Sound Preferences - Output device always wrong

[pinback74]

Dear board,

I'm just a common user and wondering why I always have to switch the sound settings on my Ubuntu Mate (Release 22.04.5 LTS) after I start my operating system. Is there a way to make the correct output device as a default?
I found some quite same sounding issues in the web but it's too techie for me.
PCM2902 is always as a default but everything is mute with this settings.
I need always switch to 'Family 17th..." but it's not defaulted then. I have always to do the same after restart.

Thanks in advance!

[lah7]

I vaguely remember this a long time ago. It's possible some devices (e.g. a monitor) initialize at different times, and auto switch the setting.

There is a program called pavucontrol ("PulseAudio Volume Control") you could install, which is very identical to the Sound Preferences, but has an option to set a "fallback" which might help.

Not quite the common user way, but it is quick terminal command away to get it:

sudo apt install -y pavucontrol
pavucontrol

If this doesn't work, you could use Hardware tab in Sound Preferences to disable any devices you don't use for sound.

[pinback74]

I tried your last suggestion with disabling the device and it works. Thanks a lot!

[Stephen_Wade]

Yep, a bit more info on disabling the device that you don't want to use in Sound Preferences.

Go to the Hardware tab, select the device from the list, then go to the Profile drop down menu, and select Off.

Screenshot:

I did this for a bunch of devices so that I am sure they are never selected (for example, the microphone in my webcam is garbage and I never want to use it).