Sound over USB-C monitor stutters after MacBook hybernates due to empty battery

[qiiwexc]

BetterDisplay: Version 4.2.3 Build 48120
Hardware: MacBook Pro, M1 Pro, 16 GB (MK183KS/A)
macOS: Version 26.4 (25E246)

My use-case is connecting an external monitor over USB-C and routing sound through it to the speakers connected to the monitor over a regular AUX/3.5mm audio out.
I don't remember the model number of the monitor, but I can check it tomorrow if it matters.

The app works perfectly (thank you for the great work!). However! If the battery runs out and the laptop turns off (while not connected to the monitor because the monitor charges the MacBook), when I connect it to the monitor the next time and try to play audio, it stutters and increasingly lags behind the video. Restarting BetterDisplay or the playback app doesn't fix it - only restarting macOS does (audio device driver issue?).

This happens, for example, if I play something on YouTube - and it doesn't matter if it's Chrome or Firefox. In some cases the playback won't even start, and YouTube will just show the spinner. In some cases the payback will work - with the stutters - and then will stop at some point, and show the spinner.

When this happens, changing audio output device in macOS to the built-in speakers makes the playback work normally. Then changing it back to the monitor breaks it again.

4.2.3. is the version currently installed, but this is not a new issue, could even be that this has been the case the whole time I was using the app (~2 years), I don't remember anymore.

Not a deal-breaker, just annoying at times - but it also forces me to restart macOS more frequently, which may even be considered a good thing 😅

[waydabber]

Yeah, this is sadly a generic macOS issue. Sometimes this is fixed by changing the sampling frequency (sound format) in Audio Midi Setup for the output.

[qiiwexc]

I see, thank you for the response! I had a hunch this could be rather a macOS thing.

I will tinker with the sampling frequency then, maybe I'll find a way.