2013-09-18, 07:05
Tags: AC3, downmix, stereo, desktop speakers, distortion, 2.1, muddy voice
Hi All,
Firstly! Thank You for the XBMC community for making such a wonderful HTPC experience. It is fun to tweak and customize and still running in my laptop.
The problem:
I can play mp3's very well, and it produces a clean sound via stereo jack to my creative 2.1 speaker set. Whenever I play AC3 (5.1) based movies, the sound is not really pleasant, like others in the forum I don't have issues with low voice. However I feel the audio is mixed improperly and sent to all channels. This resulted in heavy distortion and cracking.
Background score and voice distorted:
Now I rectified the distortion partially and eliminated cracking by adjusting the mixer. I have another issue. Whenever there is a scene with background score along with dialogs, the score is momentarily downplayed and voice is boosted (I didn't checked the down-mix option in settings -> audio). This kind of issue actually making my entire setup like old television.
Use case: I was watching Avenger, in a scene where Stark goes out to fix the rudders in helicarrier, there are many glass shattering scenes in that particular section. I hear the shatter too much downplaying the awesome background score. In fact its more glass distortion than shatter.
Muddy voice:
Also, the actors voice comes out muddy, like it merges with more bass than vocal, it is actually ruining the experience.
More Info:
I am aware that my setup is based on old laptop that not even has a proper Video output and only headphone jack.
I am using this setup only temporarily to play cartoons for my kid and weekend movie drive and not a serious HTPC rig as of now.
I only got a cheap creative 2.1 desktop speakers with sub that plays and works fantastic in Macbook pro (no above mentioned issues). Obviously I cannot use my mac for htpc as I use it for development).
I know linux but still dumb in many cases, like mostly I will be puzzled with jargon and stuff.
I am considering to build a budget HTPC with cooler master elite 361 case (I love it), in India getting Antec or Silverstone(Awesome) is bit daunting. My usage will be mostly and primarily to play mkv movies that majority has AC3 audio.
Please help me to rectify this issue with my below spec, I am still experimenting with xbmc, I love it and don't like to switch over Win 7 + MC for this issue.
Sorry for the long post.
Cheers
What I have:
Hardware: Laptop Compaq C300?
OS: XBMCBuntu
Video: VGA / s-video (no hdmi)
Audio:
xbmc@xbmc:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: Conexant Digital [Conexant Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
========================================================================
xbmc@xbmc:~$ aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
pulse
PulseAudio Sound Server
analog
Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary.
mixed-analog
Mixed Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing with system sounds.
digital
Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary.
mixed-digital
Mixed Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing with system sounds.
dmix-analog
dmix-digital
xbmc
Multichannel output to both analog and hdmi - for use with XBMC
multi
8channel_expander
default
Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
sysdefault:CARD=Intel
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Hardware device with all software conversions
modprobe
========
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
options snd-hda-intel model=hp-m4
options snd-mia index=0
options snd-hda-intel index=1
options snd-hda-intel enable_msi=1
options snd-hda-intel power_save=0 power_save_controller=N
Hi All,
Firstly! Thank You for the XBMC community for making such a wonderful HTPC experience. It is fun to tweak and customize and still running in my laptop.
The problem:
I can play mp3's very well, and it produces a clean sound via stereo jack to my creative 2.1 speaker set. Whenever I play AC3 (5.1) based movies, the sound is not really pleasant, like others in the forum I don't have issues with low voice. However I feel the audio is mixed improperly and sent to all channels. This resulted in heavy distortion and cracking.
Background score and voice distorted:
Now I rectified the distortion partially and eliminated cracking by adjusting the mixer. I have another issue. Whenever there is a scene with background score along with dialogs, the score is momentarily downplayed and voice is boosted (I didn't checked the down-mix option in settings -> audio). This kind of issue actually making my entire setup like old television.
Use case: I was watching Avenger, in a scene where Stark goes out to fix the rudders in helicarrier, there are many glass shattering scenes in that particular section. I hear the shatter too much downplaying the awesome background score. In fact its more glass distortion than shatter.
Muddy voice:
Also, the actors voice comes out muddy, like it merges with more bass than vocal, it is actually ruining the experience.
More Info:
I am aware that my setup is based on old laptop that not even has a proper Video output and only headphone jack.
I am using this setup only temporarily to play cartoons for my kid and weekend movie drive and not a serious HTPC rig as of now.
I only got a cheap creative 2.1 desktop speakers with sub that plays and works fantastic in Macbook pro (no above mentioned issues). Obviously I cannot use my mac for htpc as I use it for development).
I know linux but still dumb in many cases, like mostly I will be puzzled with jargon and stuff.
I am considering to build a budget HTPC with cooler master elite 361 case (I love it), in India getting Antec or Silverstone(Awesome) is bit daunting. My usage will be mostly and primarily to play mkv movies that majority has AC3 audio.
Please help me to rectify this issue with my below spec, I am still experimenting with xbmc, I love it and don't like to switch over Win 7 + MC for this issue.
Sorry for the long post.
Cheers
What I have:
Hardware: Laptop Compaq C300?
OS: XBMCBuntu
Video: VGA / s-video (no hdmi)
Audio:
xbmc@xbmc:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: Conexant Digital [Conexant Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
========================================================================
xbmc@xbmc:~$ aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
pulse
PulseAudio Sound Server
analog
Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary.
mixed-analog
Mixed Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing with system sounds.
digital
Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary.
mixed-digital
Mixed Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing with system sounds.
dmix-analog
dmix-digital
xbmc
Multichannel output to both analog and hdmi - for use with XBMC
multi
8channel_expander
default
Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
sysdefault:CARD=Intel
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=0
HDA Intel, CONEXANT Analog
Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Intel,DEV=1
HDA Intel, Conexant Digital
Hardware device with all software conversions
modprobe
========
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
options snd-hda-intel model=hp-m4
options snd-mia index=0
options snd-hda-intel index=1
options snd-hda-intel enable_msi=1
options snd-hda-intel power_save=0 power_save_controller=N