No audio playback [SOLVED] (Solution at the end)

• May 9, 2025 - 22:42

Just downloaded latest version (OS: Windows 11 Version 2009 or later, Arch.: x86_64, MuseScore Studio version (64-bit): 4.5.2-251141402, revision: ac9d3bc), and there is no audio when I write/playback notes.

Audio output is set to correct device; mixer has an instrument loaded (I've tried several "Soundfonts MS Basic"-instruments, as well as "Musesound"-instruments from download); unticked "Exclusive Mode" in Windows Audio-settings; reverted to factory settings; restarted/reinstalled the program several times - nothing works. Help!


Comments

In reply to by bobjp

None of these settings work. I've also tried with using all the different available Buffer Size settings, without success.

Also, to add to my previous text; the playline/cursor doesn't move through the sheet music/notation when I press play/space, it's completely stuck in place.

In reply to by bobjp

Nope, sorry. Same rodeo with your file.

"test"-file is from the latest version of Musescore, literally just random notes I added to check if everything works. I haven't used Musescore in a while, sorry in advance 😅

"Jump Steady Blues" is an older Musescore (3.6.2) transcription I made, don't know if it will make any difference on your end (it also doesn't work for me, nothing seems to).

Attachment Size
test.mscz 184.3 KB
Jump Steady Blues (Pinetop Smith).mscz 40.93 KB

In reply to by Onakaru

I've seen this before. No sound, cursor doesn't move, mp3 works. Each time it is caused by something different. One person had to uncheck Hardware acceleration. Another had lower the bit rate. You've already messed with the buffer. Do you have a midi keyboard. Are your speakers wired directly, or do they go through an interface?

In reply to by bobjp

  • Tried unchecking "Hardware Acceleration" and restarting PC without success.

  • I can add notation with my midi-keyboard, but without any sound being made, and unable to play the score.

  • Speakers are wired directly to an added PCIe soundcard (Creative Sound BlasterX AE-5) on my mobo.

In reply to by Onakaru

OK very important, Make sure you have the latest drivers for your keyboard and Sound Blaster.
Might be worth disconnecting the keyboard, and restarting the computer. Worth a shot to bypass the Sound Blaster. I know I can't on my old desktop because the mobo doesn't have any audio. It's probably 15 or 20 years old.

In reply to by Onakaru

V3 can co-exist with V4, but not two versions of V4,
If yo click OK then re-open the audio settings, does it show that the buffer changed? When V4 first came out many of us had to run it at 4096. Any more 1024 is best though some people have to run it lower. If yours is stuck on 1024, that might tell us something.
Something else to try. With MuseScore closed, plug in some headphones. This will show up as a new audio output device in Sound settings. Adjust all the sound settings and make sure headphones are selected in Audio settings when you start MuseScore.
Sorry this is being such a problem for you.

In reply to by bobjp

Yeah, but I uninstalled everything Musescore-related before downloading the older versions to try out, and v4.0 still crashed instantly when starting 🤔 I'm now on both the latest v4.5.2 Musescore and the older v3.6.2.

Also, now for some reason it shows what the buffer size is set to in v4, and as you say, it's stuck on 1024, without the possibility to change it to a larger or lower size... 😵‍💫 (attached .png).

  • My wired headphones are connected through the front port, and the speakers are connected through the back port, both directly to the PCIe Soundblaster soundcard (i.e. they share the same audio output). I've tried with a pair of BT headphpones, however, and it's the same story. They work in v3.6.2, but not in v4.5.2.

  • In v.3.6.2 I have an API option in I/O. All of the API-options work and produces sound for both the speakers and BT headphones (attached .png).

No need to apologize, it's not like it's your fault, and I appreciate your efforts for trying to help me out. Though, I might have to make a dry-humored Youtube video in a Tantacrul-style about all of this 🤣

Attachment Size
Buffer Size stuck on 1024.png 169.78 KB
Musescore 3.6.2 IO.png 189.54 KB

In reply to by Onakaru

Yes, your speakers and headphones share the soundcard. But in Windows they are different audio output devices, with possible different bit rate settings. Plug in your headphones and go to Control panel>Sound. On my computer I see Speakers listed as ready and Headphones listed as Default. Unplug the headphones and they are listed as Disconnected and the Speakers are listed as default. You can have different bit rate and exclusive mode settings for each device. Windows remembers the settings for each.
The stuck buffer and the fact that sound isn't working yet make me wonder if we shouldn't go another route.
Normally by this time, sound would be working.
How old is your W11? When was the last time you cleared the cache.
If this were my system I would run a good registry cleaner and do a sfc /scannow routine. But that's me. Neither can hurt your system.
I'm pretty much out of ideas.

In reply to by bobjp

[SOLUTION]
Well, seems like either the cache-clearing or sfc routine fixed it. Haven't had any issues with any other program, so I have no idea why that would cause so much problem for this specific version of Musescore, but at least it works now 😮‍💨

Thanks for all the help!

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