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badhat

Member

Registered: 2011-01-30

Posts: 112

[SOLVED] No output sound in "Left 4 Dead 2" when mumble is started

When I play L4D2 without mumble running I get sound but when I have mumble running I get no sound.
Mumble is configured to use pulseaudio, though I'm not sure about Steam -- pavucontrol reports it is using SDL and I thought that SDL now supported PA?

I've tried to launch steam with
SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulse
and with
SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulseaudio
but it doesn't help. It seems like the issue is probably with PA, since I'm able to play sounds from audacious while using Steam.

Last edited by badhat (2014-06-05 04:16:35)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,076

Re: [SOLVED] No output sound in "Left 4 Dead 2" when mumble is started

If pavucontrol reports it using sdl and not [alsa-plugin] SDL it's using pulse, your issue seems to be somewhere else dunno where though

badhat

Member

Registered: 2011-01-30

Posts: 112

Re: [SOLVED] No output sound in "Left 4 Dead 2" when mumble is started

Somewhere else than pulseaudio? I definitely believe pulse to be the issue. There's no trouble if I'm using alsa (e.g. kill steam, kill pulse, start steam and have sound).

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 25,076

Re: [SOLVED] No output sound in "Left 4 Dead 2" when mumble is started

I have never heard of pulse blocking itself, you sure that mumble is using it? as in does it also have a mumble stream in pavucontrol? My bet is that you first start mumble, it blocks your soundcard and L4D (or any other soundsource for that matter(?)) doesn't output sound anymore. output of

fuser -v /dev/snd/*

while sound isn't working would be useful.

SNARKY REMARK EDIT:

since I'm able to play sounds from audacious while using Steam.

This basically confirms that it isn't a pulse issue, as its apparently working fine in that scenario. If it REALLY is pulse + mumble + steam then mumble seems to use it in some seriously wonky ways for such a regression to occur

REAL EDIT
I just tested this because I was curious, and I can't reproduce, no L4D but TF2 and they all use the same engine and SDL so it shouldn't matter. Are you sure the volume isn't just lowered due to Mumble's lower stream volumes feature which kicks in as soon as you hear someone talk/make noise/whatever?

Last edited by V1del (2014-06-03 17:17:46)

badhat

Member

Registered: 2011-01-30

Posts: 112

Re: [SOLVED] No output sound in "Left 4 Dead 2" when mumble is started

It seems like mumble is pretty key, somehow. With just audacious playing I see:

myhost% fuser -v /dev/snd/*
                     USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/controlC1:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/controlC2:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p:   myuser   7365 F...m pulseaudio

With mumble running I see:

myhost% fuser -v /dev/snd/*
                     USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
                     myuser  20153 F.... mumble
/dev/snd/controlC1:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/controlC2:  myuser   7365 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p:   myuser  20153 F...m mumble
/dev/snd/pcmC2D0c:   myuser   7365 F...m pulseaudio
/dev/snd/timer:      myuser   7365 f.... pulseaudio
                     myuser  20153 f.... mumble

EDIT: sigh, I'm an idiot. I had input set to PA within mumble, but I had output set to alsa. Yep.

Thanks for your help. Hopefully you don't hurt yourself too bad when you bang your head against your desk after reading.

Last edited by badhat (2014-06-05 04:15:52)