Issue with audio instructions on iOS

[Dae 0]

I had a run out today and encountered issues with the voice instructions.

My phone is an iPhone 15 Pro Max, running iOS 18.01. IPhone is connected to a Cardo Packtalk Bold running the latest firmware. Phone is also connected to a Chinese AIO-5 Lite. There are no other devices or connections involved. MRA is version 4.3.1(336)

When I set off my instructions were coming through at an acceptable volume, but only if my music was playing (Apple Music or Spotify, didn’t matter which). If I stopped the music then every time an instruction should have been spoken I simply got “Mobile phone disconnected” followed by “mobile phone connected” from the Cardo. If I started playing music again all instructions came through loud and clear.

I then stopped for food. Bike turned off, which turned off Chigee. Headset turned off. Phone left running MRA as I wasn’t stopping long.

Before setting off I turned the headset back on, and obviously started the bike which started the Chigee CarPlay. Music from phone was playing fine. MRA voice instructions were at a volume so low I couldn’t distinguish what was being said. In fact it was so low that at first I thought there were no instructions, but at walking speed I could just barely hear that there was a voice.

I pulled over and left engine running etc, but pulled phone out and clicked on “Play Audio Sample” in the MRA settings. The voice came through loud and clear. This fixed the instruction volume.

I later pulled in for fuel. Bike (and Chigee) off, headset left on (music paused), and phone obviously still running MRA. Phone and headset remained connected. On starting off again I had the same volume issue. Pulled over, clicked “Play Audio Sample” again and it fixed it again.

This sounds like a bug to me as no changes were made to any settings, no reboots or anything - a simple “Play Audio Sample” fixed things.

[Hans van de Ven MR.MRA]

@Dae-0

Try a factory reset off the headset

[Dae 0]

@Hans-van-de-Ven-MR-MRA

Already tried and didn’t help. Friends also have the same issue, so it’s not related to my headset (Packtalk Bold)

[Hubert Thoring]

@Dae-0 :

I have already read that with the Chigee that there are problems in the pairing with MRA Audio ....

How is it coupled:

For example:

• Mobile phone with Chigee

• Mobile phone with headset

Or

• Chigee with mobile phone

• Chigee with headset

The BMW Navigator N6 was always coupled like this:

• N6 with mobile phone

• N6 with headset

VG

Das habe ich beim Chigee auch schon gelesen das es mit MRA Audio Probleme in der Kopplung gibt ….

Wie ist denn gekoppelt:

Beispielsweise:

• Handy mit Chigee
• Handy mit Headset

oder

• Chigee mit Handy
• Chigee mit Headset

Der BMW Navigator N6 war immer so gekoppelt:

• N6 mit Handy
• N6 mit Headset

VG

[Dae 0]

@Hubert-Thoring

Phone to Chigee. There isn’t an option to pair Chigee with the iPhone. Problem only affects MRA.

[Dave J 0]

@Dae-0 I have had a similar problem and it is not the Chigee as your phone is connected directly to your headset - as recommended by Chigee. What I have found is that I need to play some media (audible, iTunes, Podcasts) before the turn instructions work - it has only to be a short segment!

I had thought the problem I encountered was due to me connecting through my bike’s Bluetooth setup (both phone and headset for use with bike controls) in addition to a direct connection between the phone and headset (Sena - NCom). Dual channel Bluetooth and single channel Bluetooth setups options appear to make no change to me having to play a short audio segment in order to hear turn instructions. Other Nav apps do not appear to cause me problems with not receiving turn instructions but that may be coincidental with when i select the apps - Scenic, TomTom, Sygic.

This may be a bug with the audio output used by MRA with iOS given you have noticed the same problem. Over to the Dev Team but the workaround works for me at the moment.

[Dae 0]

@Dave-J-0 Definitely not the Chigee, as you say as it plays no part in the audio.

My experience is slightly different to yours though. My instructions come through at an acceptable volume, but only if my music is playing (Apple Music or Spotify, doesn’t matter which). If I pause the music the instructions return to being quiet.

I have no issue with Scenic, Apple Maps or Google Maps

[Stephen Rowland]

@Dae-0 I recommend you watch this YouTube video regarding setting up an automation. It might solve your problem. It worked for my BMW R1300GS but may work for other bikes that have on-board bluetooth. - https://youtu.be/M93jy6NNwY0?si=hgAtK4et4omp_JmU

[Hubert Thoring]

@Stephen-Rowland :

Super exactly the video describes the solution, it is definitely an added value and good if you know it.

Super genau das Video beschreibt die Lösung, es ist bestimmt ein Mehrwert und gut wenn man es weiß.

[Dae 0]

@Hubert-Thoring, @Stephen-Rowland

As I detailed in my original post, my phone is paired directly to my headset, as per Chigee’s recommendation. There is no audio going via the Chigee. In fact, on the firmware of the Chigee that I have the Chigee won’t actually let you connect the headset to it - if you go into the pairing screen it tells you that you’re doing it wrong and that you must keep your headset paired to the phone only.

I’ve always had an automation that changes the audio output to the headset and sets the volume level of the phone appropriately, when it detects the Chigee/headset being connected.

So to summarise - the YouTube describes a solution to a problem I don’t have (since they’re telling you how to connect the headset directly to the phone, which I have anyway). It tells you how to create an automation that I’ve had for almost a year. It also is about addressing issues that people are having with audio in general. My problem is with MRA only and does not match any of the symptoms or setup described in the video.

Also, my wife has similar audio issues with her headset and MRA. She doesn’t have CarPlay.

The problem is MRA Only has low volume for audio instructions if no music is playing. If music is playing then instruction audio volume is fine. No other apps give me this problem

@Dave-J-0 Has the same problem as me.

[Dave J 0]

@Dae-0 I have been trying a number of options and I noticed that when I go into the MRA app settings and play the audio sample I can increase the volume as the audio sample plays. This appears to be separate to any volume change you make outside of the app or automation that runs when you connect to your bike/headset. Has made a difference to me as I relied on automations running when I connect to my bike.

[Dae 0]

@Dave-J-0

I’ll give that a go next time I’m out. Certainly proves it’s MRA that’s the problem (combined with the fact that no other app gives me this issue)

My automation sets the output and volume level when my headset connects. Stops the issue where I’ve used the phone for other things, set off on the bike and realise the volume is wrong but can’t adjust it as it’s locked away in the tank bag.

[Dae 0]

@Dave-J-0

Actually, I just tried something on the sofa, without the headset.

• Set music playing. Volume acceptable

• Go into the audio setting screen in the app -> the background music level immediately drops

• Click the play sample button and adjust volume accordingly

• When you exit the audio settings screen the volume of the music that was playing becomes unbearable as it's so loud

This in a way emphasises that there's differing volume levels at play, and that the audio instructions volume is tied to the main volume of the phone, but skewed if you adjust them in the audio settings screen as the mere act of opening that screen reduces the phone volume.

I'm on the latest beta by the way, so interested if you get different behaviour to me. I can't replicate your behaviour of the volume whilst playing the sample being independent of the overall phone volume.

[Dave J 0]

@Dae-0 Just tried the same routine as you and the volume after playing the sample audio in the app was ok when I returned to music. The only difference was that the playback was through my helmet headset with the Sena connected to both my bike’s Bluetooth setup (Ducati) and my iPhone; each paired with separate Bluetooth channels of the Sena. That said, I do have a shortcut that forces the audio through to the helmet and not through the bike connection.

Very strange as you say.