Audio from VLC will get quiet when focusing other applications

4

1

OS: Windows 8.1

I'm noticing that when playing something from VLC (though it happens when playing audio from Chrome) that my sound will pseudo-randomly become quiet.

Chiefly it happens on the 'new tab' screen of google chrome, as well as google searches through windows chrome. It will occasionally happen when I open other applications - though I've not yet found any rhyme or reason to it.

Device is the built-in realtek device through my headphone jack, driver is most current according to their website.

Not really sure how to diagnose or fix this. Help appreciated.

EDIT: Logging in as a different user fixes the issue. Disabling all extra chrome extensions does not. Still looking for a solution for my regular user account.

Related: https://superuser.com/questions/760413/win8-volume-keeps-changing-when-switching-programs-or-switching-to-new-tab-in-c

List of things causing the issue:

  • Chrome
  • Launching a windows 7 virtualbox VM (not VBox manager though)
  • Mumble
  • Will update with more as found
  • NOT Foobar2000 (I had suspected the issue may be coming from applications that play sound?)
  • Installed Skype to test, during the initial 'setup' of my account (for sound/mic/video) my audio was hushed, despite that I have the 'communications activity' set to 'do nothing'.

Mitch

Posted 2014-08-18T14:40:44.093

Reputation: 201

Try while logged in as a different user. Make any difference? When the volume changes, is the change reflected in the audio mixer? – Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-08-18T16:19:24.920

It works properly as a different user. So I guess it's a user setting or a chrome setting? Change isn't reflected in the mixer. – Mitch – 2014-08-18T16:54:19.603

possible duplicate of Windows 7 lowers applications' volume automatically, Windows 8 turns program sound volume down randomly

– Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-08-18T17:55:51.733

Nope - I tried both of those before posting the question. – Mitch – 2014-08-18T18:15:52.813

@Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 if you're curious, I've found the solution and posted it as an answer – Mitch – 2014-10-29T15:43:54.150

Nice, glad to hear you figured it out. So in the end, it's a duplicate of Windows 8 Communication Sound Setting not working. But this one is better IMO anyway. :)

– Ƭᴇcʜιᴇ007 – 2014-10-29T18:12:19.710

Answers

1

Following the answer here

I unchecked "Allow application to take exclusive control of this device". Not the best way to go about it, but it works and since I rarely use the built-in mic I doubt I'll have an issue.

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Mitch

Posted 2014-08-18T14:40:44.093

Reputation: 201

Asked: 2014-08-18T14:40:44.093

Viewed: 4 881 times

Active: 2015-09-21T05:26:45.503