This issue went away after I applied the latest updates and restarted my computer for the first time, so I'm assuming it has been fixed along the way.
** Changed in: orca (Ubuntu) Status: New => Fix Released -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to orca in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1876377 Title: Crackling sound on focal Status in orca package in Ubuntu: Fix Released Bug description: When I turn the screen reader on, I hear a lot of hissing and crackling noise every time the screen reader says something. I don't have this hissing noise with any other application. I also don't get this crackling noise when I use spd-say. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04 Package: orca 3.36.1-0ubuntu1 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.4.0-28.32-generic 5.4.30 Uname: Linux 5.4.0-28-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia zfs zunicode zavl icp zcommon znvpair ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27 Architecture: amd64 CasperMD5CheckResult: skip CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME Date: Fri May 1 22:30:09 2020 InstallationDate: Installed on 2020-05-01 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200423) PackageArchitecture: all SourcePackage: orca UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/orca/+bug/1876377/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp