No sound from Bluetooth headphones/Poor sound quality/Only one of them has sound: Causes and solutions

Question

There is no sound, no sound, poor sound quality, or monaural when using Bluetooth headphones or earphones. What is the cause?

Answer

It describes the Windows environment. There may be some reference for Mac as well.

Also, as far as I tried, Windows 11 seems to have improved the processing of Bluetooth profiles, and it seems that the problem of DaVinci Resolve not producing sound has disappeared.

However, due to the Bluetooth specification, when launching DaVinci Resolve, there is a problem that other sounds cannot be heard. This issue also occurs in web conferences such as Zoom. I have no choice but to understand.

First, check if the sound is output without problems with other software. If there is no problem, it may be solved by setting DaVinci Resolve.

This case, Bluetooth specifications and causes are also written in some detail, so it is quite long. In general, sound will come out if you refer to the contents of "Settings" at the bottom and set the OS and DaVinci Resolve. please confirm.

This article is specific to Bluetooth devices. It can be a problem for common reasons. If this article does not resolve the issue, please also check the following articles:

Confirmed content

It has been confirmed that the following situations occur under certain conditions. However, in either case, it is not a problem of DaVinci Resolve itself, but the Bluetooth specification that cannot use audio using multiple profiles at the same time.

  • No sound from DaVinci Resolve
  • I can't hear the sound of other software when starting DaVinci Resolve

Bluetooth specifications

[point! ! ]Cannot play 2 profiles at the same time

Although Bluetooth allows multiple profiles to be connected at the same time, it is not possible to process audio with multiple profiles at the same time.
If you have used Bluetooth headsets or earphones to listen to music on your smartphone, when you answer the phone while listening to music or watching videos, the sound quality will switch to that of the phone. You'll notice that it disappears, and when the call ends, you can hear the music or video audio again. Since the profile used for music and videos (high sound quality) and the profile for telephone use (low sound quality) are different types, simultaneous audio processing (playback) is not possible. (Depending on the model and software, I think that there are some that stop the sound in a different way than the profile. Also, I think that there are some that can be played back using a low-quality phone profile. )

Headphone/earphone profile types

  • Input / Output: Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
    Two-way microphone for headsets and profile for low-quality mono audio
  • Profile for A2DP
    high quality unidirectional

DaVinci Resolve audio input/output specifications

DaVinci Resolve's audio settings are set in "Audio I/O" in "Video & Audio Input/Output" in the "System" tab of [DaVinci Resolve]-[Preferences].
If "input device" or "output device" is "Use system setting", the device set in the OS will be used for output. If it is not "Use system setting", the specified device will be used.

Conditions under which the problematic phenomenon occurs

For Windows 11

You can not select "Hands-Free Profile (HFP)" and "A2DP" in "output device" like Windows 10. This seems to be an improvement to make it easier to solve the problem of no sound, which is caused by the fact that the Bluetooth specification does not allow two profiles to be played at the same time. However, I can't find any information that mentions this matter, so it may be different depending on the PC environment. In that case, please refer to the information for Windows 10.

The term "Bluetooth" here assumes that the same device is used for input and output, and although it has not been verified, there should be no problem with other Bluetooth devices.

input devices output device Possible problems
Bluetooth
(Connected with Hands-Free Profile (HFP))
Bluetooth
(Connected with Hands-Free Profile (HFP))
Poor sound quality
Is the sound monaural?
other apps will also
to Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
.
Bluetooth
(Connected with Hands-Free Profile (HFP))
Bluetooth
(connected by A2DP)
that such a combination

is not possible due to the improvement of the OS specifications
PC built-in microphone, etc.Hands-Free Profile (HFP) that such a combination

is not possible due to the improvement of the OS specifications
PC built-in microphone, etc. A2DP High quality sound, no problems

For Windows 10

Depending on what you've specified as "input device" and "output device" in DaVinci Resolve, you'll end up with something like this: It is assumed that the same device is used for input and output, and although it has not been verified, there should be no problem with other Bluetooth devices.

input devices output device Possible problems
Hands-Free Profile (HFP)Hands-Free Profile (HFP)Poor sound quality
Is the sound monaural?
Can't hear sounds from other apps?
Hands-Free Profile (HFP) A2DPCan't hear sound from all apps

Can't play audio from 2 profiles at the same time
PC built-in microphone, etc.Hands-Free Profile (HFP) Poor sound quality
Is the sound monaural?
Can't hear sounds from other apps?
PC built-in microphone, etc. A2DP High quality sound, no problems

Purpose of use and overview of settings for Bluetooth devices (by OS)

Windows 11

The protocol to be used with Bluetooth is automatically selected depending on whether or not it is set to use the microphone of the Bluetooth device. If you have any problems, please refer to the information for Windows 10 and try to set it.

When using a Bluetooth device microphone with DaVinci Resolve

It is automatically connected with Hands-Free Profile (HFP), and the microphone can be used.
However, the output will be of low quality. If you want to use a microphone with high sound quality, please use it in conjunction with other audio output devices.

When not using the microphone of a Bluetooth device with DaVinci Resolve

It will automatically connect with A2DP with high sound quality.

Windows 10

Depending on what the end goal is, the pattern will be:

If you want to listen to high-quality sound with DaVinci Resolve using the Bluetooth device's microphone +

Due to the Bluetooth specification there is no way for a single device.
Please use it together with other audio output devices.

With DaVinci Resolve Bluetooth device's microphone + If you want to hear the sound with the Bluetooth device even if the sound quality is low

  Connect with Hands-Free Profile (HFP) with low sound quality.

When not using the microphone of a Bluetooth device with DaVinci Resolve

 Connect with A2DP with high sound quality.

setting

OS

Windows 11

No special settings are required. Check the DaVinci Resolve settings below.

Windows 10

Click the audio output icon in the taskbar and click the up arrow to the right of the currently set output device

The display name differs depending on the Bluetooth device used.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but you may see multiple similarities. Now you can select which profile to use. It may vary from device to device, but it usually looks something like this:

  • Hands-Free~: Hands-Free Profile (HFP)
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio
  • Items without Hands-Free: A2DP
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Stereo

Here, DaVinci Resolve changes what to select depending on whether or not the microphone of the Bluetooth device is used.

  • When using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve: Items with "Hands-Free" description
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio
  • If you do not use the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve: Items that are not listed as Hands-Free
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Stereo

Next, select "Open sound settings" to set and check the microphone.

The output has already been set.

output

  • When using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve: Select the one with the description "Hands-Free"
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio
  • If you do not use the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve: Select the one that does not have "Hands-Free~"
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Stereo

input

  • When using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve: Select the one with the description "Hands-Free"
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio
  • If you do not use the microphone function in DaVinci Resolve: Select another product
    Example: Realteckxxx, other USB connected camera microphones, etc.

Example of using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve

  • Output: Select the one with Hands-Free ~
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio
  • Input: Select the item with "Hands-Free~"
    Example: WH-1000XM4 Hands-Free AG Audio

Example of not using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve

Output: Select the one that does not have Hands-Free ~
Example: WH-1000XM4 Stereo

  • Input: Select another product
    Example: Realtekxxx, other USB-connected camera microphones, etc.

Note: At this point, if the input has "hands-free" and the output has "no hands-free", even if DaVinci Resolve is not used, the Bluetooth specification will Sound may not be output.

DaVinci Resolve

Select [DaVinci Resolve]-[Preferences] > [User] tab and set [Audio I/O] in [Video & Audio Input/Output]. Set "Input device" and "Output device". At this time, it is recommended to select "Use system setting" for both. "Use system setting" will use the OS settings. After setting, restart DaVinci Resolve and check.

If there is no sound even if you select "Use system setting" for both, set the "Input device" and "Output device" selected on the OS side, restart DaVinci Resolve and check. . In the setting example below, "Automatic speaker configuration" is unchecked and the output is set in more detail with "Monitor Speaker Configuration". Then, uncheck "Automatic speaker configuration" and set the details in "Monitor Speaker Configuration".

Example of using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve

Example of not using the microphone function with DaVinci Resolve

Example configuration that causes the problem

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