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Selecting audio output device

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 19:51
by SolarSystem
I have an ASUS laptop running Windows 7 64-bit.

I have an extra monitor (Samsung SyncMaster PX2370) plugged into the HDMI out from which an optical audio cable forwards sound to a receiver & surround system.

**What I would like is to force VLC to only use the HDMI output while keeping all other sounds in the headphones plugged in to the audio jack. (and therefore not interfering with the music)

Now I've seen some apps stick to whichever default output was selected in the Windows sound options when they were started, but VLC switches to whichever is current, so I can't make it work that way.

In Audio > Audio Device I only have choice of mono or stereo, which makes that a pretty useless menu. (Why would I ever switch to mono??)

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 21:20
by Jean-Baptiste Kempf
Yes, the VLC audio device selector is completly broken on Windows version of VLC. Someone needs to fix it.

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 22 Dec 2011 22:02
by SolarSystem
So in other words there's no solution short of digging into code I don't have the skill, knowledge or patience to learn to use. >.>

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 24 Dec 2011 18:22
by VLC_help

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 01 May 2012 22:25
by rrozema
Well, even though it should work, it doesn't. It doesn't matter which audio device I select, vlc still only plays audio through the windows default device. Using Windows 7 Ultimate, version 6.1 (build 7601: Service Pack 1). VLC version 2.0.1 Twoflower, compiled by jb on vilacia (March 16 2012 20:19:26).

I've tried selecting the audio device using standard and advanced settings, neither works, it simply ignores whatever device I choose and plays only through the computer speakers, not my tv connected through HDMI.

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 02 May 2012 09:24
by Lotesdelere
Known issue which will be fixed in VLC 2.0.2, meanwhile you can use a nightly build (vlc-2.0.0-xxxxxxxx-xxxx is v2.0.2).

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 02 May 2012 09:33
by rrozema
Thanks. I'll check it out tonight. (at work right now)

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 02 May 2012 17:14
by hoop_er
I had been having the same issue for forever and finally figured it out.

(Oddly, if my 2nd monitor [TV] was set up to "duplicate" the primary monitor, it would pick up the audio via HDMI, but when I had it set up to "extend" to a true dual monitor set up, VLC would send the audio through my laptop speakers)

In "Tools > Preferences" down at the bottom of the menu bar, for "Show settings" you need to switch to "All" instead of "Simple." This will open up a lot more options, including the ability to force audio output via the HDMI port.

Under "Audio" expand the "Output modules" list. On the "DirectX" page you can now select the HDMI port as your "Output device." Now you'll just need to select "DirectX audio output" as your main output mode back on the main "Output Modules" page.

I'm running VLC v. 2.0.1 on Windows 7, 64-bit. Hope that helps.

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 03 May 2012 13:05
by rrozema
The latest build: vlc-2.0.0-20120502-0204 does indeed support playing vlc's audio through my HDMI connected tv, while having the pc speakers set as the default audio device (I'm using 'DirectX audio uitvoer' for the output module). The same issue exists with the video device, and this still doesn't work in this version.

What's even more annoying: this build doesn't support dragging and dropping a video file onto the player window to start playing another movie. I do hope that will be fixed again before the next 2.0 version will go live (I've seen this bug in older versions and it was fixed, but it is back now apparently).

@hoop_er: thanks for the explanation, but finding the option to set it up was not the issue of this topic. The issue is that vlc played audio only through the system's default audio device, no matter which device you set up in vlc's settings.

Re: Selecting audio output device

Posted: 07 Oct 2012 20:24
by andersonroberto
I don't know if anyone needs the answer.
I'm using Windows 7 64 bits.
To select the VLC audio output, I did the folowing steps.
Set DirectX output to HDMI, then, the VLC audio output to DirectX.
Close and restart VLC.
Change the Windows default audio output.

Doing this, all you play on VLC will be displayed to HDMI devide with audio.
All the others program you open, will use Windows default audio output.

Hope it helps.

PS: Sorry for my English, I'm Brazilian :D