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
    2023-11-22T18:29:34+00:00

    Colleague, the reviews you write about and this topic, like the second one you mentioned, were created by me :-) As well as recommendations to write a review in the built-in “Feedback Center” are mentioned everywhere, in many places where this problem is discussed, including There is also this recommendation under the video provided, as well as information that your engineers know about the problem (this has been happening for a long time). So I spent a few minutes working on this, many minutes actually :-) Thanks for helping me finally solve this problem. Millions of people will be grateful to you. Something else is strange, because Microsoft is probably conducting independent testing, including the multimedia block, just as it receives information from participants in preliminary testing. How did it happen that for almost 2 years this problem was “invisible”, provided that it existed in all builds starting with 22H2? :-)

    "

    471 просмотр 24 апр. 2023 г.

    The first track I play is an MP3 file that is playing correctly without any issue. The second track I play is an AAC/M4A file purchased from iTunes, and you can see the volume fluctuations in the waveform (as well as hear the fluctuating).

    Edit: so after a bunch of troubleshooting with Microsoft Support via DM on Twitter, they recommended that I submit the issue to them via the Feedback Hub that's apparently built into Windows: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/w..."

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-26T10:54:36+00:00

    Pete, I do appreciate your responsiveness. It's nice to be able to have some actual conversation. Thank you!

    I actually did post about this in the Feedback hub about 6 months ago. https://aka.ms/AAns8g9 That's recent? I know you said to add videos and reproduction elements, and recheck the post in a month, and if there's no activity to go and post it more places, but I have no way of knowing if that will get more attention. Even if it did, there no way to know if any changes would occur. I may still do it next time (I appreciate the advice) but, in all honesty, I'm not getting paid for any of that work and I am a busy person.

    I'd like to reiterate, I appreciate you and how you're actually being helpful here. I just think that the policies and methods used by microsoft are clunky and inefficient. It seems that's largely due to volume... So, in light of all this, I'd like to promote a suggestion that might help us all a whole lot: "Updates" are only mandatory if they are directly related to essential security updates. No more forcing an "update" that takes away a feature (like moving the taskbar). He's the feedback hub link https://aka.ms/AAnt63c
    Considering
     the post for moving the taskbar (https://aka.ms/AAd2jme) has 27,000+ upvotes and no action has been taken, I don't think this will do it, but it's worth a shot.

    Drew

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-11-27T00:25:27+00:00

    Pete, I do appreciate your responsiveness. It's nice to be able to have some actual conversation. Thank you!

    I actually did post about this in the Feedback hub about 6 months ago. https://aka.ms/AAns8g9 That's recent? I know you said to add videos and reproduction elements, and recheck the post in a month, and if there's no activity to go and post it more places, but I have no way of knowing if that will get more attention. Even if it did, there no way to know if any changes would occur. I may still do it next time (I appreciate the advice) but, in all honesty, I'm not getting paid for any of that work and I am a busy person.

    I'd like to reiterate, I appreciate you and how you're actually being helpful here. I just think that the policies and methods used by microsoft are clunky and inefficient. It seems that's largely due to volume... So, in light of all this, I'd like to promote a suggestion that might help us all a whole lot: "Updates" are only mandatory if they are directly related to essential security updates. No more forcing an "update" that takes away a feature (like moving the taskbar). He's the feedback hub link https://aka.ms/AAnt63c
    Considering
     the post for moving the taskbar (https://aka.ms/AAd2jme) has 27,000+ upvotes and no action has been taken, I don't think this will do it, but it's worth a shot.

    Drew

    Thanks. I didn't see your feedback hub entry because it doesn't have M4A in it anywhere (that's what I searched on previously). Good to know it's there.

    FWIW, we don't need videos or similar, but we do need repro recordings. If you pick the Devices & Drivers -> Audio category when reporting something through feedback hub, you are able to record, right through the tool, what happens. Nothing else needed.

    In this case, it was filed under Windows Security, so the audio team would never have seen it, and any recording would not have the correct data. I do wish the FB Hub tool had more guidance for picking categories.

    On the taskbar docking: not sure where the shell team sits with that one, and why it hasn't been implemented in the new version (the taskbar was completely rewritten for Windows 11, which is why some catch-up was needed). They did take the feedback for not combining icons and showing icon labels and added that to a recent Windows 11 release, however, so they do listen, even if it takes a while.

    Updates: I know that goes against the direction Windows has taken, so I wouldn't expect to see anything there. However, if you are running Pro or better, and know the risks, here's the supported way to disable updates:

    https://devblogs.microsoft.com/windows-music-dev/take-control-of-windows-updates-on-your-windows-11-daw-pc/

    Pete

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-01T20:21:43+00:00

    This fix has been scheduled to go out into retail Windows in February.

    The holidays added a delay for rollouts, so this is the earliest possible time when it can go out.

    Note that this is not a guarantee of when it will go out. It represents current plans.

    Thanks

    Pete

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