How to fix various OS X audio problems

PostMar 14th, 2007 | Comments (4)
Mac Law: If you ever start having audio problems with OS X, open up Audio MIDI Setup.

It's in the Utilities folder in your Applications folder. I don't own any MIDI devises, nor have I ever, but I'll be damed if this little application hasn't saved the sound on my computer more than once. I've balance problems, no sound, low sound, "thin" sound - Audio MIDI Setup solved the problems each and every time.

I recently noticed that occasionally songs in iTunes were just "missing something." Sometimes it was a guitar lick that I knew should be there or a background instrument that was mysteriously missing. So I opened up Audio MIDI Setup, and sure enough my audio output was set to "1ch 16-bit." As soon as I changed it to "2ch 24-bit," everything returned to normal.

I have no clue what causes the audio on my computer(s) to get out of whack. I just know how to fix it now.

I would even recommend opening up Audio MIDI Setup on your computer just to make sure your Audio Output is set correctly.

Comments

andrewMar 16, 2007
mine was already on stereo. not sure if i set it or was default...
jonSep 7, 2010
Holy crap, thank you for posting this. Somehow all my outputs decided they'd switch to 16KHz. The page came up with a google search for "mac os x spontaneous audio quality".

Thanks again.
-j
wojtekFeb 19, 2011
funny thing. after 4 years of posting - still good idea. i changed from 24 bit to 16 bit and it stopped to make terrible audio glitches on hight tones :) pretty disturbing, but now it's ok. thanks!
chriswsrnMar 26, 2011
Thanks, you saved me that $50 USD i was going to spend on an support indecent with apple.

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