Playback issues on audio devices set to high sample rates
I see a number of reports of people experiencing laggy/stuttering/distorted playback that often goes away if you set your audio device to 44.1 kHz instead of 48 (or higher). This only happens on a subset of systems, and so far the developers can't reproduce this issue. But from the number times I've seen users report and the number of times I've suggested the sample rate fix and the number of users who have confirm it worked, I know it's unfortunately not that rare either.
I'm trying to help discover the cause of this, so if you have seen this, please read on.
First, if you are still experiencing problems with playback and haven't tried setting your audio device sample rate (usually in your OS settings, or the software that came with your audio device), please try that.
Once you've tried this - whether it worked or not - I want to know more about your specific situation:
- did 44.1 kHz work for you?
- was it previously set to 48 kHz, or something else?
- if it was previously set higher, does turning it down to 48 also work?
- if it was previously set to 48, was anything higher available as an option?
- what OS are you on?
- are you using the built-in audio for your computer or an external device?
- what CPU / RAM?
- what MuseScore buffer size in Edit / Preferences / I/O?
- if you set the sample rate back to where the problem occurs, does increasing the buffer size also help or not?
- anything you think might be relevant?
Comments
Thanks for this, Marc.
I guess that three of my computers fit in the subset of which you speak.
All three are W10, fully updated. 8GB ram. SSD. Two have 2 core cpu's. One has platinum single core. I suspect that most people trying to use MU4 have similar or less spec computers. I could be wrong, but I would suspect that the developers can't reproduce the problem because they have more powerful computers. As evidenced by the published specs needed.
The above computers have been able to make MU4 OK (but not perfect) by lowering the bit rate, as you suggest. The original setting was different on each computer. I think one had to be lowered 2 or 3 settings before it worked. Most should work better by lowering one notch. But not all. But, as you know, there is more. I had to go through all the settings in the MU4 How To about some sound settings.
In the early days none of the above computers worked very well without using some kind of usb audio device. I think one cost me about $20. Later versions of MU4 worked better.
What is interesting is that my new computer works just fine. It exceeds the specs. I did set the buffer higher out of habit. I also turn off Exclusive mode out of habit.
But I see post of people with powerful computers still having trouble. Hard to say what that's about.
MS3 works perfectly, it happens with MS4, it was on 48 kHz but despite I have changed it to 44.1 it stills sounds terribly . I can't use MS4.
I change that on the loudspeakers settings. Should I change it in other cinother configuration?
In reply to MS3 works perfectly, it… by guitarmarti
You should change it in whichever device you are experiencing problems with.
If setting the sample rate by itself didn't improve playback, be sure to answer all the other questions I asked above, and follow the suggestions given there.
Marc,
Thanks for the information. I set device (Lenovo desktop) to 44.1 kHz. Tried both CD and studio settings at that level. Some improvement noticeable, but not fixed. As an added bit of information, after I installed MU4, I tried to go back and use my still-installed MU3. No go. It kept stalling before playing anything. So I deleted MU3 entirely and now trying to work only with MU4. Comments above are only about MU4.
Chris
How many people know how to "set the sample rate"? And what is it anyway?
If I am the only one who doesn't know I apologize!
In reply to How many people know how to … by azumbrunn
Unfortunately every system is different, so I can't tell you exactly how it works on yours. On Windows systems, you generally get there via the Control Panel, or by right-clicking the speaker icon on your taskbar to access its properties. On Linux there are both command-line programs and depending on your distribution, GUI interfaces. But also, external audio interfaces often come with their own apps for making audio settings.
So if you need further help, try a web search for "set sample rate" followed by the name of your OS, and audio device if something other than the default.
As for what it is, sampling is the basis of how digital audio works. Sound is a continuous wave, but digital audio is just a list of numbers. Those numbers are generated by taking a "sample" of the actual wave some number of times per second and recording the height of the wave as a number each time. The number of times this happens per second is the sample rate. A web search can give more info on this topic as well.
In reply to Unfortunately every system… by Marc Sabatella
Thank you!
Thanks Marc.
It's a bit improved at 44.1. There's a slight crackle on the first note after pressing Play and a bit of an echo after pressing Stop
N/A
Originally 48KHz
N/A
options are 96 and 192 KHz
using Windows 10 version 22H2
Built-in audio (Realtek HD)
Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-6400T CPU @ 2.20GHz 2.21 GHz 8 GB RAM
Buffer 1024
Tried 48KHz buffer 2048 No help
48 KHz 4096 No help
I've observed that MuseScore4 has problem with playing sounds when sampling frequency in Windows settings is set beyond 96 kHz (176.4 kHz, 192 kHz, 384 kHz). It works fine till 96 kHz.
There was no that problem in MuseScore3.
In reply to I've observed that… by dkx016
And it isn't that 48kHz is a magic number. Some of my systems don't even go that high. The point is that if you have a problem with playback, you go to your settings and lower the kHz by one setting. Regardless of what that setting is. And if there is still a problem, lower the setting again. I had one system that I had to take down three levels.. There are no magic bullets. You just have to keep trying things until it works. And 4096 for sure.
Hello I have several sound cards in my computer, I do work with many daws and vsts, so Im pretty familiar with audio settings. My main soundcard is an Audient Evo 8, with up to 192khz sampling rate and 24 bits. I tried every combination possible of sample rate (44.1/16, 48/16, 44.1/24) and bit depth and musescore buffer without success. I also have virtual voice meeter connected to it, and that doesnt solve the problem either, nor gets better or worse. I dont use any vst or special sf2 in my config and the behavior is the same with Muse Basic profile or the new Muse sounds.
My videocard has the nvidia audio driver for HDMI which only supports 44.1/16 and thats the only soudncard that works for me. It stills has some minor cracks but nothing like the other soundcard, where the distortion is so huge that even sounds out of tune sometimes. In my case doesnt have to do with the file being played, is constant, no matter a single piano piece or an orchestral arrangement. 16GB Ram a Ryzen 4750 CPU, Win11.
Needless to say also that even if the option involved changing the sampling rate (to 44.1/16) of my main soundcard I couldnt do it because I need a better setting for the rest of the work that I do (48/24).
Whats odd is that I havent experienced this behavior in any other audio software, including linux ports of apps (which I use a lot) or any other audio app.
In reply to Hello I have several sound… by gbombadil
Attaching diagnose file, had to remove some dumps because otherwise it will exceed the 4mb upload limit.
In reply to Hello I have several sound… by gbombadil
Notation software of any kind isn't like any other audio software. I have Sibelius and I still have to turn off "Exclusive mode" to get it to work. I assume you have several sound cards for different things you do. MU4 just might be one of those situations. The main purpose of notation software is to create notation. Audio files are down the list. The playback system for MU4 is indeed a problem that each of us have to try and solve.
The settings for my system are 2 channel, 16 bit, 480000Hz. Down from 24 bit. When I use my Focusrite, the settings are different. But then, I'm not using anything like a DAW.
When my external sound card is on, musescore plays the tunes very fast with high pitch. I didn't find how to change the sample rate on my computer, but I found that when I use my computer's speakers, the sound is ok.
Changing the sample rate from 48 to 41.1 on my audio interface results in any media playback, including MS, a tone lower than the original. 48 is fine everywhere except MS which makes it an octave higher and x2 faster.
Hi Marc, thank you for trying to help us all fix this problem.
I'm on Windows 10, 4GB RAM, 64bit operating system, Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU N3350 @ 1.10GHz 1.10 GHz processor.
Other relevant info:
In reply to Hi Marc, thank you for… by Miss_GSA
4GB RAM is not enough, see https://musescore.org/en/download#System-requirements :
Memory (RAM) 8 GB (16 GB recommended)
In reply to Hi Marc, thank you for… by Miss_GSA
And I'm guessing from those specs, that you don't have an SSD. The CPU might work, but you need an SSD and, as noted, more ram.
Did 44.1 kHz work for you? No
Was it previously set to 48 kHz, or something else? 48kHz
If it was previously set higher, does turning it down to 48 also work? N/A
if it was previously set to 48, was anything higher available as an option? No
what OS are you on? Win 11
are you using the built-in audio for your computer or an external device? Both built-in speakers and headphone
what CPU / RAM? 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-1255U 1.70 GHz, 16.0 GB
what MuseScore buffer size in Edit / Preferences / I/O? Set to Buffer size to 4096 - This is what fixed it.
Hello! This recently started happening with my computer as well. I have a MacBook Pro (version 12.7.1) and I'm not sure what the sample rate was set to originally, but it was 44.1 kHz while the problem was going on. I tried setting it to 48 and 96 but neither fixed the problem. My computer has 8gb RAM and plenty of storage and I use built-in audio, headphones, and airpods and the issue remains no matter what output I use. For me, changing the sample rate worked for mp3 exporting but not for playback in musescore. The terrible playback persists no matter what I set it to. I've changed sample rate, buffer size, reset all preferences, deleted and re-notated problem areas, and done whatever else I could think of but nothing works. I'm not sure what else to try.
In reply to Hello! This recently started… by mack49j
Remember, changing anything in the audio export dialogue won't help playback. Consider changing the Bit Rate of your audio device. You'll need to Google it for a Mac. I only know how to do it on a PC.
Still having issues with this since Musescore 4 update. Basically any setting I can set the bit rate to has extremely sped up playback. The default for my computer produced weird scifi sounds. I've read the forums up and down trying to figure it out. OS is Windows 11
System Information
Microsoft Graphics Hybrid: Not Supported
DirectX Database Version: 1.4.7
DxDiag Version: 10.00.22621.0001 64bit Unicode
Sound Devices
Description: Speakers (Realtek(R) Audio)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: No
Hardware ID: HDAUDIO\FUNC_01&VEN_10EC&DEV_1220&SUBSYS_10280AAB&REV_1001
Manufacturer ID: N/A
Product ID: N/A
Type: N/A
Driver Name: RTKVHD64.sys
Driver Version: 6.0.9388.1 (English)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
Date and Size: 7/25/2022 7:00:00 PM, 6320920 bytes
Other Files:
Driver Provider: Realtek Semiconductor Corp.
HW Accel Level: Emulation Only
Cap Flags: 0xF1F
Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 1, 0
Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
HW Memory: 0
Voice Management: No
EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
In reply to Still having issues with… by Evan Blount
I'm pretty sure you will never, ever run MU4 with a bit rate that high. Or at default for your system. I run MU4 just fine on a far lesser system. You can run it, too. Did you turn off "exclusive mode"?
In reply to Still having issues with… by Evan Blount
Choose something more conventional like 16 bit, 44100 or 48000 kHz.
In reply to Choose something more… by Marc Sabatella
For reference, see: https://musescore.org/en/node/363111#comment-1238082
I continue to have single momentary drops in playback of very large files, such as Elsa's Procession to the Cathedral in full score. I have that score populated mainly with MuseSounds. I note that the drop problem is far less or absent with MS Basic sounds or third party soundfonts. Another large but smaller file (fewer parts) plays with no problems since the latest MS4 update.
MuseScore 4.3.2.241630832 Buffer set to 4096, audio device set to 'system default' (no other choice).
Linux Mint 21.3 / Cinnamon 6.0.4, fully updated, kernel 6.5 (Swap is turned off).
AMD A6 quad core, 2GHz, 16GB RAM, 500GB HDD
I changed the audio driver from Pulse to Pipewire. MuseScore is using Alsa. Sample rate on both is set to 44.1KHz.
Only very large files with MuseSounds have the drop problem for me. The latest MuseScore update all but eliminated crashing. Pipewire audio is louder than Pulse for the same volume setting and handles high signal levels without cracking. I see no uptick in disk access when MS4 is running, so I find it hard to believe that SSD is the cure-all many claim. MS4 appears to load the soundfonts into RAM at score load time, so I can't see how an SSD would affect the stutter / drop problem.
In reply to I continue to have single… by cdurham2017
Everyone's system is different. What works for some, may not work for others. I just loaded five large scores (large for me, anyway). That put my ram usage at about 60%. Disk at 0. CPU about 10%. I started playing one. CPU went up, but not bad. Here's the thing, there was some disk usage at times. 11% at times. I learned long ago that some software requires an SSD for fast file transfer while the software is in use. At one time I only had a HDD. The software I was using stumbled and stuttered. When I was able to get an SSD, everything work properly. MuseScore needed something from the SSD when there was a sudden loud volume change. It needed it quickly. The SSD delivered and there were no stutters or drop outs. A HDD would be slower.
Side problem:
I think SF Basic.sf3 has noise in it to start with.
You can hear it plain as day in Polyphone, no MuseScore required.
I also had noise I blamed on new 4, but if you open MS Basic.sf3, and the last MS General in Polyphone, the additional noise on MS Basic is there.
E.G. Synth Brass 4 just sounds bad now, aliasing and clipping,
Marc: First, thank you for all efforts you (and others) are making to address this issue.
I had not been having this problem until very recently. I had been running my system (and my DAW) using 44.1 kHz as the default sample speed. No issues with MuseScore4. For unrelated reasons, I recently decided to switch my workflow in Cubase to use default 48 kHz. As a result, I changed the settings on my interface and in my computer. No issues with Cubase following the switch BUT suddenly MuseScore began acting funny. Trying to play back previously saved scores resulted in ultra slow, laggy and artifact-heavy sound (I can see how people would describe it as "alien-like"). Tried a bunch of things but ultimately switching the interface back to 44.1 AND substantially increasing the buffer size made it possible to play those previous scores back.
My answers to your bullet point questions, fwiw:
- yes, 44.1 previously worked and I got it working again but only after REALLY bumping up buffer size
-scores originally authored when system was set at 44.1, system had been changed to 48 kHz for use with other software
-N/A (though my interface supports sample rates of up to 192000
-yes, my interface has four higher options higher than 48 kHz
-Windows 11
-12th Gen Intel Core i7-12700K 3.6 GHz / 64 GB RAM
- 4096 buffer size
-not sure what is meant by this bullet point
- Initially, I tried changing sample rates to resolve the problem, thinking there was a mismatch issue going on - I can't remember the exact sequence of events, but certain changes resulted in comically fast playback and elevated pitch (think "cassette tape being fast wound with playback heads engaged"). Then, weirdly, I think the problem may have somehow resolved itself now - I shut down MuseHub and rebooted everything, and I believe all is working as predicted - with system and interface all agreeing on 48kHz.
Hope that helps. MuseScore is awesome, notwithstanding this little glitch. Thanks again.
-
In reply to Marc: First, thank you for… by warwalker
Hi I also am having the problem with sound distortion during playback on muse score. I will will in your questions one by one
Once you've tried this - whether it worked or not - I want to know more about your specific situation:
The problem started after upgrading to Muse 4.
First over my computer: Mac Book OS 12.7.6 Monterey.
Chip Apple M1 Pro
Memory total (is that CPU?) 32GB of the computer
*did 44.1 kHz work for you? was it previously set to 48 kHz, or something else?
-On checking the audio: the sample rate for playback is 44.1
-The sample rate for audo recording is 48. I do not use this for muse score
****According to the Mac Help person there is no way to change these setting in a Mac.
*what OS are you on? OS 12.7.6
*are you using the built-in audio for your computer or an external device?
YES
*what CPU / RAM?
It says Geheugen 32 GB (geheugen is the Dutch word for memory.
*what MuseScore buffer size in Edit / Preferences / I/O?
The buffer size was set to 1024; I changed it to the highest possible 409. When I look at buffer in the activity page of the apple computer it said 587 MB and then 704MB.
RESULT:
I have a test score consisting of two long tone using oboe as sound (at quarter note at 40 metronome). After making a higher buffer the distortion was not erratic but regular bups in the long tone. However, I am wondering if that has to do with the annoying vibrato in the oboe sound. In any case, I am going to set out the computer and on again and then check out my other scores.
*if you set the sample rate back to where the problem occurs, does increasing the buffer size also help or not?
I cannot change anything inn the sample rate
*anything you think might be relevant?
1. I have no idea if I am using the computer midi or the muse score sounds. I would prefer to use the muse score sounds if that works better, I did download a lot of sounds on the hub when I had muse score 3.
2. this problem did not occur using muse score 3. I would even convert back to avoid this problem, but not many of my scores are now in muse score 4.
3. The help person from the apple technical help desk kept telling me that the problem might go away if I upgrade to the higher Mac OS. Is this REALLY necessary? [I hate changing to a higher system. In my experience, a lot happens that I do not want. Like "you can connect to other better". I do not want them to help me to connect to anything, taking over my computer. "your Photos's will be organized so you can find them and grouped to gether and what not." I do not want them taking over my computer... ]
4. Do you think that it might help to use an external sound card? If so, what is a very simple one that I can use for eventual audio recording and for Muse Score? I saw there was an audio editing program callled
5. I am not sure that Muse score hub is installed. If I open the muse hub app it says "Welcome to the new Muse Hub Preview" and is asking me to log in... Even though I am loggied into Muse Score (I think).
OK, now I am going to turn off my computer. If the irrecgular distortions continue, I will add another comment to this thread.
In reply to Hi I also am having the… by jlp56
PS to previous: After shutting down and starting my mac book, I just played a score briefly. The distortion sounds seemed to have gone from muse score, but the playing stopped for a minisecond every measure or so.
By the way, what does MU4 mean? How can I find out if my computer recognizes it?
In reply to Hi I also am having the… by jlp56
Thanks for providing this info, but I'm not seeing where you've said what the actual problem you are experiencing is. Might make sense to make a screen recording, post it somewhere, and add a link here.
BTW, you say "I did download a lot of sounds on the hub when I had muse score 3" but that doesn't make sense; Muse Hub didn't exist until MU4. You also say "I am not sure that Muse score hub is installed. If I open the muse hub app it says 'Welcome to the new Muse Hub Preview' and is asking me to log in" - that says yes, you have the new Muse Hub. It has a login separate from MuseScore's own login, so you need to do that if you want to download paid sounds (I think you can download free sounds without an account, although I'm not sure).
P.S. MU4 = MuseScore 4. Earlier you mentioned "Muse 4", by which I assume you mean the same thing; MU4 is just the more "official" abbreviation.
In reply to Thanks for providing this… by Marc Sabatella
Hi! I would like to send a sound recording. I cannot post any sound file somewhere and then a link here. I do not use the social media. Can I send a sound file directly to this post? Or email ik to someone?
the sound is soms sort of burpy, like a distortion which happens in short bursts, irregularly; It seems more often when more instruments are playing.
I am going to get the hub sorted out and maybe that will help.
Thanks for you explanation.
I very recently noticed this problem, particularly with very specific note transitions of Violin 1 (Solo). Only just thought to google this and stumbled upon this thread.
- Switching my sample rate on my system from 48 kHz to 44.1 kHz fixed the issue.
- It was previously set to 48 kHz, which is the highest option available on my system. Other devices have higher options available, but seem to have the same result.
- I'm on Windows 10 Pro
- I'm using an Alesis Multimix 8 mixer. Testing other devices seems to have the same results.
- CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700 || RAM: 16GB
- Original Buffer Size: 1024
- Increasing the buffer size and returning to 48 kHz doesn't seem to help at all, even after a system restart and with Musescore being the only thing running.
- I've only noticed these clicks happening lately with the Violin 1 (Solo) sample (extremely consistently) and very rarely with the Cello (Solo) sample. I made a score demonstrating some Violin 1 (Solo) notes that seem to result in these clicks every single time in 48 kHz for me, which I'm attaching here.