volume indicator does not change when a new sound device is plugged in

[Ezra Sharp]

When I plugin my USB headphone the sound automatically switches to them, but the Volume control indicator in Wingpanel does not. I have to manually change sound devices in switchboard to get this working every time.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: elementary OS 0.2
Package: elementary-desktop 1.299-0~373~precise1 [origin: LP-PPA-elementary-os-daily]
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-30.51~precise1-generic 3.5.7.9
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-30-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.2+elementary3~precise1
Architecture: amd64
CrashDB: elementary_meta
Date: Wed May 22 23:46:33 2013
InstallationMedia: elementary OS 0.2 "Luna" - Beta 1 amd64 (20121114)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_NZ:en
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_NZ.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: elementary-meta
SuspiciousXErrors:

ThirdParty: True
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[gmeier (gabriel-meier)]

same problem here with usb speakers.

[R_volkmann (r-volkmann)]

same here with bluetooth sound device.
a possibility to change output device from sound indicator would be good to.

[Jay (jay-kent-uk)]

I also have this problem with Bluetooth speakers (Jawbone Jambox).

Behaviour seems to be very hit and miss

* Sometimes it will work as expected (audio and volume adjustment will switch automatically on connection)

* Sometimes the audio will switch, but volume adjustment will not, so that you have to switch manually to the correct output in sound settings. This seems to be most common.

* Sometimes neither the audio nor the volume adjustment will switch, and you have to switch manually in sound settings. Also, in this case, the wrong, low quality audio profile will usually be selected (HSP/HFP), and I have to go back again to switch to the high quality profile (A2DP).

[Djax (parnold-x)]

Hi Ezra,
would be great if you could retest this with the new sound indicator.
If you don't know how to get it let me know.

[Ezra Sharp (nicekiwi)]

Sound instructions would be great :)

[Djax (parnold-x)]

First the warning, you will install work in progress software so it will maybe break your system.
But it should work fine.

// to install the new panel and indicators
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:elementary-os/staging
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wingpanel
killall wingpanel (maybe a restart)

*Test with your sound device*

// to revert to the old wingpanel and indicators
sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:elementary-os/staging
(or ppa-purge if you want get rid of everything installed above http://askubuntu.com/questions/307/how-can-ppas-be-removed )
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install wingpanel=0.3.0.1* --reinstall
killall wingpanel

[Ezra Sharp (nicekiwi)]

Well, Its still not working.

When I remove my headset, the volume indicator does change its UI to reflect the volume and status of the fallback device and it works for controlling that volume (i think). Though there's major audio lag while watching video and changing the audio/microphone device.

However when I plug the USB headset back in, the volume indicator 'mute' UI changes to reflect the previous mute state of the USB headset, the mute switch works and the noise that occurs when you click the volume 'knob', however the slider itself does not resume its previous place along the slider and moving it has no effect what-so-ever on the audio volume from the USB headset.

I would also note that the audio device does not automatically change to the headset (if it were previously selected as default) while the Switchboard Sound plug is open.

I tried to record a video, but simpleScreenRecorder wouldn't re-capture the headset auto after it was removed and plugged in again so it looses its effect.

[Djax (parnold-x)]

Thanks Ezra for the testing.
Don't think I can do anything about it without such device.
With my normal headset everything works as expected.

Hopefully someone with a usb headset can and will fix it :)

[Djax (parnold-x)]

Does it get fixed with this answer?
http://elementaryos.stackexchange.com/a/1695/37

[xapantu (xapantu)]

Same problem in the new wingpanel, it at least does not work for bluetooth headphones.

[Djax (parnold-x)]

I think it has nothing to do with the indicator. It must be enabled in pulseaudio
http://askubuntu.com/a/8428