Headset microphones not working (USB and jack)

Support Audio
1

Hi,
my headphone microphones stopped working, both USB and jack.
Other microphones, e.g. webcam or microphones standing on my table still work though.
(I think the difference might be in devices with more than one audio line?)

The headset I plug in via jack (not USB!) is shown below, the input bar cannot be moved by any means.

image
image801×746 25.3 KB

Note that before of this, I had been messing around with pulseaudio, alse, jackctl and whatever wire stuff to get a Focusrite sound interface working. Sound output and input had been working fine after (but I surely did not know what I was doing)

After a Manjaro update, I experienced this on both headsets, both with a different type of behavior, but in essence:

I also had annoying sound disturbances like if a very sensitive sound cable is hit, popping noises.

I was able to fix this behavior by following the advice:

After this, sound output was working like a charm. But then I discovered, that my input had stopped working entirely (might have been gone for a while, not entirely sure that this is the point, but I believe so).

I was not able to find any solutions via search engine or GPT.
I also tried switching the desktop environment, but neither in XFCE, KDE Plasma or Cinnamon does the sound input work. KDE Plasma was worst, here, even sound output did not work.
During debugging I found that the pulse user was missing, and that I was not in the audio group, which I created and added, and fixed some errors in journalctl.

$ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 309
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: correct
Host Name: correct
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.7)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi_7_1__Headphones__sink
Default Source: alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi_7_1__Mic1__source
Cookie: c4ce:ca32

$ inxi -vAazy
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 16
    link-max: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f1
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Radeon High Definition Audio
    [Rembrandt/Strix] vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640
    class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4
    speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: RODE Microphones NT-USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    type: USB rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-12.2:8
    chip-ID: 19f7:0003 class-ID: 0300
  Device-5: Micro Star USB Audio driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-6:3
    chip-ID: 0db0:422d class-ID: 0300
  Device-6: Logitech HD Webcam B910 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
    rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 5-1.3:5
    chip-ID: 046d:0823 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.6.101-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: sndiod v: N/A status: off tools: aucat,midicat,sndioctl
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl

I am clueluess how to continue forward now to get these microphones working again. Ideas?

1 Like
2

Welcome to Manjaro forum @butterfly

Please post more information about audio devices detected in pipewire-pulse

pactl list cards
3

Thanks :slight_smile:
The RODE is the working table microphone, if you want output with only the not working device (it is a beyerdynamic if that helps), please let me know so :slight_smile:

$ pactl list cards
Card #51
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "0"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA NVidia at 0xf6080000 irq 107"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HDA NVidia"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:0"
                api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"
                device.description = "GP106 High Definition Audio Controller"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1"
                device.nick = "HDA NVidia"
                device.plugged.usec = "11892837"
                device.product.id = "0x10f1"
                device.product.name = "GP106 High Definition Audio Controller"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.1/0000:01:00.1/sound/card0"
                device.vendor.id = "0x10de"
                device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                spa.object.id = "2"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "47"
                object.id = "51"
                object.serial = "51"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:NVidia"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xf6080000 irq 107"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Nvidia GPU 84 HDMI/DP"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10de0084,14623283,00100100"
                alsa.id = "NVidia"
                device.string = "0"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 0, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: off
        Ports:
                hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-surround, output:hdmi-surround71
                hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1
                hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "2"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2
                hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (type: HDMI, priority: 5600, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "3"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra3, output:hdmi-surround-extra3, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3

Card #53
        Name: alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "4"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "Generic USB Audio at usb-0000:0d:00.0-6, high speed"
                api.alsa.card.name = "USB Audio"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:4"
                api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio4"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "usb"
                device.bus-id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0d:00.0-usb-0:6:1.0"
                device.description = "USB Audio"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-usb"
                device.name = "alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
                device.nick = "USB Audio"
                device.plugged.usec = "17822153"
                device.product.id = "0x422d"
                device.product.name = "USB Audio"
                device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/0000:03:00.0/0000:04:0c.0/0000:0d:00.0/usb1/1-6/1-6:1.0/sound/card4"
                device.vendor.id = "0x0db0"
                device.vendor.name = "Micro Star International"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                spa.object.id = "10"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "47"
                object.id = "53"
                object.serial = "53"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:Audio"
                alsa.card = "4"
                alsa.card_name = "USB Audio"
                alsa.long_card_name = "Generic USB Audio at usb-0000:0d:00.0-6, high speed"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
                alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
                alsa.components = "USB0db0:422d"
                alsa.id = "Audio"
                device.string = "4"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                HiFi: HiFi 2.0 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 9000, available: yes)
                HiFi 7+1: HiFi 7.1 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1000, available: yes)
                HiFi 5+1: HiFi 5.1 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1000, available: yes)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 3, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: HiFi 7+1
        Ports:
                [Out] SPDIF: S/PDIF Output (type: SPDIF, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "spdif"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
                [Out] Headphones: Front Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Headphone - Output, available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "headphones"
                                port.availability-group = "Headphone - Output"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
                [Out] Speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Speaker - Output, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "speaker"
                                port.availability-group = "Speaker - Output"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
                                card.profile.port = "2"
                        Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
                [In] Mic1: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Mic - Input, available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "mic"
                                port.availability-group = "Mic - Input"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "3"
                        Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
                [In] Line1: Line Input (type: Line, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Line - Input, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "line"
                                port.availability-group = "Line - Input"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "4"
                        Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi

Card #54
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_0f_00.1
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "1"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf6588000 irq 109"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:1"
                api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0f:00.1"
                device.description = "Radeon High Definition Audio Controller [Rembrandt/Strix]"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0f_00.1"
                device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
                device.plugged.usec = "11892883"
                device.product.id = "0x1640"
                device.product.name = "Radeon High Definition Audio Controller [Rembrandt/Strix]"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0f:00.1/sound/card1"
                device.vendor.id = "0x1002"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                spa.object.id = "4"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "47"
                object.id = "54"
                object.serial = "54"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic_1"
                alsa.card = "1"
                alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf6588000 irq 109"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.mixer_name = "ATI R6xx HDMI"
                alsa.components = "HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100800"
                alsa.id = "Generic_1"
                device.string = "1"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 0, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: off
        Ports:
                hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-surround, output:hdmi-surround71
                hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1
                hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "2"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2
                hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (type: HDMI, priority: 5600, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "3"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra3, output:hdmi-surround-extra3, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3

Card #55
        Name: alsa_card.usb-046d_0823_7F459960-00
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "3"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "USB Device 0x46d:0x823 at usb-0000:0f:00.4-1.3, high speed"
                api.alsa.card.name = "USB Device 0x46d:0x823"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:3"
                api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio3"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "usb"
                device.bus-id = "usb-046d_0823_7F459960-00"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0f:00.4-usb-0:1.3:1.0"
                device.description = "HD Webcam B910"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.form_factor = "webcam"
                device.icon_name = "camera-web-analog-usb"
                device.name = "alsa_card.usb-046d_0823_7F459960-00"
                device.nick = "USB Device 0x46d:0x823"
                device.plugged.usec = "12323300"
                device.product.id = "0x0823"
                device.product.name = "HD Webcam B910"
                device.serial = "046d_0823_7F459960"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0f:00.4/usb5/5-1/5-1.3/5-1.3:1.0/sound/card3"
                device.vendor.id = "0x046d"
                device.vendor.name = "Logitech, Inc."
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                spa.object.id = "8"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "47"
                object.id = "55"
                object.serial = "55"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:U0x46d0x823"
                alsa.card = "3"
                alsa.card_name = "USB Device 0x46d:0x823"
                alsa.long_card_name = "USB Device 0x46d:0x823 at usb-0000:0f:00.4-1.3, high speed"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
                alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
                alsa.components = "USB046d:0823"
                alsa.id = "U0x46d0x823"
                device.string = "3"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
                input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 55, available: yes)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: input:iec958-stereo
        Ports:
                analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "mic"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo
                iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "spdif"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): input:iec958-stereo

Card #115
        Name: alsa_card.usb-RODE_Microphones_RODE_NT-USB-00
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "5"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "RODE Microphones RODE NT-USB at usb-0000:0d:00.0-12.2, full speed"
                api.alsa.card.name = "RODE NT-USB"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:5"
                api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio5"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "usb"
                device.bus-id = "usb-RODE_Microphones_RODE_NT-USB-00"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0d:00.0-usb-0:12.2:1.0"
                device.description = "RODE NT-USB"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-usb"
                device.name = "alsa_card.usb-RODE_Microphones_RODE_NT-USB-00"
                device.nick = "RODE NT-USB"
                device.plugged.usec = "509165671"
                device.product.id = "0x0003"
                device.product.name = "RODE NT-USB"
                device.serial = "RODE_Microphones_RODE_NT-USB"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/0000:03:00.0/0000:04:0c.0/0000:0d:00.0/usb1/1-12/1-12.2/1-12.2:1.0/sound/card5"
                device.vendor.id = "0x19f7"
                device.vendor.name = "RODE Microphones"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                spa.object.id = "12"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "47"
                object.id = "64"
                object.serial = "115"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:NTUSB"
                alsa.card = "5"
                alsa.card_name = "RODE NT-USB"
                alsa.long_card_name = "RODE Microphones RODE NT-USB at usb-0000:0d:00.0-12.2, full speed"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
                alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
                alsa.components = "USB19f7:0003"
                alsa.id = "NTUSB"
                device.string = "5"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6555, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5565, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5555, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5500, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 365, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 355, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 300, available: yes)
                input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
                input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 55, available: yes)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
        Ports:
                analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "mic"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
                iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "spdif"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo
                analog-output: Analog Output (type: Analog, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "analog"
                                card.profile.port = "2"
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "spdif"
                                card.profile.port = "3"
                        Part of profile(s): output:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo
4

pactl data shows ALSA cards 0 and 1 are for HDMI audio outputs from nVidia GPU and onboard AMD. Both are inactive

$ pactl list cards
Card #51
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1

                device.product.name = "GP106 High Definition Audio Controller"
                device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.id = "NVidia"

        Active Profile: off

Card #54
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_0f_00.1

                device.product.name = "Radeon High Definition Audio Controller [Rembrandt/Strix]"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                alsa.card = "1"
                alsa.id = "Generic_1"

        Active Profile: off

ALSA card 3 is the USB webcam microphone

Card #55
        Name: alsa_card.usb-046d_0823_7F459960-00

                device.product.name = "HD Webcam B910"
                device.vendor.name = "Logitech, Inc."
                alsa.card = "3"
                alsa.id = "U0x46d0x823"

        Profiles:
                input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 55, available: yes)
 
        Active Profile: input:iec958-stereo

ALSA card 4 is the onboard audio device (Realtek ALC4080) that the Beyerdynamic headset is probably connected to using front panel 3.5mm jacks

The Realtek ALC4080 on the new Intel boards demystified and the differences to the ALC1220 | Insider | igor´sLAB
The ALC4080 is a single-chip, multi-channel USB audio codec that embeds a USB 2.0 controller with a high-performance audio codec. For USB audio, it supports a standard HID-class USB audio device designed for PC motherboards and multi-channel audio systems/devices in all major commercial operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, iOS, macOS, and Android. It offers ten DAC channels supporting simultaneous 7.1-channel playback, as well as two channels of independent stereo output (multiple streaming) via the front-panel stereo output

A total of three stereo ADCs are integrated and can support multiple analog audio inputs

Card #53
       Name: alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00

               device.product.name = "USB Audio"
               device.vendor.name = "Micro Star International"
               alsa.card = "4"
               alsa.id = "Audio"

       Profiles:
                 HiFi 7+1: HiFi 7.1 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1000, available: yes)
 
       Active Profile: HiFi 7+1

       Ports:
               [Out] Headphones: Front Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Headphone - Output, available)

               [In] Mic1: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Mic - Input, available)

pactl info in original post shows that Headphones is the default sink for audio playback and *Mic1" is default source for audio capture

Default Sink: alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi_7_1__Headphones__sink
Default Source: alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi_7_1__Mic1__source

If the Headphone output or Mic input are not working in PipeWire, check ALSA settings:

alsamixer --card=Audio --view=All

Or use this to get information in text format to post it online

amixer --card=Audio

Card 5 is the Rode USB microphone

Card #115
        Name: alsa_card.usb-RODE_Microphones_RODE_NT-USB-00

                device.product.name = "RODE NT-USB"
                device.vendor.name = "RODE Microphones"

                alsa.card = "5"
                alsa.id = "NTUSB"

        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)

        Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo

A minor problem that might occur when using multiple USB devices is that the ALSA card numbers can change when system is rebooted, but the alsa.id name does not change, This is not usually a problem for PipeWire except that audio devices might be listed in a different order. If it is a problem or annoyance, cards can be locked to a specific number - Multiple USB Sound Cards - LinuxMusicians

For better control of multiple audio devices I recommend installing PulseAudio Volume Control pavucontrol GUI.
Input and Output tabs have a tick box to show default source and sink
Recording and Playback tabs have dropdown lists to record from or playback to non-default sources and sinks
Configuration tab allows user to change card Profiles (turn off unused cards or select the pro-audio profile for pipewire-jack)

5

Thank you very much.

Here is the output to the commands and tools you mentioned:

! image|690x358 ← not working
Imgur a/7DhoLQQ ← links also not working? Anyway, path is there :open_mouth:

$ amixer --card=Audio
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right - Rear Left - Rear Right - Front Center - Woofer - Side Left - Side Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Rear Left: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Rear Right: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Front Center: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Woofer: Playback 70 [80%] [-12.75dB] [off]
  Side Left: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]
  Side Right: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 56 [64%] [-23.25dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 56 [64%] [-23.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',2
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 39
  Front Left: Capture 1 [3%] [-16.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Capture 39 [100%] [12.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 39
  Front Left: Capture 39 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 39 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Analog In',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 39
  Front Left: Capture 23 [59%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 23 [59%] [0.00dB] [on]

I already tried pavucontrol to fix this.
! image|481x500 ← though even if media is disabled, clicking works when using space between ! and [ XD

As can be seen in the screenshot, both webcam and table mic (RODE) respond to my keystrokes (or hitting them). My headphone (I still do not understand why it shows as USB since it isn’t USB, but it might as well be an unimportant development relict) does not move at no point. Trying to capture sound using arecord does not catch a single tone.
! image|483x500

I am still clueless how to progress and how to further narrow the issue down.

6

ALSA mixer should have a lot more audio controls for an onboard audio device on a desktop motherboard
Capture controls should have a Mic Boost control to amplify mic input by 10, 20 or 30 dB
Playback controls should have Loopback Mixing or Mic monitoring controls to check microphone is working in headphones with zero latency

Similar issue was reported last year to Kernel Bugzilla

218913 – ALC4080: No microphone boost support and silent mic (but it has hardware one that not able to control).
My guess is that the firmware is not complaint with the USB audio specification and some functionality is controlled using specific USB handshake (data blocks).

I see two ways:

  • reverse engineering of the Windows drivers (capture USB communication) and try to analyze it
  • push hardware vendors to follow fully USB Audio specification, so all functionality is exposed using this standard protocol (ideal world)

and there is an ongoing discussion about these codecs here:

ALC4080 - general discussion (driver support) ¡ Issue #541 ¡ alsa-project/alsa-ucm-conf ¡ GitHub
UCM cannot add basic functionalities when the driver does not expose them. I already explained situation in kernel bugzilla.

Note

This issue is for the kernel driver related problems. If the driver works and something is missing in UCM configuration, please, create a new issue in this tracker. It may be difficult to distinguish the right place, but if the developers redirected you here, follow the instructions bellow.

For issues like

  1. jack functionality assignment is unstable (jack functionality is not fixed - e.g. changes on warm reboot from windows)
  2. low microphone volume (which cannot be controlled using native ALSA mixer controls)
  3. sound is activated only after some magic plug/unplug sequence

Further steps

Try to analyze the audio driver using direct ALSA API. See DEBUG.md. Very nice report is in #528. Please, use it as a reference what to do. Developers usually do not have exact hardware, so observations describing which ALSA PCM device, which ALSA Mixer control, which ALSA Jack control can be used for given playback/capture device are essential. If the functionality cannot be handled with current ALSA audio driver, go to paragraphs bellow.

Reverse engineering of the Windows driver. Capture USB communication and save it to a file which can be replayed by wireshark. Try to write an explanation including timing (what happened in given time slots).

Driver reports should go to kernel bugzilla. Add a comment with a link here.

You may also push hardware vendors to create USB device which fully follows the USB audio specification, so the ALSA driver will work out-of-box (without “quirks”).

Most of these options are not possible for ordinary users. Patches from ALSA maintainers might take a long time. Firmware update from manufacturer will depend on whether ALSA maintainers can communicate or collaborate with MSI software maintainers

Pragmatic solutions for most users would be either to exchange the motherboard for one with better supported onboard audio (ALC1220 or ALC887), or replace the on-board audio device with a PCI-E card or external USB device that works with the headset

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7

So you are suggesting this is a driver issue?

This is worse than hoped, but at least that would end my search for a solution, thanks!

8

Comments from ALSA maintainers suggest to me that full support for this audio codec on Linux may require firmware/BIOS updates from MSI and/or reverse engineering of USB configuration from a working Windows OS with the latest BIOS and audio drivers

Beyerdynamic gaming headsets require DC power from the microphone 3.5mm jack socket

MMX 300 PRO Gaming Headset - Technical Specifications

Microphone
Transducer type Condenser (back electret)
Supply voltage 2 - 9 V
Current consumption 0.6 mA

soundonsound.com - Plug-In Power
Plug-in (or Bias) Power is a method of providing power to the internal electronics of electret microphones, and is commonly used on consumer equipment. Plug-in Power is only ever provided on 3.5mm mini-jack input sockets as found on domestic sound recorders, 'phones, laptops etc. The format provides a low DC voltage of typically between 3 and 5V

I suggest:

  1. Install the latest stable kernel v6.16 that might be able to detect ALSA device better

    sudo mhwd-kernel -i linux616

  2. Update motherboard BIOS to latest version

1 Like