Tsunami Super Wav developed periodic static/hiss audio distortions

Sensors Sound & Audio
1

Have had my Tsunami card working well until a few weeks ago when it developed a periodic static burst during playbacks. No hardware/file changes during that time.

I tried replacing all external audio amplifiers, disconnected the qwiic port (run manually to debug) and checked that the voltage regulators are at 3.3V. All ok. CPU and CODEC chips are warm but not hot. Nothing else is above room temp.

I was able to run multiple audio files at a time from a 16GB HC memory card to 6 (I currently use 6 of the outputs) audio outputs.

Suddenly the audio on any/all output channels are distorted by a loud static burst of maybe <1/2 second. The bursts occur close to 1pps. Not the same exact frequency as I can hear them progress past one another. The bursts are somehow linked to the number of audio files running. One file has some or no bursts on the audio output but the more simultaneous tracks running, the greater the static bursts. It does not appear that the distortion is one burst per audio track as I hear sometimes many bursts per running track (not 100% sure on this detail).

Almost seems like the CPU is overtaxed and dropping some audio data (?).

I don’t know how to further debug this issue. Need some help.

Thanks.

-Greg

2

This is almost certainly related to your microSD card. I know you said that it worked before, but cards can and do fail in non-catastrophic ways, and the internal Flash controller can do things that result in delayed reads, causing what you are describing. I have thoroughly tested both Tsunami and the WAV Trigger under high polyphony loads and the only time I have ever observed glitching is when it’s caused by a slow or bad microSD card that can’t keep up. I suggest you at least experiment with another card.

3

Thanks. I’ll give it a try.

-Greg

4

That fixed the problem!