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Old VLC used to play m2ts files perfectly, but the new VLC (version 2.1.2) plays a horrible buzzing sound in the right channel. Same file sounds perfect using other media players, but I have historically preferred to use VLC. I share these files, and Blu-ray disc files with others, and always advise them to use VLC if they can't burn a Blu-ray disc to a standalone BD player; however, the current situation with VLC v2.1.2 is embarrassing, and I'm not sure what to tell people.

My computer is a Windows 32-bit Vista, so I'm posting this here in the "Windows Troubleshooting" section in case the problem is limited to Windows. I don't have any non-Windows machines to test. I can tell you the problem is occurring with ALL m2ts files, ones made just today, and ones made years ago. I know the older ones used to playback fine before the new VLC version came along. I un-installed VLC, then re-installed from scratch, but the problem remained. I tried looking through all the VLC options, tried adjusting various audio settings, but the problem never went away.

I searched around, and found someone else posted a VLC problem described at this link:
https://trac.videolan.org/vlc/ticket/10054

. . . they provided a sample here:
http://streams.videolan.org/issues/10054/Sample.ogg

. . . it took less than 1 second to tell they are experiencing the exact same problem I hear. They described it as a crackling sound. It definitely renders VLC unusable for .mt2s or Blu-ray discs on my machine.

In a different search, I read where someone with a Windows computer had a similar problem using the new VLC player, and they suggested going back to VLC version 2.0.7.

QUESTIONS:
1) Is there a link to download this older 2.0.7 version?
2) Should that be what I suggest to my friends when I share files with them, to only use VLC as long as they don't have a version of VLC that is newer than 2.0.7?
3) Can the problem be fixed with a newer version of VLC? If so, how long will that take? Is there anything I can do to help?

Thank you!

I can add some extra info about my file's audio properties:
1) Original source is 24 bit / 48 kHz lossless .wav file (this actually plays fine in the new VLC separated as a .wav file).
2) When muxed with video to become a m2ts file for a Blu-ray disc, the audio properties of the m2ts file read as follows: 3) the video plays fine, the problem is just the audio, and mostly just in the Right channel.

We will have a look. I think it was already reported.

Here's what worked for me:

Open VLC.

From the toolbar at the top,

Tools > Preferences > All [note that you must check the radio button at the bottom to get into the ALL screen]
> Input/Codecs > Preferred decoders list [note that you need to scroll all the way to the end to see 'Preferred decoders list]
> type in 'avcodec' [without the quotes] > Save

Then try again to play an m2ts file.

Here's what worked for me:

Open VLC.

From the toolbar at the top,

Tools > Preferences > All [note that you must check the radio button at the bottom to get into the ALL screen]
> Input/Codecs > Preferred decoders list [note that you need to scroll all the way to the end to see 'Preferred decoders list]
> type in 'avcodec' [without the quotes] > Save

Then try again to play an m2ts file.

I confirmed Kimo's solution worked for me perfectly, thank you !!! Am so happy VLC can playback Blu-ray .m2ts files once again.