Sound output on Rhythmbox stopped working

[maxquig]

Binary package hint: rhythmbox

I had been using Rhythmbox for several days on my NEW Compaq Presario 5110F computer (Linux ubuntu 904 2.6.31-16-generic #53-Ubuntu SMP Tue Dec 8 04:02:15 UTC 2009 x86_64 GNU/Linux) including listening to .mp3 and .ogg files on an external hard drive. Magnatune and Jamendo songs also played well also. I then tried to record from the built-in HDA NVidia ALC888 Analog (Reaktek) sound. I was having trouble getting Audacity to record while playing mp3s in Rhythmbox. Then next thing I knew Rhythmbox output ceased to play. I can still play local mp3s through Totem and Audacity. When I play song in Rhythmbox with the visualizer turned on, it appears as though everything is working, except that I can't hear anything, not through the speakers or headphones.
I tried reinstalling Rhythmbox. I Tried uninstalling Rhythmbox and installing Rhythmbox again. I tried the same things after uninstalling Audacity. Since other applications still work properly, I'd have to say that the problem in Rhythmbox.

One strange thing I just noticed is that I installed Kubuntu 9.10, but the latest automatic update from Ubunto seems to have installed a kernel for Ubuntu 9.04. Maybe there is a clue in there for you.
Rhythmbox version 0.12.5

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Dec 12 18:06:31 2009
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.10
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/rhythmbox
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Package: rhythmbox 0.12.5-0ubuntu5
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.31-16.53-generic
SourcePackage: rhythmbox
Uname: Linux 2.6.31-16-generic x86_64

[malev (marcosvanetta)]

Hi maxquig,
Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.
The problem with the mp3 and ogg persist if you use another Player, like exaile or VLC?
Please check that.
Regards
malev

[maxquig (maxquig)]

VLC plays the same .mp3 just fine. What's more, Rhythmbox plays a sound effects, like a water drop, when I LMB click the Play icon in the toolbar.

[malev (marcosvanetta)]

Hi maxquig,
Thank you for taking the time to report this bug and helping to make Ubuntu better.
Could you check the setting on the Rhythmbox, maybe there are is a problem there.
Also you can run rythmbox from the console: rythmbox --debug
play the file and attach here the output.
Didn't you install or unistall Audacity, coz there is a chance that the problem comes from codecs.
Thanks again and I've been waiting for your reply

[maxquig (maxquig)]

Maldev,

I worked around the problem. First I noticed that my "guest" user's sound worked fine in Rhythmbox. A little more Google searching on a related(?) problem suggested that the problem is in the one or more of the files in my .pulse directory. I renamed the directory .pulseold and ran Rhythmbox again. Rhythmbox recreated a new .pulse directory with only 4 of the 16 or so files and broken links that were in the original .pulse directory. So the answer was to delete the .pulse directory. I still don't know if it was Rhythmbox, or Audacity that created the files that caused the problem.

Oh, and the related problem was that I would occasionally get a tooltip message that popped up in the lower RH side of my desktop that says "The Audio playback device (HDA NVidia ALC888) does not work. Falling back to playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server." This message only pops up on it's own and disappears before I can read more than about 1/4 of it. I had to see it flash about a dozen times before I managed to read the whole message.

About the settings in Rhythmbox, the only setting that I can see that may be related is the Preferred Format setting. The parameter might well do something, but it is a total mystery to me. To be honest, the Help for that setting is no help at all. The purpose of that setting is not stated. The explanation of how to edit the list in the combobox is equally useless. That needs to be rewritten. I am currently working as a software tester. I would fail an enhancement that relies on a totally mysterious parameter.

Maxquig

[malev (marcosvanetta)]

Maxquig, thanks you for answering so fast.
I'm sorry, it's no clear for me, the problem was solve? In that case, I'm gonna close the bug. Please write back if you disagree.
Regars
malev

[maxquig (maxquig)]

Malev,

I believe what I have is merely a workaround. The problem is almost surely going to reoccur, at which time I will have to delete the .pulse directory again and again. This is not a permanent solution.
I'll try to duplicate whatever created the offending files in the .pulse directory. I saved the old .pulse directory. Today I will try to figure out which file caused the problem. Was it a new file that should have been ignored or a required file that was corrupted? Regardless of what or how the file was created, Rhythmbox should be able to trap the error. In fact since Rhythmbox will create the directory and files it needs, why not always ignore the .pulse directory and just let Rhythmbox create its own .Rhythmbox configuration directory, maybe every time it is launched. That might be a good permanent solution.

Maxquig