[SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

hungerfish · 2016-12-02 00:26:23

I recently installed pa, and ever since I've been having these weird 'glitches'.
They happen every other minute, not necessarily regularly, and from what I can determine not 'just' during media playback. To elaborate:

I first noticed this happening during video playback using VLC, the audio would cut off every maybe 2/3 minutes and I would loose up to a second of sound.
I've also tried smplayer (mvp) , and I get similar 'cut', though not as much audio is 'dropped' as with vlc.
I also occasionally get (very short) cutoffs when playing youtube vids in firefox, again randomly, not at beginning or end.

At first I thought this must be related to settings in vlc, I've tried all sorts of stuff to no avail. I then installed smplayer and left it at its defaults, and as mentioned, a similar effect.
Once more. even with no output, I get occasional 'clicks' coming from my speakers (like when unplugging headphones), which I first thought to be a separate issue,
but since playing around with some more, I feel that they are probably all down to the same problem. (No connection issue, because plain alsa was fine, also windows doesn't do this on the same system/setup)

I've tried disabling pa's glitchfree mode (tshed=0), I've also disabled "module-suspend-on-idle", I've also adjusted "default-fragment-size-msec" (to 125 per wiki's math for my soundcard), and quite frankly
I'm now at a loss. I'm not very 'into sound stuff' and using plain alsa didn't give me these headaches (but I wanted per application volume control, so... )

Any idea's what I could try?

The strange thing is that music playback works fine (or I fail to notice the glitches.. as I said, I don't get it...)

I'm using my onboard soundchip, SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) / Realtek ALC892 -> S/PDIF out->DAC->analog stereo amp -> crappy speakers (so nothing fancy)

Last edited by hungerfish (2016-12-08 18:45:46)

V1del · 2016-12-02 08:19:05

Might be jack change events, although the fact that music playback seems to work throws that somewhat out. Anyway, can you post

pacmd list-sinks
pacmd list-sink-inputs

before and after a dropout? Maybe looking into

dmesg | grep -E 'snd|ALSA'
journalctl --user-unit=pulseaudio.service

might contain some useful stuff as well.

hungerfish · 2016-12-02 12:30:25

Hey, thanks for taking the time!
Journal just reports the starting/stopping of the service..
The rest:

~ $ dmesg | grep -E 'snd|ALSA'
[    5.675017] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:14.2: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[    5.675257] snd_hda_intel 0000:01:00.1: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[    5.675294] snd_hda_intel 0000:01:00.1: Handle vga_switcheroo audio client
[    5.675295] snd_hda_intel 0000:01:00.1: Force to non-snoop mode
[    5.695006] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for ALC892: line_outs=4 (0x14/0x15/0x16/0x17/0x0) type:line
[    5.695011] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    5.695012] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    hp_outs=1 (0x1b/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    5.695013] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    mono: mono_out=0x0
[    5.695014] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    dig-out=0x1e/0x0
[    5.695015] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    inputs:
[    5.695017] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Front Mic=0x19
[    5.695018] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Rear Mic=0x18
[    5.695019] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Line=0x1a

Always the same:

~ $ pacmd list-sink-inputs
0 sink input(s) available.

Nothing playing:

~ $ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
  * index: 3
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.iec958-stereo>
        driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
        flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
        state: IDLE
        suspend cause: 
        priority: 9958
        volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
                balance 0,00
        base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
        volume steps: 65537
        muted: no
        current latency: 1765,48 ms
        max request: 344 KiB
        max rewind: 344 KiB
        monitor source: 4
        sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
        channel map: front-left,front-right
                     Stereo
        used by: 0
        linked by: 0
        configured latency: 1999,82 ms; range is 0,50 .. 1999,82 ms
        card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_14.2>
        module: 7
        properties:
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.name = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.id = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.device = "1"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI SB"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb00000 irq 16"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card0"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.vendor.id = "1002"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                device.product.id = "4383"
                device.product.name = "SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
                device.form_factor = "internal"
                device.string = "iec958:0"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "352768"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "176384"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                device.description = "Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC892"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0892,18497892,00100302"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        ports:
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                        properties:

        active port: <iec958-stereo-output>

During playback (audio)

~ $ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
  * index: 3
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.iec958-stereo>
        driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
        flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
        state: RUNNING
        suspend cause: 
        priority: 9958
        volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
                balance 0,00
        base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
        volume steps: 65537
        muted: no
        current latency: 237,48 ms
        max request: 44 KiB
        max rewind: 344 KiB
        monitor source: 4
        sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
        channel map: front-left,front-right
                     Stereo
        used by: 1
        linked by: 1
        configured latency: 260,00 ms; range is 0,50 .. 1999,82 ms
        card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_14.2>
        module: 7
        properties:
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.name = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.id = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.device = "1"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI SB"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb00000 irq 16"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card0"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.vendor.id = "1002"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                device.product.id = "4383"
                device.product.name = "SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
                device.form_factor = "internal"
                device.string = "iec958:0"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "352768"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "176384"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                device.description = "Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC892"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0892,18497892,00100302"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        ports:
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                        properties:

        active port: <iec958-stereo-output>

During playback(video)

~ $ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
  * index: 3
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.iec958-stereo>
        driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
        flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
        state: RUNNING
        suspend cause: 
        priority: 9958
        volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
                balance 0,00
        base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
        volume steps: 65537
        muted: no
        current latency: 39,90 ms
        max request: 7 KiB
        max rewind: 344 KiB
        monitor source: 4
        sample spec: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
        channel map: front-left,front-right
                     Stereo
        used by: 1
        linked by: 1
        configured latency: 40,00 ms; range is 0,50 .. 1837,33 ms
        card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_14.2>
        module: 7
        properties:
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.name = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.id = "ALC892 Digital"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.device = "1"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI SB"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb00000 irq 16"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card0"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.vendor.id = "1002"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                device.product.id = "4383"
                device.product.name = "SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
                device.form_factor = "internal"
                device.string = "iec958:0"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "352768"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "176384"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                device.description = "Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC892"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0892,18497892,00100302"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        ports:
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                        properties:

        active port: <iec958-stereo-output>

Its a bit difficult to 'catch' these cutoffs manually, can I somehow continuously log the relevant data? From what I can see, the only difference between audio/video/idle are the latency and 'request' values...

hungerfish · 2016-12-05 13:16:10

So, while 'suffering' through this some more the last few days, for whatever reason, this 'cutoff ' lasted longer than before at one point, long enough for me to definitely identify it as a 'muting' problem.
I can say this, since as mentioned above, I use S/PDIF -> dac converter, and this converter produces very specific 'noises' when its source is muted which then get outputted to my speakers. This normally is not a problem though,
and is otherwise unrelated to this pulseaudio problem, however during this 'longer cutoff' I could hear these exact noises... meaning that pulseaudio, for whatever reason decides to temporarily mute output during playback.

So how can I monitor any changes to pulseaudio's connectors status to try and catch this?
Is there maybe a way to disable this mute/toggle entirely?
Automute is already disabled in alsamixer, this must be specific to something that pulse does..

V1del · 2016-12-05 14:34:09

Yeah this was my suspicion as well, somewhat dampened by the fact, that at least in the excerpt you posted, the sink index didn't increase, which would be indicative of a loss of the sink. You could try and disable/comment the pulse module-switch-on-port-available which should prevent pulse from switching away even if the connector reports a disconnect. As for monitoring, you will want to look into Acpi jack events

Another potential source is cork events from e.g. VoIP applications or system notifications, disable module-role-cork although I feel that this one is less likely for the usecase you described

Last edited by V1del (2016-12-05 14:43:17)

hungerfish · 2016-12-08 18:45:29

So after yet more days of testing, I'm happy to report that the issue seems to be resolved.
I'd already disabled "module-role-cork" before posting last but I must have missed "module-switch-on-port-available" before ... disabling that seems to have cured the pain though!
Looking back, I can remember having to disable 'auto-jack detection in the windows-realtek config program with win7 or it too would flip out, it hasn't been a problem with win10 though, and as mentioned, neither with pure alsa.
Anyway, I don't really care

Thanks V1del!

Last edited by hungerfish (2016-12-08 18:47:22)

Arch Linux

#1 2016-12-02 00:26:23

[SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

#2 2016-12-02 08:19:05

Re: [SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

#3 2016-12-02 12:30:25

Re: [SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

#4 2016-12-05 13:16:10

Re: [SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

#5 2016-12-05 14:34:09

Re: [SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

#6 2016-12-08 18:45:29

Re: [SOLVED]Pulseaudio, glitches/cutoffs every other minute

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