Hi,
I have a Lenovo ThinkCentre with Linux Mint that I use to play music. Sometimes, when there’s supposed to be silence (because YouTube paused the video or something), this weird popping noise appears. It disappears whenever there’s music playing and even when I open the sound settings, but re-appears whenever there’s silence. The device is connected via aux cable to an amplifier. This happens on two separate devices.
I don’t know if it’s a Lenovo issue or a linux issue, but it’s quite annoying.
The device is connected via aux cable to an amplifier. This happens on two separate devices.
Couldn’t get the sound to play, but it’s probably the cord or the amplifier.
Try using it without the amp, if it goes away it’s the amp.
If it’s still there, try a new cord. If new cord and no amp is fine, try new cord with amp.
You might just need to turn the volume down too. Some people put one of the two at 100%, you want to keep each under like 80% to avoid distortions.
It happens on two separate devices, two separate cords, two separate amplifiers. I think it only happens after it goes on standby or sleep once.
Edit: it happens even when the pc is muted.
Sound card might go to sleep after some time of inactivity.
Check using
cat /proc/asound/modules
that you are using standard kernel Intel audio drivers:snd_hda_intel
. In that case, trycat /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save
. The number printed is the number of seconds the sound card goes to sleep after the last sound played. Sleeping a sound card can cause pops or buzz and saves very little power, so it’s better to set it to 0 for no sleep.It said
0 snd_hda_intel
1 snd_hda_intel
It was set to 1. I’ll try setting it to 0. It felt like it was trying to go to sleep, just to immediately wake up again, being stuck in that loop.
Which command said that? The first one? Those are just the numbers of sound devices, don’t change those! As in:
Sound device #
0
(headphone jack, perhaps): usessnd_hda_intel
driver
Sound device #0
(built-in speaker, perhaps): usessnd_hda_intel
driverYes, it has a crappy built in speaker. It was the first command. The second said, that the timer was set to 1.
I can’t immediately tell if that fixed the issue, unfortunately, because I don’t know how to replicate it. But this seems more plausible than a hardware issue, as it would probably be more consistent.
I can’t help much with it, but just in case, temporarily replace all the external sound kit. Test with headphones if needs be, but don’t do what lots of people do and forget to replace the cable :)
It sounds like it’s probably coming from the computer, but I’ve driven myself crazy in the past by forgetting about cables.
Is there anything electric near the cable that connects the amp and computer? Your video isn’t loading for me but the first thing i’d try to rule out is electronic interference. That usually sounds like popping on the line. By two separate devices do you mean different amps or different computers?
Your video isn’t loading for me
It’s just a black screen with sound, if that’s the issue. It’s just rhythmic popping, almost like a heart beat.
Is there anything electric near the cable that connects the amp and computer?
I don’t think so.
By two separate devices do you mean different amps or different computers?
Both. Similar computers, different cords, amps, even buildings.
I listened to it on the computer since the video loaded there.
That does sound exactly like a heartbeat. Weird. I don’t have a clue what could cause that.
Have you thought about hiring an exorcist?
That might be my last resort.