Audio lag

[epmode]

It seems that no matter how I change my streaming settings on the Link or on my host computer, I get about a half-second audio delay in BPM and in-game. Video is fine, just the audio is delayed. No stuttering or anything else.

I tried changing the audio output on my host computer to 16 and 32 bit 48000hz, then 16 bit 44100hz but nothing helps with the the delay.

I have an EVGA P67 motherboard with on-board Realtek audio. Windows 10 64. My computer and the Link are both connected to the same router via ethernet.

Any help would be appreciated. The Link is useless like this.

[nomad_moogle]

Origineel geplaatst door slouken:

We're not able to reproduce the audio lag here. Can people who are experiencing this please share what sound hardware they have, what audio settings they have in the control panel, and a link to their streaming log?

Thanks!

I'm using my onboard soundcard.

Motherboard: Asrock Z77 Extreme 3

What exactly do you need from my audio settings?

Here is my latest stream log:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/24765253/streaming_log.txt

I had contacted the steam support in the past and we tried out many different configurations but without any luck. Hopefully we'll manage to find the culprit this time :) .

Many thanks.

[Slightly_Twisted]

Sorry I never got around to trying the full wired setup. Time just sorta got away from me the past month 1/2.

As for me I'm same as nomad_moogle.

Mobo: Asrock Z77 Extreme 4
Soundchip: onboard Realtek HD Audio

Unsure of settings in control panel as realtek doesn't really give much in the way of customization other than choose format (24bits, 48000 Hz).

Sound settings I've already tried on link are auto (2ch) and manual 2 channel. Neither made a difference.

https://gist.github.com/anonymous/0b7985266ddde4b54aa0881ce0dfa408

[superandoni]

Let me point out a possibly uncontemplated effect modern HD TVs have on the picture: almost all of them possess some kind of image preprocessing functionalities (HDR, antialiasing, noise reduction, frame interpolation...) which may noticeably delay the generation of each frame. Most of the TVs have some sort of "Game" setting for Image/Picture which may or may not (depending on your TV) minimize the preprocessing of the video input.

So, what could happen is that Steam Link delay plus TV preprocessing delay get added up and result in a more serious "lag".

I realized this while playing with Wii U on my LG tv. The Wii U controller outputs sound and image without delay, whereas the TV delays it a bit, so raising the volume of the controller you may notice some sort of "echo", which accounts for the TV preprocessing delay.


TL;DR Steam Link delay and TV video preprocessing are two different delays that may or may not (depending on your setup) add together.

[Blackfurball]

Origineel geplaatst door superandoni:

Let me point out a possibly uncontemplated effect modern HD TVs have on the picture: almost all of them possess some kind of image preprocessing functionalities (HDR, antialiasing, noise reduction, frame interpolation...) which may noticeably delay the generation of each frame. Most of the TVs have some sort of "Game" setting for Image/Picture which may or may not (depending on your TV) minimize the preprocessing of the video input.

So, what could happen is that Steam Link delay plus TV preprocessing delay get added up and result in a more serious "lag".

I realized this while playing with Wii U on my LG tv. The Wii U controller outputs sound and image without delay, whereas the TV delays it a bit, so raising the volume of the controller you may notice some sort of "echo", which accounts for the TV preprocessing delay.


TL;DR Steam Link delay and TV video preprocessing are two different delays that may or may not (depending on your setup) add together.

I've ben thinking the same. But there is a minor flaw in this theory: Delays in image processing results in a video lag, not an audiolag.

Your recommandation of using the game mode in TVs is however a good one. This will most likely reduce this image processing to a minimum giving the player better overall responsiveness but won't reduce the lag between audio and video. Think about it, It's more contraproductive because a faster rendered image on the screen will increase the delay betweem image and audio ;).

[skupi]

I always use game mode on TV with games, but as i wrote its not a constant delay, but on start is oki and with time it increases.

I have built-in realtek hd audio with rx470 amd gpu and i was playing witcher 3
At start i want 5.1 audio but my tv optical out gives only 2 channel audio, so i connect steam link to my amplifier and from amplifier to tv with game mode. Sound was strange and i got PCM witch sound not so nice. I was not happy. After some time i realised i have quite big delay in sound.

Next time i connect steam link directly do tv and optical out from tv i connect to my amplifier. At start all were fine but after some time its the same.

Actually i have no time to check, but i set both sides, client and host for 2 channel audio and will check is it oki.
Cause on both options on steam logs with digital out steam use 7.1 channels, my amplifier has 5.0 speakers, and tv output with optical is 2.0 only.

Edited:
I also uninstalled realtek drivers and actually use from microsoft database. I saw also realtek released in december new drivers 2.80.
So now i will test microsoft drivers :)

[Slightly_Twisted]

As far as I can tell the only real similarities between those of us with the audio lag issue is the Realtek HD audio chipset found on the motherboard. I've heard the "tricks" with the different audio outputs but given that I don't use surround sound on pc or tv that doesn't seem to bare relevence. Talking with others who had problems in the past they too had realtek HD, which makes this seem more and more important. It is worth noting I have updated the audio drivers to the newest and didn't yield better results.


As for the tv discussion, totally unrelated problem. The "game" setting used on tvs is to reduce input lag from controller to screen by limiting the internal processing and general "fine tuning" of each frame. There would be no chance of audio and video becoming out of sync this way, just coming out equally late. I know this after pouring lots of research into solving this exact problem on my old samsung, which is notorious for input latancy on some of their tv lines.

[Maxwell]

Yes, I too have a "Asrock B75 PRO3 Mainboard" with Realtek HD Chipset.

However I use a Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Titanium for sound output on my PC, when gaming without the Link, but directly on the PC with keyboard and headset.

Soundoutput in Windows is therfore set to "Creative SB X-Fi" on all time.

Does the Link go over the "Realtek High Definition Audio" setting, regardless of what has been set as standard?

What do you think slouken?

[Blackfurball]

Either there are multiple different problems with different causes, or the driver is not the root cause because: I'm on linux and use an external USB TI PCM2902 Soundcard. There couldn't be more difference in the setup.

I'll have to test the lag this week and post the streaminglog

[nomad_moogle]

Ι too believe that the TV discussion is unrelated. I tested the problem both with and without game mode activated, but the results were the same. My TV is relatively slow (Panasonic 42ST60), so some input lag is expected, but this steady increase of audio lag is definitely something different.

I read all the previous pages and someone suggested that the root of the problem is CPU usage spikes (every time the CPU usage reaches its threshold, there is an introduction of a slight audio lag, which obviously builds up). I cannot really tell if this stands true, but whatever, though of mentioning it :P .

Let's see what the Steam tech support has to say :) .

[BaDKaRMa]

first post ever on these boards and it saddens me that it is a negative one. From day one i had audio lag in Borderlands 2 but it became worse till the point that every game is unplayable except when you turn the sound off (which is as much fun as watching turtles run a Marathon. At first I was thinking that it must be a Linux problem as the Host is running on Linux but upon reading all these post above i don't think Linux has anything to do with it.

up to this moment i tried everything:
- Wireless and non wireless
- different types of streaming options on the host & client
- connecting directly to the TV, bypassing my receiver
- Beta releases for client and host
- turned the autodetect 5.1 to stereo which seemed to work in the beginning, next day the lag was back.
- rebooting the link a couple of times giving me different results in audio-lag from anywhere up to 3 (!!!) seconds
- i even went so far to upgrade my CPU from an old X4 Phenom II 945 to a 5th generation i5 4690K. Didn't do anything
- CPU stays below 29% when running Big Picture and most of the games.
- Graphic intense games or static ones don't change anything.
- changed every possible sound setting and.or output mode in Linux Host.

When i read all your comments about the lag i can only conclude for myself that Valve isn't able to fix this, either they don't care or they are unable but lets keep this thread alive just to show them that not everyone is having a jolly ol' time with the link.

is it a possibility that the Hardware inside the Steam Link isn't up for the task cause lets face it; the electronics inside are probably done by the lowest bidder...

[BaDKaRMa]

just a follow up on this, checked my streaming.log file and it's full of these messages, and when i say full i mean FULL

link : https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B17umSr_hxcJMHAwOWtWNGNBOEk/view?usp=sharing

[2017-01-11 18:46:51] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 247 ms queued, 92 ms maximum, delivery delay = 21
[2017-01-11 18:46:51] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:52] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 327 ms queued, 92 ms maximum, delivery delay = 21
[2017-01-11 18:46:52] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:53] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 398 ms queued, 74 ms maximum, delivery delay = 12
[2017-01-11 18:46:53] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:54] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 467 ms queued, 64 ms maximum, delivery delay = 7
[2017-01-11 18:46:54] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:55] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 537 ms queued, 64 ms maximum, delivery delay = 7
[2017-01-11 18:46:55] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:56] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 604 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 18:46:56] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:57] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 676 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 18:46:57] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 18:46:58] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 756 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 18:46:58] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)

[Blackfurball]

Yeah, can confirm the Audio Flushing logentries. Even better, it expresses the delay i think I'm experiencing and even shows the increasing delay over time:

[2017-01-11 21:04:24] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlSetActivity
[2017-01-11 21:04:24] >>> Capture resolution set to 1918x1028
[2017-01-11 21:04:24] >>> Capture resolution set to 1920x1080
[2017-01-11 21:04:24] CLIENT: Video size: 1918x1028, output size: 1920x1080
[2017-01-11 21:04:24] CLIENT: Video size: 1920x1080, output size: 1920x1080
[2017-01-11 21:04:25] CLIENT: Got control packet k_EStreamControlHideCursor
[2017-01-11 21:04:26] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 120 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 21:04:26] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:04:27] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 110 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:04:27] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:04:28] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 118 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:04:28] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:04:29] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 134 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:04:29] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:04:30] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 104 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:04:30] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:04:31] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 118 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3

---snip---

[2017-01-11 21:05:06] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2188 ms queued, 54 ms maximum, delivery delay = 2
[2017-01-11 21:05:06] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:07] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2238 ms queued, 54 ms maximum, delivery delay = 2
[2017-01-11 21:05:07] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:08] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2290 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:08] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:09] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2341 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:09] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:10] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2368 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:10] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:10] Audio mix: start=861825103, returned=34593120
[2017-01-11 21:05:10] Audio source [System Pulse]: init=861847111, through=34594068, last_start=34593519, mixed=3144771, drop_before=0, drop_after=0
[2017-01-11 21:05:11] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2412 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:11] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:12] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2470 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:12] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:13] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2502 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:13] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:14] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2528 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:14] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:15] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 2568 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4


---snip---


[2017-01-11 21:05:53] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:54] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3708 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:54] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:55] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3738 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:05:55] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:56] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3738 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:56] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:57] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3758 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:57] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:58] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3752 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:05:58] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:05:59] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3762 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 21:05:59] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:00] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3781 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 21:06:00] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:01] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3811 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:06:01] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:02] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3828 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:06:02] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:03] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3858 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:06:03] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:04] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3868 ms queued, 56 ms maximum, delivery delay = 3
[2017-01-11 21:06:04] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:05] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3878 ms queued, 54 ms maximum, delivery delay = 2
[2017-01-11 21:06:05] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:06] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3900 ms queued, 54 ms maximum, delivery delay = 2
[2017-01-11 21:06:06] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:06:07] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 3922 ms queued, 54 ms maximum, delivery delay = 2
[2017-01-11 21:06:07] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)


----snip----


[2017-01-11 21:07:05] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4518 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:06] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:06] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4518 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:07] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:07] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4530 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:08] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:08] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4532 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:09] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:09] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4542 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:10] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:10] Audio mix: start=861825103, returned=40868640
[2017-01-11 21:07:10] Audio source [System Pulse]: init=861847111, through=40869552, last_start=40869023, mixed=3140374, drop_before=0, drop_after=0
[2017-01-11 21:07:11] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4538 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:11] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:12] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4548 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 21:07:12] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:13] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4548 ms queued, 60 ms maximum, delivery delay = 5
[2017-01-11 21:07:13] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:14] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4558 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:14] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:15] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4560 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:15] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:16] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4590 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:16] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:17] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4601 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:17] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:18] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4601 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:18] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:19] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4621 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4
[2017-01-11 21:07:19] CLIENT: Stopped flushing audio (flushing time complete)
[2017-01-11 21:07:20] CLIENT: Flushing audio, 4608 ms queued, 58 ms maximum, delivery delay = 4

Here is the full steam_log from a short session of ubermosh vol3 with increasing audidelay.
http://pastebin.com/bSqmZvfq

Steam client and steam link on beta branch. Host is Linux Mint 17.3 64-bit, GTX 970 with Nvidia 375.26 driver. AMD FX-8320, 16gb RAM.

Audio hardware is external PCM2902 Audio Codec (Default sound device) and an connected Turtle Beach wireless z300 Headset.

If you need anything else, just let me know.

[slouken]

This is great info!

This means that the sound card is steadily generating more audio than the client is consuming.

Out of curiosity, what is your audio output rate setting? Steam Link tries to convert everything to 48Khz when sending to the client.

[slouken]

Can the people who are seeing this on Windows also post a link to your streaming log, so we can see if it's the same problem?

[Blackfurball]

Its running on 44.1 Khz. I'll set it to 48 Khz and try again.