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AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

jeffgeerling.com

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Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#151

Post by zapzupnz »

voltagex_ wrote: post #102
ddingus wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah. I have some bluetooth gear. I so very rarely use it, but like you, there are times, right? I just do not expect much. If it pairs and does anything, cool. Get it done, ditch it quick. When it works well? Total fucking bonus! I have that gear due to a couple well meant gifts. Like most things, it goes in my road bag. I have a very wide variety of bits in there accumulated over 20 some years. Can handle a ton of…

I'll be very sad when analog video dies - I've just been fighting with getting the Nintendo Switch to output via an unofficial dock (because the official one is too big to travel with).

You're game, trying to use an unofficial Dock. There's a heavy risk of your Switch entering a boot loop, effectively becoming bricked.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#154

Post by voltagex_ »

zapzupnz wrote: post #151
voltagex_ wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'll be very sad when analog video dies - I've just been fighting with getting the Nintendo Switch to output via an unofficial dock (because the official one is too big to travel with).

You're game, trying to use an unofficial Dock. There's a heavy risk of your Switch entering a boot loop, effectively becoming bricked.

Uh,yes, apparently I've been very lucky. I've stopped now.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#155

Post by LUmBULtERA »

geekit wrote: post #147
morpheuskafka wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting. On Windows 10, it shows a in/out "Headset (AirPods Hands-Free)" and an out only "Headphones (AirPods Audio)." So this transition would be very easy for the user to see. However, I've as yet been unable to get a straight answer on what profile the "Headphones" mode is actually using.

AirPods on Windows 10 is really a disaster, after listening for while, it will go mute randomly (then requires reconnecting), and sometimes sound doesn't match to the other side of pair, few milliseconds apart - which will again require reconnecting. Hence I had to stop using it.

This is the same for me. I also just went back to using wired headphones with my laptop. I hope that some solution comes out.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#156

Post by _asummers »

makarhum wrote: post #140
_asummers wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

https://github.com/torvalds/linux/tree/master/drivers/blueto... The Linux source for it is even less approachable.

Well, those are mostly just vendor specific drivers. Actual Bluetooth kernel code can be found here: https://github.com/torvalds/linux/tree/master/net/bluetooth IMO it is quite well organised and readable.

Sorry - didn't mean to suggest it's not organized and readable. More that the sheer magnitude makes it not approachable. There's a LOT going on there.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#157

Post by appleflaxen »

DiabloD3 wrote: post #35

I will also repeat what has been said about twelve times thus far: Enabling microphone makes Bluetooth headsets turn into pure shit. Guess what 5.0 finally allows as per spec? You can use any codec you want for telephony mode, including 44.1 stereo + 44.1 mono SBC. Guess what Apple does not implement, and guess what every 5.0 headset I've seen so far also does not implement? Sigh. Bluetooth is 20 years old this year,…

> Bluetooth is 20 years old this year, and is still a fucking unmitigated trainwreck of unusabilty.

hear hear!

this is just perfectly stated. but why is it thus? bluetooth had such promise as an idea; where did it go wrong?

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#158

Post by pasta1212 »

floatingatoll wrote: post #29

You may find value in this Mac app that disables the microphone input channel on AirPods as part of pairing them, which should in theory permanently resolve your issue: https://c-command.com/toothfairy/ (Note that I neither know how they’re doing it nor have I tried to reverse engineer it. Works well for me in non-VMWare scenarios!)

I do the same thing I think, but with Hammerspoon. The script I’m using in Hammerspoon automatically switches the Input Device back to Internal Microphone when a BT device is connected. Solves the issue for all BT devices w/speakers + mic. I haven’t used it, but I’m guessing ToothFairy does the same thing, although maybe it has some more bells and whistles.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#159

Post by pohl »

makarhum wrote: post #134
pohl wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s definitely a Bluetooth audio thing. I can hear mine shift into a lower quality audio when I use them for conference calls. (There’s a limited amount of bandwidth and it has to make room for bidirectional audio.)

As someone else pointed out it is not actually bandwidth problem. Reason behind this is that high quality audio streaming profile A2DP is one-way only and once mic is needed, profile is changed to bidirectional but low quality HSP. My workaround for conference calls is to use my MacBook's internal microphone instead of one of my Bluetooth headset.

I suspect that the underlying reason that the profile switch happens, though, is because of bandwidth limits. That’s what Sennheiser is telling their customers, at least.

https://sennheiseruk.happyfox.com/kb/article/175-different-b...

The real answer may be more subtle than that. Maybe there is just enough bandwidth, but using it would have an adverse effect on latency, which bidirectional use cases are more sensitive to.

Either way, the profiles were designed within constraints. They’re not arbitrary.

Re: AirPods get stuck in low-quality 16 kHz audio mode when starting a VM

#160

Post by wildmusings »

schrodinger wrote: post #82
wildmusings wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a 2017 Mini and I have all these problems. The audio clips and has other issues when played over USB, but not Bluetooth. So I have to choose between good audio and charging my phone. I’m about to buy a USB adapter that plugs into the cigarette lighter just to fix this problem. Just as you describe, the entertainment system UI is god awful too.

Wonder if you could get one of those "USB Condoms" to be able to charge without it connecting? http://syncstop.com/

Thank you. Combined with some other advice in this thread, I’ve settled on this one:

“PortaPow 3rd Gen Data Blocker” https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QRRZ2QM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_X....

In addition to blocking the data lines, it should also provide faster charge speed.

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