Starting pavucontrol creates sound drop-out [related to C270/C910 Logitech webcam]

[Kev Bowring]

With some media playing, start pavucontrol. Seen on hardware and virtual machine

Sound mutes momentarily then restarts.

Previous behaviour:

No muting of playing sound when pavucontrol starts.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 15.10
Package: pavucontrol 3.0-3build1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.2.0-14.16-generic 4.2.2
Uname: Linux 4.2.0-14-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.19-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: XFCE
Date: Thu Oct 8 15:51:43 2015
InstallationDate: Installed on 2015-10-01 (6 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 15.10 "Wily Werewolf" - Alpha amd64 (20151001)
SourcePackage: pavucontrol
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Jack Fromm (jjfrv8)]

Saw this with Parole but not VLC.

System: Host: jjf-desktop Kernel: 4.2.0-12-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3
           Distro: Ubuntu 15.10 wily
Machine: Mobo: ASUSTeK model: P7P55-M v: Rev X.0x Bios: American Megatrends v: 0312 date: 11/13/2009
CPU: Quad core Intel Core i5 750 (-MCP-) cache: 8192 KB
           clock speeds: max: 2668 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1600 MHz 3: 1200 MHz 4: 1867 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GT216 [GeForce GT 220]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1280x1024@60.02hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce GT 220/PCIe/SSE2 GLX Version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 304.128
Audio: Card-1 Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
           Card-2 NVIDIA GT216 HDMI Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.2.0-12-generic

[Sean Davis (bluesabre)]

I'm not able to reproduce this myself on my hardware at least.

Tested with Parole, Chromium, and Epiphany

System: Host: sean-asus-linux Kernel: 4.2.0-14-generic x86_64 (64 bit) Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3
           Distro: Ubuntu 15.10 wily
Machine: Mobo: ASUSTeK model: Q550LF v: 1.0 Bios: American Megatrends v: Q550LF.211 date: 10/16/2013
CPU: Dual core Intel Core i7-4500U (-HT-MCP-) cache: 4096 KB
           clock speeds: max: 3000 MHz 1: 1800 MHz 2: 1854 MHz 3: 2186 MHz 4: 2615 MHz
Graphics: Card-1: Intel Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
           Card-2: NVIDIA GK107M [GeForce GT 745M]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1920x1080@60.10hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Intel Haswell Mobile GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 11.0.0
Audio: Card-1 Intel 8 Series HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel Sound: ALSA v: k4.2.0-14-generic
           Card-2 Intel Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Not seen in 14.04 nor 15.04.

Seen in Parole and Clementine.

System: Host: wily Kernel: 4.2.0-14-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 Distro: Ubuntu 15.10 wily
Machine: System: NOVATECH product: MBB-44608 v: V1.0
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: H81M-DS2V
           Bios: American Megatrends v: F5 date: 06/19/2014
CPU: Quad core Intel Core i5-4460 (-MCP-) speed/max: 1668/3400 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA GT218 [GeForce 210]
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 drivers: nvidia (unloaded: fbdev,vesa,nouveau)
           Resolution: 1920x1080@59.93hz
           GLX Renderer: GeForce 210/PCIe/SSE2
           GLX Version: 3.3.0 NVIDIA 340.93
Audio: Card-1 C-Media CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio] driver: snd_virtuoso
           Card-2 NVIDIA High Definition Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Card-3 Logitech Webcam C270 driver: USB Audio
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.2.0-14-generic

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

no seen on laptop

System: Host: test-F71IX1 Kernel: 4.2.0-14-generic x86_64 (64 bit)
           Desktop: Xfce 4.12.3 Distro: Ubuntu 15.10 wily
Machine: System: DIXONSXP product: F71IX1
           Mobo: DIXONSXP model: DIXONSXP
           Bios: Phoenix v: 2.02 date: 03/05/2009
CPU: Dual core Intel Pentium Dual T3400 (-MCP-) speed/max: 1666/2166 MHz
Graphics: Card: Intel Mobile 4 Series Integrated Graphics Controller
           Display Server: X.Org 1.17.2 drivers: intel (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
           Resolution: 1440x900@59.94hz
           GLX Renderer: Mesa DRI Mobile Intel GM45 Express
           GLX Version: 2.1 Mesa 11.0.2
Audio: Card Intel 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
           driver: snd_hda_intel
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.2.0-14-generic
Network: Card: Realtek RTL8101/2/6E PCI Express Fast/Gigabit Ethernet controller
           driver: r8169
Drives: HDD Total Size: 160.0GB (4.2% used)
Info: Processes: 153 Uptime: 22 min Memory: 484.2/2876.3MB
           Client: Shell (bash) inxi: 2.2.16

[Jack Fromm (jjfrv8)]

I don't have the issue on my laptop. It had an early release of Wily with the -7 kernel and I tried it before I ran updates. No issue. Then I updated and tried again. Still no issue. So I only see the issue on one of my three machines (the one I reported above).

[Ubuntu QA Website (ubuntuqa)]

This bug has been reported on the Ubuntu ISO testing tracker.

A list of all reports related to this bug can be found here:
http://iso.qa.ubuntu.com/qatracker/reports/bugs/1504175

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Using Xubuntu 16.04.

pavucontrol - 3.0-3build1
pulseaudio - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1
pulseaudio-module-x11 - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1
pulseaudio-utils - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1

Start up pavucontrol and the sound mutes momentarily - perhaps 1s or so

reported it externally - affects me with C-Media CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio] driver: snd_virtuoso

seen by someone else with Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pavucontrol/+bug/1504175

[Alexander E. Patrakov (patrakov-gmail)]

Reproducible here on a jack sink

[Raymond (superquad-vortex2)]

ct 08 15:30:36 hostname pulseaudio[1719]: [pulseaudio] source.c: Default and alternate sample rates are the same.
Oct 08 15:30:39 hostname pulseaudio[1719]: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Volume element Master has 8 channels. That's too much! I can't handle that!

[Raymond (superquad-vortex2)]

(In reply to flocculant from comment #0)
> Using Xubuntu 16.04.
>
> pavucontrol - 3.0-3build1
> pulseaudio - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1
> pulseaudio-module-x11 - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1
> pulseaudio-utils - 1:7.1-1ubuntu1
>
> Start up pavucontrol and the sound mutes momentarily - perhaps 1s or so
>
> reported it externally - affects me with C-Media CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]
> driver: snd_virtuoso
>
> seen by someone else with Intel 5 Series/3400 Series High Definition Audio
> driver: snd_hda_intel
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pavucontrol/+bug/1504175

Oct 08 15:30:39 hostname pulseaudio[1719]: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Volume element Master has 8 channels. That's too much! I can't handle that!

Do you mean this patch does not work?

http://cgit.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/commit/src/modules/alsa?id=fcbbe34e001b9bee3e73a663e9bf9ddc11c0a1d5

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

I wouldn't know if the patch has been applied. Nor would I know how to apply it locally.

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

Couldn't reproduce with a quick test here - can we get a PulseAudio verbose log here please? ( https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PulseAudio/Log )

I e, one with --log-time=1, and please note at what time values the audio turns off and turns back on again?

Thanks!

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Created attachment 120182
pulse verbose log

Hard to know exactly when it was. But I tried to stop the logging almost immediately after I had started pavucontrol and got the mute going on. Hope that helps.

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Created attachment 120195
machine specs

mmm

so - just putting down here what I'm seeing with sound, perhaps the wrong place but might be useful

I've seen this bug during the last 'ubuntu dev cycle even if I do so with Xubuntu'

following recent updates I have got, I'm now seeing a momentary mute of sound when vbox starts, vbox does more than just sit there waiting for my input

not seeing any particular spikes in cpu activity

memory was recently checked out

attached machine specs

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

(In reply to flocculant from comment #5)
> Created attachment 120182 [details]
> pulse verbose log
>
> Hard to know exactly when it was. But I tried to stop the logging almost
> immediately after I had started pavucontrol and got the mute going on. Hope
> that helps.

Thanks. It seems the big hickup (about 2 seconds) is below. Because pavucontrol starts recording from all sources, that includes the usb webcam mic. Just to check if this is the actual cause, could you try disconnecting the webcam and see if the problem goes away?

( 22.253| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source-output.c: Trying to change sample rate
( 22.253| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] module-suspend-on-idle.c: Source alsa_input.usb-046d_0825_121F40B0-02.analog-mono becomes busy, resuming.
( 22.253| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] source.c: Suspend cause of source alsa_input.usb-046d_0825_121F40B0-02.analog-mono is 0x0000, resuming
( 22.254| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] reserve-wrap.c: Successfully acquired reservation lock on device 'Audio2'
( 22.254| 0.000) I: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-source.c: Trying resume...
( 22.345| 0.091) D: [alsa-sink-Multichannel] protocol-native.c: Implicit underrun of ''Es Vedra' by 'The Orb Featuring David Gilmour''
( 22.815| 0.470) I: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-util.c: Disabling tsched mode since BATCH flag is set
( 22.816| 0.000) D: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-util.c: Maximum hw buffer size is 10922 ms
( 24.127| 1.311) D: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-util.c: Set buffer size first (to 4797 samples), period size second (to 1199 samples).
( 24.131| 0.003) D: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-source.c: hwbuf_unused=0
( 24.131| 0.000) D: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-source.c: setting avail_min=1
( 24.131| 0.000) I: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-source.c: Resumed successfully...
( 24.131| 0.000) I: [alsa-source-USB Audio] alsa-source.c: Starting capture.

[Alexander E. Patrakov (patrakov-gmail)]

For me, disconnecting the webcam helps

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Confirm that unplugging webcam stops the mute issue.

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

Comment - fyi the person seeing the bug in the LP bug didn't have a webcam when bug was seen

<jjfrv8> [00:56:56] flocculant, I no longer have the machine that exhibited the problem for me. However, it showed the problem even without a webcam.

[Alexander E. Patrakov (patrakov-gmail)]

Maybe he has some other USB audio device?

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

seems they are no longer affected

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

The easy way out is just to blame the hardware. The harder way is to make sure we don't block other things while waiting for the hardware. Which should be possible - the tricky thing is to avoid creating races at the same time...

[Kev Bowring (flocculant)]

For sure. I'm just trying to bring as much info to the bug as I can. Because that's all I *can* do for those who can do things like fix it :)

[Gitlab-migration (gitlab-migration)]

-- GitLab Migration Automatic Message --

This bug has been migrated to freedesktop.org's GitLab instance and has been closed from further activity.

You can subscribe and participate further through the new bug through this link to our GitLab instance: https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pavucontrol/issues/7.