Bad audio quality in jukebox with newest 4.6

[Turyleon]

I just upgraded to the latest version of Subsonic on our server and absolutely love the Android RC feature. However, every time I do something to the music (change tracks, jump to a point in the song) or the track changes due to the end of a song, there is an audible "pop" or "snap." It sounds like something you might hear from crackling speaker. Any idea what might be causing this and if there might be a way to get rid of it? It does not occur when I just play music through a browser interface.

[BKKKPewsey]

It does not occur when I just play music through a browser interface.

In Jukebox mode?

[grant]

Hello,

First, I hope I'm posting in the correct section to mention this.
Second, I am a donated (donating?) SS user.

I just downloaded and installed Subsonic 4.6 and in jukebox mode, I am noticing that at the beginning of each new song that is played, I hear an audible click at the start of the song. I know that I have a couple of "bad" mp3s that have pops/clicks from the start, but this is occurring with every song. What could have changed between SS 4.5 when I did not have this problem and now that I do with 4.6?

Thank you,

grant

[Turyleon]

Yes. When the server is being controlled in Jukebox mode, the popping occurs.

[cls]

After updating to 4.6 the audio quality of playing mp3 file in jukebox mode is bad.
Seams to be a transcoding problems.
The quality get worse the longer the jukebox is used.

Playing streamed music works without problems.

The host is not the problem, because I tried a clean install on a new server (win2008 R2) - same problem.

Any ideas'?

[BKKKPewsey]

I have merged all these separate threads as they appear to be the same (or very similar) problem.

After updating to 4.6 the audio quality of playing mp3 file in jukebox mode is bad.
Seams to be a transcoding problems.
The quality get worse the longer the jukebox is used.

Check your java memory limit - I have listened on jukebox for up to 7 hrs with no noticeable loss in quality (On windows server 2003 SS4.6)

Yes. When the server is being controlled in Jukebox mode, the popping occurs.

So its in jukebox mode whether its being controlled via droid app or web browser?

Just to see if their is a common theme can you all post back what your sound card/device is on server.

[Turyleon]

So its in jukebox mode whether its being controlled via droid app or web browser?

Just to see if their is a common theme can you all post back what your sound card/device is on server.

That is correct, when the server is being controlled as a Jukebox (whether via another computer via the web, or via the Android app) there is a pop/snap/crack sound between any change to the song (switching tracks, or jumping to another part of the current song). It does NOT occur when pausing/playing.

I am running a Creative Soundblaster X-Fi Platinum.

[Turyleon]

Are there any actionable items on this issue that I might try?

[cls]

Hi,

I still have the problems with the bad audio quality.
I am controlling the subsonic with the web-interface (no droid app).
I tried several java configurations.

To narrow the problem I installed subsonic on several machines. All Windows 2008 R2 Server with the newest java runtime.
I am using a soundblaster sound device on my hardware and within virtual machines the VMWare virtual soundcard from the vmware-server 2.0.2.
On every system I have the same problem. Seems to be a general problem.

Any ideas?

[cls]

Does anyone know how to run the "com.sun.media.sound.DirectAudioDevice" from commandline?

[jammer]

I was hearing a pop at the beginning of each song, and I made a change that seems to have fixed it. A few days after the upgrade, the audio from Jukebox mode stopped playing over my SPDIF output (but was fine on analog port). I went through the procedure on the following thread to get audio out of the SPDIF again.

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2038

After that the pop between songs was gone! I am guessing with Ubuntu at least, the pop has something to do with java built in support for selecting the right sound device on its own.

[jeremer]

I notice a difference in sound quality when in Jukebox vs. streaming. I don't have any pops or clicks, but there is a higher level of background noise (hiss) and audio sounds like it is a a lower bit rate. Has anyone else had this problem? CLS is this what you experienced? jammer, did the Java settings change affect quality of playback if java is still choosing the right sound device?

{Edit}
I tried the java change, but it sounds the same... not sure if the settings are right. I am on XP and here is what I did:

ran the adiuDevLIst and got:

C:\>java audioDevList
Available mixers:
Primary Sound Driver
Audio Advantage SRM Device
SoundMAX Digital Audio
Primary Sound Capture Driver
Audio Advantage SRM Device
SoundMAX Digital Audio
Port Audio Advantage SRM Device
Port SoundMAX Digital Audio


Updated subsonic-agent.exe.vmoptions to include this line:

-Djavax.sound.sampled.SourceDataLine=#Audio Advantage SRM Device \

I noticed no difference, but maybe I didn't specify the option correctly?

{/Edit}

[sanderd]

hi all,

when using jukebox mode, i hear a cracking/popping noise between songs. my home server connects via usb cable to usb/bluetooth DAC (Chordette 160)

if i stream through webplayer on laptop via bluetooth to same DAC, this doesn't happen.

happens with mp3 and FLAC.

so i think it's usb/hardware related.

anyone out there having same problems?

thanks,
Sander

[Lou Cipher]

I'm experiencing the same issue, a pop when changing songs. It's the same behavior if I use web interface or the subsonic app. Can anyone shed some light on this?

[ArtInvent]

I have merged all these separate threads as they appear to be the same (or very similar) problem.

Umm, no, seem like very different problems to me. One is a very loud popping sound when changing tracks in Android jukebox mode, which I have. The other is apparently degraded sound quality due maybe to transcoding, which I don't have, sound q is excellent.

Anyway, re the popping, I have Windows 7, using an outboard DAC-amplifier unit connected using the Realtek Digital Output (SPDIF). Pops on any track change but not on play/pause. Does not pop on playing through the machine's web browser.

Just upgraded to Subsonic 4.7 from 4.6 thinking maybe this would be addressed, but nope. On the theory that Subsonic is trying to choose a new audio device on each track change, I also disabled all other audio devices both input and output, but there is no change.

Version 4.7 (build 3106) – September 12, 2012
Server jetty-6.1.x, java 1.6.0_22, Windows 7 (71.5 MB / 105.7 MB)

Haven't see any helpful suggestions regarding this. Anyone have any other ideas? Some Java settings or something? Wouldn't know where to start. It's a drag because controlling SS with the jukebox on my phone is pretty awesome otherwise.