Audio Problems Fix by setting the proper sound channels

[UncleP]

I have seen many people post that they loaded everything right and still don't have sound.

Here is a possible fix for most of you out there that are having problems.

 

Go to your Applications/Utilities/ folder and open your Audio Midi Setup program.

 

You will get a window that shows your audio devices and settings. There is a dropdown selector called

 

Properties For: (in this box you will see your sound card). There should be 2 to select in this option and one will be for input and the the other for output.

 

Select the one that brings the output properties on the window because that is the one we want to configure.

 

Now that the Audio Output options are up, go ahead and select 6ch-16bit to the right of the dropdown box called Format: .You can mess with the sample frequency rate later, we just want to get sound working right now.

 

Once you have the channel set to 6 channels at 16bit, now click the button called Configure Speakers.

In there you will have 2 buttons called Left Speaker and Right Speaker and below them the drop down selector to choose a channel 1 through 6. So now what you need to do is select the left dropdown and choose a channel. Most of the time channel 3 is the proper channel for the left speaker so try that first and then hit the left front button to test. You should hear white noise comming from the left speaker. If not then keep choosing a different channel and test. Do the same thing for the right speaker. I have found that 3 for left and 6 for right work most of the time. This has allot to do with the way audio channels are setup on your card for surround sound etc and therefore most cards now have more than just a 2 channel configuration.

 

Hope this helps someone out.

[pc_guru]

Hi UncleP,

 

My audio works fine, except that i only get sound from left speaker (right speaker is mute), i tried to fix it following your suggestion, but when i did enter into Audio MIDI Setup app, i didn't get output panel (look at this image posted below). Do you have any clue about ?. Thanks you in advance.

[macgirl]

Hit the button on the "Properties For:" and select the other Ac97 Audio (PCM) an the output properties appear and input disappear

[pc_guru]

Hi macgirl,

 

I did try it too, but when i get output properties, there i tried to set up my speakers hitting "Configure Speakers" button, then there i got only 2 options of channels in each speaker (channel 1 or 2), then if select channel 2 (to left or right speaker), the speaker don't play any sound (noise) and can't to set up the channel 1 for both speakers, beacuse OS doesn't allow me. Could to be this fixed ?, or is too much for to aks it ?. Thanks you for your support .

[macgirl]

Coud you change the amount of speakers?

 

I have up to 6ch-16bit.

 

Maybe the VIA audio is broke somehow.

[pc_guru]

I don't know, this works perfectly in Windows. How i change the amount of speakers ?.

[macgirl]

See the picture:

[George Elliott]

I've got a VIA based AMD motherboard with VIA AC97 audio and get the same result as pc_guru, the VIA chipset is probably not as AC97 compliant as it should be. My plantronics USB audio adaptor works though so I just hook my speakers up to that instead.

[pc_guru]

I only have 2 channels availables, i did check in BIOS Setup, but i couldn't see any option about of Audio Channels, only enable/disable VIA Audio AC97. I think that it's a trouble with driver (kext), maybe this kext only works correctly in some AC97 models, but not in all them. Look at this screen cap. Anyway, thanks you for your efforts, are very appreciated.

[macgirl]

Time to upgrade your MoBo

 

Time to upgrade my Processor

[pc_guru]

Time to upgrade your MoBo

 

Time to upgrade my Processor

It's a good advice, maybe the next year i'll buy another .

[UncleP]

Sorry about the belated reply. Did you make sure that your card information is in that kext file. Most if not all AC97 cards have the six channels. So you should be able to select 6 channels on that drop down menu. Also check you bios settings for that card and if this is a dual boot with windows on it, make sure your speaker settings in windows is set for a 5.1 surround/multispeaker layout. This may be why you only see 2 channels.

Try making those changes in windows if it is a dual boot machine and then boot back into OS X and see if you can select the proper channels. I worked on this problem with mine for a few hours before I figured this out.

 

Good luck.

 

OS X machine

 

Dell Precision Workstation 370

 

audio AC97-working

video-nvidia FX 5200 vesa ------> hoping for a good patch to get QE running

Network card builtin- not working had to install a Intel Pro 100 card- working

SATA-not working

ATA-working DVD burner OEM from Dell working. Maxtor ATA 133 30gb

[pc_guru]

If you read my post, then you'll know that i did check my BIOS and there, there isn't nothing about of channels, only enable or disable the sound card. My audio driver in windows hasn't that surround/multispeaker option.

[UncleP]

Yeah I did read your post, I was just making a generic statement for others that do have audio channel settings in their BIOS. That is really strange that you do not have speaker layout settings for your card in the advanced audio properties. Most AC97 drivers have this. I am willing to bet that this is your problem, that the driver you are using is set to 2 channel and you cannot change it to 5.1 surround etc. I had to do this to mine to get it to work in OSX. There may be another driver/software package that will allow you to make these changes in windows. Perhaps seeing if there is a driver update from your board manufacturer. Because you can get one channel to work that tells me that the problem is the channel settings. Anyway good luck with it hopefully you can look further into the settings on the card in windows and discover where you can make these changes on the card/chipset.

 

Oh I forgot to ask which exact Biostar board you are using. I could lookup the driver you are using and see if that feature is on your sound chip. Most of the Biostar P4 board specs are showing 6 channel AC 97 sound cards.

[pc_guru]

...Oh I forgot to ask which exact Biostar board you are using. I could lookup the driver you are using and see if that feature is on your sound chip. Most of the Biostar P4 board specs are showing 6 channel AC 97 sound cards...

I did search in others audio properties and found that option for 4/6 channels, but i only can to set in Win XP, because in osx86 don't exist this option. I think that the kext for AC97 isn't fixed for to work in all AC97 models, so this only will work fine in some models, but not in all. Here's attached an image of my audio card driver program (just look at post's bottom). Thanks you anyway, for your efforts.

Edited December 7, 2005 by pc_guru

[Victor Gil]

I have the same problem as pc-guru, i think the problem is the vendor:device id maybe if you try to add it to another kext it will work.

[UncleP]

ok do this, set your audio to 6 channels in XP and then reboot into OSX and see if you can change it to 6 channels. Also check that your card vendor id etc, is in the AC97 kext file.

[pc_guru]

ok do this, set your audio to 6 channels in XP and then reboot into OSX and see if you can change it to 6 channels. Also check that your card vendor id etc, is in the AC97 kext file.

I did it, before to post the previous message, but didn't work. It's a kext trouble, nothing to see with windows. I'd need to fix the kext trouble, but i'll try it after. Thanks you anyway.

[RoRoo]

I've got a strange problem

OSX natively installed on a HP DX2000MT without problems.

AC97 Soundcard is detected and installed. I can modify my volume settings..

 

But I can't hear any sound.. When I go to sound settings in the system settings i'm unable to playback a test sound.....

 

I'm currently booted in windows so screenshots will come later on.

All seems fine.. But I can't select the play audio through part :S

 

This looks alright to me.

[Parker]

Has there been any improvement in this situation?

I'm on Via AC97, left channel only, exactly as with pc_guru.

[XanthraX]

I followed the instructions of UncleP and macgirl (God bless you forewer!). All good, but I lost all the system sound allerts (apllications sounds works - iTunes, etc.).

Solution (for all of you can happened this): Open Disc Utility, select your MacHdd and repair permissions. Then restart and all will be OK.

Thanks again for your hard work and for the patience in explanations.

[BebopBlues]

I lost all audio when I have my speakers plugged into Speaker Out of the sound card. But when I plugged it in the Line Out, I get audio, but of course I cant adjust the volume. I did the audo midi speaker thing from this the info on this thread and now I have system sounds though Speaker Out again. Except I get no audio from quicktime. Audio works in iTunes though, which is bizarre beacuser I tthought iTunes use QT to playback media. Audio works in VLC also. Audio does not work in Garage Band. Any clues anyone?

[johnnytluxury]

I lost all audio when I have my speakers plugged into Speaker Out of the sound card. But when I plugged it in the Line Out, I get audio, but of course I cant adjust the volume. I did the audo midi speaker thing from this the info on this thread and now I have system sounds though Speaker Out again. Except I get no audio from quicktime. Audio works in iTunes though, which is bizarre beacuser I tthought iTunes use QT to playback media. Audio works in VLC also. Audio does not work in Garage Band. Any clues anyone?

I have the same thing, in Garage Band no audio, but everywhere else, audio. Im pretty much an expert at DAWs and sequencers, Im sure ive got everything set right, but no audio. Im thinking that since GB is a stereo only app, then it doesnt see the extra channels form the soundcard. And my audio is configed for channels 3 and 6, the only solution for this audio dilemma. Sucks, Im gonna have to try Logic, I think.