muted audio unexpectedly unmuted by applications

[absolut]

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

[horo]

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

[absolut]

flat volumes is "no"

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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

[devil]

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.

[piper]

Could I see

Code Select Expand

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 Expand

amixer -D pulse set Master unmute
amixer -D pulse set Master 1+ unmute
amixer -D pulse set Master Playback Switch toggle

[absolut]

hi piper, here is the output

Code Select Expand


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

[piper]

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

[absolut]

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