Call for tester for 1.4.0 features and fixes (2 Viewers)

[megahorst]

Did not see anything in logs. That means, what ever goes wrong is not logged in any way. They don't help here at the moment.

I didn't mention anything except the muting thing and the PS issue

So, regardless what your default direct sound device in Windows is the HDMI output will always been shown as muted, right?

You are right.
I did an additional test with analog output set as TV/radio renderer. This did not change the things. It was always the HDMI that gets muted.

When MP after resuming is mute and you playback a movie, are you able to unmute it by pressing "m" or -/+ to control the volume? Does the Volume OSD shows?

+,-,m did not work. But my keyboard has separate volume-level keys. These and a special mute/unmute key get the sound back.
I have created some screenshots of the mixer while testing this:

Also when you resumed and sound is muted could you check right away for the following in C:\ProgramData\Team MediaPortal\Mediaportal.xml:

Here is my volume section:

  <section name="volume">
	<entry name="handler">4</entry>
	<entry name="startupstyle">0</entry>
	<entry name="digital">yes</entry>
	<entry name="table">0, 4095, 8191, 12287, 16383, 20479, 24575, 28671, 32767, 36863, 40959, 45055, 49151, 53247, 57343, 61439, 65535</entry>
	<entry name="startuplevel">52428</entry>
	<entry name="defaultVolumeOSD">yes</entry>
	<entry name="lastknown">65535</entry>
  </section>

 

[Scythe42]

OK, now for the hardcore test: suspend and resume Windows without MP running at all.

Still muted?
ATI GPU?
RealTek onboard sound?
RealTek Software installed?

This goes hand in hand with the HDMI audio device "not plugged in by" some ATI users are seeing. Muted HDMI audio on Windows resume is just a different symptom of it. Both have the same root cause of conflicting drivers.

To solve it:

• Unpack CCC (latest version of course, do not use older versions, even if people constantly recommending it!)
• Go to the Device Manager, select the AMD HDMI Audio
• Update Drivers manually and point it to the unpacked ATI CCC directory.

That should solve it in general. Also the not plugged in HDMI audio device some users are seeing (if the hardware equipment like a receiver is not the root cause).

At least that is how I solved it a couple of times to force Windows to use the driver I want. Depending on the actual system setup it might be bit more complex and involve a proper uninstallataion /reinstallation sequence including Windows update.

 

[megahorst]

Suspend and resume without PS preventing the suspend does not trigger the problem.
Also suspend without mepo running does not.

Are you sute, that is it the AMD-driver issue?
As I understood this problem it removes the audio device and it only comes back after a restart.

I will give the ccc *.inf thing a try.

And yes, I have a realtek audio on board and the drivers are installed.

 

[Holzi]

Maybe there is a problem with PS and not specific to this testbuild? Have you tried PS++?
There is an option to unmute master volume on start. See:

 

[Scythe42]

When Windows does it not on its own it is no the AMD driver issue, meaning your installation when correct at the time it was done.

BUT know comes in PowerScheduler. The one that comes with MP 1.3.0, right? No PowerScheduler++ or any patched version? Just stock MP 1.3.0?

Could turn out as a PowerScheduler bug or in case PowerScheduler does the standby preventing correctly a driver issue.

Just to clear things up, why you trying to prevent standby in the first place?

 

[Scythe42]

Maybe there is a problem with PS and not specific to this testbuild? Have you tried PS++?
There is an option to unmute master volume on start. See:

You nailed it!

This "Leaving Away Mode" (do not know what it is as I never had the need for PowerScheduler) seems to have a bug in relation to an audio renderer removed from the system.

The "unmute" probably does a mute when when it is not muted.

Open a Mantis for it, someone who maintains Power Scheduler needs to take care of this. I am not touching that one...

 

[Holzi]

I don't know if a mantis is needed because @michael_t (dev of PS++) is working on integrating PS++ into MP and replace the old PS. -> https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/powerscheduler-integrated-in-mediaportal.115368/

 

[megahorst]

The new driver did not solve it.

I'm not using PS++ only the stock PS.
This does not have a mute/unmute feature.

But perhaps I should give it a try. This unmute feature could solve the problem for me. For me this would be ok.
Should I try this, or should I leave the configuration as it is and do further tests for you?

I normal cases I do not want to prevent the standby. I have configured it in this way because I don't want the PC to go to standby when I'm doing maintenance jobs.
I have mentioned this issue after installing your patch and forgetting to close the standby preventing browser.

 

[Scythe42]

I don't know if a mantis is needed because @michael_t (dev of PS++) is working on integrating PS++ into MP and replace the old PS. -> https://forum.team-mediaportal.com/threads/powerscheduler-integrated-in-mediaportal.115368/

OK, makes sense that PS is not touched anymore.

I checked this "Away Mode" and what it does:

• shuts down the video signal at the port
• Mutes all system audio
• Blocks HID and PS/2 input devices (so your cat does not walk across the “delete” key and delete your library)
• Puts the CPU into “adaptive” mode, which may save power depending on what’s running
• Notifies kernel-mode and user-mode components of the transition (enables HW like video cards to clock-down or front-panel displays to change content, enables SW to do “smart” things like IM going to “away”)
• Notifies the BIOS through an ACPI control method of the transition (enables the power LED to change from green to whatever, enables a different thermal profile to be put in place if the OEM decides)
• Wakes back up when flash devices (USB FOB, flash card) are inserted
• Wakes back up when an optical disc is inserted in the drive

So, PS is calling some function of Windows Media Center for this "away" mode I guess. And it does not reset it properly. Or it includes something similar but does not properly reset it.

Anyway, I consider this an issue not relate to my work here. Moving on.

@megahorst: give PS++ a try for your needs.

 

[Holzi]

Agree, this "bug" was there since ever. Therefore PS++ added this option.