Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output [RESOLVED]
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Russell Senior wrote: Have you counted the little rings on the end of the connector? A headset jack has 4 electrically-separated pads: tip, ring, ring, sleave (TRRS). Ground, L, R, and Microphone (the arrangement can sometimes vary): Russell, Yep. Both are 3-segments: tip, ring, sleeve. My minimal understanding is that the single TRRS plugs fuction for both microphone and headphone. The Yamaha has two separate TRS plugs, one (black) marked 'phone' the other (grey) marked 'mic.' Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output [RESOLVED]
On 4/17/23 17:22, Rich Shepard wrote: On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, Rich Shepard wrote: Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. It was a hardware issue. Zoom would not work with the Panasonic headphones or speakers. But, it has no problem with the Yamaha CM500 headset where both mic and headphone are together. Have you counted the little rings on the end of the connector? A headset jack has 4 electrically-separated pads: tip, ring, ring, sleave (TRRS). Ground, L, R, and Microphone (the arrangement can sometimes vary): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phone_connector_(audio)#TRRS -- Russell Senior russ...@pdxlinux.org
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output [RESOLVED]
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, Rich Shepard wrote: Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. It was a hardware issue. Zoom would not work with the Panasonic headphones or speakers. But, it has no problem with the Yamaha CM500 headset where both mic and headphone are together. Tested on a 2-person Zoom meeting. Problem totally resolved. Thanks everyone for your helpful and informative comments. I learned a lot from all of you. Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
Checking the Ebay sold listings the average price for one of those with cables and PCIe x1 card is above $250. The price for a 64 bit PCI card with cables is above $150 and a 64 bit PCI card without cables is under $100. However there's a TON of idiots hoping to score sales of $300 or above for 64 bit PCI versions of those cards that lack the cables, apparently breaking the cables separately from the card and selling them separately, so Make An Offer is de rigueur with those. (and, expect most of those idiots to sit on those cards until they rot, never selling them) The cables are listed separately but few listings so you really got to do your research thoroughly here. Ted -Original Message- From: PLUG On Behalf Of Michael Barnes Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2023 3:06 PM To: Portland Linux/Unix Group Subject: Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output As a broadcast engineer who has dealt with computerized automation systems providing professional audio for FM radio stations, pretty much all I have used over the years for on-air play have been Audioscience cards. Not cheap, but they do the job. Linux friendly. Available with various combinations of input and output channels and analog and AES digital. Just be careful with the used market, as there are many out there that may not fit current motherboards. Another caveat, you will need to get breakout cables/boxes to interface your audio. The cards have various connectors depending on model, usually some type of SCSI connector that the breakout cables end in XLRs. Michael On Sun, Apr 16, 2023, 14:20 King Beowulf wrote: > On 4/16/23 06:42, Rich Shepard wrote: > > The audio voice output quality from my Asus Prime X470-Pro is > > distorted > and > > unacceptable. I finally figured out that this is the issue with > > online meetings and news/youtube videos, not the speakers (although > > I just > replaced > > the Creative Pebbles with ProSonus studio monitors). > ... > > > > Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that > > outputs clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. > > > > Rich, > > Most of the Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy series are well > supported with high quality. You go have to check and pick the card > by chipset and not by price as there are various gaps in some > functionality in the myriad of available models. > > https://alsa-project.org/wiki/Matrix:Vendor-Creative_Labs > > (Alas, this list is not up to date.) > > Slackware-15.0 uses ALSA 1.25 and allows for replacing pulseausio with > pipewire. Highly recommended. PA literally sucks donkey balls. In > Slackware-15.0 use: > /usr/sbin/pipewire-enable.sh > /usr/sbin/pipewire-disable.sh > > 2 years back I upgraded my motherboard sound (AMD Starship/Matisse HD > Audio Controller) and switched to the Core3D chipset on the CL > Soundblaster Z ($99.99 in 2021). The new motherboard did have only old > timey PCI slots so I was not able to recycle the nice SB Audigy 2 card > I was using. > > > https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z/p/N82E16829102048?Item > =N82E16829102048 > > The newer version is > https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z-se/p/N82E16829102110 > > audio quality is excellent. The catch with Core3D is that you need a > newer kernel that the one Slackware-14.2 ships with 4.4.x). IIRC, > Core3D support hit around kernel-4.18+ > > I paired this with a Beyerdynamic headset (gaming version, there are > others) - cat ate through the cord of a middling Turtle Beach headset. > https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16826380033?Item=N82E16826380033 > > I usually skip trying to set stuff in the PA mixer GUI, other than to > disable the webcam audio and GPU's HDMI audio. Alsamixer suffices, > and Slackbuilds.org has a equalizer plugin. > > -Ed > > >
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
-Original Message- From: PLUG On Behalf Of Rich Shepard Sent: Monday, April 17, 2023 9:21 AM To: Portland Linux/Unix Group Subject: Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality >I guess it's that most linux users won't pay $$$ for proprietary software >applications which means those companies won't offer a linux version despite >the OS being available for 32 years now. Those companies make their money off charging fees for multiparticipant conferences, the client is just a means to get people snookered into paying an ongoing fee for the conferencing service. It's like buying razors, they make their money off the blades, the handle they give away for free. Same with inkjet printers they would give those away for free if they could do it (they don't since people like me would get the free printer then smash it to prevent someone else from getting snookered, LOL) The big 4 (Teams, Webex, Zoom, Google Meet) have the development dollars to produce Linux clients, and how good their Linux client is, is really dependent on the skill of their programmers IMHO. And I'd ask the question if you were a top notch Linux programmer would you rather work for a company like Google or Cisco which is pretty Linux friendly and uses Linux in many of their other products, or a company like Zoom where the Linux client is a tacked-on afterthought? Microsoft is an oddity with Linux but MS Corporate has committed to Linux support in a lot of their products particularly server ones - that's why HyperV runs Linux guests and Azure can run Linux guests - and Microsoft, despite their focus on Windows - has other Linux/Unix apps as well. For example NFS support is integrated into windows 10 and 11, and Windows Subsystem for Linux is also available for the desktop OSes. And Microsoft also signed a legal deal with the Samba team 16 years ago to give access to SMB documentation and they have been cooperating with them (mostly) since. But probably the largest "bury the hatchet" effort from Microsoft has been their ending of the IE 11 browser and replacing it's engine with the Chromium engine in Edge. I don't think many people really understand the significance of that - there are a LOT of custom built websites and cloud apps as well as embedded crap that ONLY worked properly with the IE engine and Microsoft has taken a gigantic amount of heat from the userbase. My largest major client still to this day has a critical medical app that requires IE 11 and I have had to do deep dives into GPO's and write up instructions for their IT group to keep it working on their network. The vendor who provides that cloud app has been promising support for Chromium for years but keeps pushing it back at the last minute so they are clearly having a massive struggle rewriting the app If I was a still-learning Linux programmer I know that very likely Cisco or Google would be out of my reach so given a choice between working for Microsoft and working for Zoom I'd take MS hands-down. I don't like to knock programmers but you have to judge their quality by the results, and if you are seeing all your CPU cores pegged when you run the Zoom client I think there's a problem there that shouldn't be happening. This is aside from the audio support. Ted
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Ted Mittelstaedt wrote: Looks like it. What do other linux uses do who need to participate in Zoom meetings? Does the Zoom browser work better? Ted, Good. I don't know if you have control of both ends or if you are required to use Zoom but if you do have control of both ends I would try the other 2 contenders out. Nope. This client uses Zoom. An association for whom I've presented at multi-session conferences uses a conferencing software which does not run on linux regardless of web browser used, so I've driven to their Wilsonville office and use one of their laptops. I guess it's that most linux users won't pay $$$ for proprietary software applications which means those companies won't offer a linux version despite the OS being available for 32 years now. Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
Looks like it. What do other linux uses do who need to participate in Zoom meetings? Does the Zoom browser work better? I believe that the Microsoft Teams web browser client runs on Chrome on Linux Also supposedly Microsoft has Linux binaries for teams, see https://linuxiac.com/how-to-install-microsoft-teams-on-linux-from-the-official-ms-repository/ I only have 1 client that uses this kind of conference software, and they use Webex. Webex Is also available for Linux: https://help.webex.com/en-us/article/9vstcdb/Webex-App-for-Linux The Webex free plan gives you 40 minutes the free MS teams plan 60 I believe. Note that I have not tried any of these (zoom, teams or Webex) under Linux, sorry. My Webex client is a Microsoft house. (with the exception of a CentOS sftp server used for backup for their phone system and around 10 access points running OpenWRT) I don't know if you have control of both ends or if you are required to use Zoom but if you do have control of both ends I would try the other 2 contenders out. Also a lot of people have Macs I have a Mac laptop (it's older and runs Catalina) that I haul out from time to time to build stuff on. Normally I DO NOT recommend Mac laptops because the price value is ridiculous, you can plunk $4k down on a modern Mac Probook that will have rings run around it and be kicked in the ass by a $2k modern Intel laptop running any version of Linux you can find. But there is a loophole and that is that since the Mac community is mostly made up of people who are like Tesla drivers, they want everything handed to them on a silver platter, any Macs that are no longer "orficially" supported by Apple, are rapidly dumped by that userbase into the trash and you can find tons of them on Fleabay for decent prices, here is a representative sample: https://www.ebay.com/itm/225370261270 Couple a unit like that with the following: https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/ And you have a decent Mac running the latest MacOS for prices comparable to a decent PC running Linux. My Probook is a 2009 model and runs Catalina perfectly. And under the GUI, MacOS is Real Unix it's "realer" than Linux, even, since part of it came from FreeBSD and part came from NeXT. I have yet to find a Linux application that hasn't been recompiled to run on MacOS Ted
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, wes wrote: you could always do both - join from the computer for the video and call in from a phone for the audio. just mute the computer audio so you don't get undesired crossover. Wes, Aha! That would work. Earlier today I read a web page on improving Zoom audio. While the focus was on laptop users (and, probably, windows users) one suggestion struck a chord with me: rather than using the laptop's microphone and speaker use a headset. Well, I have a Yamaha headset so I plugged in the mic to the red mic port on the rear of the desktop and the headphone into the green port. Started zoom-linux and created a new meeting. Of course, I heard myself speak, but that's not what I needed. So I backed out to the Zoom 'home' page and saw the settings icon. Clicked that and clicked 'test zoom audio.' The tones came in very clearly. Am I correct that if I clearly heard the test tones it means I'd hear other participants in an actual meeting? Also, using the Yamaha headset I listened to a basketball video for a couple of minutes and clearly heard the commentators' comments. Wish I could test this using Zoom. Regardless, I think what this means is that even after adding the Sound Blaster card I'll save the Marantz Pro microphone and Panasonic headphones for recording video tutorials and podcasts and use the Yamaha headset for Zoom and Jitsi meetings. Your thoughts? Best regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, Apr 17, 2023 at 6:57 AM Rich Shepard wrote: > On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Ted Mittelstaedt wrote: > > > Zoom deliberately degrades audio quality to save bandwidth. > > Does Zoom also degrade audio quality on VoIP phones and not on TDM phones? > > Perhaps calling in to this rescheduled Zoom meeting (and possible future > ones) would resolve the problem. It would be a conference call rather than > a > video call. > > Rich > you could always do both - join from the computer for the video and call in from a phone for the audio. just mute the computer audio so you don't get undesired crossover. -wes
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Ted Mittelstaedt wrote: Zoom deliberately degrades audio quality to save bandwidth. Does Zoom also degrade audio quality on VoIP phones and not on TDM phones? Perhaps calling in to this rescheduled Zoom meeting (and possible future ones) would resolve the problem. It would be a conference call rather than a video call. Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Rich Shepard wrote: Depending on when Amazon (or USPS) delivers the Soundblaster I'll install it after work, or tomorrow if it comes late in the evening. I'll report results after it's in. It arrived at 6:05; must have come from the Troutdale or Fairview warehouses. Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, Ted Mittelstaedt wrote: Zoom deliberately degrades audio quality to save bandwidth. Ted, That's interesting. Reminds me of issues I've had in the past in cell phone conversations with iPhone users because Apple focused (perhaps still does) on the cameras than voice quality. There is discussion on this here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046244692-Configuring-professional-audio-settings-for-Zoom-Meetings I'll read thet. Note that the Linux zoom client DOES NOT ALLOW the "enable original sound and high fidelity mode" Only the windows client does. Well, that's not nice. Is there a work-around since I defenestrated from Microsoft 26 years ago. I realize you are just concerned with intelligible voice. But I suspect the various voice filters that Zoom puts in automatically are screwing you over. Looks like it. What do other linux uses do who need to participate in Zoom meetings? Does the Zoom browser work better? There are numerous audio test MP3's out there on the Internet that are VOICE ONLY and NOT music that you can Google for. Download some of those and play them on a typical music player or car stereo to know what they sound like. Then use them on your Linux box. If they play well from the desktop then it's not your audio hardware or drivers. It's Zoom. If I can build and use the pulseaudio-equalizer to enhance the higher frequencies and lower the lower the low frequencies that might help. Thanks, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Mon, 17 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: Does your PC have an onboard speaker that you can test with? No. Are the speakers and headset both plugged into the PCI-E soundcard? Not yet. I have a Y-extender with 2 mini-phono jacks and 1 mini-phono plug that's in the green-ringed port on the rear of the desktop. PCIe audio card expected to arrive today. Have you tried plugging into the onboard audio ports directly on the motherboard? That's where my audio output has always been. Depending on when Amazon (or USPS) delivers the Soundblaster I'll install it after work, or tomorrow if it comes late in the evening. I'll report results after it's in. To clarify, my issue is only with incoming audio from Internet sources: Zoom, YouTube .mp4s, and news site videos. Not the telephone or in-person conversations. So, while my hearing isn't what is was when I was young, it's not gone far enough to need hearing aids. Thanks, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
My mother is a piano teacher and during covid had to give lessons over zoom. Zoom deliberately degrades audio quality to save bandwidth. There is discussion on this here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360046244692-Configuring-professional-audio-settings-for-Zoom-Meetings Note that the Linux zoom client DOES NOT ALLOW the "enable original sound and high fidelity mode" Only the windows client does. I realize you are just concerned with intelligible voice. But I suspect the various voice filters that Zoom puts in automatically are screwing you over. There are numerous audio test MP3's out there on the Internet that are VOICE ONLY and NOT music that you can Google for. Download some of those and play them on a typical music player or car stereo to know what they sound like. Then use them on your Linux box. If they play well from the desktop then it's not your audio hardware or drivers. It's Zoom. Personally I prefer an MP3 of Led Zeppelin's Kashmir for audio testing... Ted -Original Message- From: PLUG On Behalf Of Rich Shepard Sent: Sunday, April 16, 2023 3:45 PM To: Portland Linux/Unix Group Subject: Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: > So, to be clear, do you only have a problem with inbound voice audio > quality from the Internet? Mike, Yes. > Have you monitored resource, cpu/memory, usage when you're experiencing this > problem? I've watched gkrellm. > Maybe even shutdown and power back on your pc. Open up 1 browser > instance and only 1 tab for zoom or jitsi and test? I rebooted yesterday morning to make the drives in the MediaSonic Probox mount and be visible. > I suspect both Zoom & Jitsi are resource intensive web apps. Zoom seemed to be useing all 8 cores/16 threads Friday. I could see the other attendees, and all of them could hear me, but I could not hear them using the headphones and the speakers produces very unclear (garbled?) output. The new audio card is to be delivered tomorrow. I'll install it and test the voice output from 'Net videos. I've not found a Zoom test meeting that sends me audio. When I have the test meeting open the video, mic, and headphones work fine. I assume that when I hear myself speak it's all local and not out to Zoom and back again. Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
"I could not hear them using the headphones and the speakers produces very unclear (garbled?)output." Does your PC have an onboard speaker that you can test with? Are the speakers and headset both plugged into the PCI-E soundcard? Have you tried plugging into the onboard audio ports directly on the motherboard? I'm just working the process of elimination and maybe narrow down the suspect list a bit.
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: So, to be clear, do you only have a problem with inbound voice audio quality from the Internet? Mike, Yes. Have you monitored resource, cpu/memory, usage when you're experiencing this problem? I've watched gkrellm. Maybe even shutdown and power back on your pc. Open up 1 browser instance and only 1 tab for zoom or jitsi and test? I rebooted yesterday morning to make the drives in the MediaSonic Probox mount and be visible. I suspect both Zoom & Jitsi are resource intensive web apps. Zoom seemed to be useing all 8 cores/16 threads Friday. I could see the other attendees, and all of them could hear me, but I could not hear them using the headphones and the speakers produces very unclear (garbled?) output. The new audio card is to be delivered tomorrow. I'll install it and test the voice output from 'Net videos. I've not found a Zoom test meeting that sends me audio. When I have the test meeting open the video, mic, and headphones work fine. I assume that when I hear myself speak it's all local and not out to Zoom and back again. Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
As a broadcast engineer who has dealt with computerized automation systems providing professional audio for FM radio stations, pretty much all I have used over the years for on-air play have been Audioscience cards. Not cheap, but they do the job. Linux friendly. Available with various combinations of input and output channels and analog and AES digital. Just be careful with the used market, as there are many out there that may not fit current motherboards. Another caveat, you will need to get breakout cables/boxes to interface your audio. The cards have various connectors depending on model, usually some type of SCSI connector that the breakout cables end in XLRs. Michael On Sun, Apr 16, 2023, 14:20 King Beowulf wrote: > On 4/16/23 06:42, Rich Shepard wrote: > > The audio voice output quality from my Asus Prime X470-Pro is distorted > and > > unacceptable. I finally figured out that this is the issue with online > > meetings and news/youtube videos, not the speakers (although I just > replaced > > the Creative Pebbles with ProSonus studio monitors). > ... > > > > Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs > > clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. > > > > Rich, > > Most of the Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy series are well supported > with high quality. You go have to check and pick the card by chipset > and not by price as there are various gaps in some functionality in the > myriad of available models. > > https://alsa-project.org/wiki/Matrix:Vendor-Creative_Labs > > (Alas, this list is not up to date.) > > Slackware-15.0 uses ALSA 1.25 and allows for replacing pulseausio with > pipewire. Highly recommended. PA literally sucks donkey balls. In > Slackware-15.0 use: > /usr/sbin/pipewire-enable.sh > /usr/sbin/pipewire-disable.sh > > 2 years back I upgraded my motherboard sound (AMD Starship/Matisse HD > Audio Controller) and switched to the Core3D chipset on the CL > Soundblaster Z ($99.99 in 2021). The new motherboard did have only old > timey PCI slots so I was not able to recycle the nice SB Audigy 2 card I > was using. > > > https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z/p/N82E16829102048?Item=N82E16829102048 > > The newer version is > https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z-se/p/N82E16829102110 > > audio quality is excellent. The catch with Core3D is that you need a > newer kernel that the one Slackware-14.2 ships with 4.4.x). IIRC, > Core3D support hit around kernel-4.18+ > > I paired this with a Beyerdynamic headset (gaming version, there are > others) - cat ate through the cord of a middling Turtle Beach headset. > https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16826380033?Item=N82E16826380033 > > I usually skip trying to set stuff in the PA mixer GUI, other than to > disable the webcam audio and GPU's HDMI audio. Alsamixer suffices, and > Slackbuilds.org has a equalizer plugin. > > -Ed > > >
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
"I don't often view news site or youtube videos but it's the same issue with them as it is was the Zoom meeting. The other issue with Zoom is that heard unclear sound throught the Creative Pebble speakers that were installed, and no sound through the Panasonic headset. Yet, the headset had no problem with my tests of a news site video or a youtube video." So, to be clear, do you only have a problem with inbound voice audio quality from the Internet? Have you monitored resource, cpu/memory, usage when you're experiencing this problem? Maybe even shutdown and power back on your pc. Open up 1 browser instance and only 1 tab for zoom or jitsi and test? You can even look at resource usage in your browser. All the browsers I use have a "Task Manager" under "Settings." I suspect both Zoom & Jitsi are resource intensive web apps.
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: "My issue is getting good sound quality from the 'Net using Zoom and Jitsi." This is probably the best & most useful piece of information you've to work with. That seems to point away from a audio card, audio software/drivers, cables, etc. I don't often view news site or youtube videos but it's the same issue with them as it is was the Zoom meeting. The other issue with Zoom is that I heard unclear sound throught the Creative Pebble speakers that were installed, and no sound through the Panasonic headset. Yet, the headset had no problem with my tests of a news site video or a youtube video. Music comes through okay, but music vocals is not quite clear. Perhaps it's the browser, but I've used the Zoom test meeting and it reports audio and video are okay. The test doesn't send me any audio, however. Thanks, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output => Internet apps voice quality
"My issue is getting good sound quality from the 'Net using Zoom and Jitsi." This is probably the best & most useful piece of information you've to work with. That seems to point away from a audio card, audio software/drivers, cables, etc. I don't use either of these apps, so I could only suggest to see if there these apps have some tests you can do or settings to adjust or do a web search on "Zoom voice quality problems." Seems silly, but I'd try testing with a few different browsers. There could be a problem with voice being processed between these apps and your browser. The other thing you could do is maybe find some internet audio quality test site or maybe make some test calls over google voice, skype or similar web voip app.
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
On 4/16/23 06:42, Rich Shepard wrote: > The audio voice output quality from my Asus Prime X470-Pro is distorted and > unacceptable. I finally figured out that this is the issue with online > meetings and news/youtube videos, not the speakers (although I just replaced > the Creative Pebbles with ProSonus studio monitors). ... > > Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs > clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. > Rich, Most of the Creative Labs Soundblaster Audigy series are well supported with high quality. You go have to check and pick the card by chipset and not by price as there are various gaps in some functionality in the myriad of available models. https://alsa-project.org/wiki/Matrix:Vendor-Creative_Labs (Alas, this list is not up to date.) Slackware-15.0 uses ALSA 1.25 and allows for replacing pulseausio with pipewire. Highly recommended. PA literally sucks donkey balls. In Slackware-15.0 use: /usr/sbin/pipewire-enable.sh /usr/sbin/pipewire-disable.sh 2 years back I upgraded my motherboard sound (AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller) and switched to the Core3D chipset on the CL Soundblaster Z ($99.99 in 2021). The new motherboard did have only old timey PCI slots so I was not able to recycle the nice SB Audigy 2 card I was using. https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z/p/N82E16829102048?Item=N82E16829102048 The newer version is https://www.newegg.com/creative-sound-blaster-z-se/p/N82E16829102110 audio quality is excellent. The catch with Core3D is that you need a newer kernel that the one Slackware-14.2 ships with 4.4.x). IIRC, Core3D support hit around kernel-4.18+ I paired this with a Beyerdynamic headset (gaming version, there are others) - cat ate through the cord of a middling Turtle Beach headset. https://www.newegg.com/p/N82E16826380033?Item=N82E16826380033 I usually skip trying to set stuff in the PA mixer GUI, other than to disable the webcam audio and GPU's HDMI audio. Alsamixer suffices, and Slackbuilds.org has a equalizer plugin. -Ed
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
Can you collect an example? Like, record through the air (e.g. with a digital audio recorder maybe even in your phone) a few seconds of the distortion you are hearing and share it somewhere? Does it sound any different through headphones? Fwiw, I have zero problems with voice output on my linux machine with rando audio hardware, including usb-audio dongles that often come with headsets. -- Russell Senior russ...@personaltelco.net
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: I also was thinking about an audio quality testing application that might be useful and came across this video on an app called Noise Torch. In the video he talks specifically about producing podcasts, zoom calls & jitsi meetings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzN9rYNeeIU Good to know. Thanks. I also came across an article that talked about the difference in driver quality between Windows and Linux. FOSS does have a cost, unfortunately. Yes, it seems to still be the case that the ALSA sound system leaves much to be desired, and pulseaudio doesn't make it that much better. I suspect this could also play a role. I don't know why linux doesn't have better sound after all these years. There are also Linux multimedia distros that've been optimized for AV production. I've had no issues recording video tutorials and podcasts. Audacity, vokoscreenNG, and open broadcast studio work just fine. My issue is getting good sound quality from the 'Net using Zoom and Jitsi. Regards, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
I also was thinking about an audio quality testing application that might be useful and came across this video on an app called Noise Torch. In the video he talks specifically about producing podcasts, zoom calls & jitsi meetings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzN9rYNeeIU I also came across an article that talked about the difference in driver quality between Windows and Linux. FOSS does have a cost, unfortunately. I suspect this could also play a role. There are also Linux multimedia distros that've been optimized for AV production. "io GNU/Linux works well as a live boot operating system, but can also be installed to a hard drive. Its main highlight is professional level audio production, " Reference - https://linuxconfig.org/best-multimedia-linux-distributions It might be worth looking into what this distro does differently to produce "pro level audio production." It might not just be a hardware problem.
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, MC_Sequoia wrote: Hopefully, someone who knows a lot more about pc audio soundcards and who produces podcasts and/or videos will respond but in the meantime here's what I can offer. "#4) ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel Best for minimal audio distortion. Interesting. The product has a decent voice technology option." Okay. That's good. A card with a higher Signal To Noise Ratio will produce less distortion. Audio cables and interfaces will affect audio quality. This card comes with updated cables. The audio cables in use came with the ProSonus speakers I installed yesterday. The connector is a mini-phono plug, not an RCA plug. Thanks, Rich
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
"The audio voice output quality from my Asus Prime X470-Pro is distorted and unacceptable. Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets." Hopefully, someone who knows a lot more about pc audio soundcards and who produces podcasts and/or videos will respond but in the meantime here's what I can offer. "#4) ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel Best for minimal audio distortion. ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel ASUS XONAR SE 5.1 Channel is praised for its defined bass and immersive sound quality. This is due to the 192kHz/24-bit Hi-Res audio with a 300ohm that the card provides. The product delivers a crystal clear sound ratio which is exceptional to use. It also comes with updated audio cables, which can provide a minimum balance of distortion and interference. This includes a 110 dB SNR option. The product has a decent voice technology option." Takeaways from this. A card with a higher Signal To Noise Ratio will produce less distortion. Audio cables and interfaces will affect audio quality. This card comes with updated cables. You might first try upgrading any audio interface cables if they're old, cheap, low quality. I hope this is helpful.
Re: [PLUG] Audio card for clear voice output
On Sun, 16 Apr 2023, Rich Shepard wrote: Please provide recommendations for an add-in PCIe audio card that outputs clear voice as well as music to speakers and headphones/headsets. I decided to purchase a Creative Sound Blaster Audigy FX card. I'll find out if it improves voice clarity in the speakers and headphone. The ProSonis Eris E3.5 monitors can control high (>10kHz) and low (~100Hz) frequecies by +/-6dB. But, there's still too much bass so voices are not clear. Using alsamixer I can control volumes, but not equalize frequency bands. There's source code for pulseaudio equalizer @ freedesktop.org. Has anyone here used this? Rich
