pulseaudio stops playing audio with "Failed to create sink input: sink is suspended"

[Paul]

Audio stopped playing, causing all video playback to also wedge unless sound output was disabled.

The only meaningful log message was tens of the following in /var/log/syslog:

[pulseaudio] sink-input.c: Failed to create sink input: sink is suspended.

Sending pulseaudio a SIGHUP had no effect. Killing it caused it to restart, however the sound device was no longer present. The sound device is built-in laptop audio, so it is still physically present, although it's plausible that the problem is at a lower level. rmmoding and modprobing snd_hda_intel did not resolve the issue.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:11.1-1ubuntu7.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-32.35-generic 4.15.18
Uname: Linux 4.15.0-32-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu7.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: pmj 1391 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Tue Aug 21 17:35:32 2018
InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-03-12 (162 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Alpha amd64 (20180310)
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 04/14/2011
dmi.bios.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.bios.version: 68SSU Ver. F.01
dmi.board.name: 162B
dmi.board.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.board.version: KBC Version 04.1C
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: CNU1311SY3
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Hewlett-Packard
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnHewlett-Packard:bvr68SSUVer.F.01:bd04/14/2011:svnHewlett-Packard:pnHPEliteBook2560p:pvrA0001D02:rvnHewlett-Packard:rn162B:rvrKBCVersion04.1C:cvnHewlett-Packard:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: 103C_5336AN
dmi.product.name: HP EliteBook 2560p
dmi.product.version: A0001D02
dmi.sys.vendor: Hewlett-Packard

[John (jburtontrg)]

Similar issue, though manifests on my system by a double beep every time it happens. May be linked to playing music through GooglePlayMusicDesktopPlayer, and only through the internal soundcard jack, not with USB headphones.

Trying updating GMPDP

[John (jburtontrg)]

Nope, didn't work. Will carry on watching this thread...

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[John (jburtontrg)]

:( Pretty sure mine was caused by intermittent power on a laptop docking station. Easy fix - make sure your power lead is properly seated. Happy the beeps are gone, not sure that helps anyone else watching.