Enhanced volume control - Epic 4G General

I am one of those people who listen to music mostly for background noise while I work. This means the music has to be quite low. I use ear buds to muffle out the outside noises. However this means that the lowest volume setting becomes too high. For me, most mp3 players suffered from this problem. Until I started using Rockbox firmware on my Sansa mp3 mplayer that offered 84 levels of volume control.
The Samsung Epic in comparison only offers 16 levels of volume adjustment. Is there a way to improve this volume level control? I briefly search Android Market but did not see anything relevant. May have overlooked.

I hate to be a douche, but i dont think more volume steps is all that necessary.
I use these "Sony Earbuds", they have there own inline volume controller so i can achieve practically as many steps as i can imagine (analogue adjuster)

It totally needs more volume steps. Is it specific to this phone, or does it happen on all Android phones? I've never used another Android phone, so I wouldn't know.

Related

Volume Issues

I am having issues with volume through the bluetooth audio. I am unable to find a mp3 player that has a preamp included in the equalizer. Is that not possible through android??? This is my first Android phone.
Is there a hack to boost volume?? Or is there a player that boosts volume??
I have to fix this fast...I work in a factory and need to hear my jamz
There's not a hack for it yet.
anyone know of a player with a preamp??
I was thinking the same thing, the volume is very low when playing music. I've tried with both my Bose In-Ear and Klipsch S4 headphones; both were barely audible above a lawn mower.
I agree volume is low,....waiting on an app, hack,...something.
so has there been any advances in volume boosting???
my main concern is my bluetooth volume...i need an mp3 player with a preamp or something that actually boosts system volume...
anyone????
I commited my volume hack to my github about a week ago, toast pulled it so now any kernel using ToastCFH's source will also have my audioboost code in it.
It in theory should boost the output volume of every interface on the device, but the only two that I've noticed to show a real increase are the phone headset (in call one) and the Bluetooth line out.
I don't know what kernels use it ATM but I know the FPS fix for Novatec panels implements it, just look around, most probably have it by this point since it seems like everyone is using toast's source.
Its not all BT that is quiet though. The Jawbone Icon is pretty quiet, as was the Blueant T1. BT audio through the LiquidAux is ok but not super loud. But the Moto H17txt is, well, louder than hell! Have to turn phone bt vol almost all the way down. 4 diff devices, 3 volume levels...
My concern is just with audio out through wired stereo headphones. I consider myself a self made audiofile and the dynamic quality of the audio output of the EVO is lacking IMO.
One way to go (audiophile quality, but pricey) is the Headroom total airhead. $99.
Runs on 4AA's and is 1/8" in and out.
You can find the older versions for less on e-bay.
I've got a headbanger amp, same basic thing as the Headroom.
Link also has some cheaper options like the boostaroo.
If you are DIY, there's instructions to be found to build the headbanger too.
JAson
Edit: Still can't post links so just google headphone amp and you'll be heading in the right direction.
Just an idea, google search "mp3 gain" this will normalize youre mp3s but you can also boost the volume by using a higher gain level when you normalize. This will clip the mp3 but i just kept a copy of the original file. I set mine to 110 percent then applied. Worked great.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Headphone volume

Is there any way to make the lowest headphone audio setting any quieter?
I am a big fan of in ear headphones, but the problem I always face is that the lowest setting on audio devices is too loud for these types of headphones. I was wondering if there were any tricks to make the lowest sound setting any quieter.
I'm also wondering where the limitation is, either hardware limit, audio driver, or the android API?
Any ideas would be appreciated.
On a side note, it seems like there is just one "Media Volume" setting state regardless of whether the headphones are plugged in or out. This is somewhat annoying as if I was listening to something on the loud speaker at full volume, and then plug in my headphones to listen to some music later without remembering to change the volume my ears would start to bleed
+1. I like how my previous winmo device had system volume AND player volume which stacked. Set both controls to minimum and I could enjoy my music late at night before going to sleep without having those crescendos making me jump out of my bed.... but with Android, I have yet to find something similar.
I noticed this too but when I switched to a different set of in-ear headphones it changed. Maybe buy a different pair of headphones?

volume output for headphone to low

is the volume for all these phone just to low when using headphone?
i use monster turbine and even at max volume listing to zune player on this phone its just to low i want the volume to be way louder
anyone else have this issue?
im coming from iPhone 4 and thats the only good thing ill give that apple does is there headphone volume output is loud as hell i just hope this phone can do the same with maybe a software update -_-
I haven't used any other headphones besides the set that came with the phone and those were plenty loud.
I've tried several different headsets to get desired results, it's weird but some headsets don't have the same performance as on the iphone.

Fix for quiet headphones but want more info

Well I am on T-Mobile and use my phone for listening to personal music. I was obviously v disappointed when the media volume on my phone was on MAX and it sounded very quiet – like it was only on half volume.
Anyway, after some searching about I found an app called VOLUME BOOST. This is a widget you stick on your home screen, leave it ON and when you plug your headphones in it increases the sound by what sounds like around 40-50%. So it’s quite a considerable boost (if you excuse the pun).
I have tried other music apps with EQ but adjusting the gain although makes the music louder, it really distorts it, makes it incredibly flat and any bass just sounds awful!
So from this, the VOLUME BOOST app is not simply a GAIN BOOSTER. It really IS a volume booster. Therefore, what is it changing on the device to get the increased volume!?!?! Which is what the phone should HAVE anyway.
So does anyone know a permanent way to fix the volume so it is at it’s maximum capability like what VOLUME BOOST does?
The reason I want to find this out is so a) I don’t have ANOTHER widget to sap my battery + clog my home screen and b) the trial is only 7 days and although it’s a cheap app, I have an objection to paying for things that a £450 phone should already be able to capably do.
Cheers.
By the way, the VOLUME BOOSTER app is found on the market place for anyone interested who has low sound volume. THIS WILL FIX IT. I promise you.
Finally you have someone telling you a fix without telling you to download a new player and adjust the gain.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991726

Static / buzzing from speakers at low volumes

I just started playing a few games on this Nexus 7, and I turned the volume down to the lowest setting because it is late at night and other people in my house are sleeping. I immediately noticed a soft but very audible static buzz coming from the speakers... about the same volume as the audio itself. I held my ear up to the hardware and confirmed it is both top and bottom speakers.
Anybody else experience this?
copyists sorpeno
I didn't notice at first. Noticed this morning with audio low as well.
I'd like to know if anyone else has this too. Kinda wanna know if its hardware since I purchased at best buy and only have 2 weeks to return.
Yup, I was going to report this too, but since it only occurs at minimal volume I didn't bother. I lost my good headphones so I can test the audio jack. Does it happen to you with them on too?
Btw- if this the trade off with the fantastic (for tablet speakers) surround sound I'll take it. Watch the test video on the Play Videos app.
Sent from my Nexus 7
I don't hear it. on mine. But My hearing is horked.
It's because the Nexus 7 uses a crappy digital volume control that simply reduces the volume of the digital waveform before it hits the DAC, instead of having a real analog volume control -an op-amp that adjusts the volume of the signal before it hits the headphone/speaker amplifier.
What you're hearing is quantization noise as at the lowest volume the audio uses only 2-4 bits of dynamic range instead of the full 16 (or 24, dunno what DAC is in this thing). It's the same as the bit-crushing effect you hear in some dubstep and other electronic music that degrades the audio into a robotic crunchy mess, only here it's not on purpose, it's just cheap design.
There is nothing you can do about it.
I've also noticed this (at first I was like, WTF? Is it raining in my game?). If what was said above is true, that makes me sad that nothing can be done about it.
siraltus said:
It's because the Nexus 7 uses a crappy digital volume control that simply reduces the volume of the digital waveform before it hits the DAC, instead of having a real analog volume control -an op-amp that adjusts the volume of the signal before it hits the headphone/speaker amplifier.
What you're hearing is quantization noise as at the lowest volume the audio uses only 2-4 bits of dynamic range instead of the full 16 (or 24, dunno what DAC is in this thing). It's the same as the bit-crushing effect you hear in some dubstep and other electronic music that degrades the audio into a robotic crunchy mess, only here it's not on purpose, it's just cheap design.
There is nothing you can do about it.
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I'm not sure how you know that but if you're right I guess that means it would happen on all of them... which.. sucks.. Is there anyone that doesn't have this issue to disprove this?
smurfqq said:
I'm not sure how you know that but if you're right I guess that means it would happen on all of them... which.. sucks.. Is there anyone that doesn't have this issue to disprove this?
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Click to collapse
I'm a professional audio engineer, I know exactly how these things work. Most cheap devices do volume controls that way, because adding a dedicated op-amp for analog volume control increases costs of the device, and the Nexus 7 is a budget device.
It does happen on mine, too, in every app that plays sound.
I love when pros come in here and give the technical explanation haha hats off to you, sir!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
siraltus said:
It's because the Nexus 7 uses a crappy digital volume control that simply reduces the volume of the digital waveform before it hits the DAC, instead of having a real analog volume control -an op-amp that adjusts the volume of the signal before it hits the headphone/speaker amplifier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As the others have said, thanks for the explanation. Nice to hear from somebody who understands it, and if the problem is present in all units that actually makes me feel better since I don't have to worry about returning my otherwise perfect unit.
Question though, how come I don't hear the static when using headphones, even on the lowest volume settings where I hear the static from the built-in speakers? That makes me think it's related to the speakers and not the audio hardware... but you obviously know more than me on this.
mrmartin86 said:
I've also noticed this (at first I was like, WTF? Is it raining in my game?). If what was said above is true, that makes me sad that nothing can be done about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, funny thing is the first game I played was Bad Piggies on some levels with an ocean tide moving back and forth at the bottom of the screen. I thought the static was the tide sounds... until I heard it in another game too.
tweaked said:
I don't hear it. on mine. But My hearing is horked.
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Click to collapse
It only happens at the absolute lowest volume setting... i.e. one notch up from muted. It sort of happens at the next notch up too, but is most noticeable at the quietest setting, and you need to be in a quiet room. I only noticed because I was using the device in a small echoey mostly tile room (you can probably guess where) and because of the room having such acoustics I put the device on the lowest setting just above mute.
Had something like this on my original nexus 7
Except it happened regardless of the volume setting. Wasn't that audible- had to put my ear against the speaker to really hear it, but it did interfere with other devices, such as my radio, or keyboard with a head phone jack. It would make a sound like a quick DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH...DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH-DUH. My nexus 4 can sometimes cause static interference with other devices, too. Haven't gotten the new nexus 7 so I cannot say whether or not my new one has this issue
Well.. mine's not only happening at the lowest volume notch. If I put it to my ear (never actually going to do this for normal use) it's there at every volume level, just hard to hear once whatever I'm playing gets loud enough. The display unit at a local best buy does the same. I can hear it in a quiet room at the first couple notches (normal use), which is annoying. Also, since someone asked - No it doesn't happen through headphones.
The111 said:
As the others have said, thanks for the explanation. Nice to hear from somebody who understands it, and if the problem is present in all units that actually makes me feel better since I don't have to worry about returning my otherwise perfect unit.
Question though, how come I don't hear the static when using headphones, even on the lowest volume settings where I hear the static from the built-in speakers? That makes me think it's related to the speakers and not the audio hardware... but you obviously know more than me on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My pleasure! There's tons of FUD on XDA about many things, so I try to contribute on stuff I know well to reduce that.
Without looking at the schematics of the thing I can only guess:
The speaker amplifier is probably just a simple design that outputs 100% power all the time, so you have to control the volume of the signal that enters it, whereas the headphone amp probably has an integrated analog volume control.
A volume control is much easier (read: cheaper) to do in an integrated chip with low power signals (headphone out) than higher power (speaker out), and again, cheaper was the way to go with the Nexus 7.
Hence, there are two separate outputs from the audio chip - one that feeds the speaker amplifier and uses the bit-crushing digital volume control, the other outputs full-scale audio to the headphone amplifier which controls the volume in analog.
siraltus said:
My pleasure! There's tons of FUD on XDA about many things, so I try to contribute on stuff I know well to reduce that.
Without looking at the schematics of the thing I can only guess:
The speaker amplifier is probably just a simple design that outputs 100% power all the time, so you have to control the volume of the signal that enters it, whereas the headphone amp probably has an integrated analog volume control.
A volume control is much easier (read: cheaper) to do in an integrated chip with low power signals (headphone out) than higher power (speaker out), and again, cheaper was the way to go with the Nexus 7.
Hence, there are two separate outputs from the audio chip - one that feeds the speaker amplifier and uses the bit-crushing digital volume control, the other outputs full-scale audio to the headphone amplifier which controls the volume in analog.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes sense. Thanks again.
siraltus said:
My pleasure! There's tons of FUD on XDA about many things, so I try to contribute on stuff I know well to reduce that.
Without looking at the schematics of the thing I can only guess:
The speaker amplifier is probably just a simple design that outputs 100% power all the time, so you have to control the volume of the signal that enters it, whereas the headphone amp probably has an integrated analog volume control.
A volume control is much easier (read: cheaper) to do in an integrated chip with low power signals (headphone out) than higher power (speaker out), and again, cheaper was the way to go with the Nexus 7.
Hence, there are two separate outputs from the audio chip - one that feeds the speaker amplifier and uses the bit-crushing digital volume control, the other outputs full-scale audio to the headphone amplifier which controls the volume in analog.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is this something they can fix (or at least mitigate) in a software update?
paxunix said:
Is this something they can fix (or at least mitigate) in a software update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, this is how the hardware is designed.
Noticed this too from the speakers regardless of volume, and regardless of what is playing audio. It's a high pitched squeal to my ears which I can't stand. I've thrown out computer power supplies and video cards that have made similar(obviously, louder) noises.
Was hoping it could be something improved in software, but I guess not. Time to sell this.
http://youtu.be/c9aQnuOrTY8
Recorded what it sounds like at lower volumes with a small condenser mic next to it. Let me know if that's similar to what you guys are hearing too.

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