Startup audio quality is bad (A/V connectivity)

[LouF]

I switched my RetroPie over to A/V use (TV input reason). I have an MP4 splashscreen in use, and the audio is "scratchy" during startup. If I play the same MP4 through the Splash Screen utility, it plays fine (as with other MP4s).

I'm running the updated firmware for the audio issue. Off the top of my head...I installed the audio update for RPi4 for the "libraries not found" issue, but those messages still came up. I reverted back to a previous SD card image because of some issue (or backing out of an update that didn't work), but the firmware is reported as the version with the updated firmware version, 5.4.72-v7l+.

The mixer volume (gain) is ~0, and the settings are as directed for Emulation Station. The RetroPie station plays fine.

As of now I live with it, but it sounds like Nigel Tufnel's wireless guitar interference at the Air Force venue.

[G30FF]

@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.

[mitu]

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

I'm running the updated firmware for the audio issue. Off the top of my head...I installed the audio update for RPi4 for the "libraries not found" issue

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 ?

[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.