5.1 sound doesn't work on RPi4

waclaw66 · November 30, 2022 at 6:29 AM

Hi,

5.1 sound doesn't work on Raspberry Pi 4 2GB using LibreELEC 10.0.3. There are recognized FL and FR channels only.

I've tested two different setups, different TVs, different RPi4s, clean installations, always the same.

Code

2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: Starting Kodi (19.4 (19.4.0) Git:286694e9df8741313a688b46940661a30f36f35c). Platform: Linux ARM 32-bit
2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: Using Release Kodi x32
2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: Kodi compiled 2022-10-15 by GCC 10.2.0 for Linux ARM 32-bit version 5.10.110 (330350)
2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: Running on BCM2835 with LibreELEC (official): 10.0.3, kernel: Linux ARM 64-bit version 5.10.110
2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: FFmpeg version/source: 4.3.2-Kodi
2022-11-29 15:09:45.975 T:980      INFO <general>: 4 CPU cores available
2022-11-29 15:09:45.976 T:980      INFO <general>: ARM Features: Neon enabled
2
...
2022-11-29 15:09:46.793 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround71" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.794 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround51" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.794 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround71" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.795 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround40" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.795 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround51" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.795 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "surround71" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.817 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "sysdefault:CARD=vc4hdmi1" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.817 T:991      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA - Unable to open device "hdmi:CARD=vc4hdmi1,DEV=0" for playback
2022-11-29 15:09:46.820 T:991   WARNING <general>: Pulseaudio module module-allow-passthrough not loaded - opening PT devices might fail
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>: Found 2 Lists of Devices
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>: Enumerated ALSA devices:
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:     Device 1
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceName      : @
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayName     : Default (vc4-hdmi-0 MAI PCM i2s-hifi-0) ()
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayNameExtra:
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_PCM
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 32000,44100,48000
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_S24NE3,AE_FMT_S24NE4,AE_FMT_S32NE,AE_FMT_S16NE,AE_FMT_S16LE,AE_FMT_S16BE
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_streamTypes     : No passthrough capabilities
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:     Device 2
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceName      : sysdefault
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayName     : vc4-hdmi-0 ()
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayNameExtra: MAI PCM i2s-hifi-0
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_PCM
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 32000,44100,48000
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_S24NE3,AE_FMT_S24NE4,AE_FMT_S32NE,AE_FMT_S16NE,AE_FMT_S16LE,AE_FMT_S16BE
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_streamTypes     : No passthrough capabilities
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:     Device 3
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceName      : sysdefault:CARD=vc4hdmi0
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayName     : vc4-hdmi-0 (vc4hdmi0)
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayNameExtra: MAI PCM i2s-hifi-0
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_PCM
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 32000,44100,48000
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_S24NE3,AE_FMT_S24NE4,AE_FMT_S32NE,AE_FMT_S16NE,AE_FMT_S16LE,AE_FMT_S16BE
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_streamTypes     : No passthrough capabilities
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:     Device 4
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceName      : hdmi:CARD=vc4hdmi0,DEV=0
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayName     : vc4-hdmi-0 (vc4hdmi0)
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayNameExtra: SAM SAMSUNG on HDMI
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_HDMI
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 32000,44100,48000
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_RAW,AE_FMT_S24NE3,AE_FMT_S24NE4,AE_FMT_S32NE,AE_FMT_S16NE,AE_FMT_S16LE,AE_FMT_S16BE,AE_FMT_U8,AE_FMT_RAW
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_streamTypes     : STREAM_TYPE_AC3,STREAM_TYPE_DTSHD,STREAM_TYPE_DTSHD_MA,STREAM_TYPE_DTSHD_CORE,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_1024,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_2048,STREAM_TYPE_DTS_512,STREAM_TYPE_EAC3,S
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>: Enumerated PULSE devices:
2022-11-29 15:09:46.821 T:991      INFO <general>:     Device 1
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceName      : Default
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayName     : Default
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_displayNameExtra: Bluetooth Audio (PULSEAUDIO)
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_deviceType      : AE_DEVTYPE_PCM
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_channels        : FL, FR
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_sampleRates     : 5512,8000,11025,16000,22050,32000,44100,48000,64000,88200,96000,176400,192000,384000
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_dataFormats     : AE_FMT_U8,AE_FMT_S16NE,AE_FMT_S24NE3,AE_FMT_S24NE4,AE_FMT_S32NE,AE_FMT_FLOAT
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:991      INFO <general>:         m_streamTypes     : No passthrough capabilities
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:992      INFO <general>: CActiveAESink::OpenSink - initialize sink
2022-11-29 15:09:46.822 T:992      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA::Initialize - Attempting to open device "hdmi:CARD=vc4hdmi0,DEV=0"
2022-11-29 15:09:46.825 T:992      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA::Initialize - Opened device "hdmi:CARD=vc4hdmi0,DEV=0,AES0=0x04,AES1=0x82,AES2=0x00,AES3=0x00"
2022-11-29 15:09:46.826 T:992      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA::InitializeHW - Your hardware does not support AE_FMT_FLOAT, trying other formats
2022-11-29 15:09:46.826 T:992      INFO <general>: CAESinkALSA::InitializeHW - Using data format AE_FMT_S24NE3
...

Display More

lspci

Code

00:00.0 PCI bridge: Broadcom Inc. and subsidiaries Device 2711 (rev 10)
01:00.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VL805 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 01)

lsusb

Code

Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 248a:168e Maxxter KbMouse
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub

dmesg

Hastebin: Send and Save Text or Code Snippets for Free | Toptal®

**chewitt** · November 30, 2022 at 10:27 AM

Please provide a full debug log.

How to post a log (wiki)

1. Enable debugging in Settings>System Settings>Logging
2. Restart Kodi
3. Replicate the problem
4. Generate a log URL (do not post/upload logs to the forum)

use "Settings > LibreELEC > System > Paste system logs" or run "pastekodi" over SSH, then post the URL link

waclaw66 · November 30, 2022 at 12:05 PM

http://ix.io/4hgK

**HiassofT** · November 30, 2022 at 12:16 PM

TVs usually don't support 5.1ch PCM - if you connected the RPi to an AVR that'll be different.

If your TV accepts AC3/DTS/... and can decode it or pass it through to an optical output, (E)ARC HDMI port etc then enable passthrough support in audio settings, choose the HDMI device and select available formats (AC3 etc - you need to be in expert level mode to see them)

so long,

Hias

waclaw66 · November 30, 2022 at 1:07 PM

Quote from HiassofT

TVs usually don't support 5.1ch PCM - if you connected the RPi to an AVR that'll be different.
If your TV accepts AC3/DTS/... and can decode it or pass it through to an optical output, (E)ARC HDMI port etc then enable passthrough support in audio settings, choose the HDMI device and select available formats (AC3 etc - you need to be in expert level mode to see them)
so long,
Hias

My Samsung TV supports PCM or bitstream at input same as in this arcicle...

PCM vs Bitstream For Samsung TV - Planet HiFi

PCM vs Bitstream For Samsung TV Table Of Contents Hide PCM vs Bitstream For Samsung TV PCM vs Bitstream When Connecting External Devices Through HDMI Digital…

planethifi.com

I've tested both settings, but LibreELEC shows only 2 channels supported in the log.

My setup is LibreELEC ==HDMI==> SamsungTV ==SPDIF==> DECODER ==line cables==> 5.1 speakers

**popcornmix** · November 30, 2022 at 3:11 PM

The article you linked to says:

Quote

PCM: This stands for “pulse-code modulation.” Use this setting if the external device you have connected to the HDMI port has already processed the sound, and you just want it to come out of your TV’s speakers.
This setting configuration for the Samsung TV changes the signal to 2.0 PCM as it passes through the TV. If you select PCM even though you have a home theater system or soundbar connected, the sound system will only receive 2.0 channel sound and the result will not be multi-channel surround sound, even if the sound system is capable of multi-channel PCM audio.

So that setting is 2 channel PCM only.

Also you are using SPDIF, which can handle stereo PCM, or compressed 5.1 using AC3 or DTS. It won't support multichannel PCM.

In kodi, set channels to 2.0. Enable AC3 passthrough. Enable AC3 transcode. You will get multichannel output from your 5.1 speakers (it will be using AC3 as the actual format that goes over SPDIF).

waclaw66 · November 30, 2022 at 4:56 PM

Quote from popcornmix

The article you linked to says:
So that setting is 2 channel PCM only.
Also you are using SPDIF, which can handle stereo PCM, or compressed 5.1 using AC3 or DTS. It won't support multichannel PCM.
In kodi, set channels to 2.0. Enable AC3 passthrough. Enable AC3 transcode. You will get multichannel output from your 5.1 speakers (it will be using AC3 as the actual format that goes over SPDIF).

You're a genius 👍 It works! Thank you very much.

5.1 sound doesn't work on RPi4

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