Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
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Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Hi,
I have a fresh install of LMDE 4 Debbie (kernel version: 4.8.6) on a Thinkpad T60. When I am listening to something, through headphones AND through laptop speakers, especially during the loud part of a song, dialogue, etc., the sound is distorted with a kind of pulsating noise (kind of like what a helicopter sounds like in the distance), and the quality of the sound is generally quite bad. As I adjust the volume, this distortion scales up or down proportionally with the volume. The problem occurs with audio played through Google Chrome, as well as VLC (and presumably other programs too). I had no such problems on the same laptop when Windows 10 was installed.
Does anybody know any possible solutions?
Many Thanks!
arr123
I have a fresh install of LMDE 4 Debbie (kernel version: 4.8.6) on a Thinkpad T60. When I am listening to something, through headphones AND through laptop speakers, especially during the loud part of a song, dialogue, etc., the sound is distorted with a kind of pulsating noise (kind of like what a helicopter sounds like in the distance), and the quality of the sound is generally quite bad. As I adjust the volume, this distortion scales up or down proportionally with the volume. The problem occurs with audio played through Google Chrome, as well as VLC (and presumably other programs too). I had no such problems on the same laptop when Windows 10 was installed.
Does anybody know any possible solutions?
Many Thanks!
arr123
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Hi arr123, and welcome to the forum.
Let's get a look at your sound setup with this command:
The last line of output will have a URL pointing to the info. Pasting that URL is all I need.
Let's get a look at your sound setup with this command:
Code: Select all
curl https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/raw/master/src/utils/pa-info?inline=false | bash | nc termbin.com 9999
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Run this in the terminal then reboot and test your sound:
Code: Select all
sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/thinkpad-fix.conf <<<'options snd-hda-intel model=thinkpad'
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
No difference after running this command and rebooting. The output was so:
Edit: no need to show that "output" - the moderator was right to move me into the newbie section.
Code: Select all
options snd-hda-intel model=thinkpad
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Rename your ~/.asoundrc file then reboot and test again.
Also, run this one and paste the output:
And if the sound is still the same, run the curl command while sound is playing and paste that output.
Also, run this one and paste the output:
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dmesg | grep -C1 -E 'ALSA|HDA|sof|HDMI|snd[_-]|sound|hda.codec|hda.intel'
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Please bare with me while I figure out how the directory works. Okay, so I renamed .asoundrc to .asoundrc1, an after a reboot, the problem still exists.
The output of the command is:
The output of "curl" is
The output of the command is:
Code: Select all
[ 0.203229] NR_IRQS: 2304, nr_irqs: 440, preallocated irqs: 16
[ 0.203425] CPU 0 irqstacks, hard=(ptrval) soft=(ptrval)
[ 0.207807] Console: colour VGA+ 80x25
--
[ 0.341342] smp: Bringing up secondary CPUs ...
[ 0.341504] CPU 1 irqstacks, hard=(ptrval) soft=(ptrval)
[ 0.341506] x86: Booting SMP configuration:
--
[ 0.349904] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Dell-Video)
[ 0.349904] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Lenovo-NV-HDMI-Audio)
[ 0.349904] ACPI: EC: EC started
--
[ 5.652170] raid6: using intx1 recovery algorithm
[ 5.669333] xor: measuring software checksum speed
[ 5.708157] pIII_sse : 4642.000 MB/sec
--
[ 9.250780] excluding 0xa000-0xa0ff 0xa400-0xa4ff
[ 9.403958] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1b.0: probe_mask set to 0x1 for device 17aa:2010
[ 9.456361] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for AD1981: line_outs=1 (0x5/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0) type:speaker
[ 9.456366] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[ 9.456369] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: hp_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[ 9.456371] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: mono: mono_out=0x0
[ 9.456373] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: dig-out=0xa/0x0
[ 9.456375] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: inputs:
[ 9.456379] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: Mic=0x8
[ 9.456381] snd_hda_codec_analog hdaudioC0D0: CD=0x19
[ 9.480780] input: HDA Digital PCBeep as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0/input10
[ 9.665264] yenta_cardbus 0000:15:00.0: pcmcia: parent PCI bridge window: [mem 0xe4300000-0xe7ffffff]
--
[ 93.547471] hrtimer: interrupt took 14626440 ns
[ 95.294794] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1b.0: IRQ timing workaround is activated for card #0. Suggest a bigger bdl_pos_adj.
Code: Select all
curl: try 'curl --help' or 'curl --manual' for more information
Last edited by arr123 on Sun Apr 11, 2021 7:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Okay, the outputs didn't help to find any cause here. You do have something I've not seen before:
If you run this then test the sound is there any difference:
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!!Module: thinkpad_acpi
brightness_enable : 2
brightness_mode : 4
enable : Y
experimental : 0
fan_control : N
force_load : N
id : ThinkPadEC
index : -536870912
software_mute : Y
volume_capabilities : 0
volume_control : N
volume_mode : 3
Code: Select all
!!-------Mixer controls for card 29 [ThinkPadEC]
Card hw:29 'ThinkPadEC'/'ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw 79HT50WW-1.07'
Mixer name : 'ThinkPad EC 79HT50WW-1.07'
Components : ''
Controls : 2
Simple ctrls : 1
Simple mixer control 'Console',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 14
Mono: Playback 7 [50%] [on]
Code: Select all
amixer -c29 set Console 0% toggle
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
The output from that command is...
Code: Select all
amixer: Invalid command!
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Ahh, I forgot we're on LMDE here.
In the terminal run
In the terminal run
alsamixer
then press F6 to select the thinkpad named card. There'l only be one column showing, so just use the down arrow to lower the volume then m key to also mute it. Muted columns show MM at the bottom.Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Okay, while I can adjust the audio of (default) {which is PulseAudio} and set the number to MM, for ThinkPad Console Audio Control (selected from the F6 menu), the slider cannot be adjusted or muted, and just sits as 00. It looks like this:
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┌────────────────────────────── AlsaMixer v1.1.8 ──────────────────────────────┐
│ Card: ThinkPad Console Audio Control F1: Help │
│ Chip: ThinkPad EC 79HT50WW-1.07 F2: System information │
│ View: F3:[Playback] F4: Capture F5: All F6: Select sound card │
│ Item: Console Esc: Exit │
│ │
│ ┌──┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │ │ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ ├──┤ │
│ │OO│ │
│ └──┘ │
│ 21 │
│ <Console >
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
How strange! Earlier it was at 7 (50%), but now it's down to 21%
I have no idea if it's part of the cause of your issue, so let's move on to other things to try. Run this then reboot and test again:
I have no idea if it's part of the cause of your issue, so let's move on to other things to try. Run this then reboot and test again:
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sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/snd-hda-intel.conf <<<'options snd-hda-intel power_save=0'
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Okay so I just ran that one, still no difference after a reboot. I also went to see if I could adjust the Thinkpad Console Audio Controller using AlsaMixer, but I still couldn't. The only difference is that the value is now at 93. I tried to look in my sound settings (GUI )for any setting which was set at that same value to see if I could change it there, but I couldn't see anything. It's hard to say whether the sound is better or worse with such an increased value. Perhaps there is no difference.
Code: Select all
┌────────────────────────────── AlsaMixer v1.1.8 ──────────────────────────────┐
│ Card: ThinkPad Console Audio Control F1: Help │
│ Chip: ThinkPad EC 79HT50WW-1.07 F2: System information │
│ View: F3:[Playback] F4: Capture F5: All F6: Select sound card │
│ Item: Console Esc: Exit │
│ │
│ ┌──┐ │
│ │ │ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ │▒▒│ │
│ ├──┤ │
│ │OO│ │
│ └──┘ │
│ 93 │
│ <Console > │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Aha, so the Thinkpad Audio Control value is altered with the actual volume buttons on the laptop. I'm gonna try to do some more twiddling with sound amplification and stuff now that I know that, and will report any findings.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Nice detective work.
I'm hoping with something turned down, the noise will vanish. But which something might be hard to find. It could be Master or PCM in alsamixer that would help here.
I'm hoping with something turned down, the noise will vanish. But which something might be hard to find. It could be Master or PCM in alsamixer that would help here.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Okay, so I tried setting the thinkpad volume to different values (using the hardware buttons), high and low, and at the same time, the volume which I can adjust within Linux Mint using the sound slider at the bottom right of the screen, but I can neither improve, not make the problem worse that way.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Of course you couldn't. That would have been too easy!
If you disable WiFi does the noise stop? Same with unplugging any USB attached devices you can safely remove? Either of those have caused odd audio issues in the past.
If you disable WiFi does the noise stop? Same with unplugging any USB attached devices you can safely remove? Either of those have caused odd audio issues in the past.
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Wait a minute. In your first post you mentioned this:
What kind of outputs and inputs does that machine have that are audio only?
Yet your outputs don't show any outputs other than speakers!When I am listening to something, through headphones AND through laptop speakers,
What kind of outputs and inputs does that machine have that are audio only?
Re: Poor, helicopter-like pulsating sound quality
Had a little play with the Master and PCM sliders (all while seeing how adjusting the ThinkPad sound responds to anything), but all that I can do is decrease the sound (and so decrease the sound of the distortion), and increase the sound (increasing the sound of the distortion).
The "distortion" is hard to describe exactly, but it's like when you've had some really weak speakers on a laptop, and you download a "sound booster", and increase the volume more than the speakers are designed to handle, and it sounds then sounds like its struggling to stay alive (especially at the bassy parts).
Re your latest post: I am testing with speakers and headphones as my outputs (and I'm pretty sure on every test I've done when I've sent you an output, I have had my headphones plugged in, playing the audio through them)... https://termbin.com/t2q8
Edit: and just to clarify, the 'AND' wasn't supposed to imply simultaneous output from both speakers and headphones, but rather that the problem exists regardless of which sound output device I play audio out of.
Also, the problem persists regardless of whether internet is on or off, and I have no USB connections.
The "distortion" is hard to describe exactly, but it's like when you've had some really weak speakers on a laptop, and you download a "sound booster", and increase the volume more than the speakers are designed to handle, and it sounds then sounds like its struggling to stay alive (especially at the bassy parts).
Re your latest post: I am testing with speakers and headphones as my outputs (and I'm pretty sure on every test I've done when I've sent you an output, I have had my headphones plugged in, playing the audio through them)... https://termbin.com/t2q8
Edit: and just to clarify, the 'AND' wasn't supposed to imply simultaneous output from both speakers and headphones, but rather that the problem exists regardless of which sound output device I play audio out of.
Also, the problem persists regardless of whether internet is on or off, and I have no USB connections.
Last edited by arr123 on Sun Apr 11, 2021 8:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.