playing audio files

rtomasov · Post by **rtomasov** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 7:14 pm

Hello
I am using Audacity v2.1.1.0 with OS X 10.6.8
I can't play any file for some strange reason.
This is something that never happened before until today, about 1 hour ago.
Each time I press the space bar, an alert pops up saying "Error while opening sound device. Please check the play back device settings andd the project sample rate."
I've done all checking up to the point where I can't tell what else to look for and where.
Shall appreciate any help with this issue.

cyrano · Post by **cyrano** » Wed Nov 02, 2016 8:12 pm

Have you tried simply restarting the Mac?

What is the sound playback device, BTW? Is it the Mac's internal audio?

Any other sound capable programs active?

rtomasov · Post by **rtomasov** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 9:49 am

Have you tried simply restarting the Mac?
What is the sound playback device, BTW? Is it the Mac's internal audio?
Any other sound capable programs active?

Hi Cyrano,
I have not tried restarting the mac.
The sound playback device is either a Sennheiser headset or the internal audio, whichever I choose.
No other sound capable programs active.
BTW: the problem was solved by itself; I didn't do anything. Strange and baffling.
Thanks

cyrano · Post by **cyrano** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:20 am

Well, it's fixed...

IIRC, you're not the first to report this problem with a Sennheiser USB headset. Must be something weird in these.

rtomasov · Post by **rtomasov** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 11:52 am

Well, it's fixed...
IIRC, you're not the first to report this problem with a Sennheiser USB headset. Must be something weird in these.

Strange, it's a plug and play set; what problem could it cause?
I've reported a problem with Audacity, not with the headset, when it was impossible to listen on the internal speakers if the output selection in Audacity was set to Sennheiser. And vice-versa.
My post is here http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 47&t=93364
Thanks

cyrano · Post by **cyrano** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 4:43 pm

I have at least five USB audio class compliant interfaces here. None of these show any problem. Admitted, these are USB1 audio class devices, not USB2.

I switch from internal audio to an interface several times a day. It happens completely automatically. And it never fails. Not with Audacity, nor with any other audio application. It even works reliably while playing back a Youtube video, fi. There's just a very short dropout while OSX switches output.

We have two reports of a Sennheiser USB headset giving odd results with Audacity. And both times, the problem was about switching between internal audio and the USB headset.

If both of you could try to see if the problem would happen with another audio application, we would have a way of telling if it's an Audacity problem, or an OSX/Sennheiser problem. I'm betting on the last one, as both of you are using Snow Leopard. And the Sennheiser probably has been tested against a much more recent OSX version.

FWIW: I remained on Snow too, for as long as I could.

Unfortunately, I was forced to upgrade because of the need of a modern browser. And these are no longer available for Snow. I'm on Mavericks now and planning to stay with it as long as possible.

The next step might be Sierra for me, as the USB stack has been completely rebuilt and performance is a lot better for audio. And all problems with USB3 seem to have been ironed out. But there's no hurry...

rtomasov · Post by **rtomasov** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 6:55 pm

I have at least five USB audio class compliant interfaces here. None of these show any problem. Admitted, these are USB1 audio class devices, not USB2.

I have USB2 only, unfortunately

I switch from internal audio to an interface several times a day. It happens completely automatically. And it never fails. Not with Audacity, nor with any other audio application. It even works reliably while playing back a Youtube video, fi. There's just a very short dropout while OSX switches output.
We have two reports of a Sennheiser USB headset giving odd results with Audacity. And both times, the problem was about switching between internal audio and the USB headset.
If both of you could try to see if the problem would happen with another audio application, we would have a way of telling if it's an Audacity problem, or an OSX/Sennheiser problem. I'm betting on the last one, as both of you are using Snow Leopard. And the Sennheiser probably has been tested against a much more recent OSX version.

This behavior doesn't happen with other audio application, in my case.

FWIW: I remained on Snow too, for as long as I could.
Unfortunately, I was forced to upgrade because of the need of a modern browser. And these are no longer available for Snow. I'm on Mavericks now and planning to stay with it as long as possible.
The next step might be Sierra for me, as the USB stack has been completely rebuilt and performance is a lot better for audio. And all problems with USB3 seem to have been ironed out. But there's no hurry...

I'll try and stay with OS X 10.6.8 as long as I can.
Tried Mavericks (which I have on an external HD) and didn't like it at all. Apple is making everything for kids so that they can spend their time watching the gimmicks. Colors lack contrast, behavior is upside down, and so on and so forth.
The moment OS X 10.6.8 can't be used anymore, I'll just trash the iMac and forget about it. It isn't going to be easy but one can adapt to anything.
Thanks

cyrano · Post by **cyrano** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 7:00 pm

rtomasov wrote:I have USB2 only, unfortunately

Makes no difference on the Mac. Both USB1 audio class and USB2 audio class drivers are included in every OSX version.

This behavior doesn't happen with other audio application, in my case.

Aha, then it is somehow related to Audacity.

I'll try and stay with OS X 10.6.8 as long as I can.
Tried Mavericks (which I have on an external HD) and didn't like it at all. Apple is making everything for kids so that they can spend their time watching the gimmicks. Colors lack contrast, behavior is upside down, and so on and so forth.
The moment OS X 10.6.8 can't be used anymore, I'll just trash the iMac and forget about it. It isn't going to be easy but one can adapt to anything.
Thanks

I felt like that too. But it really works well and I just ignore all the bells and whistles that aren't useful to me. Like all that cloud stuff...

Gale Andrews · Post by **Gale Andrews** » Thu Nov 03, 2016 8:53 pm

rtomasov wrote:I've reported a problem with Audacity, not with the headset, when it was impossible to listen on the internal speakers if the output selection in Audacity was set to Sennheiser. And vice-versa.
My post is here http://forum.audacityteam.org/viewtopic ... 47&t=93364

And was that not solved by uninstalling Soundflower? Is Soundflower still uninstalled but that problem has returned?

Gale

rtomasov · Post by **rtomasov** » Sun Nov 06, 2016 7:20 pm

And was that not solved by uninstalling Soundflower? Is Soundflower still uninstalled but that problem has returned?
Gale

Yes Gale, Soundflower is still uninstalled and the problem always returns.

I keep on going to /Library/Preferences/Audio
deleting com.apple.audio.DeviceSettings.plist
and com.apple.audio.SystemSettings.plist
and restarting the iMac once done with no effect whatsoever.

I am sending the Sennheiser headset for service; may know whether the problem lies there or not.
Shall keep you posted.
Thanks,
Ruben

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