Sound issue through headphones - baffling

Support & Help Requests
#21

First option output:
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ alsactl restore
alsactl: state_lock:125: file /var/lib/alsa/asound.state lock error: File exists
alsactl: load_state:1683: Cannot open /var/lib/alsa/asound.state for reading: File exists
Found hardware: "HDA-Intel" "Cirrus Logic CS4206" "HDA:10134206,106b5b00,00100302 HDA:80862805,80860101,00100000" "0x8086" "0x7270"
Hardware is initialized using a generic method
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$

2nd output:
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ sudo alsa force-reload
[sudo] password for tim:
Terminating processes: 1383.
/sbin/alsa: Warning: Processes using sound devices: 22908(pulseaudio).
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-cirrus snd-hda-codec-generic snd-hda-intel snd-hda-codec snd-hda-core snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer (failed: modules still loaded: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-cirrus snd-hda-codec-generic snd-hda-intel snd-hda-codec snd-hda-core snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-timer).
Loading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-cirrus snd-hda-codec-generic snd-hda-intel snd-hda-codec snd-hda-core snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer.
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$

Interesting now is that my volume buttons on my keyboard for sound control don't work! Rebooting.....

#22

ok tell me what happens after the reboot

#23

Still same, buttons now working properly.

#24

Tried playing a YT video, get some "sounds" through the headphones but not from the video itself.

Plays fine through the speakers tho.....

Back to square 1.

#25

If this was working before can you move the files in
/home//.config/pulse/

to some other location and reboot so the config is clear and will be regenerated?

#26

OK, going outside my comfort zone but willing to try.

Reminder I did not have Pulse loaded then, only loaded today.

Assume have to show hidden files?

#27

Yes its not a big deal. Just show hidden files in caja

#28

also run

pacmd

in a terminal and show the output of
list-sink-inputs

here (type that in the terminal after pacmd is run)

#29

Before or after reboot?

#30

Reboot after moving those files first in case it fixes it already.

#31

Reboot completed...nada.

tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ pacmd
Welcome to PulseAudio 13.0! Use "help" for usage information.

list-sinkinputs
Unknown command: list-sinkinputs

list-sink-inputs
1 sink input(s) available.
index: 0
driver: <protocol-native.c>
flags: START_CORKED
state: CORKED
sink: 0 <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
muted: no
current latency: 250.00 ms
requested latency: 210.00 ms
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
resample method: (null)
module: 11
client: 12 QtPulseAudio:1809
properties:
media.name = "QtPulseSample-1809-140302958492000"
application.name = "QtPulseAudio:1809"
native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
native-protocol.version = "33"
application.process.id = "1809"
application.process.user = "tim"
application.process.host = "tim-MacBookAir"
application.process.binary = "Enpass"
application.language = "en_CA.UTF-8"
window.x11.display = ":0"
application.process.machine_id = "c7fa2cff97ad4fbea5befe49d0631cb9"
application.process.session_id = "c2"
module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-application-name:QtPulseAudio:1809"

There you go I guess.

#32

Ok I feel like you have stumped me

#33

Status "CORKED"! That is odd -
"Corking means that the application asked for the pulseaudio stream to be "corked" temporarily, so that data flow stops. "uncorking" then makes things flow again. It's mostly synonymous to application triggered pause/unpause."

Also noted that you are missing the horizontal VU meters underneath the outputs in pavucontrol.

I've never seen this type of issue with pulseaudio before.

Searching for clues....

djb

1 Like
#34

Thanks Dave. Im totally stuck on this one right now :frowning:

#35

So the status of "CORKED" means that the output is stopped/muted because a telephone stream is active. Arch Linux says to disable the pulseaudio "module-role-cork".

sudo pluma /etc/pulse/default.pa

Put a pound sign as the first character on the line "load-module module-role-cork".

Save and then restart pulseaudio like this:

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

Then list the pulseaudio sinks again to see if the stream is still corked.

Reference Arch Linux: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PulseAudio/Troubleshooting

djb

1 Like
#36

SORRY....not the intent but sure appreciate all the help.

This one has me "baffled" as I have searched all over the web and seemed to be getting some of the same things you have had me do.

I still believe it's something in the code frankly speaking as I have tried different headphones, different browsers, different files for video playback etc and none of the local files or YT work but good old Google Play Music is still belting out the tunes!

#37

Dave_Barnes:

Here is the output again after following the instructions you have provided:

tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ sudo pluma /etc/pulse/default.pa
[sudo] password for tim:
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ pulseaudio -k
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ pulseaudio --start
tim@tim-MacBookAir:~$ pacmd
Welcome to PulseAudio 13.0! Use "help" for usage information.

list-sinks-input
Unknown command: list-sinks-input

list-sink-inputs
1 sink input(s) available.
index: 0
driver: <protocol-native.c>
flags: START_CORKED
state: CORKED
sink: 0 <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
muted: no
current latency: 250.00 ms
requested latency: 210.00 ms
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
resample method: (null)
module: 11
client: 12 QtPulseAudio:1809
properties:
media.name = "QtPulseSample-1809-140302958492000"
application.name = "QtPulseAudio:1809"
native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
native-protocol.version = "33"
application.process.id = "1809"
application.process.user = "tim"
application.process.host = "tim-MacBookAir"
application.process.binary = "Enpass"
application.language = "en_CA.UTF-8"
window.x11.display = ":0"
application.process.machine_id = "c7fa2cff97ad4fbea5befe49d0631cb9"
application.process.session_id = "c2"
module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-application-name:QtPulseAudio:1809"

Appears to still show as corked.....

#38

You don't have any pulseaudio snaps do you?
You can list snaps with "snap list".

Sounds like some permissions bug or similar. Hopefully a future update of 19.10 will fix it.

I can't get my head around the fact that some apps work and others don't plus it "used to work" before an update.

djb

#39

Or try a live cd of 20.04 see if all working then maybe just update to 20.04 - thats what Im running at the moment.

#40

Thanks Pete and Dave,

I can work around this by simply using the speakers at low volume when in public setting.

Will wait for the official update which I know is coming soon....hopefully it fixes it.

REALLY appreciate the support from the UM community.

1 Like