Lack of emulator sound

Zaxh

Pi Model or other hardware: 4GB Pi 4 connected via HDMI 0 to a 65inch Sony TV
Power Supply used: Canakit USB-C 5.1V
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.3
Built From: Pre made SD Image
USB Devices connected: and Logitech keyboard
Controller used: PS4 controller (Wired)
Error messages received: Volume control : failure to find mixer control
Verbose log (if relevant): N/A
Guide used: Loss metadata issue (solved, full SD Card), no PSX controls (Solved, disabled multap) and audio guide (https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/26628/audio-issues-after-latest-raspbian-updates-june-2020/18)
File: Not sure
Emulator: all emulator
Attachment of config files: N/A
How to replicate the problem:

Current issue: unable to get sound in any emulators after updating to 4.7.3 (via update menu). Have sound in menus and startup video. Tried changing various Retroarch drivers, raspiconfig, configedit and updating emulators via rpsetup, no success. even tried individual audio driver through configedit with no luck.

Past issues: Accidently uploaded to many files to my SD Card, causing a loss of metadata (among other issues). Fixed it by deleting items but in the panic frenzy, updated my system to 4.7.3. thinking it would help correct the issues but instead caused further headache.
Was able to correct the controller issue in the Playstation emulator as described above but currently have no sound.

Other issues: UPDATE 19 Jan, found the issue with this for shaders/ smoothing and overlay, tweaking it now but would still like feedback ~~minor detail but my all my resolutions are messed up now, games are over pixelated~~ and ~~seems to remove the boarder details. In the case of the PSX, no PlayStation boarder~~.

I think when i updated my system or i did something to erase my .SRM file as i loaded a different game .srm from before the mistake and it loaded just fine.
Also, my PSX games are not locating the .srm file for the memory cards (currently playing Azure Dreams). Checked the file location and the .srm files are in the memory card folder for PSX but they will not recognize. Again, minor detail it figured I add it just in case.

Backstory for scope of knowledge: Recently came into my retropie as a gift from a friend, wanted to add 2 games to the catalog without realizing who full the SD card was. Never backed up anything (regret not researching more into it before I uploaded the games). Been doing a lot of research and learning to see if I can correct this issue but I can never seem to find anything that explains steps in plain detail or missing some steps.

I appreciate your help and feedback.

Zaxh

@zaxh Update, I've tried everything short of just reflashing the SD card. I've changed several of the config files that were missing Audio Device mentions (they were "", increased audio volume in the opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg and opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/retroarch.cfg
)
made sure my driver was set to ALSA. but for the life of me, cant solve the sound issues in the emulators (emulationstation sound and intro video sound work just fine).

tried the setting HDMI in configedit/audiosettings/RPsetup/raspiconfig. no luck

Now getting ALSA lib control.c:1375:(snd_ctl_open_noupdata) Invalid CTL Default
and my Vol Code changed to

lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to attach to default card!

mitu

@zaxh said in Lack of emulator sound:

@zaxh Update, I've tried everything short of just reflashing the SD card. I've changed several of the config files that were missing Audio Device mentions (they were "", increased audio volume in the opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch.cfg and opt/retropie/configs/all/retroarch/retroarch.cfg

You shouldn't have to change any configuration files, RetroArch will use the default audio settings from the system, which can be set through the Audio menu in RetroPie.

lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to attach to default card!

What are your audio settings in EmulationStation - Card/Device - ?

Zaxh

Thank you for looking into this and helping a noob out. Bellow are the responses to your questions.

@mitu said in Lack of emulator sound:

You shouldn't have to change any configuration files, RetroArch will use the default audio settings from the system, which can be set through the Audio menu in RetroPie.

I've tried this a few time, with and without the usb keyboard attached. no change in game audio on any emulator.

lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to attach to default card!

What are your audio settings in EmulationStation - Card/Device - ?

pulled from /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation

<string name="AudioCard" value="Default" />
<string name="AudioDevice" value="HDMI" />
<string name="OMXAudioDev" value="both" />

I have tried renaming the OMX Audio as per the June 2020 post to ALSA or alsa and still did not correct the issue

mitu

@zaxh Do you have the desktop installed ? Was the install image from retropie.org.uk/download or is it a 3rd party image ?

Zaxh

@mitu
I do not but I can go ahead and launch the install if it would make things easier.

Also, I cannot say for sure, My friend says it was one that he bought and was pre-loaded... but it has retropie and it allowed me to update from the RPSetup screen. Not sure if it makes any difference but this is also leading me to think I might just re-flash a new image after I pull the games from it. Everything was working fine prior to my mess-up and panic update.

Out of curiosity, I bought a new SD and mounted a fresh image from that link and everything works fine for audio/visual minus the tweaking for my resolution.

mitu

@zaxh said in Lack of emulator sound:

Also, I cannot say for sure, My friend says it was one that he bought and was pre-loaded

3rd party images have often issues in configuration, made by the author(s) for their systems and this is the one of the reasons why we don't support them. Also, selling preloaded RetroPie images (and with ROMs) is a scam, we don't support it.

I suggest you install fresh with the image from retropie.org.uk/download.

Zaxh

@mitu
That's what I figured. Figured it was worth a shot in trying to fix it. I appreciate the help and defiantly a learning experience to say the least.

Probably why he was hesitant to tell me... go figure. lol oh well.