Audio stutters at the start of every track

[errantpiglet]

VLC 3.0.11
MacOS 10.15.5
2019 iMac

I am having two consistent issues with every audio file I try to play, regardless of type (I use mostly MP3 and AAC/MP4, which I create in Audacity, Finale 26, and GarageBand)

With every single audio file I try to play, the first two or so seconds of the audio is not played, or sometimes stutters. After the second second of each track, the audio seems to play fine as long as I don't pause it. If I am working in a playlist, this happens at the start of every track.

The second problem (which I've seen addressed in other posts on this forum) that is absolutely consistent is that if I pause while a track is playing, the audio does not play when I unpause. I see the navigation cursor move forward like it is playing, but I hear no sound. At this point, if I try to do anything else within the program, including Quit the app, I get a permanent turning rainbow ball and I have to force quit the app. I have mentioned this problem here because all the other forum posts say that this problem is fixed in 3.0.11 which is not true for me.

I downgraded to 3.0.10, which had the same problems, and then downgraded to 3.0.8, which still has the consistent audio stutter at the beginning of every track, but does not crash the app when I pause the audio. I neglected to turn off automatic updates in Preferences, so it upgraded to 3.0.11, with both issues still presenting.

I have trashed the VLC preferences and restarted the app and computer. I checked the ~/Library/Logs/CrashReporter folder but there was no Log file after I just reproduced the issues and had to force quit.

[nymbX]

I experience the second problem mentioned by errantpiglet as well from time to time. It is the same: after pausing and resuming the audio is not there anymore. If I try to open another file the audio is still not there. If I try to close VLC it hangs (rotating rainbow cursor) and I have to force quit. After restart it works well. MacBook Pro (15-inch 2018), Processor 2.6GHz 6-Core Intel Core i7. macOS Catalina 10.15.5. VLC version 3.0.11 Vetinari.

[Jean-Baptiste Kempf]

Please test VLC 3.0.12 from nightly builds.

[errantpiglet]

I cannot find a 3.0.12 in the nightly builds. Last night's build was 3.0.11.1, so I downloaded that.

It still takes a couple of seconds of playing a track before the audio comes out, trimming the first second or so of audio.

However, with this version, I can no longer get the program to freeze or crash by pausing the audio, so that did seem to fix this.

[djujy]

VLC Version 3.0.11.1 Vetinari (Intel 64bit)
Mac OS Catalina Version 10.15.7
iMac 2020

Having same sound problems. When switching between tunes playing Next, Previous, Play/Pause the speakers give a popping/crackling sound or as you named it stuttering. All the same.
Since the desktop is new I have contacted Apple support and we have done some troubleshooting and restarted some settings. The issue remains VLC related despite of the volume level adjustments.
It does it also when the volume is below 50%.