.mp3'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 2 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating access 'file' path='D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\01. Adele - Rolling In The Deep.mp3'
main debug: looking for access module: 2 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\01. Adele - Rolling In The Deep.mp3'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: Using AStream*Stream
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' path='D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\01. Adele - Rolling In The Deep.mp3'
main debug: ID3v2.4 revision 0 tag found, skipping 2165 bytes
main debug: looking for demux module: 52 candidates
es debug: detected format mpga
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: using demux module "es"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in D:\MP3\Adele\21 (2011)\
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `file:///D:/MP3/Adele/21%20%282011%29/01.%20Adele%20-%20Rolling%20In%20The%20Deep.mp3' successfully opened
es debug: did not sync on first block
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:320
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
main debug: thread started
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 8%
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:320
main debug: Buffering 17%
main debug: reusing aout
main debug: Buffering 26%
main info: Reparenting an object is dangerous (004d6dc0 -> 004d70b8)!
main debug: Buffering 34%
main debug: Buffering 43%
main debug: Buffering 52%
main debug: Buffering 60%
main debug: Buffering 69%
main debug: Buffering 78%
main debug: Buffering 87%
main debug: Buffering 95%
main debug: looking for audio output module: 4 candidates
main debug: Stream buffering done (313 ms in 0 ms)
aout_directx debug: Opening DirectSound Audio Output
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
aout_directx debug: found device: Speakers (ASUS Xonar D2X Audio Device)
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:321)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 7.000 ms - Total 7.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 7.000 ms)
main debug: output 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'f32l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'s16l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
audio_format debug: f32l->s16l, bits per sample: 32->16
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: input 'mpga' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1152 samples/1053 bytes
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo debug: format: 44100 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32
scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search
scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1323.000 stride_in, 1323 stride_out, 1059 standing, 264 overlap, 617 search, 2204 queue, fl32 mode
main debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 'mpga'->'f32l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
mpgatofixed32 debug: mpga->f32l, bits per sample: 0
main debug: using audio filter module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'f32l' 48510 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
bandlimited_resampler debug: f32l/48510KHz/2->f32l/44100KHz/2
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: End of audio preroll
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 7 ms
main warning: PTS is out of range (-10000), dropping buffer
main warning: PTS is out of range (-36122), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (43756)
main warning: buffer is 43754 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (41000)
main warning: timing screwed, stopping resampling
main warning: buffer is 81490 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (120821), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (128599), dropping buffer
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (128270), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (60000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (127635), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (46000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (55000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (150188), dropping buffer
main warning: audio drift is too big (124066), dropping buffer
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main warning: resampling stopped after 32784000 usec (drift: -96378)
main warning: buffer is 96560 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (46000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (142174), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (152548), dropping buffer
main warning: audio drift is too big (126426), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (131970), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (123830), dropping buffer
mpgatofixed32 debug: libmad error: bad main_data_begin pointer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main debug: incoming request - stopping current input
main debug: dying input
main debug: control type=0
main debug: control: stopping input
main debug: dying input
main debug: thread times: real 0m50.033861s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.000000s
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `mpga', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "mpgatofixed32"
main debug: removing module "scaletempo"
main debug: removing module "bandlimited_resampler"
aout_directx debug: closing audio device
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread exiting
main debug: thread ended
main debug: thread times: real 0m50.078864s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.015600s
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "audio_format"
main debug: removing module "float32_mixer"
main debug: releasing aout
main debug: removing module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: removing module "es"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m50.092865s, kernel 0m0.280801s, user 0m1.513209s
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
main debug: Destroying the input for 'Rolling In The Deep'
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'Rolling In The Deep' : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)

I've tried changing the audio settings to practically every setting imaginable, but no matter what the issue remains.

I'm running Windows 7 x64 on a 6-Core AMD, so I'm pretty sure it's not lack of power that's causing the issue.

Any help would be much appreciated!

[VLC_help]

You get same messages with Waveout? If so, does it help if you change Windows power options to maximum performance?

[IronMan1]

I'm having the same problem ripping dvd's. The audio and video are really choppy.

[Siyfion]

You get same messages with Waveout? If so, does it help if you change Windows power options to maximum performance?

I changed it to waveOut and got the same issue, I have my Windows power options set to maximum performance already too...

The log for comparision:

main debug: processing request item Someone Like You node Playlist skip 0
main debug: resyncing on Someone Like You
main debug: Someone Like You is at 1
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Someone Like You'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:220)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MiB
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\Users\Siyfion\AppData\Local\Temp'
main debug: `file:///D:/Music/Adele/21%20%282011%29/11.%20Adele%20-%20Someone%20Like%20You.flac' gives access `file' demux `' path `D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\11. Adele - Someone Like You.flac'
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' path='D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\11. Adele - Someone Like You.flac'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 2 candidates
main debug: no access_demux module matching "file" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating access 'file' path='D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\11. Adele - Someone Like You.flac'
main debug: looking for access module: 2 candidates
filesystem debug: opening file `D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\11. Adele - Someone Like You.flac'
main debug: using access module "filesystem"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: Using AStream*Stream
main debug: pre buffering
main debug: received first data after 0 ms
main debug: pre-buffering done 1024 bytes in 0s - 1000000 KiB/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
main debug: no stream_filter module matching "any" could be loaded
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 1 candidate
main debug: using stream_filter module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: creating demux: access='file' demux='' path='D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\11. Adele - Someone Like You.flac'
main debug: looking for demux module: 52 candidates
main debug: looking for packetizer module: 21 candidates
main debug: using packetizer module "packetizer_flac"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: using demux module "flacsys"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in D:\Music\Adele\21 (2011)\
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 2 candidates
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `file:///D:/Music/Adele/21%20%282011%29/11.%20Adele%20-%20Someone%20Like%20You.flac' successfully opened
main debug: selecting program id=0
main debug: looking for decoder module: 34 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "flac"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:301)
main debug: thread started
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 30%
flac debug: decode STREAMINFO
main debug: Buffering 61%
flac debug: channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitspersamples:16
flac debug: STREAMINFO decoded
main debug: Buffering 92%
main debug: reusing aout
main debug: Stream buffering done (371 ms in 0 ms)
main info: Reparenting an object is dangerous (004d6608 -> 063cd0b0)!
main debug: looking for audio output module: 4 candidates
aout_directx debug: Opening DirectSound Audio Output
aout_directx debug: found device: Primary Sound Driver
aout_directx debug: found device: Speakers (ASUS Xonar D2X Audio Device)
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:321)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 7.000 ms - Total 7.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 7.000 ms)
main debug: output 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'f32l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'s16l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
audio_format debug: f32l->s16l, bits per sample: 32->16
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: looking for audio mixer module: 3 candidates
main debug: using audio mixer module "float32_mixer"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: input 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo debug: format: 44100 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32
scaletempo debug: params: 30 stride, 0.200 overlap, 14 search
scaletempo debug: 1.000 scale, 1323.000 stride_in, 1323 stride_out, 1059 standing, 264 overlap, 617 search, 2204 queue, fl32 mode
main debug: using audio filter module "scaletempo"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 's16l'->'f32l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
audio_format debug: s16l->f32l, bits per sample: 16->32
main debug: using audio filter module "audio_format"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: filter(s) 'f32l'->'f32l' 48510 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 14 candidates
bandlimited_resampler debug: f32l/48510KHz/2->f32l/44100KHz/2
main debug: using audio filter module "bandlimited_resampler"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 0.000 ms - Total 0.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 0.000 ms)
main debug: found a filter for the whole conversion
main debug: End of audio preroll
main debug: Decoder buffering done in 8 ms
main warning: PTS is out of range (-10000), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (46121)
main warning: buffer is 46120 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: timing screwed, stopping resampling
main warning: buffer is 89351 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (138375), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (45000)
main warning: resampling stopped after 5387000 usec (drift: -87752)
main warning: buffer is 87933 late, triggering upsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: audio drift is too big (137321), dropping buffer
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (50000)
main warning: resampling stopped after 4095000 usec (drift: -92854)
main warning: buffer is 93036 late, triggering upsampling
main debug: incoming request - stopping current input
main debug: dying input
main debug: control type=0
main debug: control: stopping input
main debug: dying input
main debug: thread times: real 0m14.664838s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.187201s
main debug: removing module "flac"
main debug: killing decoder fourcc `flac', 0 PES in FIFO
main debug: removing module "audio_format"
main debug: removing module "scaletempo"
main debug: removing module "bandlimited_resampler"
aout_directx debug: closing audio device
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread exiting
main debug: thread ended
main debug: thread times: real 0m14.749843s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.015600s
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "audio_format"
main debug: removing module "float32_mixer"
main debug: releasing aout
main debug: removing module "packetizer_flac"
main debug: removing module "flacsys"
main debug: removing module "stream_filter_record"
main debug: removing module "filesystem"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m14.761844s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m0.140400s
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
main debug: Destroying the input for 'Someone Like You'
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'Someone Like You' : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms)

[Siyfion]

Is there anything else I can do to try to narrow down the issue? As it's driving me nuts!

[Roddude]

This is one of the reasons I replaced the hard drive in my brand-new Win7 x-64 machine last year and put WinXP x-32 on it. Windows 7 will have it's day, but that day is not here yet. And Windows XP will be supported for another three years, so I saw no reason to continue with Windows 7 until then. Too many programs and devices simply do not work right with Win7.

[thetromboneguy]

Running XP Pro, sp3, playing DVD results in choppy video and audio. Playing CDs works OK after a few crashes first. Other players work fine. I need a fix!

[Heidi]

A friend of mine had this problem. Even reverting to an older version (1.0.5, 1.0.3) didn't fix it.
However, resetting the preferences from inside VLC seems to fix the problem.
I'm quite sure i chose to delete settings and cache during install/uninstall, but that does not seem to be enough. Only after resetting from within the program did the sound start working properly. I did this on version 1.0.3, but not sure if it is version specific. Running 1.1.2 now with no sound issues.

/Andreas

I know this was posted 5 years ago, but resetting the preferences was the ONLY thing that ended up working for fixing choppy sound in VLC, and I was using the most recent version (2.2.1) I registered here just so I could send a thank you to this poster for being so helpful. Thank you!