musescore / musescore/MuseScore
'Audio device -> System default' should update sample rate appropriately when system audio device changes
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Since Apr 24, 2026.
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Description
Issue type
General playback bug
Description with steps to reproduce
- Connect two devices with a different
sampleRateto your Windows computer (e.g. default built-in speaker and bluetooth headphones set to Headset) - Open MuseScore 4
- Edit -> Preferences -> Audio & MIDI -> make sure
Audio deviceis set toSystem default-> OK - Play some notes
- Change the output audio device in Windows (in the Windows taskbar, click on the speaker icon and change the speaker, e.g. from built-in speaker to headset)
- Play the same notes again
Actual result
The notes are played at a different pitch (approximately semi-tone difference between 48 kHz and 44.1 kHz; a huuuge difference between 48 kHz and 16000 Hz). It appears the duration of notes also gets changed.
Expected result
Changing the output device within Windows should not affect the playback pitch and speed.
Supporting files, videos and screenshots
The MuseScore4 audio settings in question look like the following screenshot (there is no "Audio API" option).
It appears the MuseScore-Studio-Nightly-260424045-4.7-a2af04c-x86_64 adds the Audio API option. In Nightly, I still had "System default" selected. It appears switching between 48 kHz and 44.1 kHz is fixed in Nightly, but not switching to 16 kHz (Headset) – this one plays an octave lower.
In which versions of MuseScore Studio is this issue present?
OS: Windows 10 Version 22H2 or later, Arch.: x86_64, MuseScore Studio version (64-bit): 4.6.5-253511702, revision: github-musescore-musescore-653f38d
Regression
Yes, this used to work in MuseScore 3.x and now is broken
Operating system
Windows 10
Additional context
Note: MuseScore3 has a different behaviour: changing the output device does not automatically change it. You have to Reset the audio devices for changes to take effect. Then there's no pitch issue. Switching between Headphones and Headset (same device, different profile) can be performed without restting and works without affecting the pitch.
Checking the sample rate
Windows 10: Settings -> System -> Sound -> Device properties -> Related Settings: Additional Device Properties -> Advanced -> Default Format
Checklist
- This report follows the guidelines for reporting bugs and issues
- I have verified that this issue has not been logged before, by searching the issue tracker for similar issues
- I have attached all requested files and information to this report
- I have attempted to identify the root problem as concisely as possible, and have used minimal reproducible examples where possible
Contributor guide
First steps
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- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Assessment
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