Pulseaudio Mic input picks up desktop audio

Support Sound
1

I’ve recently used discord, on brave (because discord only works on the browser where I live), and when I use my mic, the game audio can be heard, or anything on the desktop. I’m using my earphones for the mic and speakers so it can’t be loud speakers. I thought it might be the pulseaudio monitors and tried muting all monitor inputs, but that didn’t work either. The same issue happens in firefox and obs. I’ve tried rebooting and the issue still remains.

Source #0
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590] Digital Stereo (HDMI 4)
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 1
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590] Digital Stereo (HDMI 4)"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI HDMI"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfcf60000 irq 80"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:08:00.1"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:08:00.1/sound/card1"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "1002"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
		device.product.id = "aaf0"
		device.product.name = "Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590]"
		device.string = "1"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #1
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 2
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 82"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0a:00.3"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0a:00.3/sound/card2"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "1022"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
		device.product.id = "1457"
		device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
		device.string = "2"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #2
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo
	Description: Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 2
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 19557 /  30% / -31.51 dB,   front-right: 19557 /  30% / -31.51 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 6554 /  10% / -60.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Analog"
		alsa.id = "ALC887-VD Analog"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 82"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0a:00.3"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0a:00.3/sound/card2"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "1022"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
		device.product.id = "1457"
		device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
		device.string = "front:2"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "17664"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "2944"
		device.access_mode = "mmap"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	Ports:
		analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8500, not available)
		analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8200, available)
		analog-input-linein: Line In (type: Line, priority: 8100, not available)
	Active Port: analog-input-rear-mic
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #3
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 3
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65532 / 100% / -0.00 dB,   front-right: 65532 / 100% / -0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "Loopback"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Loopback 1"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_aloop"
		device.bus_path = "platform-snd_aloop.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/snd_aloop.0/sound/card0"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "0"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #4
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo
	Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 3
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "Loopback PCM"
		alsa.id = "Loopback PCM"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "Loopback"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Loopback 1"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_aloop"
		device.bus_path = "platform-snd_aloop.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/snd_aloop.0/sound/card0"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "front:0"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "17632"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "4408"
		device.access_mode = "mmap"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card"
	Ports:
		analog-input: Analog Input (type: Analog, priority: 10000, availability unknown)
	Active Port: analog-input
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #5
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.hw_0_0.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Built-in Audio
	Driver: module-alsa-sink.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 27
	Mute: yes
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.hw_0_0
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio"
		device.class = "monitor"
		device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #6
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: combined.monitor
	Description: Monitor Source of Simultaneous output to Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590] Digital Stereo (HDMI 4), Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo, Built-in Audio Analog Stereo, Built-in Audio
	Driver: module-combine-sink.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 28
	Mute: yes
	Volume: front-left: 65626 / 100% / 0.04 dB,   front-right: 65626 / 100% / 0.04 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: combined
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor Source of Simultaneous output to Ellesmere HDMI Audio [Radeon RX 470/480 / 570/580/590] Digital Stereo (HDMI 4), Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo, Built-in Audio Analog Stereo, Built-in Audio"
		device.class = "monitor"
		device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
	Formats:
		pcm

This is the source list from pactl. The input I use is alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo. I don’t really know whats causing this and think it might either be a configuration issue or a bug.

2

Only 2 of the 7 PulseAudio sources are showning as Mute: yes
alsa_output.hw_0_0.monitor and combined.monitor

Discord could be capturing desktop audio from an unmuted sink monitor:
alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor
alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor
or from the ALSA loopback:
alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo

I suggest you check PulseAudio default-sink

pacmd dump | grep default sink

If the default sink is not set to use the microphone input use this command to correct it:

pacmd set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo

I suggest you remove the ALSA loopbacks to make things simpler
If you need to convert a PulseAudio Source to a Sink you could use module-loopback instead of ALSA loopback

I also suggest you consider installing pagraphcontrol from AUR to get a better view of how the sinks and sources are working

3

alright so, I installed pagraphcontrol and it showed that alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo is sending audio directly to the application but the lines show that there’s desktop audio passing through as well.

I disabled all the monitors and turned off the built in audio loop back device, which did nothing. I’m playing music from the brave browser and using obs to test the audio, which is still recording desktop audio.

pacmd showed the default source as set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo
I’m not sure what do from here, as I’m unfamiliar with changing the audio settings from the command line.

4

pagraphcontrol shows all PulseAudio streams for playback and capture that is normally spread across 4 tabs in Pulseaudio Volume Control ( pavucontrol )
so you should see Desktop Audio and microphone audio,
but the streams should not be connected to the same place and be working independently
( do not cross the streams! )

OBS by default is set to capture Desktop Audio
with a single control in Audio Mixer shown as Desktop Audio
and Pulseaudio Volume Control > Recording tab would show - OBS: Desktop Audio from Built-In Audio Analog Stereo
( alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor )
OBS Desktop Audio - screenshots

To record microphone audio in OBS - go to OBS Settings > Audio

  • change Desktop Audio from Default to Disabled
  • change Mic/Aux Audio from Disabled to Built-In Audio Onboard Analog Stereo
    ( alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo )
  • click Apply

OBS and PulseAudio should look like this:
OBS Desktop Audio - screenshots

5

I got desktop audio working, but I still have the same problem with the mic. I checked pagraphcontrol and it shows that alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo has 2 lines going to obs (I think because its stereo). Normally the lines shouldn’t be pulsing if there is no mic input or if mic sensitivity is low, but it is (because of the music I’m playing). There are also 2 lines going to obs from the Monitor of Built-In Audio Analog Stereo and it is pulsing like the mic input.

6

I suggest you double-check what audio is playing to OBS from PulseAudio in

pacmd list-source-outputs

If you unplug just the headphone jack for your headset, and leave audio playing within system but inaudible, does the microphone source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo still show desktop audio playing in pagraphcontrol or does it stop ?

If you can still see audio playing there is a configuration problem within the system causing the audio loop. You will need to investigate PulseAudio and ALSA further

If the desktop audio is no longer being detected from microphone then audio to headphones must be linked to the microphone either physically or via an electrical short in the cable or jack

7

I removed the headphone jack for the headset and obs still showed it was recording audio from alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo. I also recorded a video using obs, just to make sure and (after disabling desktop audio from the audio mixer) I can confirm it was desktop audio. This was the output from pacmd list-source-outputs while the headphone jack was unplugged:

4 source output(s) available.
    index: 2
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 3 <alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor>
	volume: front-left: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB,   front-right: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 94.69 ms
	requested latency: 99.95 ms
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	resample method: (null)
	owner module: 14
	client: 189 <OBS>
	properties:
		application.name = "OBS"
		application.icon_name = "obs"
		media.role = "production"
		media.name = "Desktop Audio"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "34"
		application.process.id = "174191"
		application.process.user = "me"
		application.process.host = "nemo"
		application.process.binary = "obs"
		application.language = "en_GB.utf8"
		window.x11.display = ":0"
		application.process.machine_id = "e76324a6b0564ee99c25b85d301e14c1"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-media-role:production"
    index: 3
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 6 <combined.monitor>
	volume: front-left: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB,   front-right: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	requested latency: 100.14 ms
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	resample method: (null)
	owner module: 14
	client: 189 <OBS>
	properties:
		application.name = "OBS"
		application.icon_name = "obs"
		media.role = "production"
		media.name = "Desktop Audio"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "34"
		application.process.id = "174191"
		application.process.user = "me"
		application.process.host = "nemo"
		application.process.binary = "obs"
		application.language = "en_GB.utf8"
		window.x11.display = ":0"
		application.process.machine_id = "e76324a6b0564ee99c25b85d301e14c1"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-media-role:production"
    index: 4
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 2 <alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo>
	volume: front-left: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB,   front-right: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	requested latency: 100.14 ms
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	resample method: (null)
	owner module: 14
	client: 189 <OBS>
	properties:
		application.name = "OBS"
		application.icon_name = "obs"
		media.role = "production"
		media.name = "Audio Input Capture (PulseAudio)"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "34"
		application.process.id = "174191"
		application.process.user = "me"
		application.process.host = "nemo"
		application.process.binary = "obs"
		application.language = "en_GB.utf8"
		window.x11.display = ":0"
		application.process.machine_id = "e76324a6b0564ee99c25b85d301e14c1"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-media-role:production"
    index: 5
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 2 <alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo>
	volume: front-left: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB,   front-right: 66197 / 101% / 0.26 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	requested latency: 100.14 ms
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	resample method: (null)
	owner module: 14
	client: 189 <OBS>
	properties:
		application.name = "OBS"
		application.icon_name = "obs"
		media.role = "production"
		media.name = "Audio Input Capture (PulseAudio) 2"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "34"
		application.process.id = "174191"
		application.process.user = "me"
		application.process.host = "nemo"
		application.process.binary = "obs"
		application.language = "en_GB.utf8"
		window.x11.display = ":0"
		application.process.machine_id = "e76324a6b0564ee99c25b85d301e14c1"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-media-role:production"
8

PulseAudio data is showing 4 audio capture sources for OBS

OBS might be recording desktop audio from one of 2 sources

    source: 3 <alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor>
	muted: no
		media.name = "Desktop Audio"

	source: 6 <combined.monitor>
	muted: no
		media.name = "Desktop Audio"

'combined.monitor` is no longer muted as it was in OP data

I suggest you turn off the option for ‘Simultaneous Output’ in either KDE audio settings or pasystray and restart system to get rid of PulseAudio module creating combined.monitor

I also suggest you try removing the ALSA loopback device again

sudo modprobe -r snd_aloop
9

I can’t find the option for to remove simultaneous output in pasystray and pavucontrol and I’m not using kde. I believe when I configured my device I used ALSA to combine the sinks but I’m not sure, since it was a long time ago.

I also tried running
sudo modprobe -r snd_aloop
and i got:
modprobe: FATAL: Module snd_aloop is in use.

10

I believe when I configured my device I used ALSA to combine the sinks

ALSA cannot create a PulseAudio module

And if the PulseAudio module was not created with a GUI it was probably added to a PulseAudio configuration file

I suggest you remove any configuration and user settings for PulseAudio in home folder

rm -r /.config/pulse/

and then reinstall PulseAudio

pamac reinstall pulseaudio

then reboot system and post full response to

pacmd dump

if the data confirms module-combine sinks is no longer present it should be possible to remove snd_aloop form ALSA

11

i deleted the config folder and this was the output of pacmd dump:

### Configuration dump generated at Tue Feb  2 20:36:11 2021

load-module module-udev-detect tsched=0
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="1" name="pci-0000_08_00.1" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.1" namereg_fail=false tsched=no fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="2" name="pci-0000_0a_00.3" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_0a_00.3" namereg_fail=false tsched=no fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="0" name="platform-snd_aloop.0" card_name="alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0" namereg_fail=false tsched=no fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-device-restore
load-module module-stream-restore
load-module module-card-restore
load-module module-augment-properties
load-module module-switch-on-port-available
load-module module-jackdbus-detect channels=2
load-module module-bluetooth-policy
load-module module-bluetooth-discover
load-module module-bluez5-discover
load-module module-dbus-protocol
load-module module-native-protocol-unix
load-module module-gsettings
load-module module-default-device-restore
load-module module-always-sink
load-module module-intended-roles
load-module module-suspend-on-idle
load-module module-console-kit
load-module module-systemd-login
load-module module-position-event-sounds
load-module module-role-cork
load-module module-filter-heuristics
load-module module-filter-apply
load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:0,0
load-module module-combine-sink sink_name=combined
load-module module-cli-protocol-unix

set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 0x10000
set-sink-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 no
suspend-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 yes
set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo 0x76d3
set-sink-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
suspend-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo yes
set-sink-volume alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo 0x10000
set-sink-mute alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo no
suspend-sink alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo yes
set-sink-volume alsa_output.hw_0_0 0x10000
set-sink-mute alsa_output.hw_0_0 no
suspend-sink alsa_output.hw_0_0 yes
set-sink-volume combined 0x10000
set-sink-mute combined no
suspend-sink combined yes

set-source-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo 0x2893
set-source-mute alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
suspend-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo yes
set-source-volume alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo no
suspend-source alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo yes
set-source-volume alsa_output.hw_0_0.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.hw_0_0.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.hw_0_0.monitor yes
set-source-volume combined.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute combined.monitor no
suspend-source combined.monitor yes

set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.1 output:hdmi-stereo-extra3
set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_0a_00.3 output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
set-card-profile alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0 output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo

set-default-sink combined
set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo

### EOF

combined module is still there.

12

The reconfigurations must have been added to system file and not home folder

but if you rebooted, home folder will have created new database entries for the bogus modules and snd_aloop

so you need to delete home folder again; reinstall pulseaudio to get default system files restored; then reboot system and check again

13

Ok so I’ve reinstalled pulseaudio and made sure the system config was correct as well, then removed the home config and rebooted. I still can’t remove snd_aloop because its in use. Here is the new pacmd dump:

### Configuration dump generated at Wed Feb  3 00:35:44 2021

load-module module-device-restore
load-module module-stream-restore
load-module module-card-restore
load-module module-augment-properties
load-module module-switch-on-port-available
load-module module-udev-detect
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="1" name="pci-0000_08_00.1" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.1" namereg_fail=false tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="2" name="pci-0000_0a_00.3" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_0a_00.3" namereg_fail=false tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-alsa-card device_id="0" name="platform-snd_aloop.0" card_name="alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0" namereg_fail=false tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
load-module module-jackdbus-detect channels=2
load-module module-bluetooth-policy
load-module module-bluetooth-discover
load-module module-bluez5-discover
load-module module-dbus-protocol
load-module module-native-protocol-unix
load-module module-gsettings
load-module module-default-device-restore
load-module module-always-sink
load-module module-intended-roles
load-module module-suspend-on-idle
load-module module-console-kit
load-module module-systemd-login
load-module module-position-event-sounds
load-module module-role-cork
load-module module-filter-heuristics
load-module module-filter-apply
load-module module-cli-protocol-unix

set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 0x10000
set-sink-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 no
suspend-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3 yes
set-sink-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo 0x100fd
set-sink-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
suspend-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo yes
set-sink-volume alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo 0x10000
set-sink-mute alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo no
suspend-sink alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo yes

set-source-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra3.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo 0x32cf
set-source-mute alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
suspend-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo yes
set-source-volume alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo.monitor yes
set-source-volume alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo no
suspend-source alsa_input.platform-snd_aloop.0.analog-stereo yes

set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.1 output:hdmi-stereo-extra3
set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_0a_00.3 output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
set-card-profile alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0 output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo

set-default-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo
set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo

### EOF
14

The two modules are gone and the default Sink and Source are now set to use onboard audio

Change the Profile for snd_aloop so it is not used by PulseAudio

pacmd set-card-profile alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0 off

If the modprobe command does work to remove snd_aloop

reboot system to check snd_aloop is not reloaded
(this ALSA plugin might have been loaded by another method than a modprobe command)

If PulseAudio has just the Onboard Analog Audio and HDMI devices available you should be able to get Discord working correctly with the microphone

15

I changed the profile and removed the snd_aloop using modprobe and rebooted. The profile is off but the issue is still there on discord and obs.

16

If snd_aloop has been reloaded use this command to remove ALSA configuration for it

sudo rm alsa.conf ~/.asoundrc

If response for both files is No such file or directory then post response to this command

grep -n snd /etc/modprobe.d/*.conf

Assuming snd_aloop has profile set to Off in PulseAudio there should be only 3 Sources left for audio capture

use this command to turn Off HDMI audio to reduce to 2 Sources

set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_08_00.1 off

and these 2 commands to mute and suspend the last remaining monitor for onboard audio

pacmd set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes
pacmd suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes

That should leave only 2 audio sources available in PulseAudio
use this command to check sources

pacmd dump | grep sources

If you use Discord you have a 50% chance of connecting to the microphone instead of desktop audio output.monitor
the output.monitor source is muted and suspended so you should only hear microphone or silence

17

I ran sudo rm alsa.conf ~/.asoundrc and both files don’t exist.
I ran grep -n snd /etc/modprobe.d/*.conf and there was no output.

I then turned off hdmi audio, the command didn’t work so i used the configuration tab in pavucontrol and I ran the other 2 commands to mute and suspend. The 2 sources left were:

1       alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor      module-alsa-card.c      s16le 2ch 44100Hz       IDLE
2       alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo       module-alsa-card.c      s16le 2ch 44100Hz       SUSPENDED

The issue is still there in discord.

pacmd dump | grep sources this command also returns empty.

18

command in previous post had a typo - pacmd dump | grep source

If the 2 files did not exist, and snd_aloop was not found in /etc/modprobe.d/
I do not know of anything else to remove the ALSA loopbacks from your system

If the ALSA loopbacks remain in your system you may get recurring audio problems if they become active in PulseAudio

You can check Discord audio sources - pacmd list-source-outputs
or look in pagraphcontrol or pavucontrol to see what is happening in PulseAudio

If discord is correctly using alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo but you can still hear the microphone and desktop audio, I would suspect the headset is faulty

but I do not know if PulseAudio is correctly configured

19

I ran the pacmd dump | grep source

set-source-volume alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor 0x10000
set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no
set-source-volume alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo 0x50f6
set-source-mute alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
suspend-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo no
set-default-source alsa_input.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo

i also decided to check for snd_aloop:

load-module module-alsa-card device_id="0" name="platform-snd_aloop.0" card_name="alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0" namereg_fail=false tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_properties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1"
set-card-profile alsa_card.platform-snd_aloop.0 off

i think it might be loaded at boot but i’m not sure where.

20

the source for desktop audio is not muted or suspended

set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no
suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor no

so Discord could still be using the monitor source and you could be hearing just desktop audio and no microphone audio

But only you can hear the audio stream (or see it in GUI controls)

post #16 had the commands to deal with the monitor source

pacmd set-source-mute alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes
pacmd suspend-source alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor yes

I don’t have anything more to suggest so any further comments will just be a repeat of something already posted

Data in post#17 shows snd_aloop is not loaded at boot from the 3 places I expected
I am not going to risk making things worse by digging deeper in system files