Strange AHI problems with OS4.1 and SAM

Hi all,

I'm experiencing strange AHI problems with my brand new SAM440. Sometimes any application I start just can't open the ahi.device.

Sometimes a warm or a cold reboot fixes it, sometimes it doesn't.

Sometimes it works when I boot from the original install CD, configure AHI and start C:SoundPlayer. Sometimes this fails as well.

I've installed the latest driver from OS4depot.net but it didn't change anything.

Is there anything I can do to find the cause for this? Did anyone of you ever experience something similar?

Thanks,
Thomas

@tomsoniq

Quote:

Just checking. You mean:
ahi.device 6.6 (09/27/2005)
?1994-2005 Martin Blom. 603 version. ?

#6

@tomsoniq

Try setting more channels for the AHI unit you are using. Perhaps there is another program using AHI at the moment and if you only have one channel configured this will be taken and the program you try to start fails to open AHI. Just an idea...

I've got:

System:> version ahi.device full
ahi.device 6.6 (27.09.2005)
?1994-2005 Martin Blom. 603 version.
System:> version cs4281.audio full
cs4281.audio 5.3 (27.02.2009)

The number of channels is already set to 10, so that shouldn't be a problem.

I just noticed that the AHI and AudioModes directories are full of unused drivers. To be on the safe side I've deleted all the unused ones and kept cs4281.audio only. Let's see if this helps.

By the way, I've also noticed that the very first sound that is played after opening ahi.device starts with a short burst of static just as if it first plays an uninitialized buffer before playing the actual sound data. As long as the application keeps the device driver open this doesn't happen again. As soon as ahi.device is closed and re-opened the initial burst of static occurs once more.

@tomsoniq

1st, let me qualify this by saying my comments are based on settings for Micro A1 running OS4 final.

Quote:

Mine is set to 16 and although some use lower numbers, no one has objected to either 16 or 32.

Quote:

Good idea and that policy happens to be DaveAE's recommendation as well.

Quote:

ok. I'm not familiar with the OS4.1 install or SAM, but...
is Mixer included? This was required for some A1 owners for various reasons, one being a "crackling" at start.

Edit: Added an updated listing of a post I've made numerous times. DaveAE is free to review and correct as always.
Perhaps someone could do something similar for OS4.1 and/or different models of the A1.

Audio Files and Settings for Micro A1
OS4.0 Final plus July update
---------------------------------------------

SYS:Devs
ahi.device 6.6 (09/27/2005)
?1994-2005 Martin Blom. 603 version.

SYS:Devs/AHI
cmi8738.audio 5.17 (11/04/2006)
device.audio 6.2 (09/28/2005)
filesave.audio 6.3 (09/28/2005)

SYS:Devs/Audiomodes
CMI8738 (no version #)
DEVICE (no version #)
FILESAVE (no version #)

SYS:WBStartup
Mixer 1.21 (02/27/2008)

My tooltypes

CX_PRIORITY=2
CX_POPUP=NO
CX_POPKEY=alt f8
(POPWINDOW)
(POPWINDOWLEFTEDGE=920)
(POPWINDOWTOPEDGE=500)
(POPWINDOWDELAY=70)
(STEPSIZE=5)
(NO_VIA)

My sliders when running mixer:
1-top
2-top
3-bottom
4-bottom
5-bottom
6-bottom
7-top
cycle gadget set to "cmi8738"


SYS:Prefs

AHI preferences 6.2 (09/28/2005)

Music Unit

CMI8738:HIFI 16 bit stereo ++
Frequency:44100 Hz
Volume:+0.0 db
Input: Line in
Output: Line out

Unit 0

CMI8738:HIFI 16 bit stereo ++
Frequency:44100 Hz
Channels:16
Volume:+0.0 db
Input: Line in
Output: Line out

#6

I've removed all of the unused drivers and so far the problem of ahi.device being unavailable hasn't occured any more. *fingers crossed*.

However, even when I start the mixer before anything else the initial crackling sound remains.

@tomsoniq

AHI6 is OpenSource. Find more information at http://arp2.berlios.de/ahi/. If there is a general bug in AHI causing this static noise you should be able to find it.

@tboeckel

I think it's more likely an issue with the cs4281.audio driver. I don't get this static noise on my classic Amiga running the same AHI version.