Audio "cuts out" while playing

[Drew Jackson]

I've had this problem with 2 separate phones, on 2 separate car stereos with completely different audio hardware set ups. So to me the problem is somewhere within the app. It also doesn't do it with all audio tracks, only some of them. And it only does it on my 2 car stereos, never with bluetooth headphones or bluetooth speakers. Only car stereos.

 

So the problem is while a track is playing, the right channel of the audio gets cut out, not completely, just muffled way down. It also muffles the volume of the left side, but not as bad as the right. Sometimes it'll do that for 2-5 seconds then come right back for a few seconds then go out again, so on & so on. Then on other tracks it won't do it for the entire song. There's no rhyme or reason to when it does it, it's seemingly random.

 

I've looked around in the settings menu with zero success. I'm not an audio engineer so I have no idea what most of those settings do. I just made modifications to a few of the settings that I think I understood with no success.

 

Any help is greatly appreciated. I'm just looking to have the music play without getting muffled. I'm not looking for the highest res possible or anything fancy. Just play. This is a new to me problem. I remember never having any problems with PA, it just worked. I've been using it for years now.

[andrewilley]

Sounds like what happens when a notification tone is generated, but for some reason you are no hearing the tone. Or does it happen reliably at the same place in the same track? What Output method are you using, and what Audio Focus settings? (both in the PA Settings=>Audio submenus)

Andre

[Drew Jackson]

It happens at any time, regardless of incoming notifications. I shouldn't have labeled the topic as audio cut out. It doesn't really cut out. It sounds as if someone puts a pillow over the right channel speakers. You can still hear the audio, but it's very muffled. 

 

It does not happen reliably at all. There's no pattern to it. I can't make it do, much in the same way I can't make it stop. It happens on some audio tracks but not others. Sometimes it happens within the first 5-10 seconds of a track. Then some tracks it won't happen for the entire song. It's very strange.

 

I forgot to mention the output method, I'm glad you asked. I play the tracks via bluetooth to my car stereo's. I've never tried it with an aux cable or the usb patch cable plugged directly into the back of the stereos. Those are 2 good trouble shooting methods I've yet to try.

 

I attached screenshots of the Audio Focus settings.

 

Also my phone is a Samsung Note 10+ on Android version version 12. But I had the same problem on my previous phone, the Samsung Note 9.

[MotleyG]

@Drew Jackson I would try enabling the setting for "Short Audio Focus Change / Calls" and see if this results in the music pausing instead of becoming muffled. You would see the Play button change between Play and Pause if it happens. If this is the case, there is some notification action your phone is doing, such as an incoming message, navigation, etc.

Since you currently have that feature disabled, the Android OS is trying to "Duck" the volume instead. What is strange is the option to change the Duck Volume is greyed out on your device in those screen shots. If the above advice doesn't work, the next thing to try is to reset your current audio output settings to default, or to switch to a different one (OpenSL ES/AudioTrack/Hi-Res Output).

[maxmp]

@Drew Jackson Pause in call works only on old Androids and few Androids which allow monitoring the call state (MIUI). Short Audio Focus option should be used for other devices.

[Drew Jackson]

I haven't had time just yet to sit in the car and try the above recommended changes. I'll report back when I have some time to try them. Hopefully in the next day or 2. I did drive my sisters car this morning and played music via bluetooth to her old single din pioneer car stereo with no audio weirdness. 

[MotleyG]

2 hours ago, Drew Jackson said:

I haven't had time just yet to sit in the car and try the above recommended changes. I'll report back when I have some time to try them. Hopefully in the next day or 2. I did drive my sisters car this morning and played music via bluetooth to her old single din pioneer car stereo with no audio weirdness. 

Do you have another device trying to connect to the system that is cutting out while playing? Maybe they are fighting for access?

[Drew Jackson]

My phone is the only device that I know of that would be connecting to either of the stereos that it affects. No other phones are in the vehicle when it happens.

[MotleyG]

59 minutes ago, Drew Jackson said:

My phone is the only device that I know of that would be connecting to either of the stereos that it affects. No other phones are in the vehicle when it happens.

I get the occasional hiccup in my Grand Cherokee, but never in my Buick. I can't explain it, other than I believe there are so many devices out there now that almost always there is a chance that somebody around could be attempting to pair a device to something else.

Check the radio device list to see if that one phone is the only one paired.