snd_pcm_readi() takes to much time.

[coder0201200]

I am using alsa open source library for my project to read and write audio data.

For that I am using snd_pcm_readi function to read audio data. I am able to read audio data.

But issue is that sometimes it will take so much time to read data.(200-230 msec).
Normally this function executed in 1-3 ms that is normal case, but after every 2-4 frames it is taking 200-300 msec.
So this is affecting my whole application process.

I have also try to set this call as nonblock with the help of snd_pcm_nonblock function. With that I have observed some improvements but still after 2-3 frames it is taking 100msec time to get a data.

[perexg]

From the first glance, the timing depends on the hardware parameters and also on the driver position update granularity. Which driver are you using? Could you show dump of parameters using snd_pcm_dump() function ?

[coder0201200]

Please find HW params and SW params which is dumped using snd_pcm_hw_params_dump and snd_pcm_sw_params_dump

HW params:
ACCESS:  RW_INTERLEAVED
FORMAT:  MU_LAW
SUBFORMAT:  STD
SAMPLE_BITS: 8
FRAME_BITS: 8
CHANNELS: 1
RATE: 48000
PERIOD_TIME: 125000
PERIOD_SIZE: 6000
PERIOD_BYTES: 6000
PERIODS: 4
BUFFER_TIME: 500000
BUFFER_SIZE: 24000
BUFFER_BYTES: 24000
TICK_TIME: [0 0]

SW params:
tstamp_mode: NONE
tstamp_type: GETTIMEOFDAY
period_step: 1
avail_min: 6000
start_threshold: 24000
stop_threshold: 24000
silence_threshold: 0
silence_size: 0
boundary: 6755399441055744000

[perexg]

The period_size determines the wake-up latency for the blocking I/O mode. For rate 48000Hz and period size 6000 frames is the wake-up time 6000/(48000/1000) = 125ms. For the non-blocking I/O mode the granularity is determined by the hardware capabilities (the ring buffer pointer updates in the driver) and the avail_min settings (sw_params) when you use an event multiplexing call (select or poll).

EDIT: You did not write anything about used hardware / audio driver to check the ring buffer pointer granularity.

[coder0201200]

How can I find the ring buffer pointer updates in the driver ?
And can i change avail_min time for non-block mode ?

[coder0201200]

I am using HW ambarella cv25 and audio is ak4951.

[coder0201200]

@perexg any update on this. Please help me to resolve this issue.

[perexg]

Could you test your code with the standard PC hardware ? It appears that the audio driver has some issues for this special SoC platform.

avail_min - https://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-lib/group___p_c_m___s_w___params.html#ga79b12cbbd309750156261e7f5a39167b