Sound problem in Mac OS when using Windows App (aka Remote Desktop)

Question

Hi everyone,

I have a Macbook Air M1 laptop, running the latest Sequoia (15.2) OS, and I use the Windows App (previously called Remote Desktop) to remote my workstation PC.

The remote session works great, but that's until I launch an application or a game that utilizes the remote audio driver for forwarding the audio to Mac OS so I could hear it. The application that utilizes the audio driver doesn't have to actively sending sound, but just to be in focus.

I made a short video that describes it best. You may find it here: https://youtu.be/DIJWFaQtf6Q

It shows a silent remote session, and when I launch DOSBox for example without launching any game in it, suddenly the noise kicks in. But it's not just DOSBox - it can be any application that utilizes audio. I also tried to launch Adobe Premiere Pro and it does the same thing when it's just opened and in focus, again, even when it's not actively playing any video or audio. If I click away to the Desktop (which makes the application to not be in focus) the noises stop. Bringing the application back to focus by clicking on it and the noises return. In the DOSBox example above though the sound driver is utilized as long as it's opened, no matter if the application is in focus or not. It's likely a driver thing I guess.

I mainly wish to make video tutorials with decent sound without noises when I'm working on my Mac, but on Windows applications. Hence I'm using a remote session. I could record them directly on my PC (which works great and without this sound problem), but that obligates me to physically sit in-front of my PC workstation than on my laptop, and I'm really looking for the freedom to record my tutorials on my laptop anywhere I go. But that audio problem kind of ruins the decent sound I'm looking for.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Hello,

Depending on the issue you described, this could be due to the audio driver or system settings. Here are some possible solutions you can try:

1. Make sure that your Mac's audio output device is set up correctly. Open System Settings, click Sound, in the Output tab, make sure the correct audio output device is selected.
2. If there is a problem with the audio driver, it may cause noise. Make sure your Windows system and all drivers are up to date. If you're using Boot Camp to install Windows, you can try reinstalling the Boot Camp driver.
3. If you have installed third-party audio software, such as SoundSource, it may conflict with your system's audio settings. You can try quitting or uninstalling the third-party audio software and see if the problem is solved.
4. If you're using a virtual machine to run Windows, you may need to adjust the memory settings of the virtual machine to make sure it doesn't take up too much memory.
5. System Management Controllers (SMCs) and Non-Volatile Random Access Memory (NVRAM) or Parametric RAM (PRAM) can affect a variety of hardware functions, including audio, and resetting these can sometimes resolve sound issues.

SMC Reset: Depending on your MacBook model, the steps to reset the SMC are different. Refer to the specific instructions for your Mac on the Apple Support website.

NVRAM/PRAM Reset: Restart your Mac, and immediately press and hold Option-Command-P-R until you hear the startup sound twice.

6. Try connecting the headphones to your MacBook's headphone jack. If sound can be played normally through the headphones, this may indicate a problem with the internal speakers.

If none of the above methods resolve the issue, there may be a hardware issue with your MacBook's audio components. And the issue only happens on MacBooks, and it is recommended that you contact the Apple technical support team for further assistance.

I hope this information helps.

Best regards,

Jingjing Wu

Answer 2

Thanks Jingjing Wu for the detailed response.

My Windows PC is a physical machine, so no virtualization is involved. But it does seem like a problem that occurs from the Mac OS side, as I couldn't reproduce this issue when trying to remote my PC from my smartphone via the RD Client app, and I used the same headphones. I also disconnected the headphones from my Macbook and tried to use the internal speakers and the same problem occurred. So this makes me think that it's actually a logical issue with how the sound is forwarded from the remote session to Mac OS.