I’m baffled as to why Dorico playback won’t play through to a bluetooth speaker, when everything else on my mac does. I’ve noted posts here about the problem in Windows, but apparently Mac is entirely different. I’ve tried Dorico preferences/play/audio device setup/device control panel… nothing makes a difference. Looking forward to some guidance here. Thanks!
On a Mac, the Bluetooth speaker must be selected as the output device or part of an aggregate output. Once that is done then in Dorico, goto EDIT → device setup and select either the output device (if available in the list) or the aggregate output. Sound should then play from Dorico. I don’t have a BT speaker but I use cable to an old BOSE home theatre system.
The setting up the output is done using “Audio MIDI Setup.app”
By default, the external headphones play through the built-in audio system, so for me, I select as follows in Dorico:
If you need to set up an aggregate device, this link will help:
Hope this helps.
Do other apps use the Bluetooth speaker — is it just Dorico that does not use it? (If none, is it paired in the system settings?)
Is it selected in Dorico’s preferences (Edit–>Device Setup); is it in the list?
Another option is to include it in an “aggregate audio device.” But you want to make sure it’s working first!
Kent @kasky1 beat me to it!
Thank you both… everything my MacBook Air plays goes through to Bluetooth speakers, except Dorico. Bluetooth is not in the list presented by Dorico under Edit-> Device Setup, only Built-In Audio, Microsoft Teams Audio (god knows why that is there), and PA248QV (which is my monitor!). None of those sends the signal to the Bluetooth. And meanwhile, so long as the Mac is connected to the Bluetooth speaker, Dorico playback doesn’t come through built-in speakers or external headphones either.
Perhaps creating an aggregate audio device would make it show up among Dorico device options?
@twiprud , I see no reason why it should not work with you. Could you please post here a diagnostic report (Dorico menu: Help > Create Diagnostic Report)? Thanks
Thanks - here you go. I hope it’s what you wanted.
Dorico Diagnostics.zip (2.2 MB)
It may also be relevant that I’m using NotePerformer.
I may be wrong, but I don’t think that Noteperformer would negate the use of an audio device. I would try building an aggregate device that includes the BT speaker(s) and built-in speakers and headphones. If the aggregate device appears in Dorico’s Device Setup, Select it and make sure your volume slider is at least 50% and test with Dorico.
Microsoft Teams Audio is usually installed when interacting on a Microsoft Team web-based meeting or support session. If you have MS Office 365, it may have been installed with that.
Edit: just to be thorough, reboot your Macbook Air and restart Dorico before changing Device Settings in Dorico after configuring the aggregate device.
Thanks for the diagnostics, @twiprud .
Also the logs show me that your BT speakers do not turn up as audio device in Dorico. The only thing I can think about is the sample rate setting of your BT speakers. Please check it in the Audio MIDI Setup app. What sample rate is shown there? Dorico needs a minimum of 44.1 kHz. Anything lower will not turn up.
That sounds like a promising issue. But looking at a typical BT speaker paired with my laptop in Audio Midi Setup, I see this, which seems to say we’re at 44.1 kHz. And yet Dorico won’t come through, whereas everything else from my laptop does. I feel like there must be a secret switch that’s in the wrong position!
Is the sampling rate in Dorico’s Device Setup also at 44100 Hz?
Wow, kasky1, that sounded promising, because Dorico was set to 48000. I moved it to 44100 expecting instant results. But no dice.
The problem seems to be that the bluetooth speaker doesn’t appear among options in the Device Setup menu, although it does appear in the Mac’s Preferences/Sound menu, and I can toggle back and forth between internal speakers and bluetooth speaker for everything except Dorico.
Other ideas? Why won’t Dorico recognize the bluetooth option?
There is some extra logging that one can switch on which might give a clue.
I will look up the recipe and post it here. A little patience please…thanks
Here we go, please do:
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Stop Dorico
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Open a Terminal window (/Applications/Utilities/Terminal.app)
and in there copy and paste the following 2 commands:`defaults write com.steinberg.components.coreaudio2asio "Debug Level" -int 3` `defaults write com.steinberg.components.coreaudio2asio "Debug File" -string ~/Desktop/CA2ASIOdebugout.txt`
After pasting each line press the Return/Enter key.
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Then start Dorico and do power cycles 2 or 3 times with your JBL, leave 30 seconds few seconds in between each cycle.
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When you then stop Dorico, have a look at your Desktop for the CA2ASIOdebugout.txt and send me that text file. In order to upload it here you most likely need to zip it first.
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And, because that logging is quite performance hungry, switch the logging off again by doing
`defaults write com.steinberg.components.coreaudio2asio "Debug Level" -int 0`
First, Ulf, let me say, I am very grateful for the time and attention you are giving this.
I’ve followed your instructions and am attaching the CA2ASIOdebugout.txt.
Ted
CA2ASIOdebugout.txt.zip (1.4 KB)
Thanks a lot!
Interestingly, your JBL does get recognized by our component but yet still not listed in Dorico.
Would you please do the same again and increase the debug level to 4? Thank you so much.
OK, increased to level 4, the last character in the first command line.
CA2ASIOdebugout.txt.zip (1.4 KB)
Thanks a ton, but unfortunately same output. So I will try to get hands on one of those JBLs as well, or something similar, I think my daughter has something like that.
It’s bedtime here now… I’ll be back… 
Good morning,
at least there is no general problem with JBL devices. I have a JBL BT headset which works well, plus I’ve tried with my daughters JBL Go 3 box, which also works without a glitch on my M1 MacMini. So at this stage I don’t know what to say any more…
Good morning, Ulf, and thanks for experimenting with JBL speakers. I happen to be trying to make this work with the JBL, but I have had the same issue with two other bluetooth speakers from different manufacturers. I have to believe it’s a Dorico issue. And that if you haven’t been able to spot the problem, it’s not fixable with the current version of DoricoPro5.
There’s a simple workaround, of course - exporting an mp3 and playing it via Apple Music or any other app.
Thanks again for your efforts, and here’s hoping a Steinberg tech takes note.