[room312]

First, some administrative information:

XBMC 10.1 GIT:Unknown (Compiled : Mar 9 2011)
Linux 2.6.32-29-Generic #58-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 11 19:00:00:09 UTC ...
i686

audio output = hdmi
speaker configuration = 5.1
boost level on downmix = on
-dolby digital (ac3) capable receiver = on
-dts capable receiver = on
audio output device = hdmi
passthrough output device = hdmi

I installed 10.1 ( http://mirrors.xbmc.org/releases/live/xb...1-live.iso ) to my Zotac ZBOX HD-ND02-U with LiLi. It's connected to my TV via HDMI, then my TV is connected to my AC3/DTS-decodable receiver via TOSLINK.

To get menu sounds working, I followed this thread: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=62629 . To get playback sound working, I had to unmute S/PIDF 1 in alsamixer (all playback is unmuted).

Log file: http://pastebin.com/z7TZP9S6


The problem:

The issue starts from boot-up when the welcome sound (I'm not sure what it's called) plays. I see the skin (Alaska) start up. At the same time, none of the audio decoders are selected (Analog, Linear PCM, Dolby Digital, DTS). Approximately 2 seconds pass, then the audio kicks in. "Linear PCM" lights up on the receiver and I hear the rest of the welcome sound. I don't hear the welcome sound from the beginning in its entirety. It simply cuts off 2 seconds from the beginning and I hear the rest.

It's the same issue when starting up a video or audio file. The first 2 seconds are cut off. When I skip/fast forward, it's the same thing. If I resume a video, I usually miss some dialog. I have to rewind a little bit just to hear it. For music, I never get to hear the very beginning of the song.

When I stop the movie and it goes back to the skin, I see the receiver has no audio decoders selected. Once I start navigating around, it eventually kicks in.

The menu sounds play in Linear PCM. I would understand this silence/pause/break in audio if it's changing over to DD or DTS, but in the video file played in the Log file, it's also Linear PCM and it still has that 2-second silence.

I had this same issue back in 9.11, but I decided to wait until 10.1 to see if the issue would go away. Back then, I remember finding a thread where someone mentioned a fix to continuously send silent audio through, thus keeping the receiver active and ready to play audio. I think I tried this fix, but it didn't work. I'd like to try it again though. Edit: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=59176

I also found a couple threads tonight detailing the same issue:
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=68499
http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?tid=44882

I tried doing something with PulseAudio, but that didn't work out. I'm a Linux noob, so I don't know anything about Gnome or GDM or if this will even solve my issue. Also both of these threads are pretty old so I don't know if they still even apply or if there's another fix. I couldn't find anything more recent.


This is the only issue preventing me from having a perfect system. I don't post often, but I hope this was enough information to get some assistance. Thank you.

[room312]

Bumping.

I also did some more troubleshooting. I played it through the TV speakers instead and it still has the same issue, so it's not the receiver. I tried connecting another HTPC to my TV via HDMI and there were no sound issues with that, so it's not the TV.

It has to either be my Zotac or something in the software. I don't want to have to install another OS just to see if it's an issue with the software. Besides, the links I previously posted both point to software issues.

[proson]

I also have the same problem.

[room312]

I found the thread I was talking about, and this was the only post that helped, but did not completely resolve the issue: http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=414689&postcount=7 . As per that post, I additionally had to set audio output device = default.

This only fixed rwd/fwd/skip/pause-play sound cut offs in 2-ch media (5.1-ch media still has the same issue). However, the problem is still there when I press enter on a file to play, but once it's playing, I can navigate through just fine without any audio issues. It's the same with music, but I can skip tracks without audio issues. If I play a video directory, going from one video to the next still has the same issue.

So for me, that post fixed a large part of the problem and further proves that it's a software issue.


I also found this thread/post: http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=420...stcount=12 but it didn't work for me.

[Majster]

I also have the same problem with my Shuttle XS35GT. (I’m running XBMC 10.0). Hope some Linux guru can help us out… it’s really enjoying.

[devil103]

Is there any more progress on this issue? I've looked over the threads mentioned in this topic and found this link:
http://www.tolaris.com/2011/07/03/solvin...-and-hdmi/

However, when using the aplay command either in .bashrc or a seperate terminal I still have the 2s silence issue with (almost) every sound.

My system is running on the XBMC-PVR build (compile date 18072011) and the HTPC is simply connected through HDMI to my TV. Other sources do not have this 2s audio delay when pausing or unpausing.

I really hope to get this fixed as it is the only issue left for me.
I do remember solving it with pulseaudio but broke my system soon afterwards. So I would rather avoid using pulseaudio now that my alsa system is correctly setup.