Playing audio file on macos-14 agent takes very long time than expected

[sanket492]

Description

I am using macos-14 agent for running automated tests which involves playing audio (.wav file).
The duration of audio file is 2 seconds, but audio file is played on agent takes approx. 6 to 8 mins.

I have tried 2 approaches to play the audio. (Audio file link: https://github.com/sanket492/TestAudio/blob/main/PatientComplainsOfHeadache.wav)

Approach 1: Using Java classes:

/**
 * Plays a sound in simulator
 *
 * @param audioFileName
 */
public static void playSound(String audioFileName) {
    try {
        int audioDuration = getAudioDurationInt(audioFileName);
        Clip clip = AudioSystem.getClip();
        File file = new File(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/audioFiles/" + audioFileName);
        clip.open(AudioSystem.getAudioInputStream(file));

        clip.start();
        Thread.sleep((audioDuration+1)*1000);
        clip.stop();
        clip.close();
    } catch (Exception exc) {
        exc.printStackTrace(System.out);
    }
}

/**
 * get duration of audio file
 *
 * @param audioFileName
 * @return
 */
public static int getAudioDurationInt(String audioFileName) {
    try {
        File file = new File(System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/audioFiles/" + audioFileName);
        AudioInputStream audioInputStream = AudioSystem.getAudioInputStream(file);
        AudioFormat format = audioInputStream.getFormat();
        long frames = audioInputStream.getFrameLength();
        double durationInSeconds = (frames + 0.0) / format.getFrameRate();
        return (int) durationInSeconds;
    } catch (Exception exc) {
        exc.printStackTrace(System.out);
        return 0;
    }
}

Approach 2: Using command line utility afplay to play audio file with Java

public static void playSoundCLI(String audioFileName) throws IOException, InterruptedException {
    String filePath = System.getProperty("user.dir") + "/audioFiles/" + audioFileName;
    String command ="afplay "+filePath;
    System.out.println("Command executed is: "+command);
    Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(command);
    proc.waitFor();
}

Approach 3: Directly using pipeline task or script to run file
afplay pathToAudioFile

Platforms affected

• Azure DevOps
• GitHub Actions - Standard Runners
• GitHub Actions - Larger Runners

Runner images affected

• Ubuntu 20.04
• Ubuntu 22.04
• Ubuntu 24.04
• macOS 12
• macOS 13
• macOS 13 Arm64
• macOS 14
• macOS 14 Arm64
• macOS 15
• macOS 15 Arm64
• Windows Server 2019
• Windows Server 2022
• Windows Server 2025

Image version and build link

Version: 20241216.504
Included Software: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/blob/macos-14/20241216.504/images/macos/macos-14-Readme.md
Image Release: https://github.com/actions/runner-images/releases/tag/macos-14%2F20241216.504

Is it regression?

No

Expected behavior

Playing audio file should be completed within time, as per the audio duration of file.

Actual behavior

Playing audio file on agent takes very long time than expected.
e.g Playing a audio file of duration 2 seconds takes 6-8 minutes on macos-14 agent

Repro steps

1. Play an audio file using any code or command line and check the time it is taking to complete.
   Note:
   I have provided java code snippets and ADO task/script that I have used in description field above.
   (Audio file link: https://github.com/sanket492/TestAudio/blob/main/PatientComplainsOfHeadache.wav)

[prasanjitsahoo]

HI @sanket492, We will investigate the issue further and keep you updated with any progress.Thank you.

[sanket492]

When tried running directly using pipeline script task

• script: |
  afplay /Users/runner/work/1/s/qaa/audioFiles/PatientComplainsOfHeadache.wav
  displayName: Play audio file
  continueOnError: true

Getting error: Error: AudioQueueStart failed (0x10000004)