Sounds issues when streaming videos online

[inbrick]

Hello all,

I have been using kubuntu for only a few days and am experiencing some problems that have me stumped.

When I stream a video online, the sound works fine as long as the video is playing in windowed mode (with the rest of the website still showing). However, when I expand the video to full-screen mode, the sound has a sewer-pipe sounding echo to it. This happened on hulu, usa, and google video, so I'm pretty sure it's not a problem with the video. I'm running a dual boot with Windows XP and the sound works fine in XP, so I don't think it's a hardware problem.

As I'm new to linux, I don't know any konsole commands, but I can easily follow any instructions you have.

Information:
Kubuntu 11.10, dual boot with Windows XP SP3
Dell Inspiron E1705 laptop
CPU i386 32 bit
2 GB installed RAM
GPU Dell CG108 video card
1 internal HD
1 internal cd/dvd RW drive
Soundcard:
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: STAC92xx Digital [STAC92xx Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Using open source drivers except for the wireless card.

Any suggestions would be very helpful. I've been unable to find any information about this problem on this forum or others.

Thanks!
inbrick

[woodsmoke]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

Hi inbrick and welcome to a very friendly and helpful forum.

There are others here that are very knowledgeable about these thing, not moi! , and you can help them to address your situation if you would go to the "kicker" the little kubuntu button in lower panel and navigate around to find the "terminal".

You can go to "applications" and "system" and probably find it. There may be several kinds of terminals in there use the one labled "terminal".

When it opens you will see a "black box" with the name of your computer on the top line and a "$" sign.

Please copy and paste this command after the $ sign and hit enter.

lsmod

Copy that output of text into a word processor.

Then copy and paste this line after the next $ and repeat the copy and paste.

less /proc/modules

Close the terminal

Then copy those from the word processor and paste them into a reply for the folks to view.

As a comment, it may be that you just need some other "libraries" or "codecs" which you can get from synaptic, or they will give you a couple of Linux commands.

So, keep an eye on the thread.

good luck and don't be a stranger!

woodsmoke

[inbrick]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

woodsmoke, thanks for your suggestions. I've pasted the results of the two terminal commands you suggested below. In the interest of my learning, could you explain what 'lsmod' and 'less /proc/modules' do? Thanks!

I've spent a fair amount of time trying to get codecs installed, as I was (and still am) having trouble getting wma files to play in Amarok. Each time I asked it to play a wma, it would say it needed to search for the plugin, would download and successfully install it, and then still wouldn't work. I try to play a wma again, and the same process happens. I think this might be a separate issue from the video streaming problems, but I'm not sure. I have checked to make sure that the kubunut-restricted-extras package is installed.

Thanks again for your help.
inbrick

Results of lsmod:
Module Size Used by
usb_storage 44173 1
uas 17699 0
parport_pc 32114 0
dm_crypt 22565 0
ppdev 12849 0
bnep 17923 2
rfcomm 38408 0
bluetooth 148839 10 bnep,rfcomm
arc4 12473 2
joydev 17393 0
dell_wmi 12601 0
sparse_keymap 13658 1 dell_wmi
b43 318816 0
snd_hda_codec_idt 60049 1
mac80211 393459 1 b43
snd_hda_intel 24262 2
snd_hda_codec 91754 2 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13276 1 snd_hda_codec
dell_laptop 13519 0
snd_pcm 80435 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
dcdbas 14098 1 dell_laptop
r852 17901 0
sm_common 16737 1 r852
cfg80211 172392 2 b43,mac80211
nand 49706 2 r852,sm_common
nand_ids 8547 1 nand
nand_bch 13003 1 nand
bch 21757 1 nand_bch
nand_ecc 13070 1 nand
r592 17808 0
mtd 35852 2 sm_common,nand
memstick 15857 1 r592
snd_seq_midi 13132 0
psmouse 73673 0
serio_raw 12990 0
snd_rawmidi 25241 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 51567 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 28932 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 14172 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd 55902 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_ hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_se q_device
soundcore 12600 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 14115 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm
lp 17455 0
parport 40930 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp
usbhid 41905 0
hid 77367 1 usbhid
firewire_ohci 35854 0
sdhci_pci 13658 0
sdhci 27360 1 sdhci_pci
firewire_core 56937 1 firewire_ohci
b44 31443 0
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core
radeon 925193 3
ttm 65224 1 radeon
drm_kms_helper 32889 1 radeon
drm 192194 5 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper
ssb 50682 2 b43,b44
wmi 18744 1 dell_wmi
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 radeon
video 18908 0


results of less /proc/modules
sb_storage 44173 1 - Live 0x00000000
uas 17699 0 - Live 0x00000000
parport_pc 32114 0 - Live 0x00000000
dm_crypt 22565 0 - Live 0x00000000
ppdev 12849 0 - Live 0x00000000
bnep 17923 2 - Live 0x00000000
rfcomm 38408 0 - Live 0x00000000
bluetooth 148839 10 bnep,rfcomm, Live 0x00000000
arc4 12473 2 - Live 0x00000000
joydev 17393 0 - Live 0x00000000
dell_wmi 12601 0 - Live 0x00000000
sparse_keymap 13658 1 dell_wmi, Live 0x00000000
b43 318816 0 - Live 0x00000000
snd_hda_codec_idt 60049 1 - Live 0x00000000
mac80211 393459 1 b43, Live 0x00000000
snd_hda_intel 24262 2 - Live 0x00000000
snd_hda_codec 91754 2 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel, Live 0x00000000
snd_hwdep 13276 1 snd_hda_codec, Live 0x00000000
dell_laptop 13519 0 - Live 0x00000000
snd_pcm 80435 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec, Live 0x00000000
dcdbas 14098 1 dell_laptop, Live 0x00000000
r852 17901 0 - Live 0x00000000
sm_common 16737 1 r852, Live 0x00000000
cfg80211 172392 2 b43,mac80211, Live 0x00000000
nand 49706 2 r852,sm_common, Live 0x00000000
nand_ids 8547 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
nand_bch 13003 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
bch 21757 1 nand_bch, Live 0x00000000
nand_ecc 13070 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
r592 17808 0 - Live 0x00000000
mtd 35852 2 sm_common,nand, Live 0x00000000
memstick 15857 1 r592, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi 13132 0 - Live 0x00000000
psmouse 73673 0 - Live 0x00000000
serio_raw 12990 0 - Live 0x00000000
snd_rawmidi 25241 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq 51567 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event, Live 0x00000000
snd_timer 28932 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_device 14172 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd 55902 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_ hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_se q_device, Live 0x00000000
soundcore 12600 1 snd, Live 0x00000000
snd_page_alloc 14115 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm, Live 0x00000000
lp 17455 0 - Live 0x00000000
parport 40930 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp, Live 0x00000000
usbhid 41905 0 - Live 0x00000000
hid 77367 1 usbhid, Live 0x00000000
firewire_ohci 35854 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci_pci 13658 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci 27360 1 sdhci_pci, Live 0x00000000
firewire_core 56937 1 firewire_ohci, Live 0x00000000
b44 31443 0 - Live 0x00000000
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core, Live 0x00000000
radeon 925193 3 - Live 0x00000000
ttm 65224 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm_kms_helper 32889 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm 192194 5 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper, Live 0x00000000
ssb 50682 2 b43,b44, Live 0x00000000
wmi 18744 1 dell_wmi, Live 0x00000000
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
video 18908 0 - Live 0x00000000
sm_common 16737 1 r852, Live 0x00000000
cfg80211 172392 2 b43,mac80211, Live 0x00000000
nand 49706 2 r852,sm_common, Live 0x00000000
nand_ids 8547 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
nand_bch 13003 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
bch 21757 1 nand_bch, Live 0x00000000
nand_ecc 13070 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
r592 17808 0 - Live 0x00000000
mtd 35852 2 sm_common,nand, Live 0x00000000
memstick 15857 1 r592, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi 13132 0 - Live 0x00000000
psmouse 73673 0 - Live 0x00000000
serio_raw 12990 0 - Live 0x00000000
snd_rawmidi 25241 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq 51567 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event, Live 0x00000000
snd_timer 28932 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_device 14172 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd 55902 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_ hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_se q_device, Live 0x00000000
soundcore 12600 1 snd, Live 0x00000000
snd_page_alloc 14115 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm, Live 0x00000000
lp 17455 0 - Live 0x00000000
parport 40930 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp, Live 0x00000000
usbhid 41905 0 - Live 0x00000000
hid 77367 1 usbhid, Live 0x00000000
firewire_ohci 35854 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci_pci 13658 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci 27360 1 sdhci_pci, Live 0x00000000
firewire_core 56937 1 firewire_ohci, Live 0x00000000
b44 31443 0 - Live 0x00000000
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core, Live 0x00000000
radeon 925193 3 - Live 0x00000000
ttm 65224 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm_kms_helper 32889 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm 192194 5 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper, Live 0x00000000
ssb 50682 2 b43,b44, Live 0x00000000
wmi 18744 1 dell_wmi, Live 0x00000000
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
video 18908 0 - Live 0x00000000
sm_common 16737 1 r852, Live 0x00000000
cfg80211 172392 2 b43,mac80211, Live 0x00000000
nand 49706 2 r852,sm_common, Live 0x00000000
nand_ids 8547 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
nand_bch 13003 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
bch 21757 1 nand_bch, Live 0x00000000
nand_ecc 13070 1 nand, Live 0x00000000
r592 17808 0 - Live 0x00000000
mtd 35852 2 sm_common,nand, Live 0x00000000
memstick 15857 1 r592, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi 13132 0 - Live 0x00000000
psmouse 73673 0 - Live 0x00000000
serio_raw 12990 0 - Live 0x00000000
snd_rawmidi 25241 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_midi_event 14475 1 snd_seq_midi, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq 51567 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event, Live 0x00000000
snd_timer 28932 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd_seq_device 14172 3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq, Live 0x00000000
snd 55902 13 snd_hda_codec_idt,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_ hwdep,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_se q_device, Live 0x00000000
soundcore 12600 1 snd, Live 0x00000000
snd_page_alloc 14115 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm, Live 0x00000000
lp 17455 0 - Live 0x00000000
parport 40930 3 parport_pc,ppdev,lp, Live 0x00000000
usbhid 41905 0 - Live 0x00000000
hid 77367 1 usbhid, Live 0x00000000
firewire_ohci 35854 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci_pci 13658 0 - Live 0x00000000
sdhci 27360 1 sdhci_pci, Live 0x00000000
firewire_core 56937 1 firewire_ohci, Live 0x00000000
b44 31443 0 - Live 0x00000000
crc_itu_t 12627 1 firewire_core, Live 0x00000000
radeon 925193 3 - Live 0x00000000
ttm 65224 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm_kms_helper 32889 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
drm 192194 5 radeon,ttm,drm_kms_helper, Live 0x00000000
ssb 50682 2 b43,b44, Live 0x00000000
wmi 18744 1 dell_wmi, Live 0x00000000
i2c_algo_bit 13199 1 radeon, Live 0x00000000
video 18908 0 - Live 0x00000000
(END)

[dibl]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

Google turned up another example of your issue, but not with a solution: http://forum.xbmc.org/showthread.php?t=66297

Your Intel STAC 92xx sound chip is common and well-supported with the snd_hda_intel driver -- I don't think the problem has anything at all to do with the driver, or whatever codec is applicable to your sound stream. Since the problem only occurs when you change from a window to a full screen, I think the answer must lie in the performance hit on your CPU when supporting the full screen video. A deeper sound would suggest a lowering of the frequency, which would perhaps relate to the CPU not quite keeping up with the stream, while supporting the full screen video. Just guessing, but that's where my suspicion would be.

"ls" is unix-speak for "list". So all the commands that begin with ls are listing something:

ls -- list of files in the current working directory
lspci -- list of PCI bus devices
lsmod -- list of loaded kernel modules
lscpu -- list of CPU characteristics
lshw -- list of hardware
lsusb -- list of connected USB devices

[inbrick]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

dlbl, thanks for the reply. The link you pointed to does sound like a similar problem, but not quite the same. It sounds like his problem was that the sound was slowed and lowered in pitch. For me, the sound is the same speed and pitch, but has a funny echo about 1/10 of a second after that sounds like the playback is echoing through a PVC pipe - the echo is slightly lower in pitch and changed in tone character somehow.

The CPU not being able to keep up with the stream could explain it, but then why would there be a problem in Kubuntu but not in XP? And although my laptop is no spring chicken, I think the 1.7 ghz dual core processor should be able to keep up with the video stream.

Thanks for the explanation of "ls" I appreciate the help!
inbrick

[dibl]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

why would there be a problem in Kubuntu but not in XP?

Lots of things are not the same, and don't enjoy the same level of support, between Linux and Windows. The only valid use for such a comparison is to determine whether a hardware component is functional or broken -- your Intel STAC92xx is obviously fully functional. The drivers are different, and OEMs normally devote their first and best efforts to writing a Windows driver, to expedite sales into that (far larger) market. It looks like your Dell video is a Radeon X1400 with 128M of memory. I'm a long time Nvidia user (had a very bad first Linux experience with an ATI card), but AFAIK that X1400 should be supported with the open source radeon driver. Did you perchance enable the proprietary driver?

http://www.thinkwiki.org/wiki/ATI_Mobility_Radeon_X1400

Another aspect is "shared video memory" -- is your CPU loaning memory to the GPU? -- such an event could be triggered by going from windowed to fullscreen on your videos, and might affect audio decoding performance.

[Detonate]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

Is this happening with all videos? Or just flash videos? Have you tried opening the video in a different program such as VLC? Results?

[inbrick]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

dlbl, I attached a screenshot of the information regarding drivers for the video card. It looks like I'm using the open source driver. How can I check on the shared video memory? If I find that memory is being shared, is it possible to change that, and would I want to?

Detonate, the problem does not occur with videos that are on my hard drive playing in Dragon player. I've experimented with 1080p videos and those work fine playing from my hard drive. The problem is when I'm streaming videos from websites like google video, hulu, usa, etc.

Thanks to all for your ideas and suggestions!
inbrick

[dibl]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

That's the open source radeon driver. If you are happy with your video performance, including flash videos, I would advise to leave it as-is.

When you first power on your computer, it offers some means to enter BIOS, aka "Setup" -- usually it is an F-key. If your computer offers an adjustment of shared memory for video, it will be in one of the BIOS screens. Better review your OEM user manual regarding the pros and cons of changing it, before you make any changes.

The other notion that occurs to me, now that I think about it, is that you might be maxing out on downlink bandwidth, i.e. the video stream and audio stream may be competing at the bandwidth ceiling, and audio may be losing the competition a little bit. Bottom line, if audio and video are both working correctly when local files are played, and your problems are limited to the case where the audio/video data is streaming from the internet, then there is not a problem on your system -- there is a problem with the TCP/IP pipe into your dwelling.

[inbrick]

Re: Sounds issues when streaming videos online

Well, I guess I can't exactly say I'm happy with the video performance, simply because of this issue with streaming flash videos. I'd like to try installing the proprietary driver to see whether it will make any difference. I downloaded the file from ATI's website, and am trying to run the shell script in the console. Here's what I get:

isaac@IBickLin:~/Downloads/Setup$ bash ati-driver-installer-9-3-x86.x86_64.run
Created directory fglrx-install.6plGNG
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing ATI Proprietary Linux Driver-8.593...
==================================================
ATI Technologies Linux Driver Installer/Packager
==================================================

Error: ./default_policy.sh does not support version
default:v2:i686:lib::none:3.0.0-14-generic; make sure that the version is being
correctly set by --iscurrentdistro

Removing temporary directory: fglrx-install.6plGNG


Sorry for all the newbie questions, but how do I install the driver?

Thanks again,
inbrick