MATLAB crashes when I use any sound commands

[7/17/21 FIXED] - Sound Blaster sound card software is responsible for this

My MATLAB crashes when I use any sound related commands.

For example, when I try to play the gong sound using this code

load gong.mat;
soundsc(y);

I encounter a critical error. A window pops up that reads "MATLAB stopped working and needs to close".

System Info:

64-bit Windows

NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti

128GB RAM

Here is the error log for running the above code:

MATLAB Log File: C:\Users\Owner\AppData\Local\Temp\matlab_crash_dump.39388-1

------------------------------------------------
MATLAB Log File
------------------------------------------------ 


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Access violation detected at 2021-07-16 12:18:38 -0500
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Configuration:
  Crash Decoding           : Disabled - No sandbox or build area path
  Crash Mode               : continue (default)
  Default Encoding         : windows-1252
  Deployed                 : false
  Graphics Driver          : Unknown software 
  Graphics card 1          : NVIDIA ( 0x10de ) NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Version 27.21.14.5671 (2020-9-30)
  Java Version             : Java 1.8.0_202-b08 with Oracle Corporation Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM mixed mode
  MATLAB Architecture      : win64
  MATLAB Entitlement ID    : 6807331
  MATLAB Root              : C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a
  MATLAB Version           : 9.10.0.1684407 (R2021a) Update 3
  OpenGL                   : software
  Operating System         : Microsoft Windows 10 Pro
  Process ID               : 39388
  Processor ID             : x86 Family 143 Model 1 Stepping 1, AuthenticAMD
  Session Key              : fd97cd4c-d892-4914-90b8-a764dca88540
  Window System            : Version 10.0 (Build 19041)

Fault Count: 1


Abnormal termination:
Access violation

Current Thread: 'MCR 0 interpreter thread' id 40256

Register State (from fault):
  RAX = 0000000000000002  RBX = 0000024de6d60b40
  RCX = 738f419beee90000  RDX = 0000000000000000
  RSP = 00000069c88f44a0  RBP = 0000000000000002
  RSI = 00000200522f4c20  RDI = 0000000000000000
 
   R8 = 00000069c88f4358   R9 = 0000024de6c57400
  R10 = 0000000000000000  R11 = 00000069c88f4470
  R12 = 0000000000000006  R13 = 0000024de6d60e58
  R14 = 0000000000000001  R15 = 0000000000000020
 
  RIP = 000000005ecdaf78  EFL = 00010202
 
   CS = 0033   FS = 0053   GS = 002b

Stack Trace (from fault):
[  0] 0x000000005ecdaf78                   C:\WINDOWS\system32\CtHdAs64.dll+00044920 DllInstall+00008252
[  1] 0x000000005ecd97f6                   C:\WINDOWS\system32\CtHdAs64.dll+00038902 DllInstall+00002234
[  2] 0x00007ffea9ba3341 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00078657 PaAsio_ShowControlPanel+00001025
[  3] 0x00007ffea9ba0945 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00067909 Pa_Sleep+00039829
[  4] 0x00007ffea9ba0586 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00066950 Pa_Sleep+00038870
[  5] 0x00007ffea9ba2d4b C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00077131 Pa_Sleep+00049051
[  6] 0x00007ffea9b93195 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00012693 PaUtil_InitializeX86PlainConverters+00004773
[  7] 0x00007ffea9b93a37 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libportaudio.dll+00014903 Pa_Initialize+00000039
[  8] 0x00007ffea9c45398 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libaudiodevice.dll+00021400
[  9] 0x00007ffea9c4cb4a C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libaudiodevice.dll+00052042
[ 10] 0x00007ffea9c67cba C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\toolbox\shared\multimedia\+multimedia\+internal\+audio\+device\private\mexAudioDeviceInfo.mexw64+00031930 mexFunction+00000058
[ 11] 0x00007ffec79eeec9 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmex.dll+00585417 mexfile::Inspector::needs_upgrade+00014585
[ 12] 0x00007ffec79effc2 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmex.dll+00589762 MexRetrieveVersion+00003074
[ 13] 0x00007ffec79f02e7 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmex.dll+00590567 MexRetrieveVersion+00003879
[ 14] 0x00007ffec79d0542 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmex.dll+00460098 mexUnlock_800+00025874
[ 15] 0x00007ffec7f6ee80                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00585344 Mfh_file::dispatch_file_common+00000164
[ 16] 0x00007ffec7f6e63e                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00583230 Mfh_error::lookup+00003386
[ 17] 0x00007ffec7f6edd5                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00585173 Mfh_file::dispatch+00000045
[ 18] 0x00007ffec4ff6acd                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00355021
[ 19] 0x00007ffec4ff636f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00353135
[ 20] 0x00007ffec4ff5ca1                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00351393
[ 21] 0x00007ffec50123c7                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00467911 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00106135
[ 22] 0x00007ffec5011261                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00463457 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00101681
[ 23] 0x00007ffec5010c72                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00461938 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00100162
[ 24] 0x00007ffec50153f3                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00480243 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00118467
[ 25] 0x00007ffec501509f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00479391 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00117615
[ 26] 0x00007ffec4ffd2c0                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00381632 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00019856
[ 27] 0x00007ffec4ffc0eb                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00377067 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00015291
[ 28] 0x00007ffec4ffb136                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00373046 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00011270
[ 29] 0x00007ffec5071667                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00857703 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00495927
[ 30] 0x00007ffec4ff83fa                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00361466
[ 31] 0x00007ffec51618c5                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01841349 mwboost::archive::detail::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::ClosedAbstractionFunctionDescriptorOwningIrTree>::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::ClosedAbstractionFunctionDescriptorOwningIrTree>+00045473
[ 32] 0x00007ffec7ef49f8                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00084472 Mfh_MATLAB_fn_impl::need_FunctionExecutionFrame+00000568
[ 33] 0x00007ffec7ef5f0d                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00089869 Mfh_file::dispatch+00000045
[ 34] 0x00007ffebcf8851a                        bin\win64\pgo\mcos_impl.dll+00623898 mdMethodListAllFcn+00068554
[ 35] 0x00007ffebcf3b971                        bin\win64\pgo\mcos_impl.dll+00309617
[ 36] 0x00007ffebcf3b474                        bin\win64\pgo\mcos_impl.dll+00308340
[ 37] 0x00007ffebcf3c2db                        bin\win64\pgo\mcos_impl.dll+00312027
[ 38] 0x00007ffebcf3ac41                        bin\win64\pgo\mcos_impl.dll+00306241
[ 39] 0x00007ffecf8c1783                                 bin\win64\mcos.dll+00137091 omDirectSetProperty+00000067
[ 40] 0x00007ffec3f4956e                 bin\win64\pgo\libmwlxeindexing.dll+00038254 MathWorks::lxe::at_rdot_1_mcos+00001118
[ 41] 0x00007ffec3f48dc7                 bin\win64\pgo\libmwlxeindexing.dll+00036295 MathWorks::lxe::assign_dot_pointer_mcos+00000311
[ 42] 0x00007ffec4ff636f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00353135
[ 43] 0x00007ffec4ff4d31                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00347441
[ 44] 0x00007ffec50123c7                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00467911 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00106135
[ 45] 0x00007ffec5011261                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00463457 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00101681
[ 46] 0x00007ffec5010c72                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00461938 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00100162
[ 47] 0x00007ffec50153f3                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00480243 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00118467
[ 48] 0x00007ffec501509f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00479391 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00117615
[ 49] 0x00007ffec4ffd2c0                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00381632 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00019856
[ 50] 0x00007ffec4ffc0eb                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00377067 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00015291
[ 51] 0x00007ffec4ffb136                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00373046 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00011270
[ 52] 0x00007ffec51c214e                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+02236750 mwboost::archive::detail::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::MatlabIrTree>::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::MatlabIrTree>+00049818
[ 53] 0x00007ffec4ff83da                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00361434
[ 54] 0x00007ffec51618c5                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01841349 mwboost::archive::detail::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::ClosedAbstractionFunctionDescriptorOwningIrTree>::oserializer<mwboost::archive::binaryTerm_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::ClosedAbstractionFunctionDescriptorOwningIrTree>+00045473
[ 55] 0x00007ffec7f6ee80                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00585344 Mfh_file::dispatch_file_common+00000164
[ 56] 0x00007ffec7f6e63e                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00583230 Mfh_error::lookup+00003386
[ 57] 0x00007ffec7f6edd5                     bin\win64\pgo\m_dispatcher.dll+00585173 Mfh_file::dispatch+00000045
[ 58] 0x00007ffec4ff7115                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00356629
[ 59] 0x00007ffec5044ede                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00675550 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00313774
[ 60] 0x00007ffec4ff636f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00353135
[ 61] 0x00007ffec4ff4431                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00345137
[ 62] 0x00007ffec50123c7                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00467911 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00106135
[ 63] 0x00007ffec5011261                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00463457 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00101681
[ 64] 0x00007ffec5010c72                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00461938 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00100162
[ 65] 0x00007ffec50153f3                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00480243 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00118467
[ 66] 0x00007ffec501509f                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00479391 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00117615
[ 67] 0x00007ffec4ffd2c0                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00381632 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00019856
[ 68] 0x00007ffec4ffc0eb                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00377067 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00015291
[ 69] 0x00007ffec4ffb136                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+00373046 MathWorks::lxe::initializeFcn+00011270
[ 70] 0x00007ffec50d4296                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01262230 MathWorks::lxe::ShutdownLxeEngine+00031034
[ 71] 0x00007ffec50d40c2                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01261762 MathWorks::lxe::ShutdownLxeEngine+00030566
[ 72] 0x00007ffec50d363b                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01259067 MathWorks::lxe::ShutdownLxeEngine+00027871
[ 73] 0x00007ffec50d35f2                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+01258994 MathWorks::lxe::ShutdownLxeEngine+00027798
[ 74] 0x00007ffec6c0ac5a                            bin\win64\pgo\m_lxe.dll+29797466 mwboost::archive::detail::pointer_oserializer<mwboost::archive::xml_oarchive,MathWorks::lxe::PreLineExecutionEvent>::save_object_ptr+00299002
[ 75] 0x00007ffec7a8a3a9 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmwbridge.dll+00172969 mnGetPrompt+00027097
[ 76] 0x00007ffec8212266   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00467558 iqm::Iqm::instance+00001190
[ 77] 0x00007ffec82686b3   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00820915 iqm::UserEvalPlugin::execute+00001347
[ 78] 0x00007ffec82365ec   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00615916 iqm::Iqm::setupIqmFcnPtrs+00106204
[ 79] 0x00007ffec8240faa   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00659370 iqm::Iqm::setupIqmFcnPtrs+00149658
[ 80] 0x00007ffec8207720   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00423712 iqm::Iqm::create+00008352
[ 81] 0x00007ffec7a78eaf C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmwbridge.dll+00102063 ioReadLine+00000463
[ 82] 0x00007ffec7a78ca5 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmwbridge.dll+00101541 ioReadLine+00000165
[ 83] 0x00007ffec7a8a761 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmwbridge.dll+00173921 mnGetCommandLineBuffer+00000289
[ 84] 0x00007ffec7a8abb7 C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\libmwbridge.dll+00175031 mnParser+00000487
[ 85] 0x00007ffec8073d86   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00540038 mcr_set_enableReadingFromStdin+00013894
[ 86] 0x00007ffec800f5d3   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00128467 mcrFunctionSignature::set_signature+00107555
[ 87] 0x00007ffec802b550   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00243024 mcrFunctionSignature::set_signature+00222112
[ 88] 0x00007ffec826392a   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00801066 iqm::PackagedTaskPlugin::execute+00000074
[ 89] 0x00007ffec806e1ed   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00516589 services::lmgr::exception::LicensingStartupException::~LicensingStartupException+00009613
[ 90] 0x00007ffec82365ec   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00615916 iqm::Iqm::setupIqmFcnPtrs+00106204
[ 91] 0x00007ffec82084bc   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00427196 iqm::Iqm::create+00011836
[ 92] 0x00007ffec8207c32   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\iqm.dll+00425010 iqm::Iqm::create+00009650
[ 93] 0x00007ffec80458fc   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00350460 mcrInstantiationError::operator=+00010428
[ 94] 0x00007ffec80464ac   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00353452 mcrInstantiationError::operator=+00013420
[ 95] 0x00007ffec8043ac0   C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mcr.dll+00342720 mcrInstantiationError::operator=+00002688
[ 96] 0x00007fff4d079b9a C:\Program Files\MATLAB\R2021a\bin\win64\mwboost_thread-vc142-mt-x64-1_72.dll+00039834 mwboost::thread::swap+00000074
[ 97] 0x00007fff71b91bb2                   C:\WINDOWS\System32\ucrtbase.dll+00138162 configthreadlocale+00000146
[ 98] 0x00007fff720b7034                   C:\WINDOWS\System32\KERNEL32.DLL+00094260 BaseThreadInitThunk+00000020
[ 99] 0x00007fff73fc2651                      C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\ntdll.dll+00337489 RtlUserThreadStart+00000033


This error was detected while a MEX-file was running. If the MEX-file
is not an official MathWorks function, please examine its source code
for errors. Please consult the External Interfaces Guide for information
on debugging MEX-files.

I have already tried running these MATLAB from command prompt using suggestions from other forum posts and none work:

matlab -nosoftwareopengl
matlab -noopengl
matlab -softwareopenglmesa

[Walter Roberson]

The failing dll is part of Soundblaster

[David Poe]

@Walter Roberson Thank you. I uninstalled the sound blaster software and now it works.

[Image Analyst]

David: I think they should still know about it. MATLAB should throw an error message but keep running. It should not just crash in a fiery heap and shut down.

Answer 1

[Image Analyst]

When MATLAB crashes, it usually pops up a crash report, either right when it crashed or maybe when you restart MATLAB. You did send in the crash report, right? So what was the Mathworks response? Look for it in your email.

Since it seems to be a problem with a mex file or DLL that is an OS file, not your own, I'd think they should help you solve it for free.

Answer 2

[Jan]

The OpenGL flags are for managing the graphics, but your problem concerns the sound.

Did you update the sound drivers already?

[David Poe]

All of my sound drivers are up to date and the default device in Windows is set to my headphones, which works for all other sound playing applications.