M1 2020 Macbook Air: Web browsers play 5.1 surround sound but VLC, Quicktime and Premiere Pro do not.

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Level 1

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M1 2020 Macbook Air: Web browsers play 5.1 surround sound but VLC, Quicktime and Premiere Pro do not.

Hi all,

I'm trying to play back a .mov file that has a 5.1 surround sound track. My laptop is a 2020 M1 Macbook Air running Monterey 12.4. It's connected to an Onkyo TX-NR757, 7.2 channel receiver via a brand-new Insignia 4k @ 60hz USB-C to HDMI cable.

On this setup, I can successfully play back a 5.1 test YouTube video in surround-sound from Google Chrome (as well as Safari). I can also successfully play back surround-sound audio when previewing the .mov file via google drive's player in Google Chrome. However, if I download the .mov file and try playing it with Quicktime, VLC or Premiere Pro, all I get is stereo sound. No change has taken place to my audio setup other than that it's not being played back via a browser. Premiere indicates that it the file has all tracks once downloaded (the track levels in Premier's VU display show activity) however, I only get stereo during playback. Does anyone have any insight as to what needs to change in order for Quicktime, VLC and Premiere Pro to successfully deliver 5.1? What are Chrome and Safari doing that the other apps aren't?

Just a note: my device is detected in Audio Midi Setup. I have the format set to 7 channel, 24 bit integar 48kHz of output. When using the test buttons in Midi Setup's "Configure Speakers" window I cannot produce sound on any channels other than the first two. Regardless, 5.1 surround will still play on all speakers correctly if run through the browsers.

Deadline approaching, and I'm a simple man. Help please! Thanks.

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 12.4

Posted on Jan 9, 2025 2:27 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

PinkRocket

Level 1

12 points

Jan 10, 2025 12:28 AM in response to tinycanoe

Chrome and Safari often bypass macOS’saudio configuration and directly pass encoded 5.1 signals (like Dolby Digital or DTS) to the receiver. macOS Core Audio defaults to stereo output for certain apps unless explicitly configured.

Some apps require manual configuration to output 5.1 audio nothing to do with macOS Core Audio have you tried the sound settings for each app? Also keep in mind QuickTime does not support all surround formats directly.

Try this with VLC:

Go to Preferences > Audio.
Set Output module to “CoreAudio” or “Automatic.”
Set Speaker Configuration to “5.1.”
Restart VLC and test playback.

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Answer 2

Jan 11, 2025 4:59 PM in response to tinycanoe

Maybe check out the Audio Midi Setup as mentioned in this article:

https://www.mattcarrier.com/post/enable-surround-sound-hdmi-osx/

And see this similar suggestion from a respected forum contributor last year:

Mac Mini: how to output to 5.1/dolby surround - Apple Community

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Answer 3

tinycanoe Author

Level 1

4 points

Jan 11, 2025 2:13 PM in response to PinkRocket

Thanks for your response.

Unfortunately my version of VLC's advanced preferences menu does not display all the the options you have mentioned. Of the options you suggested, the only option that matches is "Automatic" from the Ouput modules menu. Seemingly, there is no Speaker Configuration menu in VLC (and it doesn't show up when I select any of the output modules types).

Setting to automatic and relaunching VLC made no changes.

I'm running the latest version of VLC, being 3.0.20.

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M1 2020 Macbook Air: Web browsers play 5.1 surround sound but VLC, Quicktime and Premiere Pro do not.

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