Issue with Stereo Sound from External Codec on nRF5340 DK (SDK v2.6.2)

[Abdulmohaimen]

Hello Team,

I am experiencing an issue with the sound output from an external codec connected to the nRF5340 DK. Currently, the sound is in mono, but my goal is to achieve stereo sound for both the left and right channels.

I read in an article that the configuration may need to be edited to enable stereo output from the external codec. I am using SDK v2.6.2 and would appreciate any guidance or suggestions on how to adjust the configuration to resolve this issue.

Thank you for your support!

Regards,

Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi

[dejans]

Hi,

Could you please provide more information about your setup?

Which external codec do you use?

Best regards,
Dejan

[Abdulmohaimen]

Hi, 

Thank you for your swift reply.

I am using the DA7212 evaluation board, and I can hear sound from the jacks on the DA7212 board. I followed the instructions from Nordic to enable the external codec.

However, I am still working on achieving stereo sound, as the current output is mono. Any further guidance would be greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi

[dejans]

Hi Abdulmohaimen,

Can you provide details of your setup?

Best regards,
Dejan

[Abdulmohaimen]

Hi Dejan,

I am using three nRF5340 DKs—one as a gateway and two as headsets (Left and Right). Both headsets are configured to connect to the DA7212 external codec. However, I am only hearing mono sound from the headsets instead of stereo.

Could you please provide further assistance on how to enable stereo sound in this setup?

Best regards,

[dejans]

Hi,

You could have a look at these potentially relevant discussions - stereo output using external codec and stream multiple stereo audio. If these links do not provide you with relevant information and that is not what you try to achieve, please provide more information about your use case.

Best regards,
Dejan

[Abdulmohaimen]

Hi, 

Thanks for you support. 

I'm still having issues with the application. I followed the steps in this articel, but once the Bluetooth connection starts, an error occurs, this is what i can read from the serial port:

*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.5.99-ncs1-2 ***
HL [00:00:00.270,782] <inf> board_version: Compatible board/HW version found: 1.0.0
HL [00:00:00.296,264] <inf> fw_info: 
         nRF5340 Audio nRF5340 Audio DK cpuapp                      
         NCS base version: 2.6.2                            
         Cmake run : Wed Oct 16 05:48:09 2024
HL [00:00:00.296,264] <inf> fw_info: ------- DEBUG BUILD -------
HL [00:00:00.296,295] <inf> fw_info: HEADSET left device
HL [00:00:00.316,284] <inf> bt_mgmt_ctlr_cfg: Controller: SoftDevice: Version 5.4 (0x0d), Revision 8591
HL [00:00:00.316,497] <inf> bt_mgmt: Local identity addr: F0:D2:8E:F5:33:C2 (random)
HL [00:00:00.321,716] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Local addr: 75:BB:5D:CD:F8:B7 (random)
HL [00:00:00.321,807] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Adv directed to: D3:C8:9D:D1:BE:66 (random).
HL [00:00:00.322,418] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Advertising successfully started
HL [00:00:00.795,715] <inf> bt_mgmt: Connected: D3:C8:9D:D1:BE:66 (random)
HL [00:00:00.795,745] <inf> main: Connected
HL [00:00:00.796,142] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: RPA (Resolvable Private Address) expired.
HL [00:00:00.796,234] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Local addr: 75:BB:5D:CD:F8:B7 (random)
HL [00:00:01.036,132] <inf> main: Security changed
HL [00:00:01.036,407] <wrn> bt_gatt: Device is not subscribed to characteristic
HL [00:00:01.036,407] <wrn> bt_pacs: PACS notify failed: -22
HL [00:00:03.036,743] <inf> bt_content_ctrl_media: Discovery of MCS finished
HL [00:00:05.196,624] <inf> unicast_server: LC3 codec config for sink:
HL [00:00:05.196,655] <inf> unicast_server:     Frequency: 24000 Hz
HL [00:00:05.196,655] <inf> unicast_server:     Duration: 10000 us
HL [00:00:05.196,655] <inf> unicast_server:     Channel allocation: 0x1
HL [00:00:05.196,655] <inf> unicast_server:     Octets per frame: 60 (48000 bps)
HL [00:00:05.196,655] <inf> unicast_server:     Frames per SDU: 1
HL [00:00:05.198,211] <inf> unicast_server: LC3 codec config for source:
HL [00:00:05.198,242] <inf> unicast_server:     Frequency: 24000 Hz
HL [00:00:05.198,242] <inf> unicast_server:     Duration: 10000 us
HL [00:00:05.198,242] <inf> unicast_server:     Channel allocation: 0x1
HL [00:00:05.198,242] <inf> unicast_server:     Octets per frame: 60 (48000 bps)
HL [00:00:05.198,242] <inf> unicast_server:     Frames per SDU: 1
HL [00:00:05.277,343] <inf> main: Presentation delay 10000 us is set by initiator
HL [00:00:05.277,374] <inf> main: Presentation delay 10000 us is set by initiator
HL [00:00:05.562,866] <inf> unicast_server: Stream 0x2000fbfc started
HL [00:00:05.567,749] <err> sw_codec_lc3: LC3 dec ch: 1 already initialized
HL [00:00:05.567,749] <err> audio_system: Failed to set up codec
HL [00:00:05.567,749] <err> audio_system: ERR_CHK Err_code: [-120] @ line: 398
HL [00:00:05.567,779] <err> os: r0/a1:  0x00000003  r1/a2:  0x00000004  r2/a3:  0x00000003
HL [00:00:05.567,779] <err> os: r3/a4:  0x0005914f r12/ip:  0x20002b00 r14/lr:  0x000591d9
HL [00:00:05.567,779] <err> os:  xpsr:  0x41100000
HL [00:00:05.567,779] <err> os: s[ 0]:  0x20001530  s[ 1]:  0x00059373  s[ 2]:  0xffffff88  s[ 3]:  0x00000004
HL [00:00:05.567,810] <err> os: s[ 4]:  0x200128a0  s[ 5]:  0x20012880  s[ 6]:  0xffffff88  s[ 7]:  0x20012880
HL [00:00:05.567,810] <err> os: s[ 8]:  0x200128a0  s[ 9]:  0x00000000  s[10]:  0x00000000  s[11]:  0x000593bf
HL [00:00:05.567,840] <err> os: s[12]:  0x20004a88  s[13]:  0x00069b3c  s[14]:  0xffffff88  s[15]:  0x0000018e
HL [00:00:05.567,840] <err> os: fpscr:  0x00000000
HL [00:00:05.567,840] <err> os: Faulting instruction address (r15/pc): 0x00004536
HL [00:00:05.567,840] <err> os: >>> ZEPHYR FATAL ERROR 3: Kernel oops on CPU 0
HL [00:00:05.567,871] <err> os: Current thread: 0x20001de8 (LE_AUDIO_MSG_SUB)
HL [00:00:05.567,871] <err> error_handler: Caught system error -- reason 3. Entering infinite loop

My goal is to implement walkie-talkie functionality with stereo sound using an external codec (with on microphones).

Could you assist me with this?

Thanks in Advance 

Best regards,

Abdulmohaimen

[dejans]

Hi Abdulmohaimen,

If your server needs to decode 2 channels, please try adding Kconfig option - CONFIG_LC3_DEC_CHAN_MAX=2.

Best regards,
Dejan

[Abdulmohaimen]

Hi Dejen,

I have added the necessary Kconfig option to the prj.conf file. However, once the Bluetooth connection starts, the following error occurs:

*** Booting nRF Connect SDK v3.5.99-ncs1-2 ***
HL [00:00:00.272,918] <inf> board_version: Compatible board/HW version found: 1.0.0
HL [00:00:00.298,614] <inf> fw_info: 
         nRF5340 Audio nRF5340 Audio DK cpuapp                      
         NCS base version: 2.6.2                            
         Cmake run : Sun Oct 20 17:27:13 2024
HL [00:00:00.298,614] <inf> fw_info: ------- DEBUG BUILD -------
HL [00:00:00.298,614] <inf> fw_info: HEADSET left device
HL [00:00:00.318,389] <inf> bt_mgmt_ctlr_cfg: Controller: SoftDevice: Version 5.4 (0x0d), Revision 8591
HL [00:00:00.318,572] <inf> bt_mgmt: Local identity addr: F0:D2:8E:F5:33:C2 (random)
HL [00:00:00.323,944] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Local addr: 4B:F2:BB:74:22:A1 (random)
HL [00:00:00.324,035] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Adv directed to: D3:C8:9D:D1:BE:66 (random).
HL [00:00:00.324,645] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Advertising successfully started
HL [00:00:00.782,989] <inf> bt_mgmt: Connected: D3:C8:9D:D1:BE:66 (random)
HL [00:00:00.783,020] <inf> main: Connected
HL [00:00:00.783,569] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: RPA (Resolvable Private Address) expired.
HL [00:00:00.783,660] <inf> bt_mgmt_adv: Local addr: 4B:F2:BB:74:22:A1 (random)
HL [00:00:01.063,781] <inf> main: Security changed
HL [00:00:01.064,025] <wrn> bt_gatt: Device is not subscribed to characteristic
HL [00:00:01.064,025] <wrn> bt_pacs: PACS notify failed: -22
HL [00:00:02.984,405] <inf> bt_content_ctrl_media: Discovery of MCS finished
HL [00:00:04.904,266] <inf> unicast_server: LC3 codec config for sink:
HL [00:00:04.904,296] <inf> unicast_server:     Frequency: 24000 Hz
HL [00:00:04.904,296] <inf> unicast_server:     Duration: 10000 us
HL [00:00:04.904,296] <inf> unicast_server:     Channel allocation: 0x1
HL [00:00:04.904,296] <inf> unicast_server:     Octets per frame: 60 (48000 bps)
HL [00:00:04.904,296] <inf> unicast_server:     Frames per SDU: 1
HL [00:00:04.905,883] <inf> unicast_server: LC3 codec config for source:
HL [00:00:04.905,883] <inf> unicast_server:     Frequency: 24000 Hz
HL [00:00:04.905,883] <inf> unicast_server:     Duration: 10000 us
HL [00:00:04.905,883] <inf> unicast_server:     Channel allocation: 0x1
HL [00:00:04.905,914] <inf> unicast_server:     Octets per frame: 60 (48000 bps)
HL [00:00:04.905,914] <inf> unicast_server:     Frames per SDU: 1
HL [00:00:04.984,985] <inf> main: Presentation delay 10000 us is set by initiator
HL [00:00:04.985,015] <inf> main: Presentation delay 10000 us is set by initiator
HL [00:00:05.270,507] <inf> unicast_server: Stream 0x2000fbf8 started
DAC L gain 112   
DAC R gain 112   
HL [00:00:05.281,433] <wrn> le_audio_rx: Not in streaming state, throwing data: 1
HL [00:00:05.295,318] <wrn> audio_datapath: Data received, total under-runs: 6
HL [00:00:05.296,325] <wrn> audio_datapath: I2S RX overrun. Single msg
HL [00:00:05.303,680] <inf> unicast_server: Stream 0x2000fc1c started
HL [00:00:05.306,304] <wrn> audio_datapath: I2S RX continuing stream
HL [00:00:05.307,739] <err> sw_codec_select: Unsupported channel mode for encoder: 0
HL [00:00:05.307,739] <err> audio_system: Encode failed
HL [00:00:05.307,739] <err> audio_system: ERR_CHK Err_code: [-19] @ line: 172
HL [00:00:05.307,769] <err> os: r0/a1:  0x00000003  r1/a2:  0x0000000b  r2/a3:  0x0000000a
HL [00:00:05.307,769] <err> os: r3/a4:  0x0005901d r12/ip:  0x20002bd0 r14/lr:  0x000590a7
HL [00:00:05.307,769] <err> os:  xpsr:  0x61000000
HL [00:00:05.307,769] <err> os: s[ 0]:  0x000000ac  s[ 1]:  0xffff0200  s[ 2]:  0xaaaa0200  s[ 3]:  0x01000003
HL [00:00:05.307,800] <err> os: s[ 4]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[ 5]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[ 6]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[ 7]:  0xaaaaaaaa
HL [00:00:05.307,800] <err> os: s[ 8]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[ 9]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[10]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[11]:  0xaaaaaaaa
HL [00:00:05.307,800] <err> os: s[12]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[13]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[14]:  0xaaaaaaaa  s[15]:  0xaaaaaaaa
HL [00:00:05.307,800] <err> os: fpscr:  0xaaaaaaaa
HL [00:00:05.307,830] <err> os: Faulting instruction address (r15/pc): 0x00003f32
HL [00:00:05.307,830] <err> os: >>> ZEPHYR FATAL ERROR 3: Kernel oops on CPU 0
HL [00:00:05.307,861] <err> os: Current thread: 0x20001ff8 (ENCODER)
HL [00:00:05.307,861] <err> error_handler: Caught system error -- reason 3. Entering infinite loop

I would like to mention again that my goal is to achieve walkie-talkie-style stereo sound with headsets connected to the DA7212 hardware codec. Before making the modifications, I was able to hear mono sound from the external codec. 

Could you please assist in resolving this issue? 

Thanks in advance 

Besr regardes 

Abdulmohaimen Algamoudi 

[dejans]

Hi Abdulmohaimen,

You could try to debug your application using tools mentioned in debugging lesson in the nRF Connect SDK Intermediate course.

Best regards,
Dejan