Arch Linux

warl0ck

Member

Registered: 2020-04-29

Posts: 50

Pulseaudio - Crackling mic audio only after unplugging mic X times

I've been experiencing this issue on my system lately, probably since about 2 weeks ago.

My audio setup:

* Basic `pulseaudio` installation
* Desktop speakers plugged into motherboard IO in back
*  HyperX Cloud Stinger Core headset plugged into combo mic/speaker jack in front of PC case

In the past 6 months since getting this headset, I haven't really had any issue plugging/unplugging the headset into the front of the case when I need to get on a call. Desktop audio is routed to the headphones, and Discord/Zoom pick up on the microphone.

Now, I am having the issue where I will be operating as normal throughout the day, hotswapping the mic multiple times due to multiple meetings, and then all of a sudden my microphone input is just static garbage. It happens reliably after about 5 hotswaps.

Going into discord sound testing, the mic input just sounds like crap, my voice isn't even detected. Same with Zoom. I can hear sounds just fine through the headphones.

Opening `pavucontrol` and going to the "Input Devices" tab shows my microphone, but the levels are jumping around the minimum levels, and don't change at all when I start speaking. The only thing that reliably changes the levels in pavucontrol is physically bending the cable with my hand.

The only fix I have found so far is a complete system reboot, which is obviously not ideal. What other information could I provide to debug this?

I randomly brought this up to a couple classmates, and both have experienced this bug. One running Mint, the other Arch. I'm thinking it's a pulseaudio bug, and I wish I could say I'm surprised.

ponyrider

Member

Registered: 2014-11-18

Posts: 112

Re: Pulseaudio - Crackling mic audio only after unplugging mic X times

Maybe restarting pulseaudio will resolve the issue?

pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

if there is no output, the daemon started with no errors

Last edited by ponyrider (2021-03-16 11:53:30)

warl0ck

Member

Registered: 2020-04-29

Posts: 50

Re: Pulseaudio - Crackling mic audio only after unplugging mic X times

I did try doing

systemctl --user restart pulseaudio.service

And that cut out al my audio, which slowly returned as programs "fixed" themselves. Polybar had to be restarted to recognize the new sink. However that does not fix the microphone issue.

warl0ck

Member

Registered: 2020-04-29

Posts: 50

Re: Pulseaudio - Crackling mic audio only after unplugging mic X times

I am looking at journalctl when this error happens, and the only log I can find is a complaint from kdeconnect.

Mar 17 12:10:58 reaper kdeconnectd[2328]: org.kde.pulseaudio: No object for name "alsa_output.pci-0000_2f_00.4.analog-stereo.monitor"