[AG-TECH] Audio on Mac G4 Powerbook - Issues (long, xTerm log appended)

[Eric Olson]

Hi Kathy,
If you're running rat manually, you'll need to use the command-line
options that the AccessGrid uses since the mac support in rat is still
new.  The arguments are listed in the AudioService.log in your
.AccessGrid/Logs directory.  The most important one ("-f L16-8K-Mono")
sets a specific audio codec -- without it you'll likely hear the noise you
mentioned or have other problems.

Yes, the multicast problems are likely due to either the WU network or
network outside of WU.  When testing the audio on the mac, you should use
unicast when you suspect multicast problems.  This will make it easier to
determine which problems are not caused by multicast issues.

A powered microphone won't help on a powerbook -- it only solves a G5
tower hardware issue.

Since this is the first release with media tools on the mac, it may not
work on all machines, although it has worked with other powerbooks.  I'd
be interested in hearing about powerbook audio problems others have had,
too.  It sounds like there could be a remaining issue using built-in audio
since Chris from EVL also wasn't able to get the internal microphone to
work.

Eric


On Thu, 24 Feb 2005, kathy gill wrote:

> This debugging took place in the Asia-Pacific Access Grid venue.
>
> I spent some time with Jason Bell this afternoon trying to debug RAT on
> my G4 15" Powerbook with OS 10.3.7 and iSight camera.
>
>
> The problems :
>
> 1) Instances (multiple):
> With RAT window enabled, sound is distorted by loud background noise
> that sounds something like angry bees. No sound out, even when "talk" is
> checked
>
> 2) Instance (once):
> With RAT window enabled, distorted sound -> checking "talk" turned
> incoming sound "off"
>
> 3) Instances (multiple):
> RAT would arbitrarily crash (window disappears) - this was with either
> built-in mic or iSight mic.
>
> 4) Current state:
> Now no sound in or out (except for tone-test, which works)
>
> 5) Reception Quality Matrix
> High packet loss on multicast compared to unicast.
>
>
>
> Details:
> We ran Xterm (history at the bottom of this message) to boot audio
> service -- RAT window would appear, transmit "noise", but when "talk"
> button was enabled, it would crash.
>
> [Note that today I had switched input from built-in mic to iSight mic
> based on earlier AG-Tech posting.]
>
>
> I switched input back to built in mic and launched audio service
> manually again; tone test - worked - but no sound "in". clicked "talk"
> button - no sound in or out (no flashing indicator lights)
>
> Reception quality matrix went to hell in a handbasket (up to 78% packet
> loss) ... but RAT hasn't crashed.
>
> Tried a powered mic -- RAT didn't crash but still no sound (in or out).
>
>
> Shifted to unicast - RAT launched automatically and hasn't crashed.
>
> Reception quality matrix is full of "green" boxes but cannot initiate
> conversation. No "flashing lights" when talk is enabled and I test mic.
> Occasional drop to yellow w/<10% loss -- but no more high reds. This
> suggests issues with UW multicast network, yes?
>
> I have only video. :-/
>
>
>
> Log data from RAT Crash with iSight mic enabled follows :
>
> [pid/608 +426 audio.c] catch up! read_dur(877) > cushion_size(800)
> [pid/608 +390 mix.c] Getting new cushion 880 old 800
> [pid/608 +467 audio.c] Decreasing cushion
> [pid/608 +2802 rtp.c] Deleting source 0x25a1f352 due to timeout...
> [pid/608 +204 pdb.c] Removing persistent database entry for SSRC 0x25a1f352
> [pid/607 +895 mbus.c] received reliable msg 352, sending ACK
> [pid/608 +426 audio.c] catch up! read_dur(1747) > cushion_size(800)
> [pid/608 +390 mix.c] Getting new cushion 880 old 800
> [pid/608 +467 audio.c] Decreasing cushion
> [pid/608 +625 rtp.c] Created database entry for ssrc 0x26c41e31 (8 valid
> sources)
> [pid/608 +426 audio.c] catch up! read_dur(1161) > cushion_size(800)
> [pid/608 +390 mix.c] Getting new cushion 880 old 800
> [pid/608 +467 audio.c] Decreasing cushion
> [pid/608 +625 rtp.c] Created database entry for ssrc 0x25a1f352 (9 valid
> sources)
> [pid/608 +426 audio.c] catch up! read_dur(1747) > cushion_size(800)
> [pid/608 +390 mix.c] Getting new cushion 880 old 800
> [pid/608 +467 audio.c] Decreasing cushion
> [pid/608 +895 mbus.c] received reliable msg 144, sending ACK
>     >>>>> KEG: this is where I clicked "talk" <<<<<<<
> [pid/608 +222 transmit.c] Starting to transmit...
> [pid/608 +983 auddev.c] GAIN=52
> [pid/607 +895 mbus.c] received reliable msg 377, sending ACK
> [pid/608 +198 cc_rdncy.c] coding not found
> cc_rdncy.c:276: failed assertion `layers != 0'
> [pid/606 +331 main_control.c] Caught signal SIGCHLD: 20
> [pid/606 +295 main_control.c] Sending mbus.quit() to (media:audio
> module:ui app:rat id:
> 06)...
> [pid/607 +895 mbus.c] received reliable msg 136, sending ACK
> [pid/607 +82 mbus_ui.c] Got mbus.quit() from (media:audio module:control
> app:rat id:606
> [pid/606 +306 main_control.c] ...done
> [pid/606 +295 main_control.c] Sending mbus.quit() to (media:audio
> module:engine app:rat
> session:0 id:606)...
> [pid/607 +184 main_ui.c] Waiting for tool.rat.ui.detach() from media
> engine...
> [pid/607 +216 mbus.c] remove dead entity (media:audio module:engine
> app:rat session:0 i
> :606)
> [pid/607 +193 main_ui.c] ...got it
> [pid/606 +216 mbus.c] remove dead entity (media:audio module:engine
> app:rat session:0 i
> :606)
> [pid/606 +379 mbus.c] Reliable mbus message failed!
> [pid/606 +306 main_control.c] ...done
> [pid/606 +116 process.c] Process already dead
> [pid/606 +116 process.c] Process already dead
> [pid/606 +567 main_control.c] Controller exit
> D-128-95-248-127:~/.AccessGrid/local_services/AudioService kathygill$
> [pid/607 +379 mbu
> .c] Reliable mbus message failed!
> [pid/607 +81 main_ui.c] mbus message failed (148:1)
> [pid/607 +209 main_ui.c] Waiting for mbus.quit() from controller...
> [pid/607 +218 main_ui.c] ...got it
> [pid/607 +362 net_udp.c] Dropped membership of multicast group
> [pid/607 +242 main_ui.c] User interface exit
>
>
> HISTORY
>
>     93  cd .AccessGrid
>     94  ls
>     95  cd local_services
>     96  ls
>     97  cd AudioService
>     98  ls
>     99  ./rat 233.2.178.9/17008
>    100  ps aux | grep rat
>    101  killall -9 rat
>    102  killall -9 rat-4.2.25-media
>    103  killall -9 rat-4.2.26-ui
>    104  ps aux | grep rat
>    105  ./rat 233.2.178.9/17008
>    106  history
>
>
> I have Log Data from stable, but not-functioning, RAT as well. Shout and
> I'll share...
>
>
> TIA,
>
> Kathy
>
>