Some applications use the wrong audio output when using a USB headset

[Gioele Barabucci]

I used the default sound properties display of Ubuntu 14.04 to set the default output from the internal loudspeaker included in my computer (a nice touch found on a Levono tower PC) to an USB headset.

Most of the applications correctly output their sound to the USB headset, Rhythmbox for example.

There, however, are some applications that still send their sound to the internal loudspeaker, for example the Tomate application [1] and the flash plugin (inside Firefox).

[1] http://askubuntu.com/a/190675/155539

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4
Uname: Linux 3.15.0-031500rc8-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/pcmC2D0p: gioele 2069 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC2: gioele 2069 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: gioele 2069 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC1: gioele 2069 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Fri Jun 6 12:20:41 2014
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-15 (21 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_Card: Internes Audio - HDA Intel PCH
Symptom_Jack: Speaker, Internal
Symptom_Type: No auto-mute between outputs
Title: [10A7000LGE, Realtek ALC662 rev3, Speaker, Internal] No automute
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/26/2014
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: FBKT72AUS
dmi.board.name: SHARKBAY
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: 0B98401 PRO
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.chassis.version: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrFBKT72AUS:bd01/26/2014:svnLENOVO:pn10A7000LGE:pvrThinkCentreM93p:rvnLENOVO:rnSHARKBAY:rvr0B98401PRO:cvnToBeFilledByO.E.M.:ct3:cvrToBeFilledByO.E.M.:
dmi.product.name: 10A7000LGE
dmi.product.version: ThinkCentre M93p
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[Raymond (superquad-vortex2)]

Default sink name: alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Inc._Logitech_USB_Headset_H340-00-H340.analog-stereo
Default source name: alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo

it is bug of pulseaudio if it switch default sink to USB but not the default source

[Gioele Barabucci (gioele)]

If I use the indicator-sound-switcher to switch to the USB headset, all the audio will be properly redirected, but only until the screensaver kicks in and I need to insert my password again.

Once I am back into my session, the indicator will say that my output device is the USB headset, but the audio from applications like Flash will be directed to the internal loudspeaker.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[ilj (ilia-rogov)]

i have similar issue with Plantronics USB headset. it can be selected as output in sound settings menu, but it still uses laptop speakers.
3.5mm headphones work though.

[Rael Gugelmin Cunha (rael-gc)]

Same bug here. I'm using a Logitech G333, so appears the problem is not related to a specific USB headset vendor.

The program that I can see that doesn't respect my default device is Pidgin.

[Marcus Tomlinson (marcustomlinson)]

This release of Ubuntu is no longer receiving maintenance updates. If this is still an issue on a maintained version of Ubuntu please let us know.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for alsa-driver (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]