Question Sound problems with some but not all apps ?

[rmiller1959]

I am experiencing the strangest problem with my computer sound, and I’m hoping it’s something others have encountered. The sound works with my streaming music app (Pandora) and the Test feature in Sound settings, whether I connect my speakers directly to the PC or to the dock connected to the PC. It also works when I use Microsoft Teams.

However, when I ran the sound tests for Zoom and Google Meet, the sound ranged from choppy to non-existent. In Zoom, the initial tone starts strong, but then the sound drops completely. The Google Meet sound test is barely audible at the start and disappears completely.

This problem affected a recent Zoom call where I assumed someone else was having mic problems when, in fact, my speakers were dropping out. None of these sound anomalies occur when I use Pandora or Microsoft Teams, and all system sounds appear OK.

Does anyone have any idea what would cause such a targeted anomaly?

EDIT:

To add to the mystery, when I access Google Meet via Mozilla Firefox rather than Microsoft Edge, the sound is clear and doesn't drop out.

 

[Cj-tech]

I am experiencing the strangest problem with my computer sound, and I’m hoping it’s something others have encountered. The sound works with my streaming music app (Pandora) and the Test feature in Sound settings, whether I connect my speakers directly to the PC or to the dock connected to the PC. It also works when I use Microsoft Teams.

However, when I ran the sound tests for Zoom and Google Meet, the sound ranged from choppy to non-existent. In Zoom, the initial tone starts strong, but then the sound drops completely. The Google Meet sound test is barely audible at the start and disappears completely.

This problem affected a recent Zoom call where I assumed someone else was having mic problems when, in fact, my speakers were dropping out. None of these sound anomalies occur when I use Pandora or Microsoft Teams, and all system sounds appear OK.

Does anyone have any idea what would cause such a targeted anomaly?

Which audio device is your settings application set to use? Is it the same as Zoom and Google Meet? Sometimes devices have a second entry for stereo… if that’s the case, try using the opposite entry.

What type of computer do you have? Please give the brand/model or full system specifications if it’s a custom built. The audio drivers may need to be updated.

Are you using built-in speakers or external speakers/headset? How is it connecting to your PC? Is it a 3.5mm, Bluetooth, built-in, or USB connection?

Also, it might sound funny, but when did you last restart the PC?

 

[Ralston18]

Could be a matter of a buggy or corrupted file(s).

Try the built in Windows troubleshooters. The troubleshooters may find and fix something.

Also try using "sfc /scannow" an "dism" to find and fix problem/corrupted files.

= = = =

If the troubleshooters, etc. do not fix things, then there is still more that you can do:

Look for some difference between when sound is working as it should and when sound is not working.

I.e., discover that anomaly.

One way to discover such things is to observe system performance via Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

The system may be doing something different when you compare "working/no problem" sound apps and useage with "not working/ choppy" apps.

Use all three tools but only one tool at a time. Hopefully you will see some difference or a change between no sound/audio problem and sound/audio problem.

Driver(s), third party app launching, unknown process stopping/starting.

Simply be methodical. Use the tools and observe starting with working (no sound problems) configurations.

Then observe again via a problem configuration. Discover some difference and knowing that difference may well lead to a fix.

 

[rmiller1959]

Which audio device is your settings application set to use? Is it the same as Zoom and Google Meet? Sometimes devices have a second entry for stereo… if that’s the case, try using the opposite entry.

What type of computer do you have? Please give the brand/model or full system specifications if it’s a custom built. The audio drivers may need to be updated.

Are you using built-in speakers or external speakers/headset? How is it connecting to your PC? Is it a 3.5mm, Bluetooth, built-in, or USB connection?

Also, it might sound funny, but when did you last restart the PC?

I set everything to use the system default speakers, the Audioengine A2+ computer speakers connected to the PC using USB audio. I have tried the system default setting and the setting specific to the speakers, with the same outcome.

My signature describes the system; it is an ASUS mini-PC, so the RealTek audio is integrated into the motherboard. I am using the latest audio driver as far as I can tell, but I'm looking to see if there is a later version.

I have shut down and restarted the PC multiple times, and uninstalled and reinstalled the Zoom and Google Meet apps at least twice. At least with Google Meet, I've determined that it works in Firefox and not in Microsoft Edge. I may install Chrome just to see how that works. Zoom is client-based, so I haven't figured that out.

 

[rmiller1959]

Could be a matter of a buggy or corrupted file(s).

Try the built in Windows troubleshooters. The troubleshooters may find and fix something.

Also try using "sfc /scannow" an "dism" to find and fix problem/corrupted files.

= = = =

If the troubleshooters, etc. do not fix things, then there is still more that you can do:

Look for some difference between when sound is working as it should and when sound is not working.

I.e., discover that anomaly.

One way to discover such things is to observe system performance via Task Manager, Resource Monitor, and Process Explorer (Microsoft, free).

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/downloads/process-explorer

The system may be doing something different when you compare "working/no problem" sound apps and useage with "not working/ choppy" apps.

Use all three tools but only one tool at a time. Hopefully you will see some difference or a change between no sound/audio problem and sound/audio problem.

Driver(s), third party app launching, unknown process stopping/starting.

Simply be methodical. Use the tools and observe starting with working (no sound problems) configurations.

Then observe again via a problem configuration. Discover some difference and knowing that difference may well lead to a fix.

This is a good list of steps to follow. I already tried the troubleshooters and ran "SFC / scannow" and it did not find any corrupted files. I did end up installing Chrome to see if that made a difference with Google Meet, and it doesn't. The sound is perfect under Mozilla Firefox and choppy or cuts out altogether under Chrome and Edge (I suspected that might be the case since they both use the Chromium engine, but I wanted to test it to be sure!).

If I can figure out why it works under one browser and not the others, I might get lucky and find that it's the same issue affecting Zoom. I am intrigued by the fact that the audio in Microsoft Teams is perfect!

 

[Ralston18]

One of those intriguing problems that requires a deeper dive.....

As another approach take a look in Reliability History and Event Viewer.

Objective being to identify any error codes, warnings, or informational events that correlate with the sound working or not working.

Start with Reliability History. Much more end user friendly and there may be some pattern revealed with respect to the audio problems and/or what you have tried thus far.

Event Viewer requires more time and effort to understand and navigate.

To help:

How To - How to use Windows 10 Event Viewer | Tom's Hardware Forum (tomshardware.com)

In both tools you can click any given entry for more detailed information. The details may or may not be helpful. Still worth a look.

Could be some other app, utility, or process that starts running and causes the audio issues. Or, vice versa stops running for whatever reasons....

 

[rmiller1959]

I am now officially flummoxed! I didn't find anything in Reliability History or the Event Viewer, and the troubleshooters claim there is no problem. I saw no anomalies in Task Manager, Resource Monitor, or Process Explorer.

I disconnected USB cables and reconnected them directly to the PC, through a hub, and through a CalDigit TS4 docking station, and none of those configurations changed anything. I switched from USB audio to an RCA cable with a 3.5 mm audio jack - that didn't make a difference, either.

I even implemented the "nuclear option" - a clean reinstall of Windows, eliminating all apps. After the clean reinstall was completed, I had the following results:

• I immediately checked Google Meet in Microsoft Edge, and the muffled/muted sound persisted.
• Google Meet sounds loud and clear under Mozilla Firefox.
• When both browsers are loaded, the sound is muffled/muted under Firefox and Edge. When I shut down Edge and immediately do a sound check in Firefox, the sound is back to normal.
• I reinstalled the Zoom client, and the choppy/muted sound persisted. System sounds are all working correctly and are as clear as a bell.
• Music apps, videos on YouTube, and all sounds other than the ones in Google Meet under Edge/Chrome and the Zoom client are loud and clear.

I've sent an inquiry to Google and Microsoft about the problems with Google Meet, and I sent an email to Zoom. We'll see what they make of this!

 

[rmiller1959]

My daughter solved the problem! When I noted that this problem wasn't occurring on my other mini-PC, she did some Internet sleuthing and found an entry my searches had missed.

There is a setting in the MyASUS app that comes with ASUS mini-PCs and laptops that uses AI to "filter all sounds except human voices from the laptop speaker." I don't know why this would be switched on for the speakers, but she turned it off, and the sound returned to normal instantly!

I hope this helps someone, although I don't know if anyone else would have the combination of factors I did!