Random Pulseaudio "Dummy Output"

[bwat47]

I cannot manually reproduce this and it seems pretty rare/random, but I've noticed in 13.04 at random when I boot up pulseaudio isn't working at all. It just shows a "dummy output". rebooting has fixed it each time it happened. I also noticed each time I saw this happen there was an accompanying hang on reboot, it would just sit at the plymouth splash and I'd have to use the power button. My theory is that sometimes pulseaudio fails to start correctly causing the dummy output issue, and when I reboot it also fails to exit causing the hang.

I've seen this on both of my laptops, one running ubuntu 13.04 fully updated one running xubuntu 13.04 fully updated. Laptop one has:

brandon@ubuntu-U52F:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec* | grep Codec
Codec: Realtek ALC269VB
Codec: Intel IbexPeak HDMI

laptop 2 has:

brandon@ubuntu-lemu4:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec* | grep Codec
Codec: VIA VT1802
Codec: Intel PantherPoint HDMI

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:3.0-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-19.29-generic 3.8.8
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-19-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: brandon 2059 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Sun Apr 21 11:19:27 2013
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-04-20 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Xubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130420)
MarkForUpload: True
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 07/21/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: U52F.208
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: U52F
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrU52F.208:bd07/21/2010:svnASUSTeKComputerInc.:pnU52F:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:rnU52F:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKComputerInc.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.name: U52F
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer Inc.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Beck (beck)]

the problem appeared with the kernel linux-image-3.8.0-18-generic

[robi1h (robi1h)]

same happened to me, fresh ubuntu 13.04 x64 insall

robert@ws150:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec* | grep Codec
Codec: Conexant CX20590
Codec: Intel CougarPoint HDMI

Lenovo ThinkPad T420

3.8.0-19-generic

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

It could be bug 1169984.

[bwat47 (bwat47)]

@David, I think you are right. I have been getting occasional kernel oops as well, it sounds like the issue I've been having.

[龍渊 (longyuan)]

Sound card is no longer detected in the latest upgrade, "dummy output" every time when I reboot the OS now for me.
Saleh's fix in comment #16 from https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1169984 did NOT fix my problem.
The kernel from #17 from https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1169984 did NOT fix it for me neither.

~$ aplay -l
**** PLAYBACK 硬體裝置清單 ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CX20588 Analog [CX20588 Analog]
  子设备: 1/1
  子设备 #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 1: CX20588 Digital [CX20588 Digital]
  子设备: 1/1
  子设备 #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  子设备: 1/1
  子设备 #0: subdevice #0
～$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec* | grep Codec
Codec: Conexant CX20588
Codec: Intel CougarPoint HDMI
~$ lspci | grep Audio
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 6 Series/C200 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 04)
~$ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [PCH ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0xd1c00000 irq 50

My Temporary Solution——

~$ sudo alsa force-reload
[sudo] password for longyuan:
Terminating processes: 1298 2021
2021.
Unloading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-conexant snd-hda-intel snd-hda-codec snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-page-alloc snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer (failed: modules still loaded: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-conexant snd-hda-codec snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-page-alloc snd-timer).
Loading ALSA sound driver modules: snd-hda-codec-hdmi snd-hda-codec-conexant snd-hda-intel snd-hda-codec snd-hwdep snd-pcm snd-page-alloc snd-seq-midi snd-seq-midi-event snd-rawmidi snd-seq snd-seq-device snd-timer.

Though somethings failed, then the sound setting options come back, the mic works, after I restart the X window, I can hear the voice, but "dummy output" again when I reboot the computer.

[龍渊 (longyuan)]

Uhh, maybe I found my reason -- I edited the document "/etc/default/speech-dispatcher" to eliminate the warning "speech-dispatcher disabled: edit/etc/default/speech-dispatcher" which appeared on the shutting screen.

[Dimas Cyriaco (dimascyriaco)]

Affects me too. Here is the output os alsa-info:

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=28a60b66010e96360b547e2d4d02ffbdccbb06b4