Question V4A (Viper4Android) on Pixel 7 Pro

[KHANrad_SIN]

So I know we're still in the early stages of this device. But I just wanted to get a thread going for V4A on our device.

For those who came from the 6 Pro like I did, you're probably already aware of this, but for those who did not here's the current situation:

V4A was working fine on Android 12 but when Android 13 came around there were some issues. For most phones they got ironed out and at this point I think basically every other phone on A13 has V4A working EXCEPT for the Pixel 6/6 pro. I tried installing V4A myself on my 7 pro to no avail. I don't know much about the details of why it's not working or what's going on "underneath the hood" so to speak but I can only assume that whatever it is that's causing V4A to not work on my 7 pro is at least somewhat similar to the reason it doesn't work on the 6 pro. There are a few people trying to figure out the issue in a thread over in the 6 pro section on XDA which I will link here if you want to stay more up to date about what's going on:

https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/anyone-get-viper4android-worked-on-a13.4480467/

As a side note, I did manage to get JamesDSP to work on my 7 pro, which is an okay alternative for the time being. Not exactly the same but it's better than nothing for sure. The main thing I don't like about it is that it doesn't auto switch profiles when you change between audio devices of the same type, for example switching from bluetooth earbuds to bluetooth car speakers.

 

[Deadmau-five]

I use wavelet and it works really well. Always had trouble getting v4a working

 

[Curiousn00b]

Have you tried Viper Android Repackaged?

I just got my device late yesterday, so I haven't bothered rooting just yet, but it's in my plans. There's usually a certain install method to get it working coming from my older devices, but you can try this as well.

GitHub - programminghoch10/ViPER4AndroidRepackaged: A refined ViPER4Android installer.

A refined ViPER4Android installer. Contribute to programminghoch10/ViPER4AndroidRepackaged development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[cd993]

The difficulty is now with the Pixel 7 using a different and exclusive cpu architecture, as viper can't even now even attempt to install the driver.

I've reached out to the dev of that one to see what he says....

Update: they got back to me and said as they can't obtain the source code it can't be recompiled to x64.
I see some 'change petition' from 3 years ago asking for it to be updated to x64 but still nothing, and that was years ago.
Ain't looking good for viper on our new pixels by looks of it...

 

[sarabraj.singh]

+1 for wavelet. just paid for the full version and the bass booster is prettyy f**king good.

kinda worth the 8CAD$ not to have to deal with Viper issues all the time or everytime the system OS changes.

 

[hahimot483]

I found the following program that may be helpful:

Introduction — LIEF Documentation

lief-project.github.io

Maybe it can be used to convert libv4a_fx.so header from 32-bit into a 64-bit library.

 

[cd993]

+1 for wavelet. just paid for the full version and the bass booster is prettyy f**king good.

kinda worth the 8CAD$ not to have to deal with Viper issues all the time or everytime the system OS changes.

Does wavelet work at a root level? Any additional battery drain using it, or does it work as well as viper?

 

[Rolodo334]

Really doubt V4A will ever work again, the project has been abandoned for years.
People try to "patch" it instead, as there has been no real update.
Also the pixel 7 use 64bit only app and drivers, V4A was never updated to use 64bit drivers.

kdrag0n (look on github) has been working on a POC called PhantomAmp to use rootless audio DSP effects.
The app is for patreon sub only for now.
It's in early stage and only a POC so maybe at some point this could be used.

 

[KHANrad_SIN]

I use wavelet and it works really well. Always had trouble getting v4a working

I honestly always assumed that EQ apps from the google play store were never as good a something like V4A, but I gave Wavelet a shot and I'm really liking it so far. I like that it automatically switches your settings based on what is connected to your phone, a feature I missed from V4A and that was lacking in JamesDSP. I also like that you don't necessarily need to have a persistent notification, it at least gives you the option to swipe it away. Thanks for bringing this to light (can't believe I didn't know about this for so long lol), will be using this now as it seems like a pretty viable alternative to V4A. It's made by the same guy so it's actually quite similar. Will miss spectrum extension and ViPER clarity though.

 

[rrusek]

Dolby Atmos works with some success. The issue is that it will take a few reboots to get your pin/pattern working on your lockscreen.

Be sure to enable USB debugging in case you need to disable the magisk modules if you get locked out (adb shell magisk --disable-modules)

https://www.pling.com/p/1908400

RJR

 

[Tool Belt]

Does wavelet work at a root level? Any additional battery drain using it, or does it work as well as viper?

+1 on your battery drain question.

 

[Deadmau-five]

It works without root. I don't see battery drain. Doesn't show up on Accu Battery

 

[Ultimoose]

I use wavelet and it works really well. Always had trouble getting v4a working

As a long time Viper user, thanks for posting this, it's always a little puzzling to me how audio is a distant priority for Google and how much better it sounds with a little external assistance using the same hardware.

Can't lie, I miss the phones (Samsung?) that let you fine tune both left and right output by playing tones and you indicating if you heard them or not and it adjusting each channel specifically to your abilities to hear each frequency band. As someone with unequal hearing damage this really makes audio better on those phones that provide it.

 

[cd993]

A possible light at the end of the tunnel is this project, they are aiming to reverse engineer Viper and modernise the files (hopefully that means using x64!). We'll just have to monitor the progress....

GitHub - AndroidAudioMods/ViPERFX_RE: Reverse Engineering of ViPER4Android FX

Reverse Engineering of ViPER4Android FX. Contribute to AndroidAudioMods/ViPERFX_RE development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

 

[cd993]

It works without root. I don't see battery drain. Doesn't show up on Accu Battery

Battery Guru here and after only a few mins usage, it's showing up. Not that it's a bad thing of course! Will monitor and see how it goes...

 

[iscle]

A possible light at the end of the tunnel is this project, they are aiming to reverse engineer Viper and modernise the files (hopefully that means using x64!). We'll just have to monitor the progress....

GitHub - AndroidAudioMods/ViPERFX_RE: Reverse Engineering of ViPER4Android FX

Reverse Engineering of ViPER4Android FX. Contribute to AndroidAudioMods/ViPERFX_RE development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

Hi! I'm one of the guys working on that project, and I can already tell you it's going smoothly

We have a few effects already working (although some extra work will be needed to check if they are 1:1, any small change in the code can lead to huge changes in audio quality).

My initial goal was indeed creating a 64 bit version of it, and also removing the need for pathing selinux (and yep, i was able to achieve that, no selinux patches needed amymore).

Overall it's looking good but I don't own a Pixel 7 Pro so I'll need some volunteers to test it once it's ready

 

[cd993]

Hi! I'm one of the guys working on that project, and I can already tell you it's going smoothly

We have a few effects already working (although some extra work will be needed to check if they are 1:1, any small change in the code can lead to huge changes in audio quality).

My initial goal was indeed creating a 64 bit version of it, and also removing the need for pathing selinux (and yep, i was able to achieve that, no selinux patches needed amymore).

Overall it's looking good but I don't own a Pixel 7 Pro so I'll need some volunteers to test it once it's ready

This is amazing news!

I'll gladly test it out for you as I've a keen interest in having this working once again! Feel free to send me a message with any contact details, (email or telegram perhaps) if you like and we'll go from there

 

[vibrantliker]

Hi! I'm one of the guys working on that project, and I can already tell you it's going smoothly

We have a few effects already working (although some extra work will be needed to check if they are 1:1, any small change in the code can lead to huge changes in audio quality).

My initial goal was indeed creating a 64 bit version of it, and also removing the need for pathing selinux (and yep, i was able to achieve that, no selinux patches needed amymore).

Overall it's looking good but I don't own a Pixel 7 Pro so I'll need some volunteers to test it once it's ready

I'll gladly test it out also!!!!

 

[exocetdj]

Hi! I'm one of the guys working on that project, and I can already tell you it's going smoothly

We have a few effects already working (although some extra work will be needed to check if they are 1:1, any small change in the code can lead to huge changes in audio quality).

My initial goal was indeed creating a 64 bit version of it, and also removing the need for pathing selinux (and yep, i was able to achieve that, no selinux patches needed amymore).

Overall it's looking good but I don't own a Pixel 7 Pro so I'll need some volunteers to test it once it's ready

Legend!

 

[nycdiplomat]

Hi! I'm one of the guys working on that project, and I can already tell you it's going smoothly

We have a few effects already working (although some extra work will be needed to check if they are 1:1, any small change in the code can lead to huge changes in audio quality).

My initial goal was indeed creating a 64 bit version of it, and also removing the need for pathing selinux (and yep, i was able to achieve that, no selinux patches needed amymore).

Overall it's looking good but I don't own a Pixel 7 Pro so I'll need some volunteers to test it once it's ready

Id like to help test also!