[PROBLEM] Tics when playing high-resolution PCM files

[carmol]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

[TheOldPresbyope]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

1 - I don't remember if "underrun" messages are reflected in moode.log. Have you also examined the MPD log /var/log/mpd/log?

2 - have you tried the simple test of copying several files (the ones most likely to cause 'tics') from the external drive to the SDCard, updating the library, and then playing the files from the SDCard? (You could also disconnect the external drive after copying the files if you want to be really thorough but I'm not sure it adds anything to the test.) 

Regards,
Kent

[carmol]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

1 - I don't remember if "underrun" messages are reflected in moode.log. Have you also examined the MPD log /var/log/mpd/log?

2 - have you tried the simple test of copying several files (the ones most likely to cause 'tics') from the external drive to the SDCard, updating the library, and then playing the files from the SDCard? (You could also disconnect the external drive after copying the files if you want to be really thorough but I'm not sure it adds anything to the test.) 

Regards,
Kent

tx

I tried from SD tics seems disappeared...
so HD is not enough fast, or USB HD conflicts with USB DAC,
since they share same bandwidth ...
I am waiting availability of Raspberry 4,
in the meanwhile what can I do ?

[zOr7gA8]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

1 - I don't remember if "underrun" messages are reflected in moode.log. Have you also examined the MPD log /var/log/mpd/log?

2 - have you tried the simple test of copying several files (the ones most likely to cause 'tics') from the external drive to the SDCard, updating the library, and then playing the files from the SDCard? (You could also disconnect the external drive after copying the files if you want to be really thorough but I'm not sure it adds anything to the test.) 

Regards,
Kent

tx

I tried from SD tics seems disappeared...
so HD is not enough fast, or USB HD conflicts with USB DAC,
since they share same bandwidth ...
I am waiting availability of Raspberry 4,
in the meanwhile what can I do ?

maybe connect the HD to another device which can be access point as NAS server!?

[Tim Curtis]

I have lots of HiRes test files in wav, flac, alac, aiff, dsf, dff all stored on a USB stick and never any audio glitches. This is testing on the usual suspects including Pi-3B, 3B+, 4, Allo SIG (CM3+) + HAT audio boards or Allo Revolution USB DAC.

IME audio glitches are almost always due to something external to moOde software thats not operating properly for example PSU, SDCard, storage device, network, EMI/RF interference other electrical noise etc.

[DRONE7]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

Is your external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk self powered or is it powered by the Pi' ?
If the latter then you may be overtaxing the power supply of the Pi....and exceeding the USB current capability.
This would be probable given that the files play fine from the SD card as you've reported.

You could try some files from a USb stick instead of the hard drive as another troubleshooting test.

[carmol]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

Is your external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk self powered or is it powered by the Pi' ?
If the latter then you may be overtaxing the power supply of the Pi....and exceeding the USB current capability.
This would be probable given that the files play fine from the SD card as you've reported.

You could try some files from a USb stick instead of the hard drive as another troubleshooting test.

it's self powered

[carmol]

Hello,
when I play hires PCM files
I hear occasional but very annoying "tics".
It happens with some 24/96, 192 and 352 Khz flacs.
On 352 flacs they are more frequent.

I suspect the issue is due USB lags
on external HD, or on USB dac.
I have Moode 8.1.2 64 bit on RB 3B+, connected to a topping DX5 usb dac
and external USB 1 TB 3.5 disk.

no errors in moode.log

1 - I don't remember if "underrun" messages are reflected in moode.log. Have you also examined the MPD log /var/log/mpd/log?

2 - have you tried the simple test of copying several files (the ones most likely to cause 'tics') from the external drive to the SDCard, updating the library, and then playing the files from the SDCard? (You could also disconnect the external drive after copying the files if you want to be really thorough but I'm not sure it adds anything to the test.) 

Regards,
Kent

tx

I tried from SD tics seems disappeared...
so HD is not enough fast, or USB HD conflicts with USB DAC,
since they share same bandwidth ...
I am waiting availability of Raspberry 4,
in the meanwhile what can I do ?

maybe connect the HD to another device which can be access point as NAS server!?

I used to connect USB HD to router ad use it as a network source,
but latest versions of moode does not support share SMBv1 anymore,
so I should buy a NAS, but for less money I prefer to buy a Raspberry 4
when it will be available again

[carmol]

I have lots of HiRes test files in wav, flac, alac, aiff, dsf, dff all stored on a USB stick and never any audio glitches. This is testing on the usual suspects including Pi-3B, 3B+, 4, Allo SIG (CM3+) + HAT audio boards or Allo Revolution USB DAC.

IME audio glitches are almost always due to something external to moOde software thats not operating properly for example PSU, SDCard, storage device, network, EMI/RF interference other electrical noise etc.

glitches are udible with quiet acoustic music
i.e. patricia barber higher DXD edition, 24/352.8 FLAC;
maybe it's due to USB HD latency and or USB dac,
on Raspberry USB ports are not indipendant but share bandwidth.

I agree that glitches are not due to software,
I am trying to discover the culprit,
and if there are settings that can resolve the problem

[Tim Curtis]

Feel free to PM myself and @TheOldPresbyope a download link to one of the files. That will allow the file to be analyzed and played to see if the issue can be reproduced.