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Author Topic:  muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications  (Read 2414 times)

Offline absolut

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muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« on: 2018/02/22, 20:33:59 »
hi,

recently i have recognized that i am facing a strange issue in kde. i do not remember that happening earlier.

muted audio is being unmuted (!) by apps that play sounds. this happens, for example, when i
- receive a mail and thunderbird plays a notification sound
- start a browser (firefox or chromium) and play a video
- start qmmp or vlc and play any media file

anybody can confirm that issue? where to look, what info is needed?
thanks in advance,
best
absolut

Offline horo

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Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #1 on: 2018/02/23, 10:19:12 »
Hi,
kann es das "flat-volumes"-Problem sein? PA-Upgrade in letzter Zeit?
https://forum.siduction.org/index.php?topic=5300.msg43322#msg43322

Ciao, Martin
omnia vincit pecunia :(

Offline absolut

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Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #2 on: 2018/02/23, 18:43:17 »
flat volumes is "no"

Code: [Select]
absolut@sidbox: ~ $ grep flat /etc/pulse/daemon.conf
flat-volumes = no

but the idea might be pointing in the correct direction... can anybody reproduce that issue? that would help

Offline devil

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Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #3 on: 2018/02/23, 23:15:14 »
I used to have this, even with 'flat volumes = no' But that last happened ~ 18 months ago and it stopped by itself. Sorry, I know that does not help.

Offline piper

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  • we are the priests ... of the temples of syrinx
Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #4 on: 2018/02/24, 09:09:12 »
Could I see

Code: [Select]
amixer -c 0 | grep mixer

amixer -c 1 | grep mixer


May want to do a search with these in the search title, it may help to pinpoint your problem, you may alos find some useful scripts to help (or not)

Code: [Select]
amixer -D pulse set Master unmute
amixer -D pulse set Master 1+ unmute
amixer -D pulse set Master Playback Switch toggle
Free speech isn't just fucking saying what you want to say, it's also hearing what you don't want to fucking hear

I either give too many fucks or no fucks at all, it's like I cannot find a middle ground for a moderate fuck distribution, it's like what the fuck

Offline absolut

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Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #5 on: 2018/02/25, 21:55:37 »
hi piper, here is the output
Code: [Select]
absolut@sidbox: ~ $ amixer -c 0 | grep mixer
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',3
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',4
absolut@sidbox: ~ $ amixer -c 1 | grep mixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic',0
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic Boost',0
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
Simple mixer control 'Line Boost',0
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
Simple mixer control 'Digital',0
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',1
Simple mixer control 'Loopback Mixing',0
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic',0
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic Boost',0

in case this is relevant, the hardware setup looks as follows:

computer (onboard sound) ---> optical cable ---> AV receiver ---> loudspeakers

Offline piper

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  • we are the priests ... of the temples of syrinx
Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #6 on: 2018/02/26, 05:45:11 »
That output looks perfectly fine

I can't really find anything about it in my google foo :(

I would maybe play around with some of these, sorry I couldn't be of more help, this is indeed a strange issue

https://askubuntu.com/questions/77522/command-to-unmute-and-maximize-volume

https://askubuntu.com/questions/544754/lubuntu-14-04-unmute-sound-from-keyboard-not-work/757113#757113

https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/186269/alsa-mixer-unmute-problem-on-thinkpad-laptop?rq=1

Free speech isn't just fucking saying what you want to say, it's also hearing what you don't want to fucking hear

I either give too many fucks or no fucks at all, it's like I cannot find a middle ground for a moderate fuck distribution, it's like what the fuck

Offline absolut

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Re: muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications
« Reply #7 on: 2018/02/26, 19:12:49 »
another experiment:

0. start vlc

1. mute audio
2. select a media file A to play   --> result: audio is unmuted
3. stop playback of file A in vlc by pressing the [stop] button
4. mute audio
5. play the same file by pressing [play] button ---> result: audio is still muted
6. stop playback of file A
7. select a media file B to play --> result as in (2): audio is unmuted


this behavior is reproducible 100%

feels like some kind of an issue with "app & stream registration" at pulseaudio

best
absolut
« Last Edit: 2018/02/26, 19:22:51 by absolut »