Since you also have this issue with totem, this sounds a lot like a pulseaudio bug and not a vlc one. Changing the status for vlc to invalid.
** Changed in: vlc (Ubuntu) Status: New => Invalid -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to pulseaudio in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1613852 Title: My system is trying to assassinate me using sound Status in pulseaudio package in Ubuntu: New Status in vlc package in Ubuntu: Invalid Bug description: Most modern video formats that I find on the interwebs, when I try to play them with VLC, the sound is such a loud white noise, that I thought maybe it is an assassination attempt on my life. Totem refuses to play, claiming an error loading supporting library. Attached is a recording of what it sounds like. This started happening some one month ago or so. Until then, I've been enjoying all kinds of videos and their audio without issues. Likely not a VLC issue, although it would be nice if players could protect me from such atrocities. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04 Package: vlc-nox 2.2.2-5 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-34.53-generic 4.4.15 Uname: Linux 4.4.0-34-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.1 Architecture: amd64 CurrentDesktop: XFCE Date: Tue Aug 16 21:51:33 2016 ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/vlc InstallationDate: Installed on 2010-10-12 (2135 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Release amd64 (20101007) SourcePackage: vlc UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to xenial on 2015-11-13 (277 days ago) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/1613852/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp