Audio System performance and other questions

Questions and Discussions about G-Stomper
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riche
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2017 10:38 am

Audio System performance and other questions

Postby riche » Fri May 01, 2026 3:23 pm

Hi ... Perhaps this should go to a new thread.

I am experiencing slight problems with both AAudio and AudioTrack N with my new Android 15 Tablet.
Basically crackles - often from VA Beast Synth - or when opening Main Menu while playing.

I have switched to OpenSL and that seems to work better - in fact rather well.

:?: So being an older Audio System - would there be any Audio quality loss?

My new Tablet is not the greatest spec - I did not spend too much on it :roll:
Basic Info on my System:
Blackview Tab 60 WiFi
8 CPU Cores
CPU Freq: 1416 Mhz
CPU Level : 11.33
Android 15
Memory Class: 512 MB
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planet-h
Posts: 1611
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:46 pm

Re: Audio System performance and other questions

Postby planet-h » Sat May 02, 2026 7:24 am

Hi Riche

riche wrote:Hi ... Perhaps this should go to a new thread.

It does, indeed. I've moved it into an own thread.

riche wrote:I am experiencing slight problems with both AAudio and AudioTrack N with my new Android 15 Tablet.
Basically crackles - often from VA Beast Synth - or when opening Main Menu while playing.

Hardware manufacturer implement their own HAL (hardware abstraction layer). The result is fragmentation. Different devices behave differently, even when using the same abstraction provided by Android (such as AAudio or AudioTrack).

That the crackles occur when you open a menu are clear signs of buffer underruns due to lack of CPU time. What you can do with AAudio is to raise the internal latency level to high. That should make it better.

riche wrote:I have switched to OpenSL and that seems to work better - in fact rather well.

Depending on the device, this makes absolutely sense.
AAudio and AudioTrack do more than just DA conversion. Both add compression, level adjustment, and much more after the audio signal leaves an app.

OpenSL on the other hand does barely anything after. Means, the signal remains as rough as it can be.
If you play the audio through the device speakers, you'll hear that difference very well.
While AAudio and AudioTrack sound quite good on the device speakers (as they add compression and more to optimize the output), OpenSL sounds very flat on the device speakers.

riche wrote::?: So being an older Audio System - would there be any Audio quality loss?

No, not at all. It just doesn't add much to the audio. That's it.

riche wrote:My new Tablet is not the greatest spec - I did not spend too much on it :roll:
Basic Info on my System:
Blackview Tab 60 WiFi
8 CPU Cores
CPU Freq: 1416 Mhz
CPU Level : 11.33
Android 15
Memory Class: 512 MB

It's OK, from the specs, but at the lower end of the required specs.
Here are the details from the G-Stomper docs.

Minimum device specs
1.5 GHz Octa-core CPU
1024 * 768 screen resolution

Recommended device specs
2.4 GHz Octa-core or faster CPU
1920 * 1080 or higher screen resolution

Bottom line, your device should work well.
Generally, raising the latency level is your friend.
If low latency is not so important for you, then the best choice is using "AudioTrack" (without N).
It adds a high latency, but provides best stability of al..
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riche
Posts: 59
Joined: Fri Jun 02, 2017 10:38 am

Re: Audio System performance and other questions

Postby riche » Sat May 02, 2026 9:45 am

Thanks again for all your support here - fantastic :D

I have tried all Audio Systems and find the OpenSL and AudioTrack Classic seem to work best on my new Tablet.
Sound seems nice and clean and no pops or clicks.
... although if i use complex VA Synth patches there are problems - generally i avoid using too much VA synth.

(as a side note here I use G-Stomper to create tracks i can perform guitar with - and lately have been using rather nice Midi Guitar software)

I don't use system speakers much at all - generally use bluetooth headphones or plug into a desk.

The only thing I notice is the mixer peak levels seem to display a latency (not a big deal).

Hmmmm - i need a bit of clarification on the latency factor - I will read up a bit on this - you have good manuals - and dialogue on this forum....
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planet-h
Posts: 1611
Joined: Wed Jun 19, 2013 4:46 pm

Re: Audio System performance and other questions

Postby planet-h » Sat May 02, 2026 10:04 am

Regarding the VU meters and all other sound related animations being ahead of the audible sound. You can get rid of it using the latency compensation in the app settings.

It's explained in the live recording docs.
https://www.planet-h.com/gstomper/docs/ ... /part2.htm

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