Bad sound quality ("wow and flutter" - "leiern" in German)

[odol]

Hi all,

music played with VLC sounds strange, it's like "wow and flutter" ("leiern" in German, I didn't find a better translation). It's sounds a bit like an old cassette tape. And maybe not everyone can even hear it.
The first time I have noticed it was when I listened to a stream (La radio de la mer - http://91.197.138.3:7570/). First I thought it's up to the stream itself or VLC's kind of buffering, but the difference to the same station on my internet radio in the kitchen was to big. And other streams sounded this way too. Later I wanted to sort out some of my music files (mp3). And the first song i heard was "Mr. Rock & Roll" by Amy MacDonald (no, i didn't like this song . And especially when she is not singing and there is primarily the guitar to hear, I could clearly hear this strange sound.
This all happened on my laptop, a Lenovo SL300 with Windows XP professional, SP3. Searching forums on problems with it lead to no results. After that I tried to use other players - winamp, windows media player and the built-in media player of total commander. I've listened to streams and files, and the mentioned problem wasn't there, the sound was always good and clear.
Searching the forums on viedeolan.org lead to no useful results. I've changed some settings in VLC (e.g. sound output to Win32 waveOut extension and DirectX) with no results.
And so I wanted to report a bug. But I am not patient, and I don't want to find out how to use an IRC client to be allowed by someone to post a bug. This circumstance is very annoying.
Maybe someone can reproduce this problem and tell it to a responsive person or post a bug.

Thanks in advance
odol

Forgot to mention: I'm using the latest VLC media player 1.0.0 Goldeneye.

[VLC_help]

Have you tried to remove %appdata%\vlc folder? You use spatiazer or EQ in VLC (or any else audio filter)?

[odol]

Hi,

thanks for your reply.
I have deleted %appdata%\vlc now - but still no change. I am using a clean install of VLC, I didn't change any settings, no spatiazer or EQ. I've searched for any default settings that could cause such a behaviour but didn't find any. I also did a reset to default settings - no change either.
I'm still hoping that there is a solution. And maybe there are too less people who can hear this effect but it is very annoying to me.

Regards
odol

[VLC_help]

You see some error/warning messages in Tools -> Messages... (set Verbosity to 2) when you playback audio?

[odol]

Here is the output, I have stopped the song some seconds after I could hear the effect again. While playing the messages like "main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40664)" came up.

main debug: adding item `1.mp3' ( C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3 )
qt4 debug: Adding a new MRL to recent ones: C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3
main debug: dying input
main debug: control type=0
main debug: control: stopping input
main debug: dying input
main debug: thread times: real 0m43.156250s, kernel 0m0.062500s, user 0m0.328125s
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 0m43.015625s, kernel 0m0.171875s, user 0m0.031250s
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "converter_float"
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 "access_file"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m44.671875s, kernel 0m0.234375s, user 0m0.328125s
main debug: processing request item 1.mp3 node null skip 0
main debug: rebuilding array of current - root Wiedergabeliste
main debug: rebuild done - 2 items, index 1
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for '1.mp3'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:230)
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MBytes
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\DOKUME~1\Micha\LOKALE~1\Temp'
main debug: `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: using access module "access_file"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 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 kbytes/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
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='' demux='' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: ID3v2.3 revision 0 tag found, skipping 1673 bytes
main debug: looking for demux module: 50 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() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: using demux module "es"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 1 candidate
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.000 ms - Total 3.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.000 ms)
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.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: 35 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.000 ms - Total 3.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.000 ms)
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:315)
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: Buffering 26%
main debug: Buffering 34%
main debug: Buffering 43%
main debug: Buffering 52%
main debug: Buffering 60%
main debug: reusing aout
main debug: Buffering 69%
main debug: Buffering 78%
main debug: Buffering 87%
main debug: Buffering 95%
main debug: Stream buffering done (313 ms in 1 ms)
main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Prim�rer Soundtreiber
aout_directx debug: found device: Conexant HD Audio output
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: Windows says your SpeakerConfig is stereo
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:427)
main debug: thread started
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 18.000 ms - Total 18.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 18.000 ms)
main debug: output 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "converter_float"
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: 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 warning: bad input or output format
main warning: no audio filter module matching "scaletempo" 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 audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo debug: format: 44100 rate, 2 nch, 4 bps, fl32
main debug: TIMER input launching for '1.mp3' : 1190.000 ms - Total 1190.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1190.000 ms)
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() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 'mpga'->'fl32' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
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) 'fl32'->'fl32' 48510 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
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 22 ms
main warning: PTS is out of range (-10000), dropping buffer
main warning: PTS is out of range (-36122), dropping buffer
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40664)
main warning: buffer is 40665 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40088)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9743000 usec (drift: 39256)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40486)
main warning: buffer is 79561 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40025)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41503)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40569)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19095000 usec (drift: 41364)
main warning: buffer is 41182 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40975)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9796000 usec (drift: 40207)
main warning: buffer is 40026 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40406)
main warning: timing screwed, stopping resampling
main warning: buffer is 79343 in advance, triggering downsampling
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 0m45.968750s, kernel 0m0.000000s, user 0m1.625000s
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 0m46.000000s, kernel 0m0.046875s, user 0m0.093750s
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "converter_float"
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 "access_file"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 0m46.031250s, kernel 0m0.421875s, user 0m0.718750s
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main debug: TIMER input launching for '1.mp3' : 22.000 ms - Total 22.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 22.000 ms)

[VLC_help]

main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40664)
main warning: buffer is 40665 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40088)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9743000 usec (drift: 39256)

Messages like that come up all the time when you play the file?

[odol]

Yes the come all time, but I think not too often. And I can hear the "wow" effect between two message updates (around 5 seconds between them). This song is 320kbs and lasts 3:35 mins. With winamp it sounds all clear. But I really would like to use only VLC for all purposes.
Here is the whole log while playing the song:

main debug: processing request item Mr Rock & Roll node Wiedergabeliste skip 0
main debug: resyncing on Mr Rock & Roll
main debug: Mr Rock & Roll is at 0
main debug: starting new item
main debug: creating new input thread
main debug: Creating an input for 'Mr Rock & Roll'
main debug: thread (input) created at priority 1 (../.././src/input/input.c:230)
qt4 debug: IM: Setting an input
main debug: thread started
main debug: using timeshift granularity of 50 MBytes
main debug: using timeshift path 'C:\DOKUME~1\Micha\LOKALE~1\Temp'
main debug: `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3' gives access `' demux `' path `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: creating demux: access='' demux='' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: looking for access_demux module: 3 candidates
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 ms)
main debug: creating access '' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: looking for access module: 5 candidates
vcd debug: trying .cue file: C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.cue
vcd debug: could not find .cue file
access_file debug: opening file `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: using access module "access_file"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 2.000 ms - Total 2.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 2.000 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 kbytes/s
main debug: looking for stream_filter module: 2 candidates
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='' demux='' path='C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.mp3'
main debug: ID3v2.3 revision 0 tag found, skipping 1673 bytes
main debug: looking for demux module: 50 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() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: using demux module "es"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: looking for a subtitle file in C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\
main debug: looking for meta reader module: 1 candidate
main debug: using meta reader module "taglib"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 3.000 ms - Total 3.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 3.000 ms)
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main debug: removing module "taglib"
main debug: `C:\Programme\VideoLAN\VLC\1.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: 35 candidates
main debug: using decoder module "mpeg_audio"
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: thread started
main debug: thread (decoder) created at priority 2 (../.././src/input/decoder.c:315)
main debug: Buffering 0%
main debug: Buffering 8%
mpeg_audio debug: MPGA channels:2 samplerate:44100 bitrate:320
main debug: reusing aout
main debug: looking for audio output module: 3 candidates
aout_directx debug: OpenAudio
aout_directx debug: found device: Prim�rer Soundtreiber
aout_directx debug: found device: Conexant HD Audio output
main debug: Buffering 17%
main debug: Buffering 26%
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: Stream buffering done (313 ms in 8 ms)
aout_directx debug: device supports 2 channels (DEFAULT!)
aout_directx debug: device supports 1 channel
aout_directx debug: Windows says your SpeakerConfig is stereo
aout_directx debug: creating DirectSoundThread
main debug: thread (DirectSound Notification Thread) created at priority 15 (../../.././modules/audio_output/directx.c:427)
main debug: using audio output module "aout_directx"
main debug: thread started
main debug: TIMER module_need() : 20.000 ms - Total 20.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 20.000 ms)
aout_directx debug: DirectSoundThread ready
main debug: output 's16l' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/4 bytes
main debug: mixer 'fl32' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1 samples/8 bytes
main debug: filter(s) 'fl32'->'s16l' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "converter_float"
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() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: input 'mpga' 44100 Hz Stereo frame=1152 samples/1053 bytes
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 1 candidate
scaletempo warning: bad input or output format
main warning: no audio filter module matching "scaletempo" 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 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() : 1.000 ms - Total 1.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 1.000 ms)
main debug: filter(s) 'mpga'->'fl32' 44100 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
main debug: using audio filter module "mpgatofixed32"
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) 'fl32'->'fl32' 48510 Hz->44100 Hz Stereo->Stereo
main debug: looking for audio filter module: 24 candidates
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 18 ms
main warning: PTS is out of range (-10000), dropping buffer
main warning: PTS is out of range (-36122), dropping buffer
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41011)
main warning: buffer is 41013 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41073)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9744000 usec (drift: 40589)
main warning: buffer is 40407 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40653)
main warning: timing screwed, stopping resampling
main warning: buffer is 76615 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40208)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40585)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40880)
main warning: resampling stopped after 18939000 usec (drift: 40625)
main warning: buffer is 40443 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40388)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9691000 usec (drift: 39788)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41122)
main warning: buffer is 80728 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40408)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40780)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40025)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19252000 usec (drift: 38971)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40424)
main warning: buffer is 79214 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40386)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40812)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40270)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19151000 usec (drift: 39503)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40691)
main warning: buffer is 80012 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40501)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40082)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40385)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19200000 usec (drift: 38917)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40486)
main warning: buffer is 79221 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40954)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40066)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40290)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19199000 usec (drift: 38468)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40238)
main warning: buffer is 78524 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40114)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41775)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40549)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19043000 usec (drift: 41529)
main warning: buffer is 41348 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40066)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40451)
main warning: resampling stopped after 16691000 usec (drift: -471)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40299)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40653)
main warning: buffer is 80300 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40431)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-41390)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40896)
main warning: resampling stopped after 19200000 usec (drift: 40953)
main warning: buffer is 40772 in advance, triggering downsampling
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40322)
main warning: resampling stopped after 9744000 usec (drift: 39597)
main warning: output date isn't PTS date, requesting resampling (-40778)
main warning: buffer is 80194 in advance, triggering downsampling
mpeg_audio debug: emulated startcode (no startcode on following frame)
main debug: EOF reached
main debug: finished input
main debug: thread times: real 3m35.203125s, kernel 0m0.125000s, user 0m7.765625s
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 3m35.234375s, kernel 0m0.515625s, user 0m0.531250s
main debug: removing module "aout_directx"
main debug: removing module "converter_float"
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 "access_file"
main debug: Program doesn't contain anymore ES
main debug: thread ended
main debug: dead input
main debug: thread times: real 3m35.281250s, kernel 0m1.765625s, user 0m2.640625s
main debug: changing item without a request (current 0/1)
main debug: nothing to play
qt4 debug: IM: Deleting the input
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
qt4 debug: Updating the geometry
main debug: TIMER input launching for 'Mr Rock & Roll' : 22.000 ms - Total 22.000 ms / 1 intvls (Avg 22.000 ms)

Today i have installed VLC at work and looked for the mentioned messages while playing the stream from http://74.63.47.82:8880 (Soma FM). There were no such messages. But when i play this stream at home they are here again, every 2 to 10 seconds. I'm a little bit perplexed. And I can hear this "wow" effect again (the song was "Slave to the Rhythm" by Grace Jones). But if it would be a hardware problem - then why are all the other players without this effect?

Regards
odol

[VLC_help]

I am guessing it is some sort of synchro bug that exist because of certain drivers are causing some issues. Or maybe high quality audio resampling option in VLC.

[odol]

I already set the high quality audio resampling option to off. There was no change.
Device manager says: Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221. The driver is from Conexant, version 3.54.00.
The laptop is a lenovo SL300 (the model with Intel Core 2 Duo T5670).
Maybe there are others with this symptoms? It would be sad if there is no solution because I like VLC.

Regards
odol

[stevoj]

Hi Odol

I am also getting this problem. Like you, I first noticed a very slow, but VERY obvious 'wow' (slow fluctuations in pitch) when listening to streaming audio. I have also noticed the effect more subtly (but definitely) on some MP3 files. This is so annoying me that I now no longer use VLC to play audio. This is a shame, because I love VLC otherwise. I'd be keen to know what's causing this MASSIVE problem.

[LiLiuS]

Hi all,

yes, the problem of slow pitch variations is really annoying - the VLC player sounds awfully! On Windows XP, on Debian Linux, on MacOSX, several versions of VLC, several (also professional) sound hardware. But wow and flutter everywhere - and not only since yesterday ^^
Do the developers know about that serious bug (if they don't hear it)? Do they read these forum talks? Until the problem isn't fixed the very popular VLC player can't be used - neither professionally nor privately. What a pity ...

Kind regards
LiLiuS

[VLC_help]

We know there are audio issues, but those are really hard to fix/debug without actual non-working setup, so I don't think they are gonna be fixed anytime soon.

[odol]

Tried the latest version 1.0.1 - still the same.
No solution yet? No ideas what could cause the problem?

odol

[Wastel]

I have the effect too - last September I bought a new desktop machine: Gigabyte board, AMD 6000+ Dual Core, 2GB, XP Professional SP 3. I installed VLC version - newest version of September 2009. It was imposible to see videos because the sound was reechoing. MusicMatch, Microsoft Media Player and some other Programms work fine. Now I installed VLC V1 and I have the same problem. I checked my audio configuration but now I fear the reason for this problem comes with the new board of Gigabyte. VLC works good an older PCs with XP professional SP 2 and SP 3. These PCs have 1-2 GHz Pentium or AMD processors - all have single processors. Last week I installed VLC V1 on my new laptop Dell Vostro 1420 with 2,4 GHz Intel Dual Core processor and VLC works fine.

[Wastel]

Sometime it is very strange - I found the error.
It was described in this forum too.
I changed the audio output from "standard" to "win32 wave-out extention output".
You will find this parameter ---> extra ---> preferences ---> audio ---> output
Sorry but the description could be not correct because I have VLC in german.

[odol]

Thanks for the hint!
I have changed the audio output from "standard" to "win32 wave-out extension output" and the described symptoms are gone (and the log window stays almost clean at verbosity level 2). But now there are (very short) drop-outs permanently. So this is not a real solution for me. Wondering why other programs have no problems of this kind at all. It's all so sad.
Something must have changed since 0.8.x versions that is causing all this behaviour.

odol

[VLC_help]

Wondering why other programs have no problems of this kind at all.

Other Windows media players usually use DirectShow audio output. So sync issues are very rare for those.

[odol]

Other Windows media players usually use DirectShow audio output. So sync issues are very rare for those.

That would imply VLC has problems with DirectShow playback - the audio fluctuation happens even when DirectShow is selected for audio output.
I've just read another thread (viewtopic.php?f=14&t=63926#p213572), it seems that there wil be no solution in near future if this problem is windows-specific. It's a pity.

odol

[VLC_help]

VLC doesn't have DirectShow output option. Only DirectX for audio and video.

[davros]

Hello Wastel,

I have been having the same problems - both with VLC on home computer and at work. However the work computer seems to be fixed using the "win32 wave-out" setting - so thank you.

I thought I was going mad when I heard the pitch change. This never used to happen on my old computer using VLC - 1.6mhz P4 processor. Interesting. Hopefully your fix also works on my home computer as well.

Cheers,
Davros

[schoondw]

I experienced the same problem with slow pitch fluctuations. The problem occurred when I was using an external USB sound device (Tascam US-122). On the built-in sound device of my laptop (SoundMax HD Audio, on a Lenovo T61, Windows XP) the problem was not present. My version of VLC is 1.0.5.

[platon1]

I have this problem only on a WINxp pro computer not on several other winxp home versions. Perhaps that might help some wizard to trouble shoot the problem. As other report radio streams work on other software on the xp-pro, but not VLC.

[VLC_help]

I don't think the issue is OS version related. The same audio APIs are used with all Windows versions.

[Pio2001]

Hello,
I've got the same problem here (Win XP, wow and flutter with predefined audio output, drop-outs with Win32 audio output).

Sorry to bump this thread, but I'd like to share my thoughts about the cause of the problem : it is all as if VLC was synchronizing the streams on the video clock in order to avoid tearing or judder in the picture, while compensating the sound speed in order to feed the audio driver, that is not in synch.

In a computer, the audio clock and the video clock are independant. It is not possible to be in synch with both of them, as they are not in synch themselves.

If this hypothesis is correct, then, the possible solutions would be :
-To use the HDMI audio output of the video card, if it has one. It may be in synch with the video clock and VLC would not have to compensate the audio.
-To try to improve the sound filtering in VLC : the speed correction seems very big compared to the expected error between the audio clock and video clock. This is not easy, the author of the Reclock directshow filter tried to do this, and had some difficulties to find audio filters that are capable of performing extremely small adjustments (ASRC, Asynchronous Sample Rate Conversion) without creating audible loss of quality.
-To create an option in VLC in order to use the audio clock as reference instead of the video clock. It would introduce judder and/or tearing in the picture.
-To create a fake video driver slaved to the audio clock and use it to play audio files in VLC. I don't know if this would be convenient, though.

[Rémi Denis-Courmont]

VLC has been resampling dynamically for over a decade; that is unavoidable for a live TV receiver, which VLC started as.

It never did, does not, and probably never will synchronize on the video clock.