Strange audio issue

[LaserLemon57]

My audio jacks have an issue only with accepting audio in, but not with outputting audio. They output audio perfectly, but when attempting to use an audio jack as a line input, there's a very, very small bit of sound that comes through distorted only when every single volume slider is maxed out. The distortion is such that when there's a short sound, i.e. a notification ding, it comes through almost unhindered, but when a YouTube video is played (my main purpose for my line in) only the background music is intelligible. I currently use a Bluetooth receiver that outputs via an aux cable in conjunction with my Galaxy S7, so if there's a way to bypass aux entirely, I would prefer that, though as far as I know, Windows 10 doesn't support that. 

 

I have a Gigabyte GA-A320MA-M.2 motherboard and I'm using the integrated audio with that, which was working until about a week ago. I have tried multiple devices, cables, and every single port, as well as updating the drivers. All of them. I have fresh installed Windows again, as well as specifically downloading the Realtek audio drivers from the Gigabyte website, and updating the bios.

 

If there is anything else I can do to fix this, I would be glad to hear it. Thank you!

[cr8tor]

Sounds like something died. Possibly onboard audio components, or maybe the Bluetooth receiver thing.

Can you test the Bluetooth receiver on another pc to narrow it down?

[LaserLemon57]

I tried the Bluetooth receiver with a pair of headphones, and it works properly with them, but I can still try them on another computer when I get a chance. Do you know why the onboard audio components would still be able to output sound through the same jack that couldn't receive it? Even if this turns out to be the case and it's just flat out broken, I'd still be interested in hearing what happened exactly. I've also actually figured out how to use a USB Bluetooth dongle to input directly with my phone, but it's not completely ideal; I still can't connect anything through aux in any way. 

[cr8tor]

27 minutes ago, LaserLemon57 said:

Do you know why the onboard audio components would still be able to output sound through the same jack that couldn't receive it?

While it is a single jack, the jack has multiple uses and it will use different parts of the audio controller for each purpose.

 

So this board has both a line in and a mic in, have you tried them both?

[LaserLemon57]

I just did, and it was different, but unfortunately worse. I have downloaded Audacity, and here's a sample of audio from the mic in, the line in, both from around the same point in the video (the most recent ShortCircuit video titled "Is Nostalgia worth $450", from 3:50-3:55) and two with just the cable, one on mic, one on line in, and I added one mic in without the cable because I could. It might be headache inducing, so I'd suggest turning down your volume first. This is on a 1 inch long cable so that there's (hopefully) minimal electrical noise. Notice the music, which was originally light background audio. I wanted to also use my phone jack for it directly, but I had to use a longer cable for it and it came out to just static. This might also not be normal, considering that cable works fine otherwise. Uncluttered sounds, like notification dings or the sponsor spot in that video, seem to go through okay, though this was still with around 85% volume. All sliders were maxed except the audacity recording level. 

 

Here's the link I used to make sure they were in the same starting spot: https://youtu.be/BRLbBtXsuts?t=230

 

Here's a full list of specs, too (sorry I didn't do that earlier): 

GA-A320MA-M.2 motherboard (using that integrated audio)

Ryzen 3 2200g

16GB of 3200mhz T-Force Delta R RAM  (I think? I got it from a friend as a temporary trade for my 3600mhz kit that I can't fully utilize)

Sapphire Nitro RX 580 8GB

EVGA 500W power supply (Same deal here as the RAM)

Bluetooth audio receiver is the Taotronics TT-BA07

Used solid core wire and Balum adapters https://www.amazon.com/Didamx-Terminal-Converter-Adapter-Connectors/dp/B0814N8RN9/ref=sr_1_36?dchild=1&keywords=balun+headphone+jack+replacement&qid=1601524593&sr=8-36#customerReviews

 

Thank you and sorry for the long post.

Line in (bluetooth).mp3 Mic In (bluetooth).mp3 Mic in (no cable).mp3 Mic in (cable only).mp3 Line in (cable only).mp3 Phone with 3ft cable.mp3

[cr8tor]

What about your front panel connectors?

I see that they are probably a pain to get to, but i wonder if they might work better for you?

 

I say that because this does sound like a hardware based problem, but it could be anything.

 

If this was a car audio setup, i would say it sounds like a ground problem.

Does your PC have a power cord with all three prongs?

Are you by chance using an adapter to remove the ground plug or anything like that?

If you are using a surge protector, try bypassing it.

 

Otherwise, try your bluetooth dongle on another pc if possible for testing. If it only happens with this pc, it might be worth reinstalling the OS if thats not too much of a pain, that should eliminate all software.

NM, you did that. 

So, about that power cord and ground situation? 

Check those and see about testing the dongle on another machine. 

Also try the front ports just in case that gives you a working solution.

I suspect you have an audio component on the board that died though. Probably something power related, but regardless, if its on the board, there isnt much to be done about it.

[LaserLemon57]

I have actually checked the front ports, they do the same thing. I will try the power cord once I'm finished with my loop in Outer Wilds. I remember now I did have a custom audio cable that I did wrong before the line in stopped working, so I guess it's most likely dead. I am using the same power cord and power strip that have worked, though that may have changed. Thank you for all your help! Do you work in IT, if you don't mind me asking?

[cr8tor]

5 minutes ago, LaserLemon57 said:

power cord and power strip that have worked

These die too, not often, but weird things happen. Wires come loose, things wear out. Even electronics, even power strips.

 

6 minutes ago, LaserLemon57 said:

Do you work in IT, if you don't mind me asking?

I dont mind, and kind of. Not at the moment (covid), but most of my professional life (20+yrs) has revolved around computers and networking of some sort.

I have learned a lot, but the biggest thing i have learned is that i don't know everything and you only fail if you stop trying!

[LaserLemon57]

I have moved the power supply cable to the wall, and I have noticed no change, (un)fortunately. I do like my power strip, but it's still acting up. Also related to grounding issues, is it normal for the buzzing to get louder when I move my hand towards the cable? I remember it doing that before, but to a lesser degree. Would you know of a way to connect a Bluetooth transmitter to Windows? 

Hand moving.mp3

[cr8tor]

4 minutes ago, LaserLemon57 said:

is it normal for the buzzing to get louder when I move my hand towards the cable?

That makes me think shielding of some kind. But often grounding comes into play for shielding.

 

What are you moving your hand close to when that happens? Which cable and what else is in the immediate area? If its your hand made short cable thing, that's definitely unshielded and i would say remove it from the mix if possible.

[cr8tor]

Also, try moving your monitor away from the setup, i wonder if your monitor is leaking emi.

[LaserLemon57]

I've surprisingly gotten less noise from the short one than the shielded long one, which is why I've been using it. Is there a good way I could make my own shielding? I've tried aluminum foil, but it only works if I ground it to my metal desk or a ground port. Moving my monitors did not seem to help at all, unfortunately. Would there be any visual signs on the motherboard of the onboard audio breaking?

[cr8tor]

21 minutes ago, LaserLemon57 said:

visual signs on the motherboard of the onboard audio breaking

Maybe if its a capacitor that went bad, worth looking but even if you find it, its just a mobo replacement.

But at least you would confirm it too though.

[LaserLemon57]

I mean, the rest of it still works, but if I can I'd totally like to figure out what happened, or, even better, fixing it. Any place you or I could go to for more info on that? 

 

If nothing else, this gives me some excuse to upgrade to a higher end CPU. Even though I'm only rocking an RX 580, my CPU is actually a pretty large bottleneck on a decent few of the games I play. 

[cr8tor]

It could take a lot of time to trace it down.

Time might be better spent buying a sound card for a replacement and being done with it.

You can usually get a basic card for $20 bucks.

 

Or better yet, buy a Bluetooth dongle for your PC so you can just connect your phone directly to the PC, bypass that whole wire ordeal entirely.

You can find these for less than $10 bucks on amazon.

And you did mention if you can bypass aux then that would be preferable. This is what i would do.

[LaserLemon57]

I have ordered a usb sound card for the convenience of it and not wanting to choke my graphics card, and I will update you on what happens later. It was only $15 but that came with the downside of a really long shipping time. I also did find a USB adapter but have figured out that, although I didn't expect it, having an actual line in jack is more useful than I thought, even though I dug up a Bluetooth dongle and that's a good workaround for now. The solution I've found is using a Windows app called "Bluetooth Audio Receiver" that makes my phone connection through the first party "Your phone" app into a sound input device. I'd researched it before but apparently it's a new thing with Windows 10 version 2004? Either way, it works, though I can't connect any non-cellphone Bluetooth transmitters, which is annoying. 

 

Thank you for all your help!