Audio issues after latest Raspbian updates (June 2020)

You'll have to ask the user that created the script to amend it for the changes brought by the Raspbian Linux kernel updates. You can try replacing "PCM" in the source code with the correct mixer name (HDMI/Headphones, depending on what you use for audio output) and re-compile the .c file included in the instructions.

UberLumby · [Linux 5.10.103-v7+ armv7l GNU/Linux Retropie 4.8 Raspberry Pi 3B+]

Does this by chance effect the audio playing games? I've noticed some consoles have very low audio compared to others even when I have my sound settings at 100% but I don't see any errors I have BGM on emulation station that still works fine

mitu

@UberLumby No, the info in this topic applies to EmulationStation only.

Yobiwan

I had to revert to the previous Audio configuration in order to use 3.5mm output. It works now, but splashscreen's audio is distorted. Like metallic sound...
I downgraded firmware but same issue.

mitu

@Yobiwan Don't understand why, the headphone jack works fine in either configurations (upgraded kernel/firmware or not).

XEntombmentX

When I originally installed RetroPie, I had no audio whatsoever and this worked great for fixing both in-game and in the menu. However, I screwed something up somewhere along the line, so I reimaged my SD card and did a clean install. After that, and after going through all of these steps, I have sound in my ROMs, but not in EmulationStation menu itself.

I'm going through HDMI, which has been set in the Audio menu in RetroPie, in raspi-config, and retropie_setup (which has been updated). My EmulationStation core package is updated from source (for whatever reason, it's not giving me a version number). My sound in EmulationStation is set to Default, HDMI, ALSA.

Pi Model: 4B+
Power Supply: Pi Brand Supply
RetroPie Version: 4.6.7
Built From: RPi Imager to microSD
USB Devices: WD 2TB external HDD
Controller: Xbox One S controller, wired

mitu

Did you also update the kernel/firmware during the updates ? EmulationStation's version appears when you bring up the menu with Start in the main carousel.

XEntombmentX

@mitu said in Audio issues after latest Raspbian updates:

Did you also update the kernel/firmware during the updates ?

I thought I did, but I'll try it again.

EmulationStation's version appears when you bring up the menu with Start in the main carousel.

Ah okay, it's 2.9.3RP

XEntombmentX

Did you also update the kernel/firmware during the updates ?

@mitu I made sure to update the kernel and other underlying packages and the issue still persists.

mitu

@XEntombmentX If you run

uname -r && aplay -l

what's the output ?

XEntombmentX

@mitu

5.4.51-v7l+
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: b1 [bcm2835 HDMI 1], device 0: bcm2835 HDMI 1 [bcm2835 HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 4/4
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
  Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
  Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
card 1: Headphones [bcm2835 Headphones], device 0: bcm2835 Headphones [bcm2835 Headphones]
  Subdevices: 4/4
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
  Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
  Subdevice #3: subdevice #3

mitu

@XEntombmentX This looks ok. Are you able to set the volume in EmulationStation without the errors shown in the starting post ? Do you have sound enabled in EmulationStation ?

XEntombmentX

@mitu Yes, it keeps the volume at the level I've set it to, navigation sounds are on, no errors when launching games.

mitu

@XEntombmentX I can't think of anything else - I would have said to check if the volume is muted, but if it works in games, then it shouldn't be necessary.

XEntombmentX

@mitu Huh, I changed my theme and back again and it's working fine now. That's strange, but hey, I'm just glad it works :D

kactius

HI everyone:
Pi Model :(2B, pi3, pi3b+)
Power Supply used: official
RetroPie Version Used : retropie-buster-4.6-rpi2_rpi3 update retropie setup script to 4.6.8 last commit 5days ago 0ce9f214
Emulationstation by source V2.9.3RP
Kernel: 5.4.68-v7+
Built From: RetroPie website, and update by me hand retropie setup, packages and system.
Raspi-config 20200902
I have a strange change that I can't understand how to change it or understand what it can affect
By the moment.... I just have no sound when I change resolution from 1920 to a lower resolution and/or when change audio menu options in emulationstation
Attention to : kernel version and Subdevices: 3/4
Working in hdmi :
Audio Card: Default
Audio Device: HDMI
OMX Audio Device: ALSA
Change to headphone lost all sound.

Symptoms include:
Error messages showing when a game is launched (lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements).
Sound missing in EmulationStation and/or games.
System Volume slider stuck at 0% in EmulationStation's Sound settings.
Other Symptoms:
In ocassions is imposible to restart system...

5.4.68-v7+
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: b1 [bcm2835 HDMI 1], device 0: bcm2835 HDMI 1 [bcm2835 HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 3/4
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
  Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
  Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
card 1: Headphones [bcm2835 Headphones], device 0: bcm2835 Headphones [bcm2835 Headphones]
  Subdevices: 4/4
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
  Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
  Subdevice #3: subdevice #3

By the moment only find a solution downgrade kernel from 5.4.68-v7+ to 5.4.51-v7+
sudo apt update
sudo apt install --reinstall libraspberrypi0 libraspberrypi-{bin,dev,doc} raspberrypi-bootloader raspberrypi-kernel

mitu

@kactius How is your issue related to the topic at hand, which is about EmulationStation ? Open a new topic and add the info from https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first.