VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
Post Reply
birdie
Posts: 428
Joined: 2. May 2010, 14:19
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, other Unixes
Location: Artem S. Tashkinov
Contact:

VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by birdie »

I'm curious why no one on these forums is seemingly affected by this bug: https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/20342

In short: whenever I run any of my guests in VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22, my host audio breaks completely: it starts crackling like crazy - with or without a guest OS running. Guest OS or audio output type doesn't matter as long as audio output is enabled. This wasn't the case with 6.1.18 but I also upgraded the kernel in the meanwhile, so I can't be sure if it's down to the kernel update or VirtualBox update. I believe it's the latter.

Restarting the PulseAudio daemon helps but it's really annoying because I need to restart all other apps using PA.

I don't even understand how it can be possible. As if VirtualBox sends such an audio sequence, PA or Linux audio driver breaks. I've never seen anything like that in my entire life.

There are no messages for `dmesg` or pulseaudio on host.

My host is Fedora 33, kernel 5.12.4 (vanilla, unpatched). The issue is reproducible with kernel 5.11 as well.

PA bug report.
Last edited by birdie on 22. May 2021, 17:48, edited 1 time in total.
Martin
Volunteer
Posts: 2560
Joined: 30. May 2007, 18:05
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: XP, Win7, Win10, Linux, OS/2

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by Martin »

Can you test downgrading to Vbox 6.1.18?
I had a similar problem a few times on Fedora 32 but don't remember if it started before updating Vbox.
In my case I don't have to restart PulseAudio, I just mute the sound for a few seconds to recover.
hottobar
Posts: 28
Joined: 4. Feb 2021, 11:56

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by hottobar »

I'm having problems with audio on the host as well, but I thought it was Firefox, not VirtualBox... although it happens when I launch a VirtualBox VM.

I'm on 5.11 with a Realtek ALC1200 (AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller), and now I'm suspecting the Kernel is the actual culprit.
I don't remember having crackling and lagging sound on 5.10 and lower.
hottobar
Posts: 28
Joined: 4. Feb 2021, 11:56

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by hottobar »

hottobar wrote:I don't remember having crackling and lagging sound on 5.10 and lower.
I've tested VirtualBox 6.1.22 with the kernels I've installed on this AMD R9 3900X system:
5.11.12: audio broken
5.10.26: audio broken
5.8.18: audio working

So I remember wrongly, problems started somewhere after 5.8.
birdie
Posts: 428
Joined: 2. May 2010, 14:19
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, other Unixes
Location: Artem S. Tashkinov
Contact:

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by birdie »

Martin wrote:Can you test downgrading to Vbox 6.1.18?
I had a similar problem a few times on Fedora 32 but don't remember if it started before updating Vbox.
In my case I don't have to restart PulseAudio, I just mute the sound for a few seconds to recover.
That will be difficult as 6.1.18 doesn't support support new kernels. I will probably do it later.
birdie
Posts: 428
Joined: 2. May 2010, 14:19
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, other Unixes
Location: Artem S. Tashkinov
Contact:

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by birdie »

OK, I've verified the issue under Linux 5.12.5.

VBox 6.1.18 doesn't break host audio.
VBox 6.1.20 and 22 break host audio.

Now the question is why it's happening at all.
Last edited by birdie on 22. May 2021, 17:38, edited 1 time in total.
hottobar
Posts: 28
Joined: 4. Feb 2021, 11:56

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by hottobar »

birdie wrote:Now the question is why it's happening at all.
Is VirtualBox the only program you're having problems with?
I get the exact same audio problems when I start ScummVM for example.
birdie
Posts: 428
Joined: 2. May 2010, 14:19
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux, other Unixes
Location: Artem S. Tashkinov
Contact:

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by birdie »

hottobar wrote:
birdie wrote:Now the question is why it's happening at all.
Is VirtualBox the only program you're having problems with?
I get the exact same audio problems when I start ScummVM for example.
I only use Firefox/Chrome/Audacious/Audacity/VirtualBox and certain applications under Wine.


Among them only VBox causes issues.
Martin
Volunteer
Posts: 2560
Joined: 30. May 2007, 18:05
Primary OS: Fedora other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: XP, Win7, Win10, Linux, OS/2

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by Martin »

I have seen/heard the same effect on Fedora 32 when I started a youtube video in Firefox while VLC was alredy playing another video over the network.
allardp
Posts: 2
Joined: 24. May 2021, 17:16
Primary OS: Other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by allardp »

I believe I have the same issues with VirtualBox. I'm using the latest version of VirtualBox on Ubuntu 20.04 and I use many different VM's. I started to notice this when I booted up my openSUSE VM that the audio of my host got distorted for a second. It's not always happening but I think it's VirtualBox related due it's happening upon VM boot.
krqed
Posts: 1
Joined: 25. May 2021, 00:09

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by krqed »

As per the info that I added to ticket 20342 I had this problem as well on Kubuntu 20.04.2 LTS, except it took a kernel update to happen before the issue started to appear.

The chronology was:
  • - Prior to April 21 - on VirtualBox 6.1.18 and kernel 5.4.0-72-generic - no distorted sound issue on host when running a VM
    - April 21 - VirtualBox 6.1.20 and kernel 5.4.0-72-generic - no distorted sound...
    - April 30 - VirtualBox 6.1.22 and kernel 5.4.0-72-generic - no distorted sound...
    - May 11 - VirtualBox 6.1.22 and kernel 5.4.0-73-generic - first occurrence of distorted sound issue on host when running a VM
    - Boot with previous kernel 5.4.0-72-generic and still with VirtualBox 6.1.22 - no distorted sound issue on host when running a VM
I have now removed VirtualBox 6.1.22 from my system and reinstalled the stock 6.1.16 version that is available on Kubuntu 20.04.2 LTS. The result of that is:
  • - VirtualBox 6.1.16 and kernel 5.4.0-73-generic - no distorted sound...
While searching for similar reports, I did stumble on a forum thread for Endeavour OS titled "Distorted sound on host with new virtualbox 6.1.20-1" (sorry that I can't share the link as this is my first post on this forum), which is an Arch based distro, where the issue also seems to have started with VirtualBox 6.1.20.
scottgus1
Site Moderator
Posts: 20965
Joined: 30. Dec 2009, 20:14
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Windows, Linux

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.20/6.1.22 breaks audio output on HOST

Post by scottgus1 »

6.1.20/22 have audio glitches, see 'Discuss': viewtopic.php?f=1&t=102694
Post Reply