Hotplug of iMic USB soundcard does not always produce a viable audio output --Precise upgrade

[Chascon]

Problem:
Hotplug of iMic USB soundcard does not always produce a viable audio output on Precise upgrade

Steps to reproduce
-boot up with iMic plugged in
-unplug iMic
-wait a minute
-plug the iMic back in
-select the iMic as output in the system sound preference pane

Result
-no audio via iMic
-audio continues via build in speakers

Expected results
-audio via iMic
-audio via build in speakers should cut off

Work around:
Runs fine if the computer has booted with the iMic plugged in.
or
reboot with iMic plugged in

iMic hardware details:
Griffin Technology, Inc iMic USB audio system, the earlier model if I recall. The following terminal command apparently reveal only the internal sound card.

dmesg | grep sound
HDA Intel SPDIF

Both lsusb | grep audio and lsusb | grep sound don't retrieve any info, which is odd because the system sound preference pane lists the iMic device as an output.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:1.1-0ubuntu15
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-23.36-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-23-generic i686
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: i386
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: mo 25705 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c: mo 25705 F...m pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0x98400000 irq 46'
   Mixer name : 'SigmaTel STAC9221 A1'
   Components : 'HDA:83847680,106b0200,00103401'
   Controls : 23
   Simple ctrls : 12
Card1.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:1 'system'/'Griffin Technology, Inc iMic USB audio system at usb-0000:00:1d.0-1, full speed'
   Mixer name : 'USB Mixer'
   Components : 'USB077d:07af'
   Controls : 8
   Simple ctrls : 6
Date: Thu Apr 12 13:46:21 2012
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release i386 (20110427.1)
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-03-23 (19 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 10/12/06
dmi.bios.vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.
dmi.bios.version: MBP11.88Z.0055.B08.0610121325
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Mac-F425BEC8
dmi.board.vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.
dmi.board.version: PVT
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 8
dmi.chassis.vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.
dmi.chassis.version: Mac-F425BEC8
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAppleComputer,Inc.:bvrMBP11.88Z.0055.B08.0610121325:bd10/12/06:svnAppleComputer,Inc.:pnMacBookPro1,1:pvr1.0:rvnAppleComputer,Inc.:rnMac-F425BEC8:rvrPVT:cvnAppleComputer,Inc.:ct8:cvrMac-F425BEC8:
dmi.product.name: MacBookPro1,1
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[RJVB (rjvbertin)]

A few months short of THREE years later, this issue is still there in Ubuntu 14.04 .

I see the iMic when I hotplug it, but only as a device. Pulseaudio does not assign it to either sink or source (while the device provides both). Using pavucontrol I do see 3 possible configurations in the configuration tab: stereo, mono and off. But those don't serve a purpose.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Although Ubuntu 12.04 is end-of-life, 14.04 is not.

RJVB: Are you able to confirm this is still a bug in 14.04 or later?

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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