VLC volume decreases when another application plays a sound

[UrsanTemplar]

Hello,

I use VLC to play my music in the background. But when I play games, I noticed that the volume would decrease automatically when the game plays sounds. I tried it across several applications, (chrome/firefox, Teamspeak, games) and anytime another application plays any sound, VLC would decrease its volume. The volume sliders on Windows remains unchanged, as well as the volume sliders on VLC themselves, but there is a very noticeable decrease in volume from VLC.

I looked it up and applied the generic fixes for Windows 7 (Disabled Windows detecting communications). I tested it with Windows Media Player too, and WMP does not decrease its volume when another application plays a sound.

So all this leads me to believe that it's a VLC thing, but I can't find anything about it in the VLC settings, nor can find anything online. Can anyone help? Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Version is 2.1.5

[Poldy]

Dear UrsanTemplar,

did you try to change the output module to "Windows Multimedia Device Output" (tools>audio>output module)?

Regards
Poldy

[UrsanTemplar]

It seems to work, thank you. If you have time, do you mind explaining what the options for the output modules are, and why the fix works? Thanks.

[betruek]

Thx for the post, I was facing the same audio issue before. And change the output module saved my day.

[Poldy]

Dear UrsanTemplar,

those are different APIs that act in different ways to the computer system. Some are older and some new. Windows Multimedia Device Output is quite new and going to be the new standard. That is the reason why using this now fixes your problem.

Regards
Poldy