[SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

Lowseling · 2021-05-21 10:25:56

Hello everyone,

I have a fresh install of archlinux on my computer. I used the new arch installer and when prompted to select pipewire or alsa I decided to use pipewire because it was working with no problems on a virtual machine before. Now on my computer it's not working properly.
When using alsamixer command I noticed that the wrong card was selected as default, in fact if I chose the right card and unmute the front output it starts working, but this way I have to select it everytime I boot on my computer. I tried to use alsactl store to save my configuration, but nothing to do. I also tried to change the alsa configuration file, but even this doesn't work to select the right card as default. Maybe I'm missing something, it's the first time I'm using pipewire a real computer instead of a virtual machine.

Do you have any idea if I can try something else?

Have a nice day,
Giuseppe

Last edited by Lowseling (2021-05-24 10:07:08)

progandy · 2021-05-21 10:50:55

Use pavucontrol, set the correct soundcard as the default and unmute it. (It works just fine with pipewire-pulse)

You might also have to enable the alsa-restore systemd service, then set up the alsa configuration with alsamixer and store it.

Last edited by progandy (2021-05-21 10:56:09)

Lowseling · 2021-05-21 16:27:42

progandy wrote:

Use pavucontrol, set the correct soundcard as the default and unmute it. (It works just fine with pipewire-pulse)
You might also have to enable the alsa-restore systemd service, then set up the alsa configuration with alsamixer and store it.

I installed pavucontrol, the right soundcard is already selected and unmuted. The alsa-restore service is already enabled and working properly, it doesn't report any error, the only thing that I can notice is that as soon as I log out and then back in the sound is not totally muted, is really low on my headphones. I tried to follow the troubleshooting part of the pipewire arch wiki but it doesn't solve the problem. If I open alsamixer and select the generic driver and then raise the volume of the front output it starts working normally. Again, if I try then to use alsactl to store the configuration as soon as I log out and the in I have to start again.

Thank you for the fast answer!

progandy · 2021-05-21 16:35:18

Do you have selected the correct port in pavucontrol as well? I have no others ideas, maybe the card needs some special alsa card profile or maybe sof-firmware and alsa-ucm-conf might help?

Last edited by progandy (2021-05-21 16:35:55)

Lowseling · 2021-05-22 07:57:44

progandy wrote:

Do you have selected the correct port in pavucontrol as well? I have no others ideas, maybe the card needs some special alsa card profile or maybe sof-firmware and alsa-ucm-conf might help?

I'm trying to figure it out. I think that now my system is selecting the right sound card, in this case it's the Generic one (which loads the realtek alc chip of my motherboard), because if I log back in now I have an output to my headphones. The issue I'm having right now is that the output is too low, no matter what I do my system can't remember how my volumes were set, it remembers only my master volume. To have an output to my headphones I have to go to alsamixer, open the generic sound card, select the front output, unmute it and raise its volume to 100%. I don't know why my configuration is not stored and I have to do this every time!

EDIT:

I don't know if this could be the cause of my issue, but I'll post some journalctl outputs hoping that will help troubleshooting the issue.

journalctl --user -b --unit pipewire-media-session.service

-- Journal begins at Wed 2021-05-19 15:13:44 CEST, ends at Sat 2021-05-22 10:54:02 CEST. --
May 22 09:13:02 archomen systemd[654]: Started Multimedia Service Session Manager.
May 22 09:13:03 archomen pipewire-media-session[854]: GetManagedObjects() failed: org.freedesktop.systemd1.NoSuchUnit
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: Stopping Multimedia Service Session Manager...
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: pipewire-media-session.service: Deactivated successfully.
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: Stopped Multimedia Service Session Manager.
May 22 09:49:41 archomen systemd[4255]: Started Multimedia Service Session Manager.
May 22 09:49:42 archomen pipewire-media-session[4452]: GetManagedObjects() failed: org.freedesktop.systemd1.NoSuchUnit
May 22 10:51:15 archomen pipewire-media-session[4452]: GetManagedObjects() failed: org.freedesktop.systemd1.NoSuchUnit

journalctl --user -b --unit pipewire-pulse.service

-- Journal begins at Wed 2021-05-19 15:13:44 CEST, ends at Sat 2021-05-22 10:59:34 CEST. --
May 22 09:13:02 archomen systemd[654]: Started PipeWire PulseAudio.
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: Stopping PipeWire PulseAudio...
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: pipewire-pulse.service: Deactivated successfully.
May 22 09:49:38 archomen systemd[654]: Stopped PipeWire PulseAudio.
May 22 09:49:41 archomen systemd[4255]: Started PipeWire PulseAudio.
May 22 09:53:13 archomen pipewire-pulse[4455]: pulse-server 0x55a048fe65d0: [PulseAudio Volume Control] ERROR command:87 (EXTENSION) tag:12 error:19 (Operation not supported)
May 22 09:53:13 archomen pipewire-pulse[4455]: pulse-server 0x55a048fe65d0: [PulseAudio Volume Control] ERROR command:87 (EXTENSION) tag:13 error:19 (Operation not supported)
May 22 09:53:13 archomen pipewire-pulse[4455]: pulse-server 0x55a048fe65d0: [PulseAudio Volume Control] ERROR command:87 (EXTENSION) tag:14 error:19 (Operation not supported)
May 22 09:53:13 archomen pipewire-pulse[4455]: pulse-server 0x55a048fe65d0: [PulseAudio Volume Control] ERROR command:87 (EXTENSION) tag:15 error:19 (Operation not supported)
May 22 09:53:13 archomen pipewire-pulse[4455]: pulse-server 0x55a048fe65d0: [PulseAudio Volume Control] ERROR command:87 (EXTENSION) tag:17 error:19 (Operation not supported)

Last edited by Lowseling (2021-05-22 09:01:36)

Lone_Wolf · 2021-05-22 11:11:55

I'd like to get an dea what audio hardware your system has, please post output of

$ aplay --list-devices --list-pcms
$ lspci -k

Lowseling · 2021-05-22 12:07:00

Lone_Wolf wrote:

I'd like to get an dea what audio hardware your system has, please post output of
$ aplay --list-devices --list-pcms
$ lspci -k

aplay --list-devices --list-pcms

null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
pipewire
    PipeWire Sound Server
default
    Default ALSA Output (currently PipeWire Media Server)
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=2
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=4
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=5
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
    HDMI Audio Output
sysdefault:CARD=Generic
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    Front output / input
surround21:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC891 Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 11: HDMI 5 [HDMI 5]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC891 Analog [ALC891 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC891 Digital [ALC891 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

lspci -k

00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Root Complex
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Root Complex
00:00.2 IOMMU: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) I/O Memory Management Unit
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) I/O Memory Management Unit
00:01.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:01.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) PCIe GPP Bridge
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:01.3 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) PCIe GPP Bridge
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:02.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
	DeviceName:  Onboard IGD
00:03.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:03.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) PCIe GPP Bridge
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:04.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:07.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:07.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Internal PCIe GPP Bridge 0 to Bus B
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:08.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-1fh) PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:08.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Internal PCIe GPP Bridge 0 to Bus B
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SMBus Controller (rev 59)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: piix4_smbus
	Kernel modules: i2c_piix4, sp5100_tco
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH LPC Bridge (rev 51)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 0
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 3
	Kernel driver in use: k10temp
	Kernel modules: k10temp
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 5
00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 6
00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Data Fabric: Device 18h; Function 7
01:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Sandisk Corp WD Black 2019/PC SN750 NVMe SSD
	Subsystem: Sandisk Corp WD Black 2019/PC SN750 NVMe SSD
	Kernel driver in use: nvme
03:00.0 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset USB 3.1 xHCI Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
	Kernel modules: xhci_pci
03:00.1 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset SATA Controller (rev 02)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
03:00.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Device 43b2 (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
04:00.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
04:01.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
04:04.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] 300 Series Chipset PCIe Port (rev 02)
	Kernel driver in use: pcieport
05:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 16)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: r8169
	Kernel modules: r8169
06:00.0 Network controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8822BE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi adapter
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Realtek RTL8822BE 802.11ac 2 × 2 Wi-Fi + Bluetooth 4.2 Combo Adapter (MU-MIMO supported)
	Kernel driver in use: rtw_8822be
	Kernel modules: rtw88_8822be
09:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP107 [GeForce GTX 1050] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8338
	Kernel driver in use: nvidia
	Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidia_drm, nvidia
09:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GP107GL High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8338
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
11:00.0 Non-Essential Instrumentation [1300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Zeppelin/Raven/Raven2 PCIe Dummy Function
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Zeppelin/Raven/Raven2 PCIe Dummy Function
11:00.2 Encryption controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Platform Security Processor
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) Platform Security Processor
	Kernel driver in use: ccp
	Kernel modules: ccp
11:00.3 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) USB 3.0 Host Controller
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
	Kernel modules: xhci_pci
12:00.0 Non-Essential Instrumentation [1300]: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Zeppelin/Renoir PCIe Dummy Function
	Subsystem: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Zeppelin/Renoir PCIe Dummy Function
12:00.2 SATA controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 51)
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: ahci
12:00.3 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller
	Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 8309
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

Lone_Wolf · 2021-05-23 12:19:54

Currently the sound subsystem on on your nvidia card is seen as primary output and the integrated audio as secondary.

The alsa-restore service uses alsactl and alsactl by default only stores / restores values for the selected card .
As far as I know if no specfic card is selected the primary card is chosen.

You could try setting things up without alsa tools and only use PA / PW functionality[1] ,but changing the primary card as seen by alsa and its tools is not hard .

As root create /etc/modprobe.d/50-alsa.conf with this content

# set nivida card as secondary sound output for alsa 
options snd-hda-intel index=1,0

reboot and check

[1] I have no idea if PA / PW are fully functional without any alsa userland tools present.

Lowseling · 2021-05-24 10:06:04

Lone_Wolf wrote:

Currently the sound subsystem on on your nvidia card is seen as primary output and the integrated audio as secondary.
The alsa-restore service uses alsactl and alsactl by default only stores / restores values for the selected card .
As far as I know if no specfic card is selected the primary card is chosen.
You could try setting things up without alsa tools and only use PA / PW functionality[1] ,but changing the primary card as seen by alsa and its tools is not hard .
As root create /etc/modprobe.d/50-alsa.conf with this content
# set nivida card as secondary sound output for alsa 
options snd-hda-intel index=1,0
reboot and check

[1] I have no idea if PA / PW are fully functional without any alsa userland tools present.

This solution worked perfectly! Thank you very much

Arch Linux

#1 2021-05-21 10:25:56

[SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#2 2021-05-21 10:50:55

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#3 2021-05-21 16:27:42

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#4 2021-05-21 16:35:18

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#5 2021-05-22 07:57:44

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#6 2021-05-22 11:11:55

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#7 2021-05-22 12:07:00

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#8 2021-05-23 12:19:54

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

#9 2021-05-24 10:06:04

Re: [SOLVED] Audio not working (pipewire and alsa)

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