General Question on Audio glitches - Crackling/popping on certain files

[bennymac 47]

Hi,

Just needing some advice on how to tackle general audio distortion that results in general crackling, popping when playing certain files through Emby.

 

The audio distortion happens only on some MKV's when larger elements happen in the movie/tv show like explosions, crashes etc. irrespective of how high the volume is.

 

An example file that does it has the follow media info. When playing the file in the Web or via Roku Emby reports it as direct play.
 

 

We play everything through Roku 3's mostly but I hear the distortion through the web client also. Playing the same file in VLC outside of Emby plays fine. 

 

Emby server is on Version 3.4.1.0, on Windows 10, vanilla install with no custom stuff.

Is there a setting or a codec that can help remedy this?

 

Thanks heaps.

Edited June 19, 2018 by bennymac

[ebr 16195]

Are all of the files on which this occurs 1.5Mb DTS?

[bennymac 47]

Are all of the files on which this occurs 1.5Mb DTS?

 

Yeh that would be a fair assumption i'd say. Though, just looking at a TV show with 384kb DD 5.1 that does it also. 

Edited June 18, 2018 by bennymac

[Luke 42085]

That would never direct play in the web app.

[bennymac 47]

That would never direct play in the web app.

 

No worries. When playing both types via the web the dashboard reports direct play but maybe it's not accurate. That's cool anyways - transcode or direct play doesn't bother me at all.

 

If you have any ideas about how to tackle the audio distortion that would be great. Cheers.

Edited June 19, 2018 by bennymac

[ebr 16195]

The distortion sounds like maybe it only happens when bitstreaming the audio.  I would check all connections, cables, etc.

[bennymac 47]

The distortion sounds like maybe it only happens when bitstreaming the audio.  I would check all connections, cables, etc.

 

Hi @@ebr,

 

Since the last message I've changed all cables and done testing/rotating of all 4 Roku 3's I have in the house and the distortion continues regardless the setup but I have a question for you though please..

 

From the ROKU going HDMI to the TV, the TV then has the audio going optical-out to a HEOS Hebar.

 

Could or does the optical out cause issues like this do you know of?

 

Thanks.

[ebr 16195]

The optical connection has very limited audio support.  I don't think it can handle 1.5Mb DTS and I know it cannot handle DD+ or multi-channel PCM.  I'm not sure what your TV may or may not be doing to the audio between the HDMI and optical connections.

[bennymac 47]

Thanks for the info. You're definitely right it has to be the TV. The options for Optical config are only PCM it won't let me change. I didn't know optical was so limiting.

 

Time for a TV with HDMI Arc I think...

 

Thanks heaps.

[Guest asrequested]

Honestly, I'm surprised they still include optical outputs on new TVs and tech. It's almost useless.

[bennymac 47]

Yeh for sure. Ain't  backwards compatibility a bitch.

 

Honestly, I'm surprised they still include optical outputs on new TVs and tech. It's almost useless.

[ebr 16195]

The options for Optical config are only PCM it won't let me change.

 

From that, I infer that the TV is decoding whatever you send it and just sending 2-channel PCM over the optical connection.