No easy way to switch default sound output to USB headphones

[Konrads Smelkovs]

Description: Ubuntu 8.10
Release: 8.10

I have Logitec USB headphones:
[ 6.254669] input: Logitech Logitech USB Headset as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.3/input/input2
[ 6.268254] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.00 Device [Logitech Logitech USB Headset] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1

When I plug them into the laptop or boot with headphones plugged in, the default sound sink in pulseaudio is my built in speakers. There is no sane and easy way to switch the sound output to headphones.

Currently, I am doing this:
pacmd
unload-module volume-restore
set-default-sink 1

and then restart the application I want to use the headphones.

This works differently than if I had plugged analogue headphones.

What should happen instead is something of this:

1) Sound switches to headphones by default
2) A pop-up asks me which sound-output I want.

[andypiper (andypiperuk)]

I have the same issue. When I attach my USB headset (Microsoft LifeChat LX-3000) the audio settings do not automatically switch to use it, nor am I prompted. Currently I have to go into Sound Preferences, and select both the Input and Output tabs to switch audio for each manually. Once I have done so the buttons on the headset do successfully start to operate the volume on the system, and audio is routed through the headset correctly.

I suppose I could figure out some udev rule to do this but that would be tedious and not something the average human user would think of.

With all the advances in audio support in Ubuntu lately this is a really surprising niggle that still exists.

[andypiper (andypiperuk)]

I should add that this is still an issue in 10.10 Maverick so this issue has existed for some time!

[jpapejr (jpapejr)]

I, too, run Maverick and I see this problem exactly as andypiper has laid it out. Really should prompt or switch me over automagically when I plug in my USB headset. I'd even settle for a notification telling me to hit the Sound Volume indicator applet to simple pick a radio button for which sound output to use (display the detected sources).

[KillerKiwi (killerkiwi2005)]

This has been an open bug in pulseaudio for a while now basically it comes down to the pulseaudio devs dont want to do this. The only real hope is that its done at the ubuntu level

As a work around the earcandy project will do this
https://launchpad.net/~earcandy-devel/+archive/ppa

Any body who knows python and wants to help polish would be appreciated

[andypiper (andypiperuk)]

Thanks KillerKiwi - earcandy does seem to provide the behaviour I want (will take a look at it in more detail)

As you say, this really "ought" to be fixed in PulseAudio and/or Ubuntu formally (which could involve earcandy being installed and started by default). On my Mac, I can just plug in the same headset, and the audio switches transparently. It's crazy that this is not default behaviour on USB headsets.

[jpapejr (jpapejr)]

Installed ear candy package from Ubuntu software store - I can now unplug
and replug the USB headset while audio is playing and the stream moves back
and forth between the USB headset and laptop speakers. Win!

KillerKiwi - is there any reason to run the earcandy applet if I don't have
plans at the moment for creating special rules?

-John

On Mon, Nov 15, 2010 at 12:56 PM, andypiper <email address hidden>wrote:

> Thanks KillerKiwi - earcandy does seem to provide the behaviour I want
> (will take a look at it in more detail)
>
> As you say, this really "ought" to be fixed in PulseAudio and/or Ubuntu
> formally (which could involve earcandy being installed and started by
> default). On my Mac, I can just plug in the same headset, and the audio
> switches transparently. It's crazy that this is not default behaviour on
> USB headsets.
>
> --
> No easy way to switch default sound output to USB headphones
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/380928
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “ubuntu-meta” package in Ubuntu: New
>
> Bug description:
> Description: Ubuntu 8.10
> Release: 8.10
>
> I have Logitec USB headphones:
> [ 6.254669] input: Logitech Logitech USB Headset as
> /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.3/input/input2
> [ 6.268254] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.00 Device [Logitech Logitech USB
> Headset] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1
>
> When I plug them into the laptop or boot with headphones plugged in, the
> default sound sink in pulseaudio is my built in speakers. There is no sane
> and easy way to switch the sound output to headphones.
>
> Currently, I am doing this:
> pacmd
> unload-module volume-restore
> set-default-sink 1
>
> and then restart the application I want to use the headphones.
>
> This works differently than if I had plugged analogue headphones.
>
> What should happen instead is something of this:
>
> 1) Sound switches to headphones by default
> 2) A pop-up asks me which sound-output I want.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/380928/+subscribe
>

[KillerKiwi (killerkiwi2005)]

Jpapejr, not really its just thats what I originally started the project for ;)

It would not take that much to update to an indicator and disable sound rules if they are not wanted..

[jpapejr (jpapejr)]

Earcandy is doing a nice job of re-sinking my current audio streams (it sure
likes to notify about it, too) but I notice that my input (my USB headset
mic) is not getting switched. Seen that before?

On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 3:57 PM, KillerKiwi <email address hidden>wrote:

> Jpapejr, not really its just thats what I originally started the project
> for ;)
>
> It would not take that much to update to an indicator and disable sound
> rules if they are not wanted..
>
> --
> No easy way to switch default sound output to USB headphones
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/380928
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>
> Status in “ubuntu-meta” package in Ubuntu: New
>
> Bug description:
> Description: Ubuntu 8.10
> Release: 8.10
>
> I have Logitec USB headphones:
> [ 6.254669] input: Logitech Logitech USB Headset as
> /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.3/input/input2
> [ 6.268254] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.00 Device [Logitech Logitech USB
> Headset] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1
>
> When I plug them into the laptop or boot with headphones plugged in, the
> default sound sink in pulseaudio is my built in speakers. There is no sane
> and easy way to switch the sound output to headphones.
>
> Currently, I am doing this:
> pacmd
> unload-module volume-restore
> set-default-sink 1
>
> and then restart the application I want to use the headphones.
>
> This works differently than if I had plugged analogue headphones.
>
> What should happen instead is something of this:
>
> 1) Sound switches to headphones by default
> 2) A pop-up asks me which sound-output I want.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/380928/+subscribe
>

[KillerKiwi (killerkiwi2005)]

Getting a bit off topic here... but yes inputs are handled differently
to outputs

At the moment ear candy looks at the device name to decide to switch
the streams or not if there is not usb or bluetooth in the string it
dosnt work... I have an idea how to make this better but havnt got
around to it

On 18 November 2010 10:01, jpapejr <email address hidden> wrote:
> Earcandy is doing a nice job of re-sinking my current audio streams (it sure
> likes to notify about it, too) but I notice that my input (my USB headset
> mic) is not getting switched. Seen that before?
>
>
> On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 3:57 PM, KillerKiwi <email address hidden>wrote:
>
>> Jpapejr, not really its just thats what I originally started the project
>> for ;)
>>
>> It would not take that much to update to an indicator and disable sound
>> rules if they are not wanted..
>>
>> --
>> No easy way to switch default sound output to USB headphones
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/380928
>> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
>> of the bug.
>>
>> Status in “ubuntu-meta” package in Ubuntu: New
>>
>> Bug description:
>> Description:    Ubuntu 8.10
>> Release:        8.10
>>
>> I have Logitec USB headphones:
>> [    6.254669] input: Logitech Logitech USB Headset as
>> /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.3/input/input2
>> [    6.268254] input,hidraw0: USB HID v1.00 Device [Logitech Logitech USB
>> Headset] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1
>>
>> When I plug them into the laptop or boot with headphones plugged in, the
>> default sound sink in pulseaudio is my built in speakers. There is no sane
>> and easy way to switch the sound output to headphones.
>>
>> Currently, I am doing this:
>> pacmd
>> unload-module volume-restore
>> set-default-sink 1
>>
>> and then restart the application I want to use the headphones.
>>
>> This works differently than if I had plugged analogue headphones.
>>
>> What should happen instead is something of this:
>>
>> 1) Sound switches to headphones by default
>> 2) A pop-up asks me which sound-output I want.
>>
>>
>>
>> To unsubscribe from this bug, go to:
>>
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubuntu-meta/+bug/380928/+subscribe
>>
>
> --
> No easy way to switch default sound output to USB headphones
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/380928
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

--
"Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely
pointless. " - Calven
http://soyuz5.blogspot.com

[Bryan Quigley (bryanquigley)]

Is this still an issue for anyone? It worked fine for me opening the sound panel.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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