Audio problems in Windows Vista guest on Ubuntu Karmic Koala

[WelcomedRain]

I am running VirtualBox version 3.1.2 r56127 within Ubuntu Karmic Koala as the host and Windows Vista as the guest. I'm using PulseAudio to handle the sound. Sometimes it works perfectly and sometimes it crackles when playing audio (any kind of audio in any kind of player, whether it is guest "system sounds" or streaming audio, etc.) in the guest OS (it always plays perfectly in Ubuntu, the host,... never any issues).

I can't for the life of me figure out why it works sometimes perfectly and other times I get the crackling sound and poor quality audio.

The last time I had this issue I deselected a Bluetooth device in the USB setup of the guest and it instantly resolved the audio for the remainder of the session. I thought I had solved the problem and identified to culprit but the next day the problem returned and checking or unchecking the Bluetooth device did nothing to resolve the problem this time, nor did multiple restarts of the guest (Windows Vista) system.

Any ideas? I have searched the Internet for the problem and possible solutions but don't find anything related to the issue.

[Perryg]

With Ubuntu 9.10 this problem started happening. The version 9.04 that used alsa did not have this problem.
It has been said that if you install pauvcontrol and leave it running that the sound will be better, and I have seen this to be true.
Put pauvcontrol in a google search and read all about it.

[WelcomedRain]

Thank you Perry. Unfortunately I had heard that suggestion already and it did not resolve the issue (sometimes the audio is perfect and sometimes it is horrible). I tried installing the latest Beta of PulseAudio (0.9.21 released on 11/23) and unfortunately that did not resolve the issue either. I even tried uninstalling and reinstalling pauvcontrol, and again... didn't resolve it.

I appreciate the suggestion and will continue my search or wait for an update to address the issue. VirtualBox has become my ticket/strategy to eliminate a two boot system and I hate for a pesky thing like this to derail those plans.

[WelcomedRain]

Perry... I apologize. I read your reply more closely and did not understand that the PulseAudio Volume control had to be open for the crackling to get resolved. That is what you said but I was thinking... installed... and working... rather than actually opened. Strange. That seems to resolve the issue gratefully. Thanks for your help. It is greatly appreciated.

[slaamer]

Hi Perry,
I am experiencing identical issues since upgrading to Ubuntu 9.10. Virtualbox version is currently 3.1.2 r56127 and I mainly use Vista and occasionally use XP sp3 and server 2003. The audio is the same with all of them, PulseAudio is configured and I must run the PulseAudio volume control for good sound. My problem is that though Windows Media player sounds great I have all my music in iTunes - the only reason why I run Vista at all.
Keeping the PulseAudio volume control does not help with iTunes, which itself uses QuickTime player to play audio. Are you able to play music using QuickTime player in Vista without stuttering or audio break-up? For the record I am running QuickTime Player version 7.6.5 (518.40) but I have tried all the older versions as well with no difference.
Thanks, Slaamer

[Perryg]

@slaamer,
I don't have a suggestion for this I am afraid. We can see that the sound problem must be due to the real player because the media player does in fact work for you. I have read reports that you need to change the sampling rate but I don't remember exactly where that is. You can try to search here by putting ITune site:virtualbox.org in google and you should be able to find it.

[slaamer]

Hi Perry,
Thanks, I found this link https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+sour ... bug/376374 and changed to ffmpeg which did help a bit, though did not completely solve the problem. I also upgraded to QuickTime player pro in Vista and changed the audio sampling rate there. This did not have any effect. Last thing I tried was changing the audio driver in Vista to Realtek AC97 audio drivers - but again this does not stop iTunes/QuickTime music from sounding garbled.
I guess I am just going to have to live with it.
regards Slaamer