Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity)

[LouF]

@g30ff said in Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity):

@louf If you mean you connected a composite output to the Pi, the reason for that is because the Pi underclocks the CPU when outputting composite video. That's why everything is laggy.

Yes, composite video and "headphone" analog audio output. Nothing seems too laggy playing. The lag you're talking about sounds different i.e. underclocked CPU causing distorted audio output.

[LouF]

@mitu said in Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity):

Which issue is that ?
The 5.4.x is the Linux kernel version, but usually the firmware is released in tandem with the kernel - did you update the firmware separately via rpi-update ?

The problems described in the pinned thread here:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/26628/audio-issues-after-latest-raspbian-updates-june-2020

My memory is sketchy on exact details now, but I followed the thread's first post; I did not get a chance to check the firmware version before updating. I believe I followed the link, "update your RetroPie-Setup", to do that updating. - so, no, I do not believe I used 'rpi-update'.

Since I was having distorted sound and had the "lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements" message, I tried the instruction from the post.

I may have misrepresented the firmware version, but that is what is reported from "uname -r" command, as directed - that is why I stated such as I did. I also presumed the firmware change stayed after I re-wrote a previous image back to the SD card.

[mitu]

@louf said in Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity):

The problems described in the pinned thread here:
https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/26628/audio-issues-after-latest-raspbian-updates-june-2020

OK, that's still valid advice, though it's not meant to fix the audio quality, but the errors you get in EmulationStation. I understand that you didn't update the firmware separately - you may want to run an update again, since the kernel/firmware have been update to a major release.

I seem to remember a topic while back with similar behavior - bad audio during startup, but working fine afterwards. Can't find it now and I can't remember if there was a solution to it.

[LouF]

@mitu I ran the update again (all went well that I saw), and the audio is still the same - "scratchy" (I guess this was expected). I haven't seen the "library not found" error messages go by, but I do have it in "clean (quiet)" boot; I believe I previously saw the messages even with the quiet boot enabled.

It reminds me of drivers not being loaded - like when a PC boots and the screen has basic resolution; then after the drivers are loaded the display is high-res. Again, the MP4 plays fine through the Splashscreen preview utility.

[LouF]

@g30ff said in Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity):

@louf If you mean you connected a composite output to the Pi, the reason for that is because the Pi underclocks the CPU when outputting composite video. That's why everything is laggy.

The underclocking may be showing up - my controllers (wireless) have become glitchy - there is intermittent hesitation.

[LouF]

I ended up going back to HMDI. The small problems are adding up to be a junky system.

[G30FF]

@louf Theoretically you could try hooking it up to an HDMI to Composite converter if you want to avoid issues related to SDTV output. I'm not sure how well it'd work, I've never tried it.

[LouF]

@g30ff said in Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity):

@louf Theoretically you could try hooking it up to an HDMI to Composite converter if you want to avoid issues related to SDTV output. I'm not sure how well it'd work, I've never tried it.

I do have that as a next trial as I have one of those converters. Great resourceful idea. I will report back.

[LouF]

The HDMI2AV converter worked better than I would have guessed. There is a bit of picture quality traded off, and there is some funk while switching between certain screens (e.g. entering/exiting Kodi (I'm using Kodi for surveillance camera viewing)). Any response between actually viewing and playing a game is good, audio is good! All in all, it is the best option for my setup - I'll 99% be sticking with this.

FYI:
42" 720p plasma TV
HDMI2AV converter power supplied from TV USB port (it powers the HDMI2AV unit on/off with the TV power)

Thanks!

[LouF]

I now am using an HDMI to RGB (with L/R audio) component video converter - looks very good.