A1200NG – Audio issues with AmigaOS 3.9 and 3.2.3 (AHI and Paula)

[Lordberti]

Hi everyone,

I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me with some frustrating audio issues on my **A1200NG**.

I've been experimenting with different settings and installations for quite a while now, but I still can't get audio working properly under AmigaOS 3.9 or 3.2.3.

**The strange thing is that I'm fairly sure everything used to work correctly!**

I haven't had much time to use my A1200NG recently, so I've mainly just been installing the available updates. Now that I finally have more time to enjoy the system again, I've noticed that MP3 playback is no longer working properly, and the audio in games isn't any better.

Unfortunately, I can't pinpoint exactly when the problem started.

## The problem

I'm using the **A600GS 16-bit AHI driver** on my A1200NG, copied directly from AmiBench.

Audio playback is extremely unreliable:

- MP3s sometimes play noticeably too fast.
- Sound crackles, distorts heavily, or constantly stutters.
- Playback frequently breaks up, making music practically unlistenable.
- Even Paula audio seems to be affected.
- Games suffer from similar audio issues.

## My configuration

- **Hardware:** A1200NG
- **Operating systems:** AmigaOS 3.9 and AmigaOS 3.2.3
- **CPU:** 68040
- **JIT:** Enabled
- **Turbo:** Enabled
- **Kickstart:** 47.115 or A1200 Kickstart 3.1, depending on the installation
- **AHI version:** 4.18
- **AHI driver:** A600GS 16-bit, copied from AmiBench
- **Display:** Full HD (1920×1080)
- **Refresh rates tested:** 50 Hz and 60 Hz
- **Audio output:** Analog, not HDMI

## What I've already checked

**Different AmigaOS installations**

I've tried several installations of AmigaOS 3.9 and 3.2.3, but the audio problems remain.

**AHI driver**

I'm using the A600GS 16-bit AHI driver from AmiBench. I'm wondering whether additional files, libraries, or specific configuration settings are required.

**Display refresh rates**

I've tested both 50 Hz and 60 Hz at Full HD resolution, but neither setting has solved the issue.

**WinUAE comparison**

The same AmigaOS installations work perfectly fine in WinUAE, without any noticeable audio problems.

**AmiBench comparison**

This is probably the most confusing part:

**Audio works perfectly fine under AmiBench on the very same A1200NG!**

So the hardware itself seems to be working correctly.

## What could be causing this?

I'm wondering whether something has changed with one of the recent A1200NG updates, or whether there's a configuration difference between AmiBench and my own AmigaOS installations.

A few questions:

- Does the A600GS 16-bit AHI driver require additional components or specific settings when used with a separate AmigaOS installation on the A1200NG?
- Are there recommended AHI frequency, channel, or buffer settings?
- Could JIT or Turbo mode be responsible for the timing issues?
- Have there been any recent changes to the audio handling or Paula emulation?
- Has anyone else experienced similar problems with AmigaOS 3.9 or 3.2.3 on the A1200NG?

I'm not saying that one of the updates definitely caused the problem, but since I remember audio working correctly before, I'm wondering whether something might have changed.

I'd really appreciate any suggestions or advice on what to check next.

Thanks in advance for your help! 🙂

[broadblues]

- Does the A600GS 16-bit AHI driver require additional components or specific settings when used with a separate AmigaOS installation on the A1200NG?

I presume you are talking about devs:AHI/uae.audio ?

This has no dependencies, other than AHI be enabled which it should be

- Are there recommended AHI frequency, channel, or buffer settings?

AmiBench is set to 44.1KHz  the host system is 48Khz you could try that and see if it makes any difference,

- Could JIT or Turbo mode be responsible for the timing issues?

This can be a thing but JIT is on for AmiBench.

- Have there been any recent changes to the audio handling or Paula emulation?

AHI improvements in AmiBerry were merged a while back, this certainly shouldn't have broken anything.

- Has anyone else experienced similar problems with AmigaOS 3.9 or 3.2.3 on the A1200NG?

I don't have an alternate OS installed on my A1200NG at present but I can tr and test on my A600GS later, at tihs level they are identical.

Other things to look for, have you installed any program thats draining CPU?

It the A1200NG boot sound enabled, occasionally there have been reports tat disabling this messes up the board sound initialisation, so try switching it back on iff off. That ought to affect AmiBench too though.