[RESOLVED] Loss of all sound

[Blindman]

I was working in Sonar 8.5.3 when I lost sound. I'm pretty sure a Windows update caused it but I don't know what it did.

It got muted somewhere? Probably, but I can't find where. I can see levels on the meters so the drivers seem to be working fine. Even so, I reinstalled them but no change. No sound from VLC when playing movies or mp3s.

In the loop:

* Kemper Profiler Rack - seems to be working perfectly, I can even record but no sound
* MOTU Ultralite Mk5 - also seems to be fine, I can see levels on the correct outputs but no sound
* Sonar 8.5.1 - same again, I can even mix a song down and the result is fine (on a different computer)

I know windows sound can be muted in several places but I haven't found the culprit yet.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks - rev

[Blindman]

​More:

* Windows Audio service is running
* Windows Audio Endpoint Builder is running
* Input and Output are correctly set
* Sys Tray Volume is up
* App Volume and Device Preferences are correctly set
* Cuemix shows output on Main 1 - 2
* Main Out Properties - 'device is working properly'
* Levels and Balance are good, Enhancements are OFF
* Audio Troubleshooter can't find anything wrong

[jdc2000]

Link to previous thread:

https://discussions.virtualdr.com/sh...11#post1571711

Questions:

What sound hardware are you using? Speakers, headphones, etc., and how are they connected to the computer?

Have you tested both the front and rear sound output connectors, assuming that you have more that one. Note that I am assuming that this is NOT a laptop. If it is, please post the make and model.

We are also assuming that the sound producing hardware (speakers, headphones, etc.) has been verified as working on another system.

You have checked Volume Mixer in the System Tray / Notification Area and scrolled through all of the settings for System and the various applications.

VLC or Windows Media Player and Youtube using a web browser have no sound?

[Blindman]

Sound Hardware:
MOTU Ultralite M5 rack mount interface connected by USB. I use the headphone outlet on the front of the unit.

>Have you tested both the front and rear sound output connectors
Not yet, I assumed it was a software problem because it went down at the same time I got a Windows Update.

Machine is not a laptop: i990-K Mag 390, 32 RAM, 3.4 mhz Intel chip

The hardware is working on the machine that's giving me no sound.
* I can see levels on the VU meters in the DAW (Sonar) and on the front panel of the Ultralite interface.
* I can mix down a song and play it on a different computer
* I can record an instrument or a voice - but in all the above circumstances, I can't hear anything.

>You have checked Volume Mixer in the System Tray / Notification Area
Yes, I listed all the places I checked in the post above. I've run out of places to check.

I also reinstalled the drivers for the Ultralite which is the only sound driver that's active. The others are disabled. No change.

>VLC or Windows Media Player and Youtube using a web browser have no sound?
Exactly, no sound from anywhere.

[jdc2000]

Things to try:

Connect the sound producing device (speakers, headphones, etc.) to the other sound output connector. Windows usually separates those, so one may be set to active while the other is inactive.

Uninstall the most recent Microsoft Update, Maybe use System Restore to revert to a previous system state also. If you have not set up System Restore (it is not enabled by default), now would be the time to do that.

[Blindman]

A System Restore is the most promising but a lot of programs would have to be reinstalled. Uninstalling the update would remove it but I doubt it would reverse all the settings it changed(?).

>to the other sound output connector
Not sure I understand you. I'm not using the onboard sound at all.

[fink]

System restore would/should only go back to a time just before the latest update so assuming the programs were installed before that they would not be affected.


There should be two separate audio outputs on the computer.. front and back.. Try the one that you aren't currently using.

[jdc2000]

What connection do you have your sound producing hardware (headset, speakers, etc.) connected to? If it is a connection on the MOTU device, what happens if you connect something to one or the other of the sound outputs on the computer itself? Do you get a popup from Windows asking what you connected? Do you get sound when you use the connection?

Does the MOTU device show any indication of activity (screen display changes, LED activity, etc.).

Uninstalling the latest Microsoft "update" and a System Restore to a date just before the update was applied may be the easiest way to get it working again.

https://www.amazon.com/MOTU-UltraLit.../dp/B091V1VWNB

[Blindman]

I was about to do a System Restore but I decided to go through the checklist one more time. A pair of faders in the QMix application that goes with the Ultralite Mk5 had been set to 0. Now I know it was a Windows Update that caused it because that's exactly the kind of thing it does. Fortunately, I noticd that the Qmix software can save a snapshot of all its settings.

Thanks for your help! - rev