Quodlibet: Cannot switch output (Mac)

[kyle-fredrickson]

Suppose I have a laptop connected to a monitor via HDMI. When I switch output from the mac internal speakers to the speakers on the monitor, the app fails to switch output. Also, if I disconnect the HDMI and then plug it back in the app will crash.

[othalan]

For completeness, I want to document here what is happening:

This problem seems to be related to the backend (gstreamer), which I realized because it also effects my use of Clementine player which also uses gstreamer on the backend. While a true solution needs to come from gstreamer, workarounds are possible:

• When changing audio output devices, stop and restart the audio backend.
  
  
  
  • This is problematic in QuodLibet because there is no "stop" button, only "pause".
  
  
  • I have developed a plugin (#2848) which changes "pause" into stop/play/seek. This resets the gstreamer backend and thus connects to the new audio device.
  
  
• Use a different backend.
  
  
  
  • I am currently developing a new backend based on the VLC media player which automatically transitions to a new audio device.
  
  
  • Initial discussion can be found in issue #2845.
  
  

I am uncertain if this is a bug in gstreamer or a limitation in its functionality.

[madeindjs]

This problem still exists on QuodLibet 4.3.0 / Mac OS Catalina 10.15.4

[marians]

I can confirm this problem for macOS BIg Sur v11.1.

Also https://github.com/quodlibet/quodlibet/issues/3210 seems to be related or even a duplicate.

[chrisresnikrakuten]

I originally created #3210
A workaround I found out in the meantime: double-click a track to restart it, the new audio device will be used
as workaround, it's acceptable for me but then again, I see other software such as Zoom that automatically recognise new audio devices and start using them as default device (plug in usb-headsets or removing one). so I'm not sure what prevents quodLibet from doing so.
apart from, quite a nice player.

[waaykool]

@chrisresnikrakuten

Thanks for this tip! I am having the same issue and have been quitting and restarting the app in order to change audio device. Double-click on a track is totally acceptable for me as well and works just fine.