Rockbox CPU noise?

[Nausicaa]

I'm not sure if anyone else finds it a problem or even noticed it, but can you hear a mechanical sound (soft beeps and clicks is the closest thing I can compare it to) when using the Clip to play music? It doesn't appear in the Sansa firmware. Is this even considered a problem enough to correct via software? If not, is there an easy way to get rid of it? It is a lot more apparent when listening to quieter tracks or parts with silence.

[funman]

I think it's a problem on all Clipv2.

The noise is

• regular
• independent of volume (you can hear very well when volume is muted)
• absent when playback is paused
• absent when listening to FM radio
• completely absent in the OF
• not present on rockboxed Clip+ / Fuzev2
• dependant on the CPU frequency, the fastest the CPU is, the more frequent the noise is.

saratoga suggested it was a power management issue rather than a DAC problem, if you have an idea on how to track down the problem suggestions are welcome (here or on rockbox forums/irc).

[Nausicaa]

I don't think its absent when the playback is paused. I hear a distinct 'fizz'. Its happily nonexistent while traveling as the background noise cover it well. Is it on the clip v1 as well?

My version is 26241-10052. Is there a way to alter the CPU frequency? I looked in the debug menu and I'm not smart enough to figure out where it is.

I should have mentioned: Thanks for all your (Rockbox developer's) hard work. I bought an iPod mini because of you guys, and have been using it for three years. Rockbox makes the player for me, if it has Rockbox, I buy it. Although I jumped the gun on the D2, and its been sitting unused because of the horrible touchscreen (It took $250 to convince me to never buy another touchscreen product again, haha). I have other iPods and refuse to buy another Apple product unless it has Rockbox on it, and Zune isn't even an option because of the lack of Rockbox.

[funman]

You're right, some noise is still present when paused, but not the regular "tick".

Clipv1 is all right afaict

[Rockin Munki]

It's not absent in Rockboxed Clip+ either. While I haven't heard a "regular tick" there are definite little beeps and whirs during playback and when paused. I don't notice them while playing music but only audiobooks and podcasts as they are much quieter and have more silence. It's not ruining my player but it is a bit annoying sometimes.

[Kenaneu]

Originally Posted by funman

Clipv1 is all right afaict

I hear tons of noise during playback of quiet passages on both my Clip v1 and Fuze v1. This noise is absent on the Clip+ (other than when paused/navigating folders, etc.).

[Artmuzz]

Originally Posted by Rockin Munki

It's not absent in Rockboxed Clip+ either. While I haven't heard a "regular tick" there are definite little beeps and whirs during playback and when paused. I don't notice them while playing music but only audiobooks and podcasts as they are much quieter and have more silence. It's not ruining my player but it is a bit annoying sometimes.

Hmm, I cannot say I hear any noise, beeps or whirs when I play music on my Rockboxed Clip+. How I know is because when I play certain tracks that have a quiet middle bit there doesn't seem to be any noise.

So I am happy to say the noise is absent on my Clip+


Art

[Hirsch2k]

I also noticed beeps when using fade in/out on play/pause with rockbox on my clip+

[orby]

Originally Posted by funman

I think it's a problem on all Clipv2.

The noise is

• regular
• independent of volume (you can hear very well when volume is muted)
• absent when playback is paused
• absent when listening to FM radio
• completely absent in the OF
• not present on rockboxed Clip+ / Fuzev2
• dependant on the CPU frequency, the fastest the CPU is, the more frequent the noise is.

saratoga suggested it was a power management issue rather than a DAC problem, if you have an idea on how to track down the problem suggestions are welcome (here or on rockbox forums/irc).

furthermore, noise is different for different codecs. (i used the attached files for testing)

I hope this problem can be solved sometime - some tracks are unbearable to listen to with rockbox.
that makes me switch to OF, but then again navigation and all the comfort and functionality of rockbox is missing.

[orby]

can someone please answer this question:

- is there no noise at all when using clip+ OR sansa v2? that is _really no noise at all_?

thank you for answering. :-)

[dispose]

Originally Posted by Hirsch2k

I also noticed beeps when using fade in/out on play/pause with rockbox on my clip+

Me too. That's why I have fade in/out turned off. It would be really nice if it could get fixed.

[Marvin the Martian]

I don't like the fade in and out.....if I want to pause it, then it should pause.....and if I want it to play, then it should play!

[dispose]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

I don't like the fade in and out.....if I want to pause it, then it should pause.....and if I want it to play, then it should play!

I get your point, but the issue here is the CPU noise...

[Marvin the Martian]

Originally Posted by dispose

I get your point, but the issue here is the CPU noise...

Fair enough! I don't hear it.

[dispose]

Originally Posted by Marvin the Martian

Fair enough! I don't hear it.

Are you sure? Try enabling fade in/out, and then pause/start a track multiple times. I hear a slight beep 3 out of 4 times I do this. Very weird.

[orby]

Originally Posted by orby

can someone please answer this question:

- is there no noise at all when using clip+ OR sansa v2? that is _really no noise at all_?

thank you for answering. :-)

anyone..?

[WalkGood]

I hear a faint noise between tracks on the clip v1, it’s there as well during play back but I can not hear it unless it’s during low passages. BTW it doesn't bother me considering all the functionality I gain.

[orby]

of course it can only be heard in quiet passages.
i listen a lot to pieces for solo piano. in quiet passages of some pieces, at least for the clip v2, it's really unbearable.
you speak of a clip v1. is the clip+ / sansa v2 different, concerning this noise?

i consider buying one, if this is the case.

i hope more people can help me.

thank you, WalkGood, so far

[jsmaye]

of course it can only be heard in quiet passages.
i listen a lot to pieces for solo piano. in quiet passages of some pieces, at least for the clip v2, it's really unbearable.
you speak of a clip v1. is the clip+ / sansa v2 different, concerning this noise?

I only hear a little <beep> or <chirp> when pausing or powering off, so merely listening to low passages shouldn't be a problem - it doesn't happen during playback or moving track-to-track.

[dispose]

Originally Posted by jsmaye

I only hear a little <beep> or <chirp> when pausing or powering off, so merely listening to low passages shouldn't be a problem - it doesn't happen during playback or moving track-to-track.

True. You're talking about a Clip+, right?