[SOLVED] No analogue audio output device option on RPi 4B

[walt]

Hi all,

I'm installing Xbian on a new RPi 4B and don't have analogue audio output device options, while I do have them on my RPi 3B. Below you'll find the requested info; any hints would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Software
XBian version: XBian_2023.12.22_rpi4 (from XBian_Latest_rpi4.img.gz), burned with USB Image Writer
XBMC/Kodi version: Kodi (20.2 (20.2.0) Git:20230630-c14d9b87b6-dirty). Platform: Linux ARM 32-bit
Overclock settings: None

Hardware
Device type and model: Raspberry Pi Model 4B 8Gb
Power supply rating: Raspberry Pi Official USB-C Power Supply
SD card size and make/type: Transcend 32Gb
Network (Ethernet or wireless): Ethernet
Connected devices (TV, USB, network storage, ...): TV (HDMI), speaker (analogue 3.5mm jack)

Log files
Link to logfile(s): https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/518zoz3vmp679fvi17dkz/kodi.log?rlkey=gqv6r240p7r1kdcm80gmme1wh&dl=0

Problem description:
In Settings / System / Audio / Audio output device, there is no 'Analogue' option. The only available options are as per the picture at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/tiwi862rcum8bart9oqmd/kodi-audio-output-device.jpg?rlkey=w8r8wmgjsrksh1zgr4kl2lm5a&dl=0

On my RPi 3B, that list shows 'HDMI', 'Analogue', and 'HDMI and Analogue'.
Kodi version: Kodi (20.2 (20.2.0) Git:20230630-0726ca6410-dirty). Platform: Linux ARM 32-bit
Logfile: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/l2qickcwx6rerise5afm0/kodirpi3.log?rlkey=t27lgisb8h2m6550j15dtwpqf&dl=0

[Nachteule]

You probably also have the firmware problem, see this commit https://github.com/xbianonpi/xbian/commit/6e96a42df3d5dcfbd47749ac4d09b5e3c9217529

An insert of

Code:

dtoverlay=

at this point in /boot/config.txt should solve the problem

[walt]

Thank you for helping (again ) Nachteule. That sounded familiar and indeed, I had tried that one (and a bunch of other things) before. However, when I do this and reboot the Pi, it starts Kodi but then the TV screen goes black and it doesn't get any signal anymore.

This is the Kodi logfile after that happened: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/0tbitqqrobi03mva2ihh6/kodi_2.log?rlkey=t582ysy2bkpbqyd106hpnexlz&dl=0

EDIT: fyi, the HDMI cable was still properly in place (HDMI port 0, the one next to the power supply USB-C port); after removing the line from /boot/config.txt, things returned back to normal (except for the analogue audio issue of course)

[Nachteule]

Unfortunately I'm not sure.
Maybe the 64bit kernel helps (I only use it now) or maybe it's the 8GB memory (my Pi4 only has 4GB)
In any case I can switch to analog output

[walt]

Thanks again Nachteule; I'll test the 64bit option one of these days (I won't try to rip out 4Gb to see if that makes a difference ) and will report back - in case others would experience the same issue.

In the meanwhile it just means getting the analogue audio from the TV's (which then must be on when just playing music, which I'd rather avoid of course) headphones output.

[walt]

Hi Nachteule,

Just fyi in case you'd want to troubleshoot this. No need to spend your time on it on my behalf as I'm happy to use the above workaround!

I've used the Linux installer from https://xbian.org/getxbian/ (ran it on Linux Mint 21.3 Cinnamon with a 32Gb Transcend SD card) with image 'XBian_2024.01.13_arm64_rpi4.img.gz'. Powered off the Pi and swapped my active (32 bit) SD card with the new one, and powered it on again.

The XBian logo appeared and the Pi booted, but after (or during?) step 'Configuring network...' the screen went black. I power cycled the Pi, and then the same happened after (or during?) step 'network started...'.

If you'd want me to do more tests, shout, but as I wrote: don't bother unless you're intrigued and insist on spending your time on it

[Nachteule]

I have installed exactly this image on an external disk for testing and connected it to the new Raspberry Pi 5.
Everything worked as it should
Then I plugged this disk to the Pi4 and booted there and got the same error as you: The HDMI output is switched off shortly after the Kodi splash is visible. Kodi itself then runs, but no picture
A newer kernel or newer Kodi did not change the behavior. Back to the Pi5 everything is fine.
No idea what is wrong with the image, something must be broken

[walt]

Wooohooo I didn't break it !

Thanks for your test Nachteule, and for your confirmation.

[Nachteule]

I have narrowed down the problem. I now know how to work around it, but the reason why it occurs in the first place is still unclear.

The workaround looks like this

Log in via ssh and

Code:

sudo nano /etc/default/xbian-initramfs

set parameter FORCEINITRAM to yes

and save again

Then rebuild initramfs to be on the safe side

Code:

sudo xbian-update-initramfs

and then at the end

Code:

sudo reboot

Now the required modules for the display, sound and cec are already loaded within the initramfs and not only when the actual system boots

[walt]

I did exactly what you wrote (and after the reboot double-checked if the value was indeed still set to 'yes', which it was) but alas, no change here.

[walt]

I looked at this again and realised I'd been stupid as I followed your instructions to the letter, but on the 32 bit installation... With 64 bit, it works like a charm (of course ). I'm listing the steps here in case another confused soul would be looking for this:
- Downloaded the 64 bit image ‘XBian_2024.04.19_arm64_rpi5.img.gz’ from https://sourceforge.net/projects/xbian/files/release/ (the filename contains 'rpi5', but it works for the RPi 4)
- Extracted the img file from the archive, and created the SD card with USB Image Writer (on Windows, use e.g. Balena Etcher)
- As per Nachteule's post #9 above:
* ssh’d into the RPi with the default credentials (xbian/raspberry)
* sudo nano /etc/default/xbian-initramfs
** set parameter FORCEINITRAM to yes
** save the file
* sudo xbian-update-initramfs
* sudo reboot
- Now, the analogue device appears in the list of audio output devices