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-rw-r--r--Documentation/sound/soc/index.rst1
-rw-r--r--Documentation/sound/soc/pops-clicks.rst55
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diff --git a/Documentation/sound/soc/index.rst b/Documentation/sound/soc/index.rst
index 4ac3585e7dd1..4dd679927a91 100644
--- a/Documentation/sound/soc/index.rst
+++ b/Documentation/sound/soc/index.rst
@@ -13,3 +13,4 @@ The documentation is spilt into the following sections:-
dapm
platform
machine
+ pops-clicks
diff --git a/Documentation/sound/soc/pops-clicks.rst b/Documentation/sound/soc/pops-clicks.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..de7eb2a6604a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Documentation/sound/soc/pops-clicks.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+=====================
+Audio Pops and Clicks
+=====================
+
+Pops and clicks are unwanted audio artifacts caused by the powering up and down
+of components within the audio subsystem. This is noticeable on PCs when an
+audio module is either loaded or unloaded (at module load time the sound card is
+powered up and causes a popping noise on the speakers).
+
+Pops and clicks can be more frequent on portable systems with DAPM. This is
+because the components within the subsystem are being dynamically powered
+depending on the audio usage and this can subsequently cause a small pop or
+click every time a component power state is changed.
+
+
+Minimising Playback Pops and Clicks
+===================================
+
+Playback pops in portable audio subsystems cannot be completely eliminated
+currently, however future audio codec hardware will have better pop and click
+suppression. Pops can be reduced within playback by powering the audio
+components in a specific order. This order is different for startup and
+shutdown and follows some basic rules:-
+::
+
+ Startup Order :- DAC --> Mixers --> Output PGA --> Digital Unmute
+
+ Shutdown Order :- Digital Mute --> Output PGA --> Mixers --> DAC
+
+This assumes that the codec PCM output path from the DAC is via a mixer and then
+a PGA (programmable gain amplifier) before being output to the speakers.
+
+
+Minimising Capture Pops and Clicks
+==================================
+
+Capture artifacts are somewhat easier to get rid as we can delay activating the
+ADC until all the pops have occurred. This follows similar power rules to
+playback in that components are powered in a sequence depending upon stream
+startup or shutdown.
+::
+
+ Startup Order - Input PGA --> Mixers --> ADC
+
+ Shutdown Order - ADC --> Mixers --> Input PGA
+
+
+Zipper Noise
+============
+An unwanted zipper noise can occur within the audio playback or capture stream
+when a volume control is changed near its maximum gain value. The zipper noise
+is heard when the gain increase or decrease changes the mean audio signal
+amplitude too quickly. It can be minimised by enabling the zero cross setting
+for each volume control. The ZC forces the gain change to occur when the signal
+crosses the zero amplitude line.