#269 sox play fails following Ubuntu 14.04 upgrade (3.13.0-65-generic)

[Doug Gray]

After latest upgrade to ubuntu 14.04 LTS sox play hangs (using play test.wav or sox test.wav -d) with 98+% CPU usage. Alsa and pulse drivers work with aplay, audacity etc. No prior issues experienced with sox. Output to file works correctly - appears to hang only when accessing sound driver.

Kernel details:
Linux 3.13.0-65-generic #105-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 21 18:51:54 UTC 2015 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux

Output from 'play -V9 test.wav' as follows:

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_alsa_format_fn': library 0x92c34e0, entry point 0xb77ad3e0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_amr_nb_format_fn': library 0x92bc0c8, entry point 0xb779f230

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_amr_wb_format_fn': library 0x92bc8b0, entry point 0xb779ae00

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_ao_format_fn': library 0x92bd078, entry point 0xb7464b80

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_caf_format_fn': library 0x92bd8b0, entry point 0xb7456de0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_fap_format_fn': library 0x92bef20, entry point 0xb7451de0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_flac_format_fn': library 0x92bf3d8, entry point 0xb7314110

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_gsm_format_fn': library 0x92bf898, entry point 0xb730ed40

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_lpc10_format_fn': library 0x92bfcf8, entry point 0xb730bd30

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_mat4_format_fn': library 0x92c0148, entry point 0xb7306df0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_mat5_format_fn': library 0x92c0678, entry point 0xb7301de0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_mp3_format_fn': library 0x92c0b30, entry point 0xb70a8bc0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_oss_format_fn': library 0x92c1d88, entry point 0xb70a0d90

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_paf_format_fn': library 0x92c21d8, entry point 0xb709bde0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_pulseaudio_format_fn': library 0x92c35c8, entry point 0xb7098ac0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_pvf_format_fn': library 0x92c26b0, entry point 0xb6fbcde0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_sd2_format_fn': library 0x92c0600, entry point 0xb6fb7de0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_sndfile_format_fn': library 0x92c6898, entry point 0xb6fb4080

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_vorbis_format_fn': library 0x92c6d58, entry point 0xb6faeac0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_w64_format_fn': library 0x92c7558, entry point 0xb6e26de0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_wavpack_format_fn': library 0x92c7a10, entry point 0xb6e236b0

play DBUG formats: opening format plugin `lsx_xi_format_fn': library 0x92c8228, entry point 0xb6e1dde0

play DBUG sox: Looking for a default device: trying format `pulseaudio'
play:      SoX v14.4.1
time:     Dec 31 2013 01:45:41
issue:    Ubuntu
uname:    Linux doug-AOD255E 3.13.0-65-generic #105-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 21 18:51:54 UTC 2015 i686
compiler: gcc 4.8.2
arch:     1248 48 44 L OMP
play INFO formats: detected file format type `wav'
play DBUG wav: WAV Chunk fmt 
play DBUG wav: WAV Chunk data
play DBUG wav: Reading Wave file: Microsoft PCM format, 2 channels, 44100 samp/sec
play DBUG wav:         176400 byte/sec, 4 block align, 16 bits/samp, 17640000 data bytes
play DBUG wav:         4410000 Samps/chans

Input File     : 'test.wav'
Channels       : 2
Sample Rate    : 44100
Precision      : 16-bit
Duration       : 00:01:40.00 = 4410000 samples = 7500 CDDA sectors
File Size      : 17.6M
Bit Rate       : 1.41M
Sample Encoding: 16-bit Signed Integer PCM
Endian Type    : little
Reverse Nibbles: no
Reverse Bits   : no

Output File    : 'default' (pulseaudio)
Channels       : 2
Sample Rate    : 44100
Precision      : 32-bit
Duration       : 00:01:40.00 = 4410000 samples = 7500 CDDA sectors
Sample Encoding: 32-bit Signed Integer PCM
Endian Type    : little
Reverse Nibbles: no
Reverse Bits   : no

play DBUG effects: sox_add_effect: extending effects table, new size = 8
play INFO sox: effects chain: input        44100Hz  2 channels (multi) 16 bits 00:01:40.00
play INFO sox: effects chain: output       44100Hz  2 channels (multi) 32 bits 00:01:40.00
play DBUG sox: automatically entering interactive mode

[Doug Gray]

More info:
The input stream works, tested with 'rec -n' which takes the default (pulseaudio) source
Output using alsa via the -t option does not work i.e. hangs
Every other audio/sound application works with every different audio device I have available (Bluetooth, USB and inboard PCI sound card) SoX is the only software that hangs in this way.
I have reinstalled/rebooted sox to no avai.
It seems to be isolated to SoX alone.

[Doug Gray]

SoX fails with the Ubuntu 3.13.0-65-generic kernel. Reverting to the previous 3.13.0-63-generic kernel SoX works as per normal (yeah!). To boot with the older kernel hold the shift key down after the bios boot screen, then select the kernel you wish to boot using the grub options.

[Tom Ace]

Same problem here. play (/usr/bin/X11/play, symbolic link to sox) was working until a recent update broke it. Same failure mode as described (full CPU usage, no sound). strace shows these two lines repeated indefinitely:
select(1, [0], NULL, NULL, {0, 0}) = 1 (in [0], left {0, 0})
read(0, "", 1024) = 0

lsb_release -a says Ubuntu 14.04.3 LTS. uname -a says
Linux croce 3.13.0-65-generic #105-Ubuntu SMP Mon Sep 21 18:50:58 UTC 2015 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[robs]

Works fine for me here with Ubuntu 14.10, so two things could be tried: use a later Ubuntu, or use a later SoX (compiled from source) with 14.04.

[Doug Gray]

Can you please check your Kernel (uname -a) and confirm the kernel is post 3.13.0-63,
Thanks, Doug

[Doug Gray]

Is your kernel post 3.13.0-65?

[Doug Gray]

Issue is resolved with kernel 3.13.0-66.

[Mans Rullgard]

It appears that there was no bug in Sox.