Audio skips when player synced

[spindoctor]

This is my current setup:

Dell tower, Pentium 4 @ 3.06ghz, 2GB RAM.

Squeezebox Server Version: 7.6.1 (Yes, I know it's a couple of versions behind, but I wanted to try and fix the issue that I'm about to describe before upgrading)

Kitchen: Boom - wireless
Lounge: SB3 classic - ethernet via 100MB switch
Bedroom: SB3 classic - ethernet via 100MB switch

I did have issues a while back, and the suggestion was that it was likely wireless related. So whilst I was making other improvements to the house, I also put ethernet cabling in to eliminate any possible wireless issues.

The issue that I'm having is that anything I play skips or drops out fairly regularly. And when I say reguarly, I'm talking a couple of times every 10 minutes. It's likely to be a tiny skip or complete silence for a few seconds.

The skips can occur when listening to BBC radio streams, DI.FM streams, RadioIO streams or locally hosted MP3 files. I'm using the local SB server, not via the MySB.com service.

So cut a reasonaly long story short, I've worked out that the issue is related to syncronisation of the players.

As far as I can tell, when not syncing at all, all of the players work as expected without skips. I can set each player up to play the same stream individually and the skips do not occur. I can play different streams to each player, again, without issue.

Only once I link a player to another player do the skips occur.

I have to admit that when I had issues a while back, I will have changed the sync settings.

So, my first request is for someone to list each sync setting, with the default values. I'd like to try these settings default setting before I do any more damage.

Secondly, if possible, I'd like any recommendations for each sync setting based upon the setup listed above. Please shout up if there are any details that I've missed that may influence the information that you give.

Thank you for your time in getting this far

[spindoctor]

ok - So I downloaded 7.6.1 and installed it on a virtual machine. This I did purely to get to a defauilt installation of SqueezeServer.

I then also ran up two instances of SoftSqueeze

From this I was able to get these default values:

Player Start 0ms
Player Audio Delay 0ms
Min sync adjust. 10ms
network packet latency 2ms

I have applied these default values to all of my 'real' SBs at home.

When I run audio to them when not synced, the audio is fine

When I synchronise just two players, I have the skips as described previously.

Does anyone have any suggestions:

a) whether my default settings are indeed correct
b) another set of suggested settings
c) anything else I can do to address my skipping issue

Thanks Phil

[bpa]

Using Softsqueeze to debug sync is pointless as Softsqueeze is known not to sync reliably. Only the hardware players can sync reliably.

To see what is happening I suggest enabling the logging (player.sync) as it will provide hard evidence on why LMS is trying to resync. For sync to work properly you need a good hardware clock on your PC - in the pastr some users have found that this is a cause of problems.

[ghostrider]

I use the same sync settings you specified and my players, one wired - one wireless, sync without issue. If you can send seperate streams to each player without problems I would guess that both your home network and server are strong. On the audio tab for each player, if you have crossfade enabled make sure the duration is the same for each player or turn it off. Lastly, try an xilinx reset on all your players. Remove power then reconnect while pressing the '1' key on your remote. This will sometimes correct strange problems. Good luck!

[Mnyb]

How does it work with only the two wired players synced ? ( excluding anything wifi related )

[spindoctor]

Using Softsqueeze to debug sync is pointless as Softsqueeze is known not to sync reliably. Only the hardware players can sync reliably.

Hi BPA. Thank you for your reply, but you misunderstand me. I installed SqueezeServer and the two instances of SoftSqueeze on a virtual machine purely to ascertain the sync values on a clean, default installation. I then took these values and applied them to my actual setup at home. I did this because I hadn't had a reply to my post asking for the default sync settings.

Now that I have the default sync settings applied to my real, hardware setup at home, as described, I am still having issues when the players are synced.

To see what is happening I suggest enabling the logging (player.sync) as it will provide hard evidence on why LMS is trying to resync. For sync to work properly you need a good hardware clock on your PC - in the pastr some users have found that this is a cause of problems.

This is useful information, thank you. Just to be clear, I am not yet using LMS, I am using SqueezeServer 7.6.1 Is logging supported on that version of SBS? Not sure how to enable logging, but I'll do some searching.

[spindoctor]

I use the same sync settings you specified and my players, one wired - one wireless, sync without issue. If you can send seperate streams to each player without problems I would guess that both your home network and server are strong. On the audio tab for each player, if you have crossfade enabled make sure the duration is the same for each player or turn it off. Lastly, try an xilinx reset on all your players. Remove power then reconnect while pressing the '1' key on your remote. This will sometimes correct strange problems. Good luck!

I've not done this, but I will try. I have tried pressing and holding down the power button on the remote which appears to do a cold power on, rather than an 'on from standby' type start.

I wll also check the crossfade

Thanks

[bpa]

I installed SqueezeServer and the two instances of SoftSqueeze on a virtual machine purely to ascertain the sync values on a clean, default installation.

I realise that but Softsqueze sync implementation is old and perhaps not up to date or fully featured and so the values you get may not be the correct/best ones for real hardware.

Just to be clear, I am not yet using LMS, I am using SqueezeServer 7.6.1 Is logging supported on that version of SBS? Not sure how to enable logging, but I'll do some searching.

Slimserver - Squeezebox Server - LMS - all the same just marketing inisisted on renaming it regularly.

Logging - on SBS / LMS WebUI Settings/Advanced/Logging

[spindoctor]

How does it work with only the two wired players synced ? ( excluding anything wifi related )

Yeah, same. I wanted to eliminate wifi from the equation.

I appears that I can sync players and power without issue - I don't bother with volume.

I only seem to get the problem when I enable 'Maintain Sync' - and it kinda defeats the object of sync if I have to disable this setting.

I will try logging and get back with any updates.

[spindoctor]

I realise that but Softsqueze sync implementation is old and perhaps not up to date or fully featured and so the values you get may not be the correct/best ones for real hardware.

I had assumed that the sync settings to be part of the SBS, rather than the player (soft or hard). So that being the case, are you able to suggest default / recommended sync settings for my particular setup as described in my original post please?

Thanks

Logging - on SBS / LMS WebUI Settings/Advanced/Logging

Thank you - will check that out when I get home later.