FBNeo/Mame Sound cutting out constantly

Jiryn

(Had to re-write this)
Pi Model or other hardware: Pi 4 4GB
Power Supply used: Official PI 4 USB-C AC Adapter
RetroPie Version Used: 4.7.17 Built From: Retropie site, updated through system
USB Devices connected: 2 8bitdo arcade sticks
Controller used: 2 8bitdo arcade sticks https://www.8bitdo.com/arcade-stick/

I've not used my RetroPie in months, and use it mostly for Arcade games.
When I hooked it back up today to stream on Twitch, the system started to have sound issues.
(The system is hooked up to a splitter, one going to the TV, one going to my PC to record the footage)

I was playing games on FB Neo and ever few minutes it would sound like someone was tapping the mute button on the TV remote, the game would go quiet for a couple seconds, then the sound would come back, only to go quiet again. The longest it would last would be under a minute, and would come back for a bit only to start happening again.

I first noticed it in Turtles in Time, then Simpsons, Moonwalker, Moo Mesa, etc etc.

So I thought it was an issue with FB Neo, and decided to try Mame. Mame 2003 and 2010 had the same issue.
(This issue ALWAYS popped up when trying to play Jurassic Park on MAME. Anytime a Dinosaur roared, the sound would cut out.)

Since my original posting over 7hrs ago, I've added more roms/isos to my system and they all are having the same issue with the sound cutting out regularly.

I just recorded this as an example
This is what my PC/Broadcast/Twitch hear

While THIS is what I hear (Sorry, to capture the sound I had to use my phone!)

Notice how the audio skips in and out.

I've made multiple posts about this in the past, thinking it was a MAME issue - https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/29335/sound-issues-with-system-32-games-in-mame2003-2010-and-2016-jurassic-park?_=1627374634843

So yea, looks like it's my TV or some issue between.
Since the original posting, I have tried different systems on the same port as the Retropie, and there is no sound issues.

It seems to be just something with how the Retropie is interacting with this TV. I do wonder if it's one of the cords, but I only have 1 micro HDMI sadly.

I do know if I try to use the WII HDMI adapter, there is never any sound. The company claims it's due to a compatibility issue with some TVs. Maybe it's a similar situation, or I just need to find a working sound config in the system.

I'm going to order a new Micro HDMI just in case. My TV is VIZIO - 55" Class - LED - M-Series - 2160p - Smart - Home Theater Display with HDR

Thank You!

Darksavior

@jiryn Check temps. Change the cpu governor to performance. If it's connected to some audio system, then disconnect it and try it with the tv's speakers.

Jiryn

@darksavior
As I said, I figured it out.. mostly.
It's not over heating.
I have it running to my TV and a STREAMING DEVICE
On the TV, the sound cuts out regularly, and is becoming more frequent.
When I went back to check my recordings as an example, it turns out the PC recorded it just fine with nose issues.

So there is a compatibility issue between my TV and the Retropie.

barbudreadmon

@jiryn FWIW, some scenes in moomesa are quite heavy to emulate properly, if you were to run it with FBNeo on some older pi model, i'm pretty sure you would get slowdowns (and music cutting) from time to time.

Jiryn

@barbudreadmon
I fixed the original post to be more in depth, with a better example.
What I was trying to show with the Moo Mesa was the cutting out of the sound, but for some reason my Streaming Device didn't pick up the errors, only my TV did..

Upon further testing, it seems to be the TV's issue it has the sound shorting out.. but only for the Retropie and nothing else.

Could be a bad cable, or a frequency the TV doesn't like as with the WII HDMI adapter.
All I know is, it's gotten much, much worse!

Could it also be the port?
I am using the port closest to the USB-C to output video..
Should I try the furthest?
Is there a label on them internally or software wise as to which is primary and which is secondary?

Jiryn

@barbudreadmon @Darksavior
So, tested it on all my house hold TVs.

All 4 are Vizio.
My entertainment center TV has issues with the sound cutting out constantly.
The others (Roommate bedroom, my bedroom, and the living room) do not have the same issue.
(I even changed cords, and plugged the system directly into the TV instead of the splitter box)

So I wonder if the TV itself is defective, or is it just incompatible, or what...

I also tested all the ports on my entertainment center TV, same sound issue with each HDMI port.

When I bought the TV in Sep '18, in Oct '18 they had to do a recall on the main board, sending a person out to replace it. Then as of last year, the sound was cutting out again on other channels but eventually stopped, but Vizio sent me a replacement board just incase.. something I didn't/don't know how to install... so it's probably just either the first replacement died as well, or wasn't installed correctly, or the TV is just crap.