1 Explaining the problem
Playing some games caused frame stuttering once in a few seconds, which was really apparent when playing csgo in windowed mode, and could be avoided by playing in a fullscreen mode. Didn't cause any problems in audio.
I noticed that while I was in voice chat in discord, and my headset mic was off, the problem didn't occur, but when I turned it on from the switch again it came back.
1.1 NVIDIA X
I tried to fix stutters by changing checkbox checks in NVIDIA X screen OpenGL settings, I really dont recommend changing any display configurations there as it caused more problems on my double screen setup.
I reverted by reinstalling graphics driver using Software & Updates -> Additional drivers. I set the Image quality high as increasing performance caused screen flickering in CSGO.
1.2 Pavucontrol
Using pavucontrol I tried to change the configuration and reduce the volume so much that it wouldn't send static noise. It worked, but I couldn't hear my voice anymore with only 10% (-60 dB).
Then I tried to change built-in audio mode from duplex to output. Mic caused even larger stutter problems. In input mode there was no frame stutters, but I couldn't hear anything anymore as there was only input channel in use.
2 Solution I found for the problem
I solved the problem with some module changes in /etc/pulse/default.pa.
By commenting row load-module module-suspend-on-idle. Disabling caused constant static noise from mic.
And adding load-module module-echo-cancel near end of the file. Echo cancel module fixed the static noise away.
2.1 My PC parts
- Motherboard: MSI Z170A PC Mate
- CPU: i5-6600K
- GPU: GTX 1060 6GB
- Graphics driver: NVIDIA 396.54
- RAM: 16 GB
Motherboard has Realtek® ALC887 Codec. The headset is Steelseries Siberia v2, which hasn't caused any problems before in windows 7, 8.1 or 10.
2.2 Posts
Posts that helped me:
- CS:GO mini stutters
- https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/114602/pulseaudio-sink-always-suspended
- Realtime noise-removal with PulseAudio?
Post that I checked, but didn't get to work:
Question
Will there will be any further trouble in this solution? I don't see a reason for that module-suspend-on-idle. Maybe it saves a lot battery if I were using a laptop?
Currently it seems to behave pretty much the same as before, but I have more control over how to adjust the static noise in the mic (I like it a lot).
Desktop seems slightly more stable, but it could be my imagination.
Edit: Mic has changed in multiple restarts... I can no longer cancel some volume and then boost the remaining... I have no idea why it is so...
Edit2:
I disabled echo-cancellation as it wasn't what I was looking for even though it worked for a while for some reason... well, it was for echo...
There's no equalizor for input audios, or additional boost control for mic in pulseaudio for further adjustment.
I added 10 dB boost to front mic in alsamixer, lowered boost in pavucontrols to around 45%... It reduced the static noise for now and mic sound is high enough for others to hear me.
