We figured it was not a pulse problem but with alsa since upgrade of libasound.
solution: switch back to older versions.
sudo apt install libasound2=1.2.2-2.1 libasound2-data=1.2.2-2.1 libasound2:i386=1.2.2-2.1 libatopology2=1.2.2-2.1
view the report here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-lib/+bug/1905132
We figured it was not a pulse problem but with alsa since upgrade of libasound.
solution: switch back to older versions.
sudo apt install libasound2= 1.2.2-2. 1 libasound2- data=1. 2.2-2.1 libasound2: i386=1. 2.2-2.1 libatopology2= 1.2.2-2. 1
view the report here: https:/ /bugs.launchpad .net/ubuntu/ +source/ alsa-lib/ +bug/1905132