OS: Windows 8.1
I'm noticing that when playing something from VLC (though it happens when playing audio from Chrome) that my sound will pseudo-randomly become quiet.
Chiefly it happens on the 'new tab' screen of google chrome, as well as google searches through windows chrome. It will occasionally happen when I open other applications – though I've not yet found any rhyme or reason to it.
Device is the built-in realtek device through my headphone jack, driver is most current according to their website.
Not really sure how to diagnose or fix this. Help appreciated.
EDIT: Logging in as a different user fixes the issue. Disabling all extra chrome extensions does not. Still looking for a solution for my regular user account.
List of things causing the issue:
- Chrome
- Launching a windows 7 virtualbox VM (not VBox manager though)
- Mumble
- Will update with more as found
- NOT Foobar2000 (I had suspected the issue may be coming from applications that play sound?)
- Installed Skype to test, during the initial 'setup' of my account (for sound/mic/video) my audio was hushed, despite that I have the 'communications activity' set to 'do nothing'.
Best Answer
Following the answer here
I unchecked "Allow application to take exclusive control of this device". Not the best way to go about it, but it works and since I rarely use the built-in mic I doubt I'll have an issue.