Topic: When MC23 is controlled by an external control point, sound level is reset at 20 (Read 7192 times)

kolia · « **on:** August 18, 2017, 11:13:23 am »

Hello,
I just upgraded to 23.0.6 (PC Win 10 Pro). Each time a new track is played (JRiver lib or Qobuz streaming), sound level (internal volume) is reset at 20. Here the setup :
- External DAC USB connected to the HPTC where MC sits
- Using Kazoo ot Lumin as an external control point
- BubbleUpnp server last rev, with the above DAC set as an openhome renderer for Qobuz access.

No issues with JRemote.

MC 22 works just fine with exact same setup.

mojave · « **Reply #1 on:** August 18, 2017, 11:32:14 am »

Go to Tools > Options > Audio > Volume and make sure Startup volume is set to -1.

Go to Tools > Options > General > Startup Volume and make sure "Optimize Volume for Best Sound Quality" is unchecked.

kolia · « **Reply #2 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:13:54 pm »

Thanks Mojave. Thanks for the tip. It was checked as it was in MC22. Issue is still there after unchecking. MC 22 is running fine. Seems to me it is bug.

JimH · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2017, 12:24:27 pm »

Try eliminating the other software and seeing what happens. It's probably not MC.

RD James · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2017, 01:24:50 pm »

Disable volume protection. It ignores the startup volume.

CountryBumkin · « **Reply #5 on:** August 18, 2017, 01:43:11 pm »

Quote from: mojave on August 18, 2017, 11:32:14 am

Go to Tools > Options > Audio > Volume and make sure Startup volume is set to -1.

Go to Tools > Options > General > Startup Volume and make sure "Optimize Volume for Best Sound Quality" is unchecked.

What does "-1" actually mean?

kolia · « **Reply #6 on:** August 18, 2017, 03:45:18 pm »

Quote from: RD James on August 18, 2017, 01:24:50 pm

Disable volume protection. It ignores the startup volume.

Good shot. Thank you Disabling vol protection made the trick. However it was activated in MC 22 as well with no side effect which I doubled checked.

luckyaua · « **Reply #7 on:** November 14, 2017, 03:47:44 pm »

i've upgraded to jriver 23 and i've the same problem.....volume auto-reset to 20 at each tracks!!!

...i've unchecked option "volume protection" and the issue is resolved but i've to use this option because i've the soundcard directly connected to power amp and i can't risk to go at maximum level suddenly for a bad click on mouse on the volume bar!!!!

with jriver 22 this problem there isn't!!

luckyaua · « **Reply #8 on:** November 14, 2017, 03:52:23 pm »

i think that is an issue linked to this feature of "volume protection" from wiki:

"Makes it so that starting playback if nothing has played for 30 minutes sets the volume to 20% (unless the volume is already lower)"

i think that jriver assumed at each track that 30 minutes is passed and then auto reduce volume to 20% level!!

luckyaua · « **Reply #9 on:** November 14, 2017, 04:01:10 pm »

i've noticed that the issue is linked to the change of the output sample rate...if i choose a track with the same sample rate of the previous all is ok and the volume remain the same but if i play a track with a different sample rate respect the previous the volume go back automatically to 20%!!!

kolia · « **Reply #10 on:** November 15, 2017, 02:04:29 am »

see post #77, it made the trick for me

luckyaua · « **Reply #11 on:** November 15, 2017, 02:23:54 am »

Quote from: kolia on November 15, 2017, 02:04:29 am

see post #77, it made the trick for me

which is post #77 i don't find it!?

kolia · « **Reply #12 on:** November 15, 2017, 02:32:10 am »

sorry my bad, I made a confusion
See the answer a little above your post

Quote from: kolia on August 18, 2017, 03:45:18 pm

Good shot. Thank you Disabling vol protection made the trick. However it was activated in MC 22 as well with no side effect which I doubled checked.

luckyaua · « **Reply #13 on:** November 15, 2017, 02:39:57 am »

yes i've just read it but for me "volume protection" is fundamental because i've power amp directly connected with sound card without preamplifier so jriver is my preamp and if a click wrongly on the max vol slide with mouse my loudspeaker die!!!

kolia · « **Reply #14 on:** November 15, 2017, 09:38:34 am »

I have a high end preamp between the two so in my case it is not an issue

luckyaua · « **Reply #15 on:** November 27, 2017, 03:30:53 am »

nobody else have this problem?
i confirm that with MC22 all is ok while with MC23 and "volume protection" ON at each new track vol reset to 20%!!

kolia · « **Reply #16 on:** November 27, 2017, 03:33:33 am »

Yeap pretty strange that nobody reports this defect. As you know, since I have a preamp I don't bother to deactivate volume protection, but I do undestand it is a major problem for those connecting the dac directly to the amp

AndrewFG · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2017, 02:53:42 pm »

What is your Control Point? It may be sending a SetVolume(20) command to MC when it starts. Instead of blaming MC for some bug or fiddling around in MC settings, perhaps you should look into the CP and it’s settings..

luckyaua · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2017, 05:04:10 pm »

Quote from: AndrewFG on November 27, 2017, 02:53:42 pm

What is your Control Point? It may be sending a SetVolume(20) command to MC when it starts. Instead of blaming MC for some bug or fiddling around in MC settings, perhaps you should look into the CP and it’s settings..

sorry...excuse me but i don't understand i've same configuration on MC22 and MC23 and different behavior!!! on the first (MC22) all is ok so if i set the volume for example 45 it remain the same for all the tracks i listen...in MC23 if i set the volume to 45 it return to 20 for each tracks i play!!!

so for me it is an player issue...no?

and all is linked with "volume protection" options because if i set it to off all is ok on MC23 too!!!

kolia · « **Reply #19 on:** November 28, 2017, 12:30:34 am »

Quote from: luckyaua on November 27, 2017, 05:04:10 pm

sorry...excuse me but i don't understand i've same configuration on MC22 and MC23 and different behavior!!! on the first (MC22) all is ok so if i set the volume for example 45 it remain the same for all the tracks i listen...in MC23 if i set the volume to 45 it return to 20 for each tracks i play!!!

so for me it is an player issue...no?

and all is linked with "volume protection" options because if i set it to off all is ok on MC23 too!!!

Same experience with me. MC22 no issues, MC23 volume reset to 20. I'm not on site so I can't retest it. But I'm pretty sure I had this problem with Lumin and Linn Kazoo CP (with Bubbleupnp server). So not blaming anybody, just maybe have somebody from devs try to reproduce the setup?

luckyaua · « **Reply #20 on:** November 28, 2017, 02:25:38 am »

i'm sorry i've forgot to add in the last post that the issue for me is directly on jriver player on pc WIN10 (no external control point)...
my chain is PC JRiver MC -> USB INTERFACE (STEINBERG UR824) -> POWER AMP and the volume is used only on JRiver

Rabou · « **Reply #21 on:** December 01, 2017, 04:52:32 am »

Hi,

I have the same problem, volume auto-reset to 20 at each tracks!

i don't found fix issue

Awesome Donkey · « **Reply #22 on:** December 01, 2017, 05:45:24 am »

Quote from: Rabou on December 01, 2017, 04:52:32 am

i don't found fix issue

Fortunately a workaround was posted above by RD James;

Quote from: RD James on August 18, 2017, 01:24:50 pm

Disable volume protection. It ignores the startup volume.

So try disabling volume protection.

kolia · « **Reply #23 on:** December 05, 2017, 11:42:09 am »

Quote from: Awesome Donkey on December 01, 2017, 05:45:24 am

Fortunately a workaround was posted above by RD James;

So try disabling volume protection.

We know that disabling volume protection is a workaround. But is it a confirmed bug or not? And if yes, is it something that somebody is willing to fix?

Mupi · « **Reply #24 on:** December 27, 2017, 01:13:40 pm »

I have a similar problem. MC23 sends full volume to my receiver so I may blow up my speakers. Disabling volume protection didnt work. Basically I have no volume control from MC23 or my PC. I have connected the optical output from my PC sound card to my Denon 3310 receiver. I mentioned this in a new post but people dont seem to understand what I am explaining there.

I just dont want MC23 to be sending full volume to my sound card and blow up my speakers. Disabling volume protection does not seem to be a work around. I dont think I can blame my PC or AVR because when I play itunes I have control of the volume of my PC i.e system volume. I want either the control of the system volume of MC23 volume. Now I have neither of them

retro · « **Reply #25 on:** January 01, 2018, 10:01:20 pm »

Quote from: luckyaua on November 27, 2017, 03:30:53 am

nobody else have this problem?
i confirm that with MC22 all is ok while with MC23 and "volume protection" ON at each new track vol reset to 20%!!

Yes, here's another one with exact same problem since v23. Very annoying to have to adjust volume all the time. I also use soundcards straight to amps, so disabling the volume protection is no solution, cure or fix.

So developers, can you please acknowledge the problem and repair it..?

RoderickGI · « **Reply #26 on:** January 01, 2018, 11:29:24 pm »

I always thought Volume Protection activated whenever playback was stopped and then restarted. Which is what it is doing for me at the moment. But maybe it is supposed to only cut in if nothing has played for 30 minutes.

From the Wiki:

Quote

Volume Protection
Volume Protection is a feature to prevent unexpectedly loud output. It is useful in cases where you connect Media Center to a high-gain amplifier where unexpected output at full volume could damage equipment or your ears.

Volume protection does the following:
Makes it so that it isn't possible to increase the volume by more than 5% at a time (so accidentally clicking 100% on the slider will not go to 100%)
Makes it so that the volume can not be increased by more than 20% a second
Makes it so that starting playback if nothing has played for 30 minutes sets the volume to 20% (unless the volume is already lower)

I don't see Volume Protection resetting the volume back to 20% between tracks on a stand-alone MC installation though. I suspect what is happening there is if a separate Control Point is being used, something is sending a Stop between tracks, and then a Play, so that with the current Volume Protection functionality, Volume Protection cuts in for every track.

So Kolia with your setup;
- BubbleUpnp server last rev, sound like you are using this as your DLNA Server.
- Using Kazoo ot Lumin as an external control point, so this is your DLNA Control Point
- External DAC USB connected to the HPTC where MC sits, so this is your DLNA Renderer? I wouldn't have thought so. Maybe MC is acting as a DLNA Renderer in this case.
Regardless, that is a bit of a strange setup. It could be that a Stop-Play sequence is being generated somewhere in that setup.

Someone may have been a bit over zealous with this fix:

Quote

23.0.85 (11/27/2017)
4. Fixed: When you started up and played a file with Volume Protection enabled, it wouldn't always switch the volume to 20%.

Could everyone with the problem confirm exactly which version they are using? i.e. MC23.0.91.

I am with you that MC shouldn't set the volume to 20% after a Stop-Play combination, and should only do it after 30 minutes as per the Wiki. This sounds like a programming error, rather than a bug.

AndrewFG · « **Reply #27 on:** January 02, 2018, 11:49:42 am »

What’s the external Control Point? Many of the CPs that I have encountered (including my own) will send a SetVolume() command to the server (i.e. to MC) when they start. Perhaps you need to check the settings of whatever CP you are using, rather than looking for a hypothetical problem in MC..

kolia · « **Reply #28 on:** January 02, 2018, 02:38:07 pm »

Dear AndrewFG, we have already stated that with exact same setup, this issue does not exist with MC22. So what is the conclusion?
AFAIC I don't care since I can afford to disable volume protection

retro · « **Reply #29 on:** January 04, 2018, 11:17:53 am »

Quote

Could everyone with the problem confirm exactly which version they are using? i.e. MC23.0.91.

I should probably clarify. I don't use an external control point. Its an all-in-one JRiver 23.0.91 installation on Windows 10 64-bit. But the problems outlined here are the exact same problems I have, with volume defaulting to 20 all the time. Back to v22, problem gone.

Anything else I can provide to help solve this? Cause its a BIG problem for many of us not to be able to use volume protection..

RoderickGI · « **Reply #30 on:** January 04, 2018, 03:43:27 pm »

Quote from: retro on January 04, 2018, 11:17:53 am

I should probably clarify. I don't use an external control point. Its an all-in-one JRiver 23.0.91 installation on Windows 10 64-bit. But the problems outlined here are the exact same problems I have, with volume defaulting to 20 all the time. Back to v22, problem gone.

Anything else I can provide to help solve this? Cause its a BIG problem for many of us not to be able to use volume protection..

I think you have provided enough information. I was easily able to reproduce the issue on a stand-alone installation of 64bit MC23.0.92. It doesn't require a separate Control Point, or DLNA, or anything to reproduce.

I don't know whether it is actually a bug, or as I suggested above, an overzealous program change. Basically, we just need to wait for a developer to get to the issue. I'm sure they have read this thread by now. Hopefully the other software involved in the OP's setup hasn't confused the issue.

kolia · « **Reply #31 on:** February 03, 2018, 06:33:59 pm »

Based on changelog, it seems that the bug has been fixed with .96 version. I'm not in a position to test whether this is the case. Can someone confirm?

RoderickGI · « **Reply #32 on:** February 03, 2018, 07:19:56 pm »

Yeah it is working correctly for me in MC23.0.96. The volume isn't reset to 20% until after 30 minutes with Volume Protection turned on, as per the Wiki.

kolia · « **Reply #33 on:** February 04, 2018, 02:07:00 am »

Quote from: RoderickGI on February 03, 2018, 07:19:56 pm

Yeah it is working correctly for me in MC23.0.96. The volume isn't reset to 20% until after 30 minutes with Volume Protection turned on, as per the Wiki.

Great news. Thanks

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Author Topic: When MC23 is controlled by an external control point, sound level is reset at 20 (Read 7192 times)