Arch Linux

AlexP11223

Member

Registered: 2021-12-28

Posts: 4

[SOLVED] Sound became very quiet in some apps

Any ideas how to debug this or how to reset things that may cause this?

Several months ago some apps became very quiet. I think it happened after pairing via Bluetooth with an iPhone (to use the PC headphones/mic there). But it’s unpaired and removed now.

So far I reproduce this issue in these cases:

- Skype: call (or “make a free test call” in settings). The ringtone work fine.
- Bluetooth audio from my Android phone (Pixel 6a). At least the microphone recorder and calls. Youtube seems to work fine somehow, even though in both cases I see the same bluez_input in PulseAudio Volume Control and EasyEffects.

KDE, latest Pipewire, Wireplumber.

As suggested in the Arch wiki I checked volume in alsamixer --> F6, but if I increase from 37 to 100 Skype becomes better but other apps/sounds become too loud, the volume in KDE becomes 100%.

Skype volume in KDE and pavucontrol is 100%.

Last edited by AlexP11223 (2023-11-19 18:24:41)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 23,559

Re: [SOLVED] Sound became very quiet in some apps

If it's limited to Skype just increase that to more than 100%? Probably a Skype bug/adjustment

Bluetooth volume/audio shouldn't matter for the integrated card

Last edited by V1del (2023-11-19 14:36:53)

AlexP11223

Member

Registered: 2021-12-28

Posts: 4

Re: [SOLVED] Sound became very quiet in some apps

It's still quieter than normal at max, and it's also for Android bluetooth calls, not just Skype.

But looks like I fixed it by deleting some Wireplumber cache.

$ systemctl --user stop wireplumber
$ rm -rf ~/.local/state/wireplumber
$ systemctl --user start wireplumber

I have looked into this dir before, but thought that it cannot be related to the issue because in the restore-stream file all volumes were 1.0 and Skype is missing there (I guess Audio:media.role:Communication may be used for it).

Last edited by AlexP11223 (2023-11-19 18:23:52)