HDMI audio on a PC build of bazzite stutters, crackles, and stops totally in some games.
Hey everyone, I am really struggling with this Audio crackling / dropping issue on my PC build of Bazzite. I have to use audio over HDMI and was hopeful that the new kernel update was supposed to fix it. It's not all games but definitely some. Death stranding and overcooked among others for example. But plenty of other games sound fine. It seems like an open issue: https://github.com/ublue-os/bazzite/issues/851
There are several fixes mentioened in discord and on github but what is causing the issue? If I can only get audio from HDMI, what's the recommended fix?
Some folks are saying it's a result of an HDR patch that was added? Should I disable HDR?
This guy has a suggested fix but I just want to make sure I don't make things worse: https://discord.com/channels/1072614816579063828/1187140365115998291/1310270319470186597
I'm just getting so frustrated, it's making some games unplayable 😦
There seems to be some kind of patch? I don't really know how to do what these guys are talking about though: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/3732
Is this even a fix anymore? This seems to be years old: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/issues/1769#note_1356642
Anywho, any help would be appreciated ❤️
Here is the parts list for the machine: https://pcpartpicker.com/list/KcQhbL It is set up in HTPC game mode primarily, I don't play in desktop mode. Please let me know whatever more info you may need?
Solution:Jump to solution
if u want that amdgpu control application do
ujust install-lact and then u can force the gpu on high performance116 Replies
Is your HDMI audio over the GPU or through the CPU?
You can try to see if using the iGPU works better as a workaround
Not sure how to answer that. I have a single HDMI cable coming out of my GPU which is plugged into my audio receiver
Ohhhhh
Well then that's not possible no
I am unable to run other cables
Nah I thought maybe you were using HDMI dedicated for only audio 🙂
I see.
You're just using PCM?
Not bitstreaming?
I don't know how to answer that, I'm sorry. I am just using default audio settings from what I can tell
Then it's 100% PCM
also try that fix that that guy said, if it doesnt work you can just remove the file and reboot your system
Is the audio crackling also happening during gameplay? Audio issues are not uncommon in idle mode
Audio crackling is usually a result of latency
That source is like 2 years old though and when you read the source, they say it's fixed. For me it totally isn't. https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/issues/1769#note_1356642
GitLab
Offer an alternative to PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC or make that one work wi...
Disclaimer: This would theoretically be a feature request, though I'd wager with the forceful switch to pipewire in some distros, this could just as well be declared an...
Yeah sometimes it will crackle. Most times it stutters or cuts out a bunch until it fully stops. A stupid work around is unplugging HDMI and plugging it back in which isn't a solution.
does it happen on other monitors?
It's not a monitor. But a receiver
So that complicates things lol I'm assuming the monitor is connected to the receiver
It's an entertainment center. So audio receiver which plugs into my OLED TV
Using the eARC port?
There's been enough people that have the same issue over monitor audio via HDMI or TV audio via HDMI that it seems super common. But I dunno
I'm not sure how supported it is on Bazzite, but bitstreaming might solve some issues
I don't use EARC at all
This makes the media center do the decoding
My receiver should use any audio signal at all so I can try? But I dunno how to change it to bitstreaming
are you on the computer that happens like right now? if so, we can try debugging it
Also what is so strange is it's just certain games. I don't know what they have in common.
there must be a few logs complaining at you on
journalctl -fI have to cook dinner really quick but I can switch to that computer after and do some live troubleshooting
I really appreciate you guys popping in and helping!!!
Let me cook and I'll be back
aight!
Maybe the game using Dolby audio etc. Could be a lot of things
It could be that wine/pipewire is by default trying to bitstream dolby/dts. The only way to know is checking logs
Pipewire has supported bitstreaming audio for a few years now
But you would probably see that on your AVR if that was the case
OK I am back on the computer @tulip
So sorry for the delay
I've dropped to desktop mode if that helps
You're using the deck build I presume then
The HTPC image i think
In game mode primarily
Not sure if that’s the answer you’re asking for
You picked steam gaming mode yes right?
That means it's the standard deck build of bazzite
yeah
also for what its worth HDR seems super screwy in desktop mode but looks great in gaming mode
So how can I get some logs from the audio stuff? I loaded up a game to try and replicate it but not sure where those logs are
I have my doubts its related to HDR. Could be a red herring
understood. Just mentioning because many resources online say it has to do with HDR updates in updates but I have zero clue
Have you already tried different hdmi cables?
Just getting common issues out of the way lol
Can you post your systemctl from whenever the audio crackling happens?
Log
Here
no however for what it's worth my steamdeck was plugged into it previously with no audio issues, same HDMI and now audio issues. It was used for 4k HDR movie content before that but I could try that as well
So steam deck with same build
Bazzite
Has no issues?
That's strange
So i guess it could still be HDR then
Its scrolling a bunch of stuff
Well 4K does put a lot more stress on the GPU. I think it might be related to latency
Correct
You gotta log this while or before crackling happens
gotcha, ok offline I'll try that. Then seperately I'll just order a new big chungus HDMI cable
You can do 'journalctl -f > ~/Desktop/journalctl.txt' if you want to log it to a file
ok will do.
You mentioned changing the way audio is processed, I looked in audio options but don't see how to change it to bitstream
It's also called hdmi pass-through
Meaning it passes through audio as-is without decoding
is that in audio options?
Idk exactly
I dont use it, I just know it exists
ok I will google it offline then.
Any other things I can add to the troubleshooting list?
Well it's good to know if something is complained about when crackling happens
In journal
It's likely an audio latency issue together with AMD
And possibly something to do with HDR
I'll need to dump it to a text file. Even then what do I search for in the log file once I can replicate the crackling?
Just post it somewhere online
well its more cutting out and in over and over less so cracking but there is crackling sometimes too
And post it here
ok, it'll take me some time to collect more info and I'll report back
Just upload the text file here
will do
I have to replicate the audio issue which means just some couch gaming for a while. I just tried to replicate it but in desktop mode (which I'm never in) so I don't know if that adds an unwanted variable
this is interesting too, but I don't fully understand it: https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/18iv272/solved_random_hdmi_audio_dropouts_midgame_pipewire/
Reddit
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GitHub
Audio stuttering in many games in Gamescope w/ 6700XT · Issue #851 ...
Describe the bug I have been using bazzite since before Fedora 39 with this system, and I'm not sure when, but in the last few months the system has developed frequent audio stutters when runni...
This could possibly be related?
Can you try to see if forcing the GPU on highest performance fixes it?
Yeah its so funny you pasted that, I'm reading through the entire scroll as well currently
this is my EXACT issue (linked in the OP as well). The hard part is there were so many "try this" fixes in there, I wasn't sure about any of them
Solution
if u want that amdgpu control application do
ujust install-lact and then u can force the gpu on high performanceif that fixes the issues you're having, I'm assuming that this is just a known issue
you would need to ask the team about that
sorry a typo in the command 😛
any downside to that? Will it still sleep and everthing just fine?
Will my fans always be on full blast? hahah
power usage
that's pretty much the only downside
because it forces the GPU to not go to lower clocks to save power
its a power saving feature
fuck the turtles!
GIVE ME POWA
k sec let me try
not sure why it failed, because it can't change dir?
should I get out of my home dir? or sudo?
that's strange
i'm checking right now if it works fine for me lol otherwise the install script is broken
it does some OSTree layering, might just have to reboot
I get the same error, weird
reboot then install again?
nah should be there after reboot
ok I'll reboot brb
yeah its there
so just ignore the error
Just a sec
do what it says 😛
ok did it
just being verbose lol
OC->Performance->Highest Clocks
okies done. reboot first or naw
nah
just type lact in console
and it should open
oh I meant in lact, after the change is made, should I reboot after its set to highest clocks
no, just click on Apply
done
it should automatically update the current clock speed
under "GPU Core Clock (average)" in the OC tab
ok. I'm going to change nothing else and just rock this for a while
if the crackling still happens, post logs 🙂
will do, might need a day or two of serious gaming to replicate it again. It's so strange and intermittent
lots of games do it a ton, others, not at all
so freaky
thanks for your help, I'll let you know either way
DCC SEND /msg CheckYourFax beer.exe 10000 1234
You mentioned an oled, what's the model?
An LG c1 but there is an audio receiver in the middle first.
I know there is, I've been on this journey for a while. I have an LG c9 with a receiver in the middle as well. Do you have the ability of side loading or installing a different distro for testing purposes?
Not easily. I’m still going to be testing the GPU power fix with LACT for a few days to see if it’s all fixed first. Last night was promising.
If that doesn't work, I might recommend chimera os, there appears to be a regression in the kernel that's causing the issue and chimera hasn't updated yet to the affected kernel. I've tried everything from TV swaps, gpu swaps, hdmi swaps, everything swaps. It's a known issue but one that doesn't seem to be getting a lot of traction which is a tad annoying. I already made a bug report about it here
https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/drm/amd/-/issues/3732
GitLab
HDMI Audio Regression (#3732) · Issues · drm / amd · GitLab
Brief summary of the problem: Since the beginning of 2024 I have been having issues with my HTPC (ryzen 3600 & 7800XT) while playing games and the audio...
I might try the lact thing as well tbh, it appears to be the way in newer kernel the gpu scheduler works, I don't know if it's getting confused or what but it's worth a try on my end
@Veroxin what games can you repeat the issue with consistently? I tried it with overcooked and death stranding and can't replicate the issue after some minor testing however the issue isn't 100% guaranteed all of the time
Try LACT and let me know if it improves for you as well
Tekken 8, metaphor refantazio, persona 3 reload, dbz sparking zero, dark souls remastered, elden ring, binding of issac
Ok I’ll try binding of Isaac cause I don’t have all the others hahah
Those are what immediately come to mind
It’s super consistent in those?
Extremely
Ok let me test
Original or rebirth
Rebirth, I don't own original
K loading it now
So I'm not sure if original has the issue, but to be fair is anyone still playing original? Lol
Are you testing with or without lact tweaks?
With.
Gotcha
To see if I can get the audio to drop
I can then test without
Gotcha gotcha
You should install lact really quick tho and test as well
I already did after I saw the suggestion in here
So far no audio issues for me.
Turning OC back to auto and trying again
No audio issues with it set to auto either. Hmm
Gunna restart and try again
Strange. No audio issues
Not sure, to be honest it's been a long while since I tested issac, but I do remember it being problematic
Ok well I booted up death stranding and immediately sound issues
Going to turn on the OC thing and jump right back in to test
Turned it back to highest clock in lact. Started death stranding back up and I think we have a repeatable fix.
Sort of a work around but until it gets solved at the kernel or driver level I think we are good.