[Vostro 3400, Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42, Speaker, Internal] Underruns, dropouts or crackling sound

[aminesaka]

Since the last three weeks' updates, I have encountered several challenges with the audio functionality on my system. Primarily, upon starting my laptop, the audio often fails to work, displaying "Dummy Output." To resolve this, I find myself needing to restart the laptop two or three times before the audio becomes functional.

Even when the audio is working, I've noticed a recurring issue where, after playing video or audio for approximately 2-3 minutes, the sound starts crackling and buzzing. The intensity of these distortions gradually increases, resembling the static interference on a radio station with a weak signal. This issue persists even when using 3.5mm headphones, requiring the use of a USB headset or Bluetooth headphones to enjoy distortion-free audio.

Furthermore, I have observed that, regardless of the Ubuntu version (ranging from 22.04 to 22.04.3), I face difficulties changing the microphone output settings when an external audio peripheral, such as a USB headset, 3.5mm headphones, or Bluetooth headphones, is connected. The OS appears to exclusively utilize the microphone from the connected peripheral, making it impossible to switch to the laptop's built-in microphone.

For your reference, here are the specifications of my laptop and the Ubuntu version I am currently using:

Laptop: Dell Vostro 3400
CPU: 11th Gen Intel i5-1135G7
GPU: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 Iris Xe
Memory: 2490MiB / 19720MiB
Resolution: 1920x1080
OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS x86_64
Kernel: 6.5.0-14-generic
DE: GNOME 42.9
Shell: bash 5.1.16
Sound Card: Card: HDA Intel PCH, Chip: Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42

**UPDATE 12/02/2024 Noticed that every time my laptop fan starts spinning the crackling sound appears, after fan stops the crackling sound disappear.
**UPDATE 19/03/2024 I did a software update to the linux kernel 6.5.0-26, now i get a dummy output in sound even if i restart the system many times, and if i use my Bluetooth headphone i can't use the mic, neither the mic of the laptop or of the headphone (there is no option is the settings to choose from) it's all blank.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-15.15~22.04.1-generic 6.5.3
Uname: Linux 6.5.0-15-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: galxy-a10 1437 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: pass
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Mon Jan 29 17:50:44 2024
InstallationDate: Installed on 2024-01-16 (13 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS "Jammy Jellyfish" - Release amd64 (20230807.2)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:PCH successful
Symptom_Card: Built-in Audio - HDA Intel PCH
Symptom_Jack: Speaker, Internal
Symptom_PulseAudioLog: جانفي 29 17:49:49 galxya10-VR whoopsie-upload-all[712]: INFO:root:/var/crash/_usr_bin_pulseaudio.1000.crash already marked for upload, skipping
Symptom_PulsePlaybackTest: PulseAudio playback test successful
Symptom_Type: Underruns, dropouts, or "crackling" sound
Title: [Vostro 3400, Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42, Speaker, Internal] Underruns, dropouts or crackling sound
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 10/03/2023
dmi.bios.release: 1.27
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.27.1
dmi.board.name: 0GGCMJ
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A02
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.27.1:bd10/03/2023:br1.27:svnDellInc.:pnVostro3400:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0GGCMJ:rvrA02:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:sku0A23:
dmi.product.family: Vostro
dmi.product.name: Vostro 3400
dmi.product.sku: 0A23
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
mtime.conffile..etc.modprobe.d.alsa-base.conf: 2024-01-28T08:52:28.427855

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

Hi aminesaka,

About the #4, if you want to use the mic of bluetooth headset, please set output Configuration to HSP/HFP instead of A2DP.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

Please upload a complete dmesg with the kernel you updated on 19/03/2024 (dummy output).

And could you also test the latest upstream mainline kernel or ubuntu 24.04 (just put the iso to usb flash drive, boot from it and try ubuntu 24.04, no need to install).

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.8/

And also, it looks like a hardware issue to me.

[aminesaka (amine1234)]

Hello Hui Wang, yeah unfortunately i think it's a hardware issue since i
tried windows and fedora but same thing.
For the bluetooth headphone (Redmi buds 4 active) in windows and fedora
works fine, in ubuntu even if I set output a configuration to HSP/HFP
instead of A2DP mic doesn't work, the only way to get it work is to remove
the device from bluetooth settings and set it up again. I recorded a short
video for the issue : https://youtu.be/cZaSqgFJ-Gw

On Sat, Mar 23, 2024 at 1:20 AM Hui Wang <email address hidden> wrote:

> Please upload a complete dmesg with the kernel you updated on 19/03/2024
> (dummy output).
>
> And could you also test the latest upstream mainline kernel or ubuntu
> 24.04 (just put the iso to usb flash drive, boot from it and try ubuntu
> 24.04, no need to install).
>
> https://kernel.ubuntu.com/mainline/v6.8/
>
>
> And also, it looks like a hardware issue to me.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2051570
>
> Title:
> [Vostro 3400, Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42, Speaker, Internal]
> Underruns, dropouts or crackling sound
>
> Status in alsa-driver package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> Since the last three weeks' updates, I have encountered several
> challenges with the audio functionality on my system. Primarily, upon
> starting my laptop, the audio often fails to work, displaying "Dummy
> Output." To resolve this, I find myself needing to restart the laptop
> two or three times before the audio becomes functional.
>
> Even when the audio is working, I've noticed a recurring issue where,
> after playing video or audio for approximately 2-3 minutes, the sound
> starts crackling and buzzing. The intensity of these distortions
> gradually increases, resembling the static interference on a radio
> station with a weak signal. This issue persists even when using 3.5mm
> headphones, requiring the use of a USB headset or Bluetooth headphones
> to enjoy distortion-free audio.
>
> Furthermore, I have observed that, regardless of the Ubuntu version
> (ranging from 22.04 to 22.04.3), I face difficulties changing the
> microphone output settings when an external audio peripheral, such as
> a USB headset, 3.5mm headphones, or Bluetooth headphones, is
> connected. The OS appears to exclusively utilize the microphone from
> the connected peripheral, making it impossible to switch to the
> laptop's built-in microphone.
>
> For your reference, here are the specifications of my laptop and the
> Ubuntu version I am currently using:
>
> Laptop: Dell Vostro 3400
> CPU: 11th Gen Intel i5-1135G7
> GPU: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 Iris Xe
> Memory: 2490MiB / 19720MiB
> Resolution: 1920x1080
> OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS x86_64
> Kernel: 6.5.0-14-generic
> DE: GNOME 42.9
> Shell: bash 5.1.16
> Sound Card: Card: HDA Intel PCH, Chip: Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42
>
> **UPDATE 12/02/2024 Noticed that every time my laptop fan starts
> spinning the crackling sound appears, after fan stops the crackling sound
> disappear.
> **UPDATE 19/03/2024 I did a software update to the linux kernel
>...

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

About the issue of Redmi buds 4 active, what version of ubuntu are you using? If it is 22.04, you need to collect pulseaudio log.

[aminesaka (amine1234)]

yes it's ubuntu 22.04.4 lts, and this is the pulseaudio log file.

On Wed, Mar 27, 2024 at 1:11 PM Hui Wang <email address hidden> wrote:

> About the issue of Redmi buds 4 active, what version of ubuntu are you
> using? If it is 22.04, you need to collect pulseaudio log.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2051570
>
> Title:
> [Vostro 3400, Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42, Speaker, Internal]
> Underruns, dropouts or crackling sound
>
> Status in alsa-driver package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> Since the last three weeks' updates, I have encountered several
> challenges with the audio functionality on my system. Primarily, upon
> starting my laptop, the audio often fails to work, displaying "Dummy
> Output." To resolve this, I find myself needing to restart the laptop
> two or three times before the audio becomes functional.
>
> Even when the audio is working, I've noticed a recurring issue where,
> after playing video or audio for approximately 2-3 minutes, the sound
> starts crackling and buzzing. The intensity of these distortions
> gradually increases, resembling the static interference on a radio
> station with a weak signal. This issue persists even when using 3.5mm
> headphones, requiring the use of a USB headset or Bluetooth headphones
> to enjoy distortion-free audio.
>
> Furthermore, I have observed that, regardless of the Ubuntu version
> (ranging from 22.04 to 22.04.3), I face difficulties changing the
> microphone output settings when an external audio peripheral, such as
> a USB headset, 3.5mm headphones, or Bluetooth headphones, is
> connected. The OS appears to exclusively utilize the microphone from
> the connected peripheral, making it impossible to switch to the
> laptop's built-in microphone.
>
> For your reference, here are the specifications of my laptop and the
> Ubuntu version I am currently using:
>
> Laptop: Dell Vostro 3400
> CPU: 11th Gen Intel i5-1135G7
> GPU: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 Iris Xe
> Memory: 2490MiB / 19720MiB
> Resolution: 1920x1080
> OS: Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS x86_64
> Kernel: 6.5.0-14-generic
> DE: GNOME 42.9
> Shell: bash 5.1.16
> Sound Card: Card: HDA Intel PCH, Chip: Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42
>
> **UPDATE 12/02/2024 Noticed that every time my laptop fan starts
> spinning the crackling sound appears, after fan stops the crackling sound
> disappear.
> **UPDATE 19/03/2024 I did a software update to the linux kernel
> 6.5.0-26, now i get a dummy output in sound even if i restart the system
> many times, and if i use my Bluetooth headphone i can't use the mic,
> neither the mic of the laptop or of the headphone (there is no option is
> the settings to choose from) it's all blank.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 22.04
> Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu7
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 6.5.0-15.15~22.04.1-generic 6.5.3
> Uname: Linux 6.5.0-15-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu82.5
> Architecture: amd64
> AudioDevicesInUse:
> USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
> /dev/snd/controlC0: galxy-...

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

The content in the pulseaudio.log (#9) is not helpful.

Could you edit /usr/lib/systemd/user/pulseaudio.service:
change the line "ExecStart=/usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no --log-target=journal" to "ExecStart=/usr/bin/pulseaudio -vvvv --daemonize=no --log-target=file:/home/$user/pulse.txt"

reboot

connect your bt headset and try to change profile from A2DP to HSP/HFP, then upload the pulse.txt.

[aminesaka (amine1234)]

I did the modification :
[Unit]
Description=Sound Service

# We require pulseaudio.socket to be active before starting the daemon,
because
# while it is possible to use the service without the socket, it is not
clear
# why it would be desirable.
#
# A user installing pulseaudio and doing `systemctl --user start pulseaudio`
# will not get the socket started, which might be confusing and problematic
if
# the server is to be restarted later on, as the client autospawn feature
# might kick in. Also, a start of the socket unit will fail, adding to the
# confusion.
#
# After=pulseaudio.socket is not needed, as it is already implicit in the
# socket-service relationship, see systemd.socket(5).
Requires=pulseaudio.socket
ConditionUser=!root

[Service]
ExecStart=/usr/bin/pulseaudio -vvvv --daemonize=no
--log-target=file:/home/$USER/pulse.txt
LockPersonality=yes
MemoryDenyWriteExecute=yes
NoNewPrivileges=yes
Restart=on-failure
RestrictNamespaces=yes
SystemCallArchitectures=native
SystemCallFilter=@system-service
# Note that notify will only work if --daemonize=no
Type=notify
UMask=0077
Slice=session.slice

[Install]
Also=pulseaudio.socket
WantedBy=default.target

However, after rebooting the system, I couldn't locate the pulse.txt file
in my home directory (/home/$USER/) or by searching it, and have confirmed
that hidden files are visible.

On a positive note, I noticed that I can now choose the headphone
microphone from the input device list without the need to delete and
re-setup the headphone from the Bluetooth settings.
Thanks for the help.

On Thu, Mar 28, 2024 at 12:27 PM Hui Wang <email address hidden>
wrote:

> The content in the pulseaudio.log (#9) is not helpful.
>
>
> Could you edit /usr/lib/systemd/user/pulseaudio.service:
> change the line "ExecStart=/usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no
> --log-target=journal" to "ExecStart=/usr/bin/pulseaudio -vvvv
> --daemonize=no --log-target=file:/home/$user/pulse.txt"
>
> reboot
>
> connect your bt headset and try to change profile from A2DP to HSP/HFP,
> then upload the pulse.txt.
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2051570
>
> Title:
> [Vostro 3400, Cirrus Logic CS8409/CS42L42, Speaker, Internal]
> Underruns, dropouts or crackling sound
>
> Status in alsa-driver package in Ubuntu:
> New
>
> Bug description:
> Since the last three weeks' updates, I have encountered several
> challenges with the audio functionality on my system. Primarily, upon
> starting my laptop, the audio often fails to work, displaying "Dummy
> Output." To resolve this, I find myself needing to restart the laptop
> two or three times before the audio becomes functional.
>
> Even when the audio is working, I've noticed a recurring issue where,
> after playing video or audio for approximately 2-3 minutes, the sound
> starts crackling and buzzing. The intensity of these distortions
> gradually increases, resembling the static interference on a radio
> station with a weak signal. This issue persists even when using 3.5mm
> headphones, requiring the use of a USB headset or Bluetooth headphones
> to enjoy distorti...