Newlib breaks audio (audsrv_init)

[Soliforx]

This is my first time reporting an issue, please tell me if I am doing something wrong, thanks!
I've been trying to use SDL_mixer for PS2 development but I have encountered an issue where the program will hang when trying to execute SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_AUDIO);. This also seems to happen with older versions of SDL_Mixer.

I think the issue might have originated when a new libc for the PS2 was made as detailed here: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/newlib-porting-challenges.26821/

This new library seems to have broken audsrv_init making it so that it hangs forever (This is also mentioned in the thread, around fifteen messages in)

The audsrv samples are also broken for what seems to be the same reason. (audsrv_init hanging)

Environment:

Most recent ps2dev
Most recent SDL3 compiled with
cmake -S. -Bbuild -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$PS2DEV/ps2sdk/ps2dev.cmake
cmake --build build

I then moved the .a files to /usr/local/ps2dev/ps2sdk/ports/libs and the include files to
/usr/local/ps2dev/ps2sdk/ports/include

I have included two programs as examples of the issue

They can be compiled with: make all
This generates a .iso file which can be run

AudioTests.zip

One calls the sdl audio initializer and the other calls audsrv_init directly

Thanks for your help in advance

[israpps]

If the IRX driver is not running on the IOP, the RPC binding will hang bc it's inside an endless loop that only breaks in success (I made a PR to deal with this, but it got questioned and ignored #698 )

[Soliforx]

Ok, could you please guide me in the right direction for getting the irx driver to run? Thanks in advance

[Soliforx]

I ask because I tried to do SifLoadModule("audsrv.irx", 0, NULL); with audsrv.irx in the root of the iso file but it does not seem to find it and the program still hangs. What do I need to add? Thanks
PCSX2 reports: Unknown device 'audsrv.irx' then loadmodule: id -203, ret 0 and audsrv loadmodule -203

[israpps]

Checking the source code of SDL, it has the audsrv driver embedded.

So I'm not sure what's going on really.

The error handling here it's poor tho https://github.com/ps2dev/ps2sdk-ports/blob/master/sdl/src/audio/ps2sdk/SDL_ps2audio.c#L61

[Soliforx]

How weird, I think that something might be wrong, because I managed to get it to not crash using the ps2_drivers lib, but it's completely silent.
I have been trying to figure out whats happening but I haven't gotten anywhere yet, I'll still keep trying
I've left attached my current best attempt
It can be compiled with make all. It should show a photo of a PS2 and play Scarlet fire, but right now it only shows the image (For some reason its oversaturated but that's another issue)

fileimg (ps2).zip

[Soliforx]

Also, as you've mentioned, there really should be some sort of error reporting with the rpc, having the program hang is just extremely confusing

[sp193]

To end developers like yourself, the only reason why RPC binding does not complete, is because the module was not loaded successfully. If there was another problem, there is nothing much an end-ueser can do about it. This discussion takes place in another issue. L

Personally, I don't like to deviate from the documented behaviour. I wouldn't merge PRs or give directions here because I don't really want to get involved in PS2 development.

When loading an IRX, one should observe the general coding best-practice of checking every return value.

So anyway, you cannot use SifLoadModule like that because this is Sony's SDK (and ours was based on it). Unlike standard C functions, you cannot pass a relative path and need to follow the documentation on how paths work; CD-ROM paths are meant to work according to ISO9660.

Do you reboot the IOP to get rid of incompatible IOP modules, before doing anything?

[israpps]

That's the thing.

SDL does a lot of crap, doesn't check return values properly and only reboots IOP if SIO2MAN is found to be loaded

[Soliforx]

@sp193 Yes, I do reset the IOP before trying to do anything but it still is silent. I honestly have no idea what is happening, other than maybe I am missing something obvious, but I haven't gotten anywhere yet

[israpps]

@sp193 Yes, I do reset the IOP before trying to do anything but it still is silent. I honestly have no idea what is happening, other than maybe I am missing something obvious, but I haven't gotten anywhere yet

It's an issue with the library most likely

[Soliforx]

I think I was not calling Mix_OpenAudio, but now when I call it PCSX2 crashes with the following message
[ 70,8176] TLB Miss, pc=0x1af4bc addr=0x3da542dc [load]
(This gets repeated, with load being sometimes changed with save and the address changing)

I'd imagine its maybe a problem with sdl, so I'll try to make an issue there, anyways thanks for the help

[fjtrujy]

This is my first time reporting an issue, please tell me if I am doing something wrong, thanks! I've been trying to use SDL_mixer for PS2 development but I have encountered an issue where the program will hang when trying to execute SDL_Init(SDL_INIT_AUDIO);. This also seems to happen with older versions of SDL_Mixer.

I think the issue might have originated when a new libc for the PS2 was made as detailed here: https://www.psx-place.com/threads/newlib-porting-challenges.26821/

This new library seems to have broken audsrv_init making it so that it hangs forever (This is also mentioned in the thread, around fifteen messages in)

The audsrv samples are also broken for what seems to be the same reason. (audsrv_init hanging)

Environment:

Most recent ps2dev Most recent SDL3 compiled with cmake -S. -Bbuild -DCMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Release -DCMAKE_TOOLCHAIN_FILE=$PS2DEV/ps2sdk/ps2dev.cmake cmake --build build

I then moved the .a files to /usr/local/ps2dev/ps2sdk/ports/libs and the include files to /usr/local/ps2dev/ps2sdk/ports/include

I have included two programs as examples of the issue

They can be compiled with: make all This generates a .iso file which can be run

AudioTests.zip

One calls the sdl audio initializer and the other calls audsrv_init directly

Thanks for your help in advance

Hello, can I help you with that?

I'm the creator of the SDL port for PS2.
I have used the SDL_mixer before, and so far it has been working as expected, so not sure if something changed recently with the latest SDL3 changes.

In order to work properly, the SDL apps require to use of the SDL_main library.
Here for instance, you have a link about how to use it.
https://github.com/sergiou87/open-supaplex/blob/master/ps2/Makefile

Under the hood, SDL repo uses ps2_drivers, a library that takes care of loading all the IRX libraries and makes it painless from user's point of view (this is done in the SDL_main layer, and it is totally transparent to your SDL app).
Let me know if this solves your issues

[fjtrujy]

Closing the issue for inactivity, feel free to open it back, if you are still suffering it