I just observed the same issue in Ubuntu 14.04.1 with VLC 2.1.4.
I don't know where the problem originates from (whether VLC or sound subsystem) but I was able to
work around it by setting the audio output of VLC (Tools->Preferences->Audio) from "Automatic"
to "ALSA audio output".
Setting it to "PulseAudio" as it apearently worked for "firesock" did not work for me.
I just observed the same issue in Ubuntu 14.04.1 with VLC 2.1.4.
I don't know where the problem originates from (whether VLC or sound subsystem) but I was able to >Preferences- >Audio) from "Automatic"
work around it by setting the audio output of VLC (Tools-
to "ALSA audio output".
Setting it to "PulseAudio" as it apearently worked for "firesock" did not work for me.