Route guidesRoutes Map
Mobile appApp Log in

Navigation sound effects turn down audio but don’t restore level

Wednesday 19 February
by Raybo
in forum cycle.travel
Find a better bike route. Try our map & route-planner »

Become a supporter

I tried navigating a local route today using both sound effects and voice directions. While riding, I listen to audio books. The voice directions are spoken over the audio, which I don’t mind.

The problem is with the sound effect tones. The tones turn down the audio but don’t restore it to its previous level. There doesn’t seem to be a way to restore the audio level, so the audio level remains low. It meant not hearing the audio, so I turned off the tones, which I’d like to use in addition to the voice directions.

Is this a bug, feature, or is there someway to change this via a setting?

Comments

Wed 19 Feb, 19:43

Is this Android or iOS?

Wed 19 Feb, 21:04

iOS

Thu 20 Feb, 17:34

Could you tell me what app you’re using to listen to the audiobooks?

Thu 20 Feb, 20:32

I'm in the US, if that makes a difference. At the moment, I am using an app called Boundless (https://www.boundless-app.com/). This is the one I was listening to when I had the problem described above. But, I use whatever app the library I get the book from requires. I also us Libby (https://libbyapp.com/) and Hoopla (https://www.hoopladigital.com/). I haven't tested the navigation tones with these other apps. If you think the problem is app-specific, I can test it with these others, as well.

I have used these with RideWithGPS without problem. When the app prompt, the book audio goes down (I think, it might actually switch off. I don't use navigation apps when I ride at home and don't remember clearly which it is ) but then returns to set volume after the prompt. In fact, the turning down/off of the audio cues me that a directional prompt is coming.

Fri 21 Feb, 23:49

I tried this again with a different listening app (libbyapp.com). It was the same as before, namely, that the audio was turned down when a tone was sounded but not turned back up. Interestingly, the sound would go back up when the voice cue was given.

Another problem I discovered is that the voice cues where given twice in different languages. The first one was always in English. Sometimes the second one was a woman's voice in, maybe, Spanish. Other times, it was a male voice in French.

Lastly, the voice prompts seemed inconsistent as to what constituted a "turn." It seemed to miss several obvious ones and declare a number that were nothing more than continue straight.

If it helps, this is the route I was following: https://cycle.travel/map/journey/705819

Sat 22 Feb, 17:00

Hi Raybo, off subject but couldn't help saying you live in a lovely part of the world, and riding over the Golden Gate Bridge is magical. I've walked it as well as riding it, and there is no experience like it. The SF Randonneurs use the bridge - and much of your route - a lot. You might chat to them about routing issues if you have an interest.

Sat 22 Feb, 22:17

I think the volume issue is a bug in iOS (reported here). I’m currently testing a workaround.

Sun 23 Feb, 01:29

@kenjessett You are certainly correct. It is a beautiful part of the world with fabulous weather. I’ve ridden over the GGBridge thousands of times and still find it a very pretty view and impressive. 

What’s more, the first ride after being away for awhile (on tour) is also a special thrill.

Sun 23 Feb, 01:30

@Richard thanks for taking this seriously. It is odd that other apps with navigation (ridewithGPS) seem to handle this without problem. 

Sun 23 Feb, 12:42

I suspect they’ve just found the workaround!

Mon 10 Mar, 21:27

Any luck with the workaround?

Enter to search, Esc to cancel