virtualbox.org

VB 6.04. Windows 10 guest, Mac High Sierra Host. I can't get any sound from Windows though the headphones plugged into my MacBook.

Audio output set to on in VB audio settings. Host driver is CoreAudio, Controller is Intel HD Audio

In Windows 10 sound control panel, it recognizes Speakers as the sound output device and appears to be playing sound (visual sound level indicator)

I've uninstalled the Sound device and reinstalled it (restarted Windows), but for headphones it says "not plugged in". Sound is coming through fine on my headphones when it is coming from my Mac, but still nothing from the Windows guest.

I'm trying to test NVDA for web accessibility stuff, and headphones is my only sound option where I am.

I've googled this for several hours and haven't found anything that helps.

Does anyone know a solution for this?

Is it Windows guests only? Or is it your host that's doing that? I'm asking because I have a permanent headphone stuck into my skull and I've never had any problems, from DOS to ... name it. MacBookPro11,5 running OSX 10.11.6.

We need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:

• Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
• With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.

Attachment of log is enclosed.

FWIW, sound is working fine on my MacBook Pro (2017) host running OS X 10.13.6.

I can also verify that NVDA is "working" on Windows, since I can see the what it is "reading"in the speech panel. But there's no sound.

Oddly, the sound did suddenly start working for a time yesterday for no apparent reason. I saved the state of that machine at the end of the day, but this morning when I restored it the sound was gone again, and has been absent all day today. That just adds to the mystery.

I'd be grateful any suggestions on things to tweak in Windows 10 or Virtual Box. Thank you.

00:00:01.656589 VRDP: TCP server listening on port 5970 (IPv4).
...
01:16:12.051985 VRDP: TCP server closed.

Do you have the VRDP server enabled for the guest? Please read a more thorough analysis in the "Microphone not working when VRDP is enabled" thread. That could explain the problem actually, not 100% sure though. Disable the VRDP server and see if that works...

Code: Select all

00:00:01.989668 Audio: Initializing Core Audio driver
00:00:02.058180 Audio: Found 9 devices for driver 'CoreAudio'
00:00:02.058208 Audio: Device 'Built-in Microphone':
00:00:02.058214 Audio:  Usage           = Input
00:00:02.058219 Audio:  Flags           = DEFAULT
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Input channels  = 2
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Output channels = 0
00:00:02.058223 Audio: Device 'Dell USB Audio':
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Usage           = Input
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Input channels  = 2
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Output channels = 0
00:00:02.058223 Audio: Device 'Boom2Device':
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Usage           = Duplex
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Input channels  = 2
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Output channels = 2
00:00:02.058223 Audio: Device 'Soundflower (2ch)':
00:00:02.058223 Audio:  Usage           = Duplex
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Input channels  = 2
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Output channels = 2
00:00:02.058224 Audio: Device 'Soundflower (64ch)':
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Usage           = Duplex
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Input channels  = 64
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Output channels = 64
00:00:02.058224 Audio: Device 'Aggregate Device':
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Usage           = Duplex
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Input channels  = 2
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Output channels = 2
00:00:02.058224 Audio: Device 'Built-in Output':
00:00:02.058224 Audio:  Usage           = Output
00:00:02.058376 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058387 Audio:  Input channels  = 0
00:00:02.058392 Audio:  Output channels = 2
00:00:02.058398 Audio: Device 'DisplayPort':
00:00:02.058403 Audio:  Usage           = Output
00:00:02.058408 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058412 Audio:  Input channels  = 0
00:00:02.058417 Audio:  Output channels = 2
00:00:02.058422 Audio: Device 'Dell USB Audio':
00:00:02.058427 Audio:  Usage           = Output
00:00:02.058431 Audio:  Flags           = NONE
00:00:02.058436 Audio:  Input channels  = 0
00:00:02.058441 Audio:  Output channels = 2

Can you simplify the audio situation? You have 9 (NINE) devices, 6 (SIX) input sources and 7 (SEVEN) output sinks! That's more than enough to confuse even the most complicated programs. Start simple, make sure that it works, and start building your way slowly to more complex setups...

And do get rid of the "SoundFlower" program! It's abandonware, it might crash VirtualBox and/or your host...

VRDP server has been disabled, Soundflower has been completely removed. I started and rebooted the Guest several times this morning. I also shut down the Guest and quit Vbox, and restaretd everything again. There was no sound except for one restart. On the next restart, the sound was gone again. It seems pretty random.

Can you give me 1, 2, 3, ..., etc., the step-by-step reproduction scenario for the problem to occur?

I'm afraid there isn't any such pattern. When I boot Windows, either the sound comes on or it doesn't. After booting, I log in and launch Firefox. NVDA (screen reader software) is set to launch on login. Changing that setting and launching NVDA manually makes no difference for the sound. If I save the state in which the sound is working, and restore it the next morning, the sound could easily be off again.

buckthron wrote:I'm afraid there isn't any such pattern.

I'm afraid there's got to be, because i can't replicate it no matter how hard I try. So, I'll need you to describe in complete detail the steps...

buckthron wrote:After booting

Booting or restoring from a saved state?

Did you simplify your audio setup? As in disconnecting each and every peripheral? What headphones are you using? Can you start simply without headphones? Just your MacBookPro14,2 connected to the power supply and nothing else?

I'll do what you suggest -- pare things down to a barebones setup -- but it'll have to be at home because my office setup makes this virtually impossible. I'll report back, Thanks, I appreciate it.

buckthron wrote:because my office setup makes this virtually impossible

Does your office setup include a Thunderbolt dock?

A Dell DisplayLink. I can't play sound through speakers here in this environment either. It's just going to be a lot easier for me to do this at home.

Sorry it's taken so long to report back on this. The culprit was Boom 2, a volume booster and equalizer. And it's a pain to fully remove from the Sound output control panel. You have a quit the app and kill the daemon, and sometime (it seems) you have to reboot as well.

@socratis - thanks much for your assistance and pointing me in the right direction. It's much appreciated.

buckthorn wrote:The culprit was Boom 2, a volume booster and equalizer

Glad you got it going. Marking as [Resolved].