Speakers do not mute when starting an audio program with headsets jack inserted

[Nicola Ferralis]

While starting an audio program (Amarok for example) for the first time after reboot or resume and when an headsets jack is already inserted, the mini speakers do not mute. To mute them, the jack need to be unplugged and plugged in again.

To reproduce:
0. Reboot or resume
1. Plug in headsets jack
2. Run an audio program (Amarok or Singbird for example)
3. Start some music

Expected result:
Audio should be only in headsets, speakers muted.

Actual result:
Audio is both on speakers and headsets. Speakers are not muted.

Note that if the headsets are plugged in after the program is running, the speakers are correctly muted.

[Kevin Marcinko (marcinkm191)]

I just noticed this today as well (unfortunately it was an embarrassing moment) but in the past the speakers have muted.

[Chris Wayne (cwayne)]

Marking as confirmed since two members saw it, but additional info is necessary as I can't reproduce.

When was the last time you've updated?
What build are you running? (Copy and paste the output of 'cat /etc/buildstamp')
How frequently does this bug occur? Every time?

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

This bug happens every time. The system is fully updated.

Buildstamp:
fastar 13-09-2008 16:28:13 EDT

[Nicola Ferralis (feranick)]

A little follow-up. The same problem happens when I mute the speakers. In details:

1. Run an audio application (AmaroK in my case)
2. Plug the headset (they should mute if the the program is already running).
3. mute the system (Fn+4)
4. Disable mute.

Expected result: audio should be directed only to headset, not PC speakers.

Actual result: audio is directed in BOTH speakers and headsets. To disable the speakers, i need to unplug the headset and replug them.

By the way I am running BIOS A04.

[Jeff Fortin Tam (kiddo)]

I think I have pinpointed the problem more clearly and more easily. On my end,
- I'm keeping the headphones plugged in at all times
- music is playing at all times during the test

To reproduce:
1- fn+4 (mute)
2- fn+4 (unmute)

This will have the effect of umuting the sound both from the headphones and the speakers. Is this the core issue, or is this a different issue? I could not reproduce using the original instructions of this bug report (it has nothing to do if an app was started before or after plugging the headphones, in my case)

[Jeff Fortin Tam (kiddo)]

Another way to reproduce is to lower the sound (fn+4) until it becomes muted, and raise the volume again (fn+6).

Basically, it seems that anytime you mute/unmute, the speakers reactivate. Is this a bios bug? Anyone tried with the Other OS? On the other hand, I think I recall seeing this kind of stupid behavior with other laptops in the past.

[Jeff Fortin Tam (kiddo)]

Oops, I obviously meant fn+5 to lower the volume and fn+6 to raise it.

[bloo (bloo)]

I can reproduce this issue with Ubuntu 9.04 fully updated.

It happens when I mute the system with headphones plugged, then unmute. Sound comes out from both speakers and headphones.

I also had an embarassing moment in a library, playing almost a full song in a place where absolute silence is needed. As I had the headphones, I could not notice until someone told me. In my opinion, this reason should be taken into account when considering importance for this bug.

[John (johnnybirdman)]

I have not confirmed the OP's issues but I noticed this bug on my mini 9 in a different way:
1. Machine is off with headphones plugged in (my normal starting state)
2. Startup machine and sound comes (startup sound) out of the speakers and the headphones
3. unplug and replug headphones and speakers are muted as normal (i use totem, vlc, audacious and web audio).

the fix is easy but annoying and I don't want to keep plugging and unplugging the headphones because the jack will break eventually.

Ubuntu 9.04 fully updated (5/30/2009)

J.

[Jeff Fortin Tam (kiddo)]

Holy sh... I think this bug was solved in Ubuntu 9.10! I was beginning to think it was a bios bug. Can anyone confirm? I was not able to reproduce the problem at all.

[Robski (rob-berezowski)]

I have this problem with my Asus EEE pc running Ubuntu 9.10 netbook remix. I have tried unplugging and replugging the headphones, I have tried to stop the application, unplug headphones, start application and plug headphones back in, but that doesn't work either.

[ffoletti (ffoletti)]

Same bug on asus eeepc 1101 with Karmic. No unplug-replug procedure works. If I mute something, all is muted. Seems like it's recognized as a single output.