Bug?: Pitch and volume of audio change within block loop
Hi there,
I have set up a task similar to the Corsi task for online use. Within this task, you need to remember the location and order of squares that change its color to yellow. There are 14 trial within a block loop. Before the participants can select the squares that turned yellow before (using the mouse), a beep sound is played.
Problem: I have the problem that in the 3rd trial, the audio suddenly changes (higher pitch and volume). After that change, the audio is constantly played in this higher pitch and higher volume version.
Weird related observation: Even if I dissolve the loop into a sequence with 1 trial and a following loop with 13 trials (so in total 14 trials), the sound is changed in the 2nd trial of the loop (so 3rd trial in total). So there seems to be a problem with playing an audio for the 3rd time in OSWeb(?). I ensured that the audio runs on 48000 Hz.
What I tried to solve this issue: I have already tried different files (.wav and .mp3), different Hz, and I tried to put the audio into an extra block loop or sequence. All of this did not help.
I use the Google Chrome browser.
So maybe this is a bug related to the use of audios in combination with OSWeb @sebastiaan?
A demo version of my corsi-like task can be obtained from: https://fileshare.uibk.ac.at/f/b40a85f4018e4801b8b6/
Hint: to get to the next trial, blue squares need to be clicked.
I would be very happy if someone has an idea or solution for this issue (I am planning to use spoken audios in an online experiment, where the sound is of bigger importance).
Thanks a lot in advance!
Best,
Carla
Comments
Hi @CarlaC,
I downloaded your demo task and tried it but could njot reproduce the problem you described. I completed several trials and the sound sounded exactly the same every time (no change in picth or volume).
I tried it executing it from OSWen locally (not as a JATOS experiment from a JATOS server), using Chrome (Version 131.0.6778.86, Official Build, 64-bit) on Windows 11.
Given that the sound you're playing is from an actual sound file, I can't see why the pitch or volume should change. As far as I can tell, there is nothing in the task or the file itself that could explain the problem you encountered. I wonder whether the issue may be with the way the browser handles the sound on your computer.
Are you using a PC or a Mac? Have you tried the task on a different computer or using another browser? Could you try that?
Best,
Fabrice.
Hi @Fab,
thanks for your help!
I'm working with a similar setup (running it locally, Windows 11, Chrome version 131.0.6778.109 (Official Build) (64-bit)). I'm using a laptop (DELL Latitude 5340).
I also thought it might be a browser dependency, so I tried it in Microsoft Edge and the problem reoccured.
Now I had a chance to try it on another laptop and I had the same experience as you - I could not reproduce the problem. So, as you suggested, it seems to depend on the laptop you are using - for which I am struggling to find an explanation.
Best,
Carla
Hi @CarlaC,
That's really puzzling indeed. If the problem occurs on a specific computer, there may be an issue there, though it's hard to know where it comes from. Could be some issue between the browser and the sound hardware on that laptop (have you noticed other audio issues with that computer?). It could also be that the issue is with the browser on that computer (something that got corrupted or some setting that interferes with the task).
I once had an issue with an OSWeb task (though different from yours) on one of six computers, all with identical hardware, running the same task. I uninstalled Chrome on that computer and reinstalled it, and the problem disappeared. Perhaps you could try that and see if you're lukcy.
Best,
Fabrice.
Hi @Fab,
thanks for the tips.
Deinstalling and reinstalling Chrome did not work but I found out that there are no issues when using Firefox. So there might be an issue between the laptop and some browsers.
Best,
Carla
Hi @CarlaC,
Glad that you found a workaround. It does sound like the issue is with Chrome and that laptop (perhaps more specifically its sound card).
Best,
Fabrice.