Microphone doesn't work on Skype or Flash

[Joaquin]

I installed from Software Center a voice recoder from Gnome's tools, and it records perfectly what I say on the Microphone, but on Skype or Flash, I try to make a call and it doesn't work, I tried the test call and the microphone doesn't work.
I also tried on Flash sites, like social videochat (Tuenti spanish social network) and the video was fine, but the microphone isn't working again.
I think it's a pulseaudio bug, because in sound settings my microphone doesn't appear, but on some apps it works.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: ubuntu-desktop 1.245
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.19-generic 3.0.4
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CasperVersion: 1.285
Date: Sat Oct 8 21:03:37 2011
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20111007.1)
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=es_ES.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubuntu-meta
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Andreas Hasenack (ahasenack)]

Same here, but on 32bits.

[Christoph Buchner (bilderbuchi)]

related bug on the skype side: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype/+bug/883404

[Joaquin (jknvv13)]

But it's not a Skype bug.
El 08/11/2011 12:47, "Christoph Buchner" <email address hidden>
escribió:

> related bug on the skype side:
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/skype/+bug/883404
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/870969
>
> Title:
> Microphone doesn't work on Skype or Flash
>
> Status in “pulseaudio” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I installed from Software Center a voice recoder from Gnome's tools, and
> it records perfectly what I say on the Microphone, but on Skype or Flash, I
> try to make a call and it doesn't work, I tried the test call and the
> microphone doesn't work.
> I also tried on Flash sites, like social videochat (Tuenti spanish social
> network) and the video was fine, but the microphone isn't working again.
> I think it's a pulseaudio bug, because in sound settings my microphone
> doesn't appear, but on some apps it works.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
> Package: ubuntu-desktop 1.245
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.19-generic 3.0.4
> Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperVersion: 1.285
> Date: Sat Oct 8 21:03:37 2011
> LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20111007.1)
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> LANG=es_ES.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> SourcePackage: ubuntu-meta
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/870969/+subscriptions
>

[Christoph Buchner (bilderbuchi)]

what do you mean? the bug manifests itself in skype.

anyway, the solution posted in this thread seems to work: http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11448296&postcount=4
In pavucontrol, unlinking the left/right microphone channels and turning the RIGHT channel all the way DOWN, and the LEFT channel up, seems to solve the problem.
Does that give some directions as to where the bug could be (solved)?

[Joaquin (jknvv13)]

I have this issue on Flash, Skype, and other apps. (Except Gnome Recoder
and Audacity, as I can test.)
Also on the Sound settings it doesn't detect my microphone.
El 12/11/2011 11:52, "Christoph Buchner" <email address hidden>
escribió:

> what do you mean? the bug manifests itself in skype.
>
> anyway, the solution posted in this thread seems to work:
> http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php?p=11448296&postcount=4
> In pavucontrol, unlinking the left/right microphone channels and turning
> the RIGHT channel all the way DOWN, and the LEFT channel up, seems to solve
> the problem.
> Does that give some directions as to where the bug could be (solved)?
>
> --
> You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to the bug
> report.
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/870969
>
> Title:
> Microphone doesn't work on Skype or Flash
>
> Status in “pulseaudio” package in Ubuntu:
> Confirmed
>
> Bug description:
> I installed from Software Center a voice recoder from Gnome's tools, and
> it records perfectly what I say on the Microphone, but on Skype or Flash, I
> try to make a call and it doesn't work, I tried the test call and the
> microphone doesn't work.
> I also tried on Flash sites, like social videochat (Tuenti spanish social
> network) and the video was fine, but the microphone isn't working again.
> I think it's a pulseaudio bug, because in sound settings my microphone
> doesn't appear, but on some apps it works.
>
> ProblemType: Bug
> DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
> Package: ubuntu-desktop 1.245
> ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-12.19-generic 3.0.4
> Uname: Linux 3.0.0-12-generic x86_64
> ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu2
> Architecture: amd64
> CasperVersion: 1.285
> Date: Sat Oct 8 21:03:37 2011
> LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20111007.1)
> ProcEnviron:
> PATH=(custom, no user)
> LANG=es_ES.UTF-8
> SHELL=/bin/bash
> SourcePackage: ubuntu-meta
> UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
>
> To manage notifications about this bug go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/870969/+subscriptions
>

[Simos Xenitellis  (simosx)]

Flash and Skype are closed-source apps, and may ignore PulseAudio altogether. Probably go directly using Alsa.
At the moment, the problem you are facing looks to be that 'closed-source' apps have trouble.

[Strategos (psamaras1)]

How can I "go using Alsa"?

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

So; for the comment #6 - indicating you need to mute one channel but not the other, that's a hardware dependent bug (and it only occurs for the internal mic, no other inputs) and is solvable at least for some Realtek codecs. Please file a separate bug using "ubuntu-bug alsa-base" - doing so will include relevant hardware info.

If there is a generic problem with Skype only (and other apps work fine), I would need a PulseAudio log to do further troubleshooting. See https://wiki.ubuntu.com/PulseAudio/Log

[Ilias Biris (ibiris)]

Here is my log following the instructions in comment #10 regarding the PulseAudio logs. This bug manifests itself for me when using skype on Oneiric with my logitech usb headset as the only active audio hardware device (I made sure the internal audio device is OFF). The mic in that state works for eg the sound recorder, and in sound-settings the mic shows to be active. The only application where the mic fails is skype. Skype is run with the option "Allow Skype to automatically adjust my mixer levels" unchecked.

[David Henningsson (diwic)]

Hi Ilias,

From the log it seems like skype is using the "output monitor" as the input source, instead of using the mic input. I'm a little unsure what causes this though. Could you please try the following in a terminal:

echo autospawn = no >> ~/.pulse/client.conf
pulseaudio -k
mv ~/.pulse ~/.oldpulse

This will remove any saved pulse settings. Restart pulseaudio by clicking speaker icon, then "sound settings".
Now retry skype call. Did it resolve your problem?

[Ilias Biris (ibiris)]

Responding to comment #12:
Yes that worked for me. However I am baffled as to what caused the change, since I had not touched the sound settings at all since the last time I used skype (successfuly then).

thanks David!

[Strategos (psamaras1)]

Well, my problem was the Logitech Webcam 250. There is a LaunchPad Bug where I found a temporary way to deal with it
https://launchpad.net/bugs/843431
It 's exactly as it is described here, so check it out.

[John Pugh (jpugh)]

The solution in comment #12 worked for me as well. This must be a bug in the upgrade from Natty to Oneiric and one that likely needs to be addressed in the skype package that exists in the Ubuntu/Canonical partner repository.

[padarjohn (john-meissen)]

This occurs for me, with no apps involved other than pavucontrol.

I'm using a Logitech 9000 webcam. The microphone show as a mono analog device. If I launch pavucontrol and switch to the Input tab it shows the correct configuration, and the level indicator shows input activity for a second or two, then freezes. If I exit/relaunch pavucontrol it still show the microphone, but 90% of the time it will show no input activity. Occasionally it will work briefly, for a second or so.

[Piedro Kulman (piedro)]

I have exactly the same effect like padarjohn with a standard usb headset. Worked fine since recently must have been an update but I dont use any crazy bleeding edge ppas ...

[Piedro Kulman (piedro)]

I assume somethings wrong with the whole usb driver because also recently I occasionally have mouse freezes on usb more rare than the microphone bug but still noticable including occasional freezes for just a second up to to complete mouse freezes needing to logout ...

[João Miguel Lopes Moreira (jmlm-1970)]

The only solution to make microphone work is to install linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic...

Just go to:

Menu / System / Administration / Synaptic Package Manager

And search and mark for installation:

linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic

tip: if you have multiple versions click on the first and read the description which should inform what name to install...

If after the reboot and mic mute is off, still does not work, just go to terminal and type:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

and add or change the following:

options snd-hda-intel model=auto enable=yes

Then Ctrl+X, type Y to write and exit, reboot and mic will work.

Bye and have lots of fun with Ubuntu (the best).

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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