Big problems with M4A after updating to Windows 11 22H2

Anonymous
2023-05-16T09:52:13+00:00

Dear colleagues, after updating Windows 11 to 22H2, there were significant problems with playing files purchased from iTunes in .m4a (AAC, ALAC) format. This problem has been fixed by a lot of people all over the world and is especially evident on the DJ forums. Problems are observed with the quality of playback, and with the volume and with a number of other parameters. This problem is detected on software that uses the built-in Windows 11 22H2 codecs (on earlier versions, the problem is not observed), Windows Media Player, RekordBox, Serato DJ Pro, etc. On players that use their own codecs (VLC, iTunes, JetAudio HD, etc.) there is no problem. When converting m4a to mp3, there are no problems. What it looks like: https://youtu.be/WqAA12pfWjg and https://youtu.be/um3QSTuLg6s Software vendors fix this issue after the 22H2 update as well, label it as a Microsoft issue and offer a workaround, such as converting the entire m4a database to other formats, which of course is completely unacceptable advice with a database of several thousand files. https://forums.pioneerdj.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/12212808237337-RekordBox-5-8-7-m4a-problems Does Microsoft acknowledge the existence of this problem and when is it planned to release an urgent fix, since. the problem has been observed for a very long time and prevents normal operation?

Thanks in advance!

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Devices and drivers

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Anonymous
2024-03-27T00:42:35+00:00

I installed KB5035942 and unless I'm severely mistaken, the issue seems to be resolved.

Can anyone else confirm?

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T21:57:52+00:00

    I'm just using a regular media player (MediaMonkey) and I have the same issue.

    Sound starts stuttering badly, glitching and the volume goes from normal to 0 and back again.

    This is after installing today's release?

    And what is the name, artist, and source of the track? Thanks.

    Pete

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T22:05:25+00:00

    Yes, after today's update.

    It happens with all m4a songs that were affected by the original issue (basically almost everything released since 2021).

    I can list some albums:

    Beast In Black - Dark Connection (2021)

    Saurom - El Pájaro Fantasma (2023)

    Blind Guardian - The God Machine (2022)

    Brymir - Voices In The Sky (2022)

    No point in listing specific tracks because all songs from the albums have issues.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T22:40:46+00:00

    Thanks

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-02-29T22:46:43+00:00

    Thanks all for the track info and FB hub reports.

    The team is setting up another test environment with today's release and the track names you provided. This all worked in Canary Insider builds, so we need to figure out what other change made it into retail that messed this up.

    I'll update here when I know more. In the mean time, if you found that it was more usable or in any way better before you installed today's update, I recommend removing it while you can (there's a time window during which you can remove an update. IIRC, the limit is around 10 days)

    Pete

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