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etrella_m

Member

Registered: 2024-07-20

Posts: 4

Bluetooth earbuds microphone not transmitting audio - PipeWire

Hello, it's my first time posting here so please bare with me...

I'm trying to use my bluetooth earbud's (Jabra Elite 3 Active) microphone but for some reason the audio is not getting transmitted (it used to work like 2 weeks ago I believe). I'm using PipeWire and don't have PulseAudio installed, nor any other audio server for that matter. I also correctly followed the installation guide for PipeWire, I think. I can hear audio perfectly and the sound profile correctly switches to Headset Head Unit when it detects that the microphone is going to be used, but the microphone just doesn't transmit audio.

I read somewhere that you can directly use bluetooth devices through ALSA with bluez-alsa (or something like that) and when I tried it that seemed to make the microphone work, but I don't think I should have to use that as PipeWire supports bluetooth by default, right? Plus this fails to work from time to time, for unknown reasons.

So at this point I'm out of ideas, might any of you have a clue to what might be wrong? I'd really appreciate any help, thanks!

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,638

Re: Bluetooth earbuds microphone not transmitting audio - PipeWire

Welcome to the forums.  My guess is that it has to do with the connection profile.   Earbuds can connect in Hi Fidelity mode (SBC) or in a lower fidelity headset mode (CVSD or mSBC).  In headset mode, the microphone is available.  Programs like Teams or Zoom may be able to put the earbuds into headset mode.   Music, of course, wants SBC which does not provide microphone. 

I guess when it worked you were in headset mode.  Now you are not.  You might look at pavucontrol.  It has a configuration tab that let's you set the configuration.  It also shows the sources that are available and include sound level meters to visualize activity.

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Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus
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etrella_m

Member

Registered: 2024-07-20

Posts: 4

Re: Bluetooth earbuds microphone not transmitting audio - PipeWire

Even when in headset mode audio still isn't transmitted, no idea why. Checked with pavucontrol, and Discord.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,638

Re: Bluetooth earbuds microphone not transmitting audio - PipeWire

Does pavucontrol show any activity on the audio level meters of the headset mic?

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Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus
---
How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

etrella_m

Member

Registered: 2024-07-20

Posts: 4

Re: Bluetooth earbuds microphone not transmitting audio - PipeWire

Nope, although it does show for the laptops built-in mic, even when the main audio profile is the earbuds (maybe it's the default behavior, not sure).