Weird Audio issue in Splash Screen video

Calvorejas

@ReadyPlayaWon
Thanks a lot for your help.
Unfortunately the problem persist, the crackling is still present even when using your video.
I'll attach my config.txt and my cmdline.txt:

config.txt

# For more options and information see
# http://rpf.io/configtxt
# Some settings may impact device functionality. See link above for details

# uncomment if you get no picture on HDMI for a default "safe" mode
#hdmi_safe=1

# uncomment this if your display has a black border of unused pixels visible
# and your display can output without overscan
disable_overscan=1

# uncomment the following to adjust overscan. Use positive numbers if console
# goes off screen, and negative if there is too much border
#overscan_left=16
#overscan_right=16
#overscan_top=16
#overscan_bottom=16

# uncomment to force a console size. By default it will be display's size minus
# overscan.
#framebuffer_width=1280
#framebuffer_height=720

# uncomment if hdmi display is not detected and composite is being output
#hdmi_force_hotplug=1

# uncomment to force a specific HDMI mode (this will force VGA)
#hdmi_group=1
#hdmi_mode=1

# uncomment to force a HDMI mode rather than DVI. This can make audio work in
# DMT (computer monitor) modes
#hdmi_drive=2

# uncomment to increase signal to HDMI, if you have interference, blanking, or
# no display
#config_hdmi_boost=4

# uncomment for composite PAL
#sdtv_mode=2

#uncomment to overclock the arm. 700 MHz is the default.
arm_freq=2100
gpu_freq=750
over_voltage=6

# Uncomment some or all of these to enable the optional hardware interfaces
#dtparam=i2c_arm=on
#dtparam=i2s=on
#dtparam=spi=on

# Uncomment this to enable infrared communication.
#dtoverlay=gpio-ir,gpio_pin=17
#dtoverlay=gpio-ir-tx,gpio_pin=18

# Additional overlays and parameters are documented /boot/overlays/README

# Enable audio (loads snd_bcm2835)
dtparam=audio=on

[pi4]
# Enable DRM VC4 V3D driver on top of the dispmanx display stack
dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
max_framebuffers=2

[all]
#dtoverlay=vc4-fkms-v3d
overscan_scale=1

cmdline.txt

console=serial0,115200 console=tty3 root=PARTUUID=e22bcd10-02 rootfstype=ext4 elevator=deadline fsck.repair=yes rootwait loglevel=3 consoleblank=0 plymouth.enable=0

Only difference I noticed between files is that in config.txt my Overscan and Overclock settings are different and in cmdline.txt I don't have the following code:

logo.nologo vt.global_cursor_default=0 quiet

In your cmdline.txt that code I just pasted here is at the end of the file, in mine that code doesn't exist... I don't know if the problem could have something to do with that. Should I edit my cmdline.txt and add that line of code (that I don't even know what it does... )?
I'm afraid that something could break.

ReadyPlayaWon

@Calvorejas said in Weird Audio issue in Splash Screen video:

Should I edit my cmdline.txt and add that line of code (that I don't even know what it does... )?

logo.nologo vt.global_cursor_default=0 quiet

it just disables any logos, blinking cursors and verbose messages when booting up

You do realize there is crackling in the Audio even when you play the video file on a PC (and also in the MEGA link of the source video you provided)... pretty sure that's intentional along with the VHS look of the video.

Here's a question ... have you tried other video's ?

If there is no problem with the audio, then i don't think there is a problem ... except what you're hearing, which is on purpose. (like digitally added film grain on a movie shot digitally ... as an artistic choice by the film makers.)

Calvorejas

Hi.
The crackling is not present in the source video, so when I play the video on my PC it does not have that weird audio crackling.

It only happens when the Pi 4 boots and the Splash Screen appears.

It is very noticeable in the links I provided, the crackling is not present in the source video, but in the other video I provided (Which is basically me recording Pi's boot process with my phone), there is crackling in the audio of the video. It is not intentional because if it was, then I assume that it would also be perceptible in the source video file (the one that's not recorded by me with my phone.) when played with a PC or any kind of device, and that's not the case.

I also tried this video: Intro
And the crackling also happens on this one, It is less perceptible, yet, it's still present.

I truly don't know what could it be, seriously... I legit don't know what's happening. The sound is perfectly fine when the boot process has finished and the Splash Screen is gone leaving me in the menu... The background music sounds like it should, the games sound like they should... Everything works perfectly fine except of the Splash Screen.

I even though about that 3.5mm Jack Switcher I'm using to change the source of the audio with just one press of a button so that I could use my speakers with the Pi or with my phone, for example, everytime I want. Even removing it and connecting the speakers directly to the Pi makes no difference whatsoever.

I'm thinking about changing back the audio output from 3.5mm Jack to HDMI and see what happens. If that removes the crackling I'll have to bypass the Jack through the HDMI Monitor to my speakers and see if the problem is gone (In case that using the HDMI as audio output works, of course).

I'll do that as soon as I can (because I have class in an hour). I'll let you know the result.

Again, thanks a lot for the help.

Calvorejas

Hi @ReadyPlayaWon
I finally was able to try what I told you... I switched from 3.5mm Jack to HDMI and there is no audio crackling, I tried every video I have and it works fine, the audio is quite lower than the one outputted through the 3.5mm Jack to my dedicated speakers, but the audio sounds fine... I switched to 3.5mm Jack again and the problem came back instantly, the Splash Screen has crackling again.

Having that in mind, I can affirm that this only happens with analog audio, with the 3.5mm Jack, I don't know if it is a generalised problem or something. Do you use your Raspberry with HDMI audio? Could you try to use analog audio to check if is there any noticeable change in the Splash Screen playback (in case you are not already using it instead of the HDMI one)?
If the problem also happens to you, then I can assume that this may be a generalized problem, probably a driver related problem... Again, I'm quite far from being an computer expert but that's just intuition.
Looking forward to your reply.

Thanks a lot for your help, I realy appreciate it!

Calvorejas

Well, the problem is still present. I don't know at this point if It has more to do with RetroPie or with the Pi 4 firmware... Because it is noticeable prior to RetroPie completing the booting process, not after. When RetroPie finishes the booting process and you get access to the menus, to your "Systems" section, audio through the 3.5mm Jack works flawlessly (In background music using BGM Player and ingame.).

I don't spect to get any more help than the one I received, which I am very greatful for... But it would be cool if this gets researched by someone with enough knowledge to actually be able to troubleshoot this problematic.

For now I'm using another Splash Screen video, I'm using the second Splash Screen I shared here through a link to MEGA named just "Intro"... With that Splash Screen, the "audio crackling" (As I name it) is less perceptable, still present, but it at least doesn't sound like the speakers are shorting out and about to explode.

Thanks for all the help you offered me @ReadyPlayaWon.
Greetings.

BluuSlurpi

Hey there!
I'm having the same exact issue. Splash screen audio works just fine through HDMI, but when I connect a speaker through my 3.5mm jack, the splash screen audio is garbled and grainy. Everything else is just fine, the BGM in the menus, game audio, everything works perfectly, EXCEPT for my video splash screens.

sobrator

Same problem here. Bad audio only in the splash screen video in a Rasperry 4 through the 3.5mm output

The same video sounds ok when played as splashcreen on a raspberry pi3b+

ginobambino10

Hey - raspberry pi 3b+ here - i was getting crackling when I plugged in my monster bluetooth speaker in via audio jack (it also had an audio jack). Then tried very old computer speakers, no crackling...not sure if this will help you at all, but worth noting in this thread.

huhogany

try change the line in the /opt/retropie/supplementary/splashcreen/asplashscreen.sh from this:

omxplayer --no-osd -o both -b --layer 10000 "$line"

to this:

omxplayer --no-osd -o local -b --layer 10000 "$line"

Calvorejas

@huhogany THANK YOU!!! FINALLY!!
This worked! The weird audio buzzing "bug" is finally gone! Can't be happier.
Can't thank you enough. After months trying to figure it out and the problem is finally gone.
Thank you.

Hope that your solution also helps other people facing the same issue.

Thug

@huhogany Hi. where do i even find that line /opt/retropie....etc, etc? I am so lost and confused. Do I look for it on pc or use the pi4 gui screen? i have no idea where to find this. Is it a command line?

UPDATE: I got it to work. What I did...

Updated post fixes in vman 512 image... reboot
options
system tools
audio settings
set audio output to headphones