Another Question for the Geeks
Posted on October 19, 2006 Posted by John Scalzi 34 Comments
Can anyone explain to me why the flash media I play on any of my Web browsers on the Mac is suddenly without sound? Everything else works perfectly, sound-wise, including non-flash streaming media. Can anyone suggest how I can get the sound back on? YouTube just isn’t the same without sound.
There is blockage in the mac internet tube, so sound can’t get through. Your local internet plumber will be around soon to un plug the tube.
There is blockage in the mac internet tube, so sound can’t get through. Your local internet plumber will be around soon to un plug the tube.
The latest Mac update did something to sound in Flash which requires the source to be using a certain version I think. I noticed it on The Radiant Vistas daily critique downloads where the lead in was a different video format than the actual critique. They had a suggestion on their site on a temp fix which didn’t work for me then a couple of days later the problem went away. I usually try to be more helpful than this…
Here’s a fix, hopefully the fix
http://www.kaourantin.net/2006/07/universal-binary-update-sound-woes.html
Here’s a fix, hopefully the fix
http://www.kaourantin.net/2006/07/universal-binary-update-sound-woes.html
Here’s a fix, hopefully the fix
http://www.kaourantin.net/2006/07/universal-binary-update-sound-woes.html
I’m running 10.4.8 PPC, and I’ve got sound in flash in all browsers.
Kind of a dumb question, but have you tried rebooting?
I’m running 10.4.8 PPC, and I’ve got sound in flash in all browsers.
Kind of a dumb question, but have you tried rebooting?
Also, if that doesn’t work, it’s possible that the Flip4Mac WMV quicktime plugin could be the culprit, so you may try disabling that if nothing else works, as well as trashing Flash prefs.
Also, if that doesn’t work, it’s possible that the Flip4Mac WMV quicktime plugin could be the culprit, so you may try disabling that if nothing else works, as well as trashing Flash prefs.
I’m incredibly embarrassed to admit this – but when I’ve had this problem, I invariably had the volume set on ‘mute’ :).
Another thing worth trying is repairing permissions. It’s controversial in that some people insist it does nothing, but I’ve had flakiness cured on several different Macs with it.
If you haven’t done it before: quit all your apps, open Applications>Utilities, launch Disk Utility, select your hard drive in that window and click “Repair Permissions.” Go get Kodi a snack. When Disk Utility has done its thing, restart.
Early-stage brain tumor.
Early-stage brain tumor.
Yes, I was an AV geek.
Are the speakers plugged in?
Are they turned on?
Is the volume turned up?
(Question 1 solves 90% of problems. Questions 2 & 3 handle 60% of the remaning problems.)
Is the sound muted?
Is YouTube’s volume muted?
Heh. Yes, the variations of the “mute” button are the first things I checked.
As it happens, I upgraded the DivX plug-in, and that seemed to bring back the sound. Mysterious are the ways of software.
Loosen your belt.
It may be cutting off circulation to your ears.
I find that every other week or so, I have to restart Firefox because the Flash component has more or less died. Not just no sound–although I think I may have had that situation once as well–but no picture. It’s basically like Flash just stops loading. However, a quit and fresh restart of Firefox always fixes it.
I know I saw a problem associated with quicktime and the playing of flash content. On my windows machine, I had to go into the quicktime advanced menu and ensure that Flash playback was enabled. I will need to check my Mac tonight to see if the setting is turned off there. Then again I may be on the wrong track, but being that flash is the only thing not working – you might want to look in that direction.
I know I saw a problem associated with quicktime and the playing of flash content. On my windows machine, I had to go into the quicktime advanced menu and ensure that Flash playback was enabled. I will need to check my Mac tonight to see if the setting is turned off there. Then again I may be on the wrong track, but being that flash is the only thing not working – you might want to look in that direction.
Interestingly enough, I just installed Flash 9 on Linux, and no I have no sound. I haven’t taken the time to get it fixed yet, but did you by chance just install Flash 9?
The solution is non-obvious but simple:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=300832
If it works, you may be interested to know that I found on Apple’s website under Support–>Discussions–>Cat: OSX Tiger–>sound stop
Well, you know what they say: Hearing is the first thing to go.
I’ve never heard that one before.
I’ve never heard that one before.
Shky, I’ve had problems flash sound and linux. Typically, the problem is fixed by logging out and back in, but if you’re using a debian based distro like Ubuntu, there is a fix:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=255422
This might work on other distros, but I’m fairly new at this linux thing so I’m not sure:P The problem usually occurs for me when I’m using other applications that use sound…
Shky, I’ve had problems flash sound and linux. Typically, the problem is fixed by logging out and back in, but if you’re using a debian based distro like Ubuntu, there is a fix:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=255422
This might work on other distros, but I’m fairly new at this linux thing so I’m not sure:P The problem usually occurs for me when I’m using other applications that use sound…
Shky, I’ve had problems flash sound and linux. Typically, the problem is fixed by logging out and back in, but if you’re using a debian based distro like Ubuntu, there is a fix:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=255422
This might work on other distros, but I’m fairly new at this linux thing so I’m not sure:P The problem usually occurs for me when I’m using other applications that use sound…
Mark:
Yeah, my problem had usually been solved by just restarting Firefox, but this is a new Flash 9 issue and, sadly, your fix didn’t work. I’m fearing that there’s a larger (perhaps more sinister?) issue here…
I had the same problem with a bizarre cause, the cause of your problem may be different and this solution may not apply to you. But just in case, here’s something to check.
In /Applications/Utilities there’s an application called “Audio MIDI Setup”. Run that thing. In the “Audio Devices” tab, check that your Audio Output for the device you’re using for output (probably already selected) is set to “Format: 44100.0 Hz 2ch-16bit”.
Here’s an explanation. I often ran an application called “idefisk” to do internet telephony, and used a bluetooth headset paired with my computer. After running idefisk, if I aimed Safari or Firefox at a youtube site, the audio would be missing — actually audio was being routed to my bluetooth headset. The reason was that the internet telephone app had set my computer’s audio to 96000.0 Hz, which was accepted by my bluetooth headset but not by my Computer’s built-in audio, so all sounds were routed there. Setting audio output back to 44100.0 Hz in Audio Midi Setup fixed the problem.
So it was all a matter of some app changing my audio settings to something incompatible with my audio output device. Strangely enough, iTunes still worked fine — I think it must bypass the system audio settings.
I had the same problem with a bizarre cause, the cause of your problem may be different and this solution may not apply to you. But just in case, here’s something to check.
In /Applications/Utilities there’s an application called “Audio MIDI Setup”. Run that thing. In the “Audio Devices” tab, check that your Audio Output for the device you’re using for output (probably already selected) is set to “Format: 44100.0 Hz 2ch-16bit”.
Here’s an explanation. I often ran an application called “idefisk” to do internet telephony, and used a bluetooth headset paired with my computer. After running idefisk, if I aimed Safari or Firefox at a youtube site, the audio would be missing — actually audio was being routed to my bluetooth headset. The reason was that the internet telephone app had set my computer’s audio to 96000.0 Hz, which was accepted by my bluetooth headset but not by my Computer’s built-in audio, so all sounds were routed there. Setting audio output back to 44100.0 Hz in Audio Midi Setup fixed the problem.
So it was all a matter of some app changing my audio settings to something incompatible with my audio output device. Strangely enough, iTunes still worked fine — I think it must bypass the system audio settings.
You can also try launching GarageBand.
I’m having the same problem w/ no audio being heard in Flash players; youtube videos or myspace videos. I don’t use Firefox or have a Mac. I have IE and a regular IBM pc. Any solutions?
I’m having the same problem w/ no audio being heard in Flash players; youtube videos or myspace videos. I don’t use Firefox or have a Mac. I have IE and a regular IBM pc. Any solutions?