Spyro 2 and 3 Audio Issue with PSX Emulator

FrenchAussie

• Pi Model: 3B+
• Power Supply: Input 100-240V, 50/60Hz, 0.4A Max, Output: 5V 2500mA https://imgur.com/a/UY2T9ep
• Version: 4.4.4
• Built from: https://retropie.org.uk/download/ - Raspberry Pi 2/3 Download
• USB Devices Connected: Slot 0: Micro SD Card
• Slot 1: Official Sony PS4 DualShock Controller (Physical cable used, Bluetooth disabled)
• Controller Used: Official Sony PS4 DualShock Controller
• BIOS Used: SCPH1001.BIN
• Disabled Over-Scan from Raspi-Config
• Added the following line to /opt/retropie/configs/all/autostart.sh:
emulationstation --no-splash #auto
• Modified the line under /boot/cmdline.txt:
dwc_otg.lpm_enable=0 console=serial0,115200 console=tty3 root=PARTUUID=f2d3cb4f-02 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline fsck.repair=yes rootwait loglevel=3 consoleblank=0 plymouth.enable=0 logo.nologo
• Modified config.txt file for audio https://paste.ubuntu.com/p/j9jZ4Dgm6J/
• Used sudo apt-get update (15th of December 2018)
• Used sudo apt-get upgrade (15th of December 2018)
• Performed a basic install (15th of December 2018)
• Installed PCSX-ReArmed (15th of December 2018)
• Installed Scraper (15th of December 2018)
• Updated RetroPie-Setup Script (15th of December 2018)
• Selected HDMI output from Retropie Setup --> Configuration/Tools --> Audiosettings
• Selected ‘Force HDMI’ from Raspi-Config --> Advanced Settings --> A4 Audio
• Selected HDMI from Audio
• Enabled SSH

Methods:

• Downloaded multiple Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage (USA) ROMs from different locations
• Downloaded one EU Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage
• Downloaded one USA ROM for Spyro 3: Year of the Dragon (USA)
• Tried downloading a PBP version of Spyro 2. Will not launch
• Tried switching TVs

Hello everyone,

This is my first time on the forums so if I missed any information please let me know. If certain information missing requires a command line, please provide it with the feedback. Finally, please try to write in an easy format for me to understand as I do not have full tech knowledge. With that said, let me explain my issue.

Spyro 2 and Spyro 3 have been giving me audio issues and the type of audio issue is not what the forums have been writing about (Spyro 2 cutscene audio). This is a frequent issue in gameplay where the speakers will randomly make a ‘pop’ sound about every 5 seconds or so. The audio issue does not affect the framerate or input on the controller.

I have tried replacing the ROMs I downloaded. I have tried both the USA and EU version. The EU version has a framerate issue on top of the audio so I’m just sticking to the USA version.

I have tried installing the PBP version of the game. However, I’m not sure how to rename the EBOOT. Raspberry PI 3B+ will not launch the game from PSX or PSP emulator. Any clues on how to get that going?

I’m wondering if it is perhaps the BIOS version I’m using that’s causing the issue. If it is, which other one should I get? Which ROM would that one work best with? USA or EU?!

Or would it perhaps be a setting I need to change from anywhere? I’ve provided everything I’ve modified with the Raspberry PI. Some may be irrelevant but I wouldn’t know. I just pasted it just in case it can help.

I’ve checked my cables are all plugged and I have even tried switching TVs to see if that was the issue. Nothing, same issue occurring.

I’ve also provided a picture of my power supply if anyone wants to see the version.

I’m out of ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

quicksilver

@FrenchAussie are you using your TV's built in speakers or a different setup?

FrenchAussie

I used the built in speakers for two TVs.

Oh I forgot to mention, I also tried different games of course and they all work fine (Crash, Croc, Tekken 3)

mitu

Are you using the standalone pcsx-rearmed or the Libretro based core (lr-pcsx_rearmed) ? Do you have Enhanced graphics turned on ?

FrenchAussie

It's the standard PCSX ReArmed r22 - version 1.7.5.

Turning off the enhancers also causes the same issue.

FrenchAussie

@mitu so sorry, I just realised I checked in the wrong place. It's in my retropie installs so it's the lr-pcsx-rearmed version

mitu

I gave it a try on my PI3B with Spyro 2 and I don't get any sound "popping". Used the same BIOS (scph1001), but this doesn't seem to make a difference. Is the sound problem always present or does it appear on/after certain parts of the game - I only played around the 1st level for about 20 min ? I've used a .bin/.cue (redump validated).

FrenchAussie

@mitu it happens all the time during gameplay. every time i start running around a lot and the scene is changing fast that's when its more likely to 'pop'. And yeah only with those two games. Just tried Ape's Escape and everything was fine with that game too

pjft

So, I'm trying it out, played for a few minutes after the intro and I get no meaningful popping as well. I lost audio halfway through the intro, interestingly. But skipping the intro I got audio back.

I'm on lr-pcsx-rearmed r22, it seems, under RetroArch 1.7.1?

Potentially relevant:
Quick Menu > Options:

Vibration: disabled
Sound: Reverb: enabled (default, I think)
Sound: Interpolation: off (default, I think)

Settings > Audio:

Volume (dB): 0.0
Mixer: 0.0
Audio Sync: On
Latency: 64ms
Resampler Quality: Lower
Dynamic Audio Rate Control: 0.005
Audio Max Timing Skew: 0.05
Output Rate: 44100

Settings > Driver:

Audio driver: alsathread
Audio resampler driver: sinc

Alternatively, if you have a spare SD card around, I'd start from a fresh image and see if it works well. It might be something with a recent RetroArch or emulator update?

FrenchAussie

@pjft Thank you so much! I have found the problem thanks to you! Sound: Interpolation was set on 'simple'. I'm not sure if this is the default version of 1.7.5 or whether I clicked it by accident but either way its now set to 'off'. I'm so thankful! I've been at it for 3 days!

pjft

@FrenchAussie glad to hear that worked.

A question, while we're at it -- does your sound cut off in the intro (when the "bad guy" shows up complaining that they brought a dragon over or something - I'm not familiar with the lore here :) ) in the USA rom?

Thanks.

FrenchAussie

@pjft yes it does. from what i've been reading on the forums, it seems like everyone with USA rom versions has this issue. Not sure about the EU version i only tested the gameplay with it.

pjft

@FrenchAussie Thanks - good to know. I won't worry about it then.

hhromic

@FrenchAussie said in Spyro 2 and 3 Audio Issue with PSX Emulator:

@pjft Thank you so much! I have found the problem thanks to you! Sound: Interpolation was set on 'simple'. I'm not sure if this is the default version of 1.7.5 or whether I clicked it by accident but either way its now set to 'off'. I'm so thankful! I've been at it for 3 days!

According to the libretro docs the default is set to simple for the lr-pcsx-rearmed core (is not a general RA option):

Sound: Interpolation [pcsx_rearmed_spu_interpolation] (simple|gaussian|cubic|off)
Modify sound interpolation.

I'm curious if the sound quality suffers noticeable when disabling the interpolation? Do you notice any perceptible (audible) difference?

FrenchAussie

@hhromic a little but its nothing major. when spyro jumps, there's a slightly higher pitch in sound but this is nothing compared to the 'pop' sound i was getting. spyro 2 definitely cannot have enhanced graphics as it messes up with a few things. overall, a very sensitive game to modification.

hhromic

Update

A pull-request (PR) has been submitted to the upstream pcsx_rearmed core that improves the gaussian audio interpolation algorithm. If/when this PR gets merged, maybe you can give another try to Spyro 2/3 and see if the sounds doesn't crack anymore and the sound quality improves thanks to the interpolation. Hopefully gaussian interpolation is not so taxing to the RPI.

Ref: https://github.com/libretro/pcsx_rearmed/pull/218