TPA PS4 US launch countdown!

smbhax

Active member
Apr 24, 2012
1,803
5
I've confirmed the audio quality issue with a friend who owns a PS4. Also, somebody complained about it on TPA Facebook page, so this is definitely affecting more people than just me. I did have my speakers set to surround, so I'm going to try to force mono sound through every channel and see how that works. I can't comment on the audio quality of the PS3 port, because I've never played that version, but I can say that the PS4 port sounds significantly worse than what I've heard on the PC, iOS, and Android versions. I have a 5.1 setup on my PC, and I never experienced this issue with the PC port.

I wonder if this has to do with a specific audio set-up. What kind of set-up do you have, and what do you have your PS4 audio settings set to? I'm using HDMI Out (then extracted to my standard audio line speakers with a converter box : p), and the PS4 version sounds pretty much just like the PS3 version did.
 

Dumahim

New member
Apr 23, 2012
189
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Is there any reason why I wouldn't be able to nudge on Big Shot and then Black Hole?
And on a related note, my ball is now stuck on one of the bumpers racking up points at an alarmingly slow pace of about 100 points per second since I can't nudge it off.

And unrelated, my sound is fine. My download problems appear to be due to only being able to buy the season 1 pack, which must not include the game itself. Once I downloaded the free version from the store (when it finally showed up), the game knew I had purchased the tables and downloaded the first one I clicked on in-game. By the time I was done playing that one, it seems the rest of the tables downloaded. Nothing ever showed up in my download list, so it must have been all in-game.
 
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Queue

New member
Aug 28, 2013
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I wonder if this has to do with a specific audio set-up. What kind of set-up do you have, and what do you have your PS4 audio settings set to? I'm using HDMI Out (then extracted to my standard audio line speakers with a converter box : p), and the PS4 version sounds pretty much just like the PS3 version did.

I'm currently using my TV speakers through standard HDMI out, but I've also tested it through optical out on a surround sound setup, which exhibits the same issue. I've yet to pinpoint the source of the problem, but if I had to guess, considering that most haven't reported scratchy audio, the PS4 port's audio is simply subpar, which is then amplified by some audio setups.

Like I said, I experience absolutely no scratchy or muffled audio with any other PS4 game, so this must be unique to TPA. I reinstalled the game for the sake of it, but the scratchiness still persists. I have a few things left to try, but I shouldn't be having to do this for a single DLC game.
 

smbhax

Active member
Apr 24, 2012
1,803
5
Is there any reason why I wouldn't be able to nudge on Big Shot and then Black Hole?

We're not sure about what triggers that (see the "first impressions" thread), but if you quit out and restart TPA, it should be working.
 

smbhax

Active member
Apr 24, 2012
1,803
5
I'm currently using my TV speakers through standard HDMI out, but I've also tested it through optical out on a surround sound setup, which exhibits the same issue. I've yet to pinpoint the source of the problem, but if I had to guess, considering that most haven't reported scratchy audio, the PS4 port's audio is simply subpar, which is then amplified by some audio setups.

Like I said, I experience absolutely no scratchy or muffled audio with any other PS4 game, so this must be unique to TPA. I reinstalled the game for the sake of it, but the scratchiness still persists. I have a few things left to try, but I shouldn't be having to do this for a single DLC game.

I'd be pretty surprised if they changed the audio for this version, that would have been extra work. ; ) I can't explain why it's sounding different for you, though.
 

brakel

New member
Apr 27, 2012
2,305
1
I'm currently using my TV speakers through standard HDMI out, but I've also tested it through optical out on a surround sound setup, which exhibits the same issue. I've yet to pinpoint the source of the problem, but if I had to guess, considering that most haven't reported scratchy audio, the PS4 port's audio is simply subpar, which is then amplified by some audio setups.

Like I said, I experience absolutely no scratchy or muffled audio with any other PS4 game, so this must be unique to TPA. I reinstalled the game for the sake of it, but the scratchiness still persists. I have a few things left to try, but I shouldn't be having to do this for a single DLC game.

Are you sending out bitstream or linear PCM audio from the PS4? I'm sending PCM via HDMI to my av receiver. Either should work. Just trying to break down the variables.
 

brakel

New member
Apr 27, 2012
2,305
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Oh I should have specified, I'm doing PCM, no problems here.

I'm not having sound issues either. Sounds just like the PS3 version to me. I'm kind of a sound nut so I'd notice if it sounded different. I will also say that sound is the most over looked and overly ripe for an update feature on TPA.
 

brakel

New member
Apr 27, 2012
2,305
1
I'm currently using my TV speakers through standard HDMI out, but I've also tested it through optical out on a surround sound setup, which exhibits the same issue. I've yet to pinpoint the source of the problem, but if I had to guess, considering that most haven't reported scratchy audio, the PS4 port's audio is simply subpar, which is then amplified by some audio setups.

Like I said, I experience absolutely no scratchy or muffled audio with any other PS4 game, so this must be unique to TPA. I reinstalled the game for the sake of it, but the scratchiness still persists. I have a few things left to try, but I shouldn't be having to do this for a single DLC game.

Ok, I just did some A/B comparison with the PS3 version and I can confirm that the PS4 audio is much worse. It sounds to me like it's been compressed even more. The sound is also quieter than the PS3 so you have to turn the volume up more on the PS4 which will add to the distortion artifacts.
 

Azuri

New member
Dec 16, 2013
14
0
Sound varies from table to table as it does on IOS for me. The tables that sound like cheap recordings sound the same on PS4 for me. Some tables are louder then others, it seems to me that some of the tables may have been recordings from original real working tables. /shrug
 

brakel

New member
Apr 27, 2012
2,305
1
Sound varies from table to table as it does on IOS for me. The tables that sound like cheap recordings sound the same on PS4 for me. Some tables are louder then others, it seems to me that some of the tables may have been recordings from original real working tables. /shrug

I was doing an A/B comparison of the same table on the same sound system between the PS3 version and the PS4 version flipping back and forth. It is easily noticeably worse on the PS4 if you do an A/B comparison.
 

Queue

New member
Aug 28, 2013
91
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Are you sending out bitstream or linear PCM audio from the PS4?

Linear PCM. I hadn't bothered to change any of the PS4's default A/V settings. I plan to test the bitstream modes soon to see if there is any difference, although I strongly doubt that has anything to do with it.

Ok, I just did some A/B comparison with the PS3 version and I can confirm that the PS4 audio is much worse. It sounds to me like it's been compressed even more. The sound is also quieter than the PS3 so you have to turn the volume up more on the PS4 which will add to the distortion artifacts.

Yes, this is exactly what I'm talking about. After fiddling around with my TV's audio settings, I was able to minimalize the scratchiness by disabling surround emulation and a few other settings. It seems that some of my TV's audio modes amplify the instruments that cause the most distortion, making it sound much worse. However, even with surround emulation disabled, the audio is still muffled and very low quality.

I don't know what is the root cause, but the PS4 port's audio is unambiguously worse than any other port that I've played. It's just flat-out awful when played against the PC port. I've tested this on two separate TVs and four different audio setups, and it sounds bad on every single one. Hopefully this gets patched soon, because it's killing my TPA experience.
 

MetalGear_Yoshi

New member
Dec 7, 2013
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0
Can you guy's please explain how the Pro tables are different? Not sure what version to get. Also, do you save money by getting the full season in pro rather than going pro from the standard version or would updating later cost the same. Thanks.

Hopefully I'll be able to get this tonight at 12 or 1 AM here in Australia. Lately they've been staggering the updates though so it's hard to tell. They should do good business anyway, not much is happening on psn atm.
 

paulohotline

New member
May 18, 2013
22
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Hey guys, sound is definitely borked on this release. I have tested the PC version and PS4 side by side with same headset, a fix will have to released. As well no vibration on dual shock 4 on any pin. Love the GI lighting, way better than PC version ! Paid $14.99 to get season 1 with discount. Thanks!
 
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lqdsky

New member
Aug 11, 2012
18
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I have only been able to play the demos. I can confirm the audio is not good. It was the first thing that caught my attention on how bad it sounded. I'm running on a hi fi system with def tech mythos.
 

smbhax

Active member
Apr 24, 2012
1,803
5
Can you guy's please explain how the Pro tables are different? Not sure what version to get. Also, do you save money by getting the full season in pro rather than going pro from the standard version or would updating later cost the same. Thanks.
I'm not sure how it totals up exactly, but generally the bundled versions come out cheaper vs getting all of them individually. Pro mode gives you access to a table's operator menu, where just like on a real pinball table you can go in and change all sorts of things like balls per game, score needed for a replay, family mode, etc etc etc--although there is a bug with this at the moment where it isn't saving the changes you make, so you have to redo them if you leave operator mode. You can't achieve goals or post scores to the online leaderboard while using operator mode, though.

Pro mode also lets you fly the camera around the table to look at it kinda up close, and I think you can also move a ball around the table to hit ramps and targets and see what happens. I think. Also I believe there are table-specific tips from professional players. Basically I only use Pro for the operator mode (to turn off extra balls, matching, and family mode, mainly), so I'm not 100% sure on the other stuff you get with Pro.


Hey guys, sound is definitely borked on this release. I have tested the PC version and PS4 side by side with same headset, a fix will have to released. As well no vibration on dual shock 3 on any pin. Love the GI lighting, way better than PC version ! Paid $14.99 to get season 1 with discount. Thanks!

If you're intending to address that directly to the developers, you might want to post it on their Pinball Arcade Facebook page, as we haven't seen them post on this board.
 

smbhax

Active member
Apr 24, 2012
1,803
5
One of you guys complaining about the sound quality really should ask FarSight about it on their Facebook, I haven't seen anyone post a coherent question on the subject there (one or two said something to the effect of "the sound is broken" among a lot of other complaints, which probably didn't help inform FarSight at all).
 

paulohotline

New member
May 18, 2013
22
0
One of you guys complaining about the sound quality really should ask FarSight about it on their Facebook, I haven't seen anyone post a coherent question on the subject there (one or two said something to the effect of "the sound is broken" among a lot of other complaints, which probably didn't help inform FarSight at all).

Really no need, once they play test it tomorrow in the lab they will notice it immediately. The sound has no fidelity and is very staticky when you crank the volume. They must of tweaked something on the build to cause this, should be an easy fix!
 

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