PulseAudio performance test (Karmic?)

onemyndseye · 10-27-2009, 07:03 AM

I ran some tests tonight and stumbled on some interesting results...

First, I noticed my FPS has really suffered lately. So i started looking into it. And I found that turning RO's internal volume control all the way down make a HUGE difference. Not just 10-20fps. But LARGE jumps in FPS.

So I starting thinking ... hrmm.. I wonder if PulseAudio is bottle-necking RO..?

Testing was simple enough: Launch RO and turn in a circle until FPS stabilize and take a screen. Repeat bypassing PulseAudio (of sorts)

Test1 (Normal Launch):

Code:

onemyndseye@onemyndsmobile:~/regnum$ ./rolauncher

Result:

Test2 (Launch with OSS):

Code:

onemyndseye@onemyndsmobile:~/regnum$ aoss ./rolauncher

Result:

WOW! O.O

These results are in no way conclusive or even 100% consistent (so far I would say 80% consistent) and I will continue to test, but the results were so surprising I wanted to share and get a discussion started on this topic.

Myxir · 10-27-2009, 03:58 PM

Interesting.
I'm not sure but isn't openal a very old implementation?
I'm using a fresh karmic install with pulseaudio of course.
When I want to start it with aoss it just segfaults when selecting "enter gameworld".

I'll try to make it work with aoss as well :/

DkySven · 10-27-2009, 05:25 PM

I use a fresh install of ubuntu 9.10 and when playing games the sound will crash after a while, which will also cause the game to freeze when trying to exit it. This only happens with games, all other sound on my system keeps working. It looks like this is PulseAudio-related.

onemyndseye · 10-27-2009, 05:30 PM

yes - tried this on a different machine and got the segfault you mentioned..

OpenAL has been replaced by OpenAL Soft which is a much better implentation and is very well maintained unlike the older "OpenAL"

aoss tells RO to use the alsa-oss layer instead of pulse in either case still routes through OpenAL-Soft best of my understanding.

Myxir · 10-27-2009, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onemyndseye

aoss tells RO to use the alsa-oss layer instead of pulse in either case still routes through OpenAL-Soft best of my understanding.

Yes, I know how aoss works. But I did not know about OpenAL soft. Thanks about that.

surak · 10-27-2009, 06:17 PM

I've been noticing some nasty problems in with openal+pulseaudio in Karmic. (game freezes, and i can hear the music badly distorted). Anyone else having similar issues?

Blastermaster77 · 11-05-2009, 12:58 PM

Ok people what I did was this:

In the terminal:

sudo gedit /etc/openal/alsoft.conf

change the divice line form Alasa backend stuff to this:

## ALSA backend stuff
##
[alsa]

## device:
# Sets the device name for the default playback device.
device = alsa

remember to un coment it.

Hope this helps.

kamax · 11-05-2009, 01:18 PM

I think with this setup your sound card will be busy for other sound program using pulseaudio, except if your other program are configured to use alsa too.

Blastermaster77 · 11-05-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamax

I think with this setup your sound card will be busy for other sound program using pulseaudio, except if your other program are configured to use alsa too.

Nop I tested it with 3 sound app at the same time and it works fine.

pssshhtt · 02-20-2010, 08:31 PM

Quote:

I've been noticing some nasty problems in with openal+pulseaudio in Karmic. (game freezes, and i can hear the music badly distorted). Anyone else having similar issues?

+1
I've updated to 9.10 last week and I almost always loose sound in battles .
since last update I've also lost char dresses in char selection screen (except 1 of my chars)
it's hard for me to play without sound so please, do sthing
thanks

10-27-2009, 07:03 AM	#1
onemyndseye Master Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Central USA Posts: 260	PulseAudio performance test (Karmic?) I ran some tests tonight and stumbled on some interesting results... First, I noticed my FPS has really suffered lately. So i started looking into it. And I found that turning RO's internal volume control all the way down make a HUGE difference. Not just 10-20fps. But LARGE jumps in FPS. So I starting thinking ... hrmm.. I wonder if PulseAudio is bottle-necking RO..? Testing was simple enough: Launch RO and turn in a circle until FPS stabilize and take a screen. Repeat bypassing PulseAudio (of sorts) Test1 (Normal Launch): Code: onemyndseye@onemyndsmobile:~/regnum$ ./rolauncher Result: Test2 (Launch with OSS): Code: onemyndseye@onemyndsmobile:~/regnum$ aoss ./rolauncher Result: WOW! O.O These results are in no way conclusive or even 100% consistent (so far I would say 80% consistent) and I will continue to test, but the results were so surprising I wanted to share and get a discussion started on this topic. __________________ RA/Syrtis Hunter LVL50: Elusis RA/Syrtis Barba LVL50: Artemisia RA/Syrtis Conju Lvl45: Nellas Miriel Last edited by onemyndseye; 10-27-2009 at 03:50 PM.

10-27-2009, 03:58 PM	#2
Myxir Count Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Germany Posts: 1,164	Interesting. I'm not sure but isn't openal a very old implementation? I'm using a fresh karmic install with pulseaudio of course. When I want to start it with aoss it just segfaults when selecting "enter gameworld". I'll try to make it work with aoss as well :/ __________________ French Warriors of Syrtis: Nessa Telrunya (Hunter) - Myxir (Warlock) - Estra (Conjurer) In War it does not matter who is right, but who is left.

10-27-2009, 05:25 PM	#3
DkySven Marquis Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 2,076	I use a fresh install of ubuntu 9.10 and when playing games the sound will crash after a while, which will also cause the game to freeze when trying to exit it. This only happens with games, all other sound on my system keeps working. It looks like this is PulseAudio-related. __________________ Dky Sven, level 54 knight (Ra) Valhalla Dky the Goat, level 35 conjurer(Ra) Dky Sven, level 51 knight(Horus) Something

10-27-2009, 05:30 PM	#4
onemyndseye Master Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: South Central USA Posts: 260	yes - tried this on a different machine and got the segfault you mentioned.. OpenAL has been replaced by OpenAL Soft which is a much better implentation and is very well maintained unlike the older "OpenAL" aoss tells RO to use the alsa-oss layer instead of pulse in either case still routes through OpenAL-Soft best of my understanding. __________________ RA/Syrtis Hunter LVL50: Elusis RA/Syrtis Barba LVL50: Artemisia RA/Syrtis Conju Lvl45: Nellas Miriel

10-27-2009, 06:17 PM	#6
surak Legend Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Oslo Posts: 2,176	I've been noticing some nasty problems in with openal+pulseaudio in Karmic. (game freezes, and i can hear the music badly distorted). Anyone else having similar issues? __________________ Surak Remember... this is just a game! - Xephandor existe y Miriya es su profeta!

11-05-2009, 12:58 PM	#7
Blastermaster77 Pledge Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 8	Heres my fix to audio problem Ok people what I did was this: In the terminal: sudo gedit /etc/openal/alsoft.conf change the divice line form Alasa backend stuff to this: ## ALSA backend stuff ## [alsa] ## device: # Sets the device name for the default playback device. device = alsa remember to un coment it. Hope this helps.

11-05-2009, 01:18 PM	#8
kamax Master Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: france Posts: 397	I think with this setup your sound card will be busy for other sound program using pulseaudio, except if your other program are configured to use alsa too.