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version 16.0.0: audioreactive effect jerkiness on esp32 (ESP-32D) #5724
Description
What happened?
I installed 16.0.0 (and then 16.0.1) onto my trusty esp-32D (it doesn't say WROOM on the casing), which worked great with 0.15.4 (4m-S I think was the image), and since then the audioreactiv mode seems sluggish or jerky, not smooth.
To Reproduce Bug
Load 16.0.0 ESP32.bin (or ESP32_DEBUG) onto the device, and start an audio reactive effect. Mine:
{"on":true,"bri":128,"transition":7,"mainseg":0,"seg":[{"id":0,"start":0,"stop":78,"grp":1,"spc":0,"of":0,"on":true,"frz":false,"bri":255,"cct":127,"set":0,"n":"Long","col":[[255,170,0],[0,0,0],[0,0,0]],"fx":137,"sx":128,"ix":128,"pal":0,"c1":18,"c2":48,"c3":16,"sel":true,"rev":false,"mi":false,"o1":false,"o2":false,"o3":false,"si":0,"m12":2},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0},{"stop":0}],"ledmap":0}
Play some music and watch the previously smooth flow of color be all jerky
Expected Behavior
Smooth flow of color across the segment.
Install Method
Binary from WLED.me
What version of WLED?
16.0.1
Which microcontroller/board are you seeing the problem on?
ESP32
Relevant log/trace output
Here's some logs, if that helps (from the ESP32_DEBUG image):
[15:02:27]ets Jul 29 2019 12:21:46
[15:02:27]
[15:02:27]rst:0x1 (POWERON_RESET),boot:0x13 (SPI_FAST_FLASH_BOOT)
[15:02:27]configsip: 0, SPIWP:0xee
[15:02:27]clk_drv:0x00,q_drv:0x00,d_drv:0x00,cs0_drv:0x00,hd_drv:0x00,wp_drv:0x00
[15:02:27]mode:DOUT, clock div:2
[15:02:27]load:0x3fff0018,len:4
[15:02:27]load:0x3fff001c,len:1084
[15:02:27]load:0x40078000,len:11220
[15:02:27]load:0x40080400,len:5360
[15:02:27]entry 0x4008067c
[15:02:27]
[15:02:27]---WLED 16.0.0 2605030 INIT---
[15:02:28]esp32 4.4.8.240628
arduino-esp32 v2.0.17
CPU: ESP32-D0WD-V3 rev.3, 2 core(s), 240 MHz.
FLASH: 4 MB, Mode 3 (DOUT), speed 40 MHz.
heap 214168
TX power: 78/78
PIN ALLOC: Pin 1 successfully allocated by 0x89.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
heap 214168
checking for bootloop: time 28917809, counter 1373227183, action -1221960050
Valid JSON file /cfg.json
Reading config
[15:02:28]Reading settings from /wsec.json...
[15:02:28]JSON buffer locked. (3)
JSON buffer released. (3)
JSON buffer locked. (1)
Reading settings from /cfg.json...
[15:02:28]Heap before buses: 211924
PIN ALLOC: Pin 12 successfully allocated by 0x85.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
PIN ALLOC: Pin 13 successfully allocated by 0x85.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
All timers cleared
[15:02:28]Starting usermod config.
[15:02:28]JSON buffer released. (1)
heap 211776
Initializing strip
[15:02:28]Digital buses: 1, I2S buses: 0
Heap before buses: 211776
PIN ALLOC: Pin 16 successfully allocated by 0x82.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
Estimated buses + pixel-buffers size: 1740B
Heap after buses: 260648
Loading custom palettes
[15:02:28]Loading custom ledmaps
[15:02:28]strip buffer size: 312B
Heap after strip init: 211100B
-- Creating segment: 0x3ffb9518 [0,78:0,1]
Playlist unloaded.
[15:02:28]Request to apply preset: 1
heap 211012
Usermods setup
[15:02:28]PIN ALLOC: Pin 25 successfully allocated by 0x20.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
PIN ALLOC: Pin 32 successfully allocated by 0x20.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
PIN ALLOC: Pin 33 successfully allocated by 0x20.
PIN ALLOC: 0x0000000000000lX.
Adding audio palettes.
[15:02:28]1
[15:02:28]2
[15:02:28]3
[15:02:28]heap 196408
getWLEDHostname: 'wled-workbench'
WiFi-E: Event 0
WiFi: Default SSID (Whatever) used.
WiFi-E: Event 2
Ada
[15:02:28]DMX input disabled due to rxPin, enPin or txPin not set
[15:02:28]initServer
[15:02:28]heap 149404
initIR
[15:02:28]heap 149404
Initial connect or forced reconnect (@ 1s).
WiFi: Default SSID (Whatever) used.
initConnection() called @ 1s.
WiFi-E: Event 3
getWLEDHostname: 'wled-workbench'
WiFi-E: Event 0
WiFi-E: Event 2
Access point disabled (init).
[15:02:29]Connecting to Whatever...
JSON buffer locked. (9)
Applying preset: 1
-- Started transition without old segment: S=0x3ffb9518 T(0x3ffdac18)
-- Updated transition with segment copy: S=0x3ffb9518 T(0x3ffdac18) O[0x3ffdac74] OP[0x40094104]
JSON buffer released. (9)
Image playback end called
[15:02:29]-- Stopping transition: S=0x3ffb9518 T(0x3ffdac18) O[0x3ffdac74]
-- Destroying segment: 0x3ffdac74 [0,78:0,1] Long (0x3ffdabc0) T[0]
[15:02:29]Image playback end called
[15:02:32]WiFi-E: Connected! @ 3s
WiFi-E: IP address: 192.168.68.80
[15:02:32]
[15:02:32]Connected! IP address: 192.168.68.80
[15:02:32]Init STA interfaces
[15:02:32]mDNS started
[15:02:43]JSON buffer locked. (17)
JSON buffer size: 10413 for request: 0
JSON content length: 5777
JSON buffer released. (17)
Not-Found HTTP call: /presets.json
WS client connected.
[15:02:43]JSON buffer locked. (12)
JSON buffer size: 3826 for WS request (2308).
heap 116632
Sending WS data to a single client.
[15:02:57]JSON buffer released. (12)
Not-Found HTTP call: /presets.json
---DEBUG INFO---
[15:02:57]Runtime: 30002
Unix time: 30,002
=== Memory Info ===
[15:03:27]DRAM 8-bit: Free: 118260 bytes | Largest block: 110580 bytes
DRAM 32-bit: Free: 48892 bytes | Largest block: N/A
TX power: 62/78
Wifi state: 3
ESP-NOW state: 0
State time: 0
NTP last sync: 999000000
Client IP: 192.168.68.80
Loops/sec: 353
Loop time[ms]: 2/118
UM time[ms]: 0/70
Strip time[ms]:1/69
Segments: 1 -> 388/0B
Seg: 78,1 [A=1, 2D=0, RGB=1, W=0, CCT=0]
Modes: 4*220=880B
Data: 4*220=880B
Map: 2*0=0B
Web server status: Idle
* sunrise (minutes from UTC) = 440
Sunrise: 07:20
* sunset (minutes from UTC) = 939
Sunset: 15:39
Local time: 00:01
---DEBUG INFO---
[15:03:27]Runtime: 60046
Unix time: 60,046
=== Memory Info ===
[15:03:57]DRAM 8-bit: Free: 118260 bytes | Largest block: 110580 bytes
DRAM 32-bit: Free: 48892 bytes | Largest block: N/A
TX power: 62/78
Wifi state: 3
ESP-NOW state: 0
State time: 0
NTP last sync: 999000000
Client IP: 192.168.68.80
Loops/sec: 358
Loop time[ms]: 2/9
UM time[ms]: 0/5
Strip time[ms]:1/7
Segments: 1 -> 388/0B
Seg: 78,1 [A=1, 2D=0, RGB=1, W=0, CCT=0]
Modes: 4*220=880B
Data: 4*220=880B
Map: 2*0=0B
Web server status: Idle
---DEBUG INFO---
[15:03:57]Runtime: 90090
Unix time: 90,091
=== Memory Info ===Anything else?
No response
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Activity
DedeHai commentedon Jul 9, 2026
"4m-S" sounds like a moon modules build. It has much more advanced audio processing. We are working on bringing some of it upstream.
softhack007 commentedon Jul 9, 2026
yes, confirmed. "4m-S" is part of a WLED-MM firmware filename.
Edit:
Besides WLED-MM audioreactive being almost 3 years ahead of "vanilla WLED", the slow flash speed might contribute to "jerkiness".
Also you might want to increase "Target FPS" in LEDs & Hardware settings, this will help the Freqwav effect to look more like flowing.
[-]version 16 jerkiness on esp-32D[/-][+]version 16.0.0: audioreactive effect jerkiness on esp32 (ESP-32D)[/+]jvilhuber commentedon Jul 13, 2026
Yes I was coming from MM, but was trying to come back to mainline.
Oddly, the jerkiness went away after a while. No idea why (no change, except maybe one of the reboots?).