7

UPDATE: Today's upgrade to alsa-lib-1.1.7-2 fixed the issue. (2018-11-23)

Arch Linux, up-to-date. As so often, a -Syu upgrade broke things again. This time it's audacity. Usually audacity, and any other playback/record app would show up in pauvcontrol - Not audacity anymore. I could use pauvcontrol to choose sink and source from which I want to record or playback audio using audacity - not anymore.

In audacity's preferences it only says ALSA in the top dropdown, im not sure if that is supposed to be like that or if it said PulseAudio before. There aren't even all my devices in the playback tab. Same goes for the recording device selection, but the loopback device I need to record from is there, so that works.

preferences

But now I wanted to playback sound from audacity too and it just doesn't work anymore. It doesn't list my USB playback device and when I set it to sysdefault I just get an error.

$ pulseaudio -v
pulseaudio 12.2

$ audacity --version
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-params>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-params.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-params.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-midigate>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-midigate.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-midigate.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-fifths>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-fifths.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-fifths.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-metro>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-metro.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-metro.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-amp>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-amp.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-amp.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-sampler>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-sampler.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-sampler.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-scope#Mono>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-scope.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-scope.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Duplicate plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-scope#Stereo>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... found in file:///usr/lib/lv2/eg-scope.lv2/
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: ... and      file:///usr/lib64/lv2/eg-scope.lv2/ (ignored)
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-params>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-midigate>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-fifths>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-metro>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-amp>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-sampler>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-scope#Mono>
lilv_world_add_plugin(): warning: Reloading plugin <http://lv2plug.in/plugins/eg-scope#Stereo>

Not sure if those warnings mean anything, it won't print the version.
The package is audacity-2.3.0-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

Full log of the console when starting audacity:

ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1099:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.rear
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.center_lfe
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.side
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.iec958.0:CARD=0,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM iec958
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.iec958.0:CARD=0,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM spdif
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.iec958.0:CARD=0,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM spdif
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=0,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM hdmi
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.hdmi.0:CARD=0,AES0=4,AES1=130,AES2=0,AES3=2'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM hdmi
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.modem.0:CARD=0'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.phoneline:CARD=0,DEV=0
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.modem.0:CARD=0'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.phoneline:CARD=0,DEV=0
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.modem.0:CARD=0'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM phoneline
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1281:(snd_func_refer) Unable to find definition 'cards.Loopback.pcm.modem.0:CARD=0'
ALSA lib conf.c:4555:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:5034:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2565:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM phoneline
connect(2) call to /dev/shm/jack-1000/default/jack_0 failed (err=No such file or directory)
attempt to connect to server failed
connect(2) call to /dev/shm/jack-1000/default/jack_0 failed (err=No such file or directory)
attempt to connect to server failed
ALSA lib pcm_oss.c:377:(_snd_pcm_oss_open) Unknown field port
ALSA lib pcm_oss.c:377:(_snd_pcm_oss_open) Unknown field port
Expression 'alsa_snd_pcm_hw_params_set_period_size_near( pcm, hwParams, &alsaPeriodFrames, &dir )' failed in 'src/hostapi/alsa/pa_linux_alsa.c', line: 924
ALSA lib pcm_usb_stream.c:486:(_snd_pcm_usb_stream_open) Invalid type for card
ALSA lib pcm_usb_stream.c:486:(_snd_pcm_usb_stream_open) Invalid type for card
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1099:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
Expression 'alsa_snd_pcm_hw_params_set_period_size_near( pcm, hwParams, &alsaPeriodFrames, &dir )' failed in 'src/hostapi/alsa/pa_linux_alsa.c', line: 924
connect(2) call to /dev/shm/jack-1000/default/jack_0 failed (err=No such file or directory)
attempt to connect to server failed

Even though I'm not sure if those errors are because of ALSA and maybe completely unrelated to the PulseAudio issue.

Improve this question
3
  • This is very old but I am having the same problem on an up-to-date system. If anyone else has any ideas what else it could be then that would be helpful.
    – Jachdich
    Mar 29, 2020 at 18:44
  • @Jachdich There's a not-too-little chance that it is a similar bug that will be fixed in a future update. Have you tried downgrading alsa-lib to a previous (known to be working) version as suggested in the answer below?
    – confetti
    Mar 29, 2020 at 19:00
  • Yeah I'll try it, thanks
    – Jachdich
    Mar 30, 2020 at 18:56

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
5

From the forums I found this bug. This is an issue with the latest (1.1.7) version of alsa-lib. Downgrading it to your previous version should work around the issue for now:

pacman -U /var/cache/pacman/pkg/alsa-lib-1.1.6-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.xz

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2

I'm running 1.1.8-1 of alsalibs and had a similar issue.  Starting audacity changed my output to the internal speaker.  I got it working with alsactl restore, then pulseaudio -k, but it's wonkey.  VLC and audacity can't seem to both use the output at once.

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1
  • Sounds like one of the two are trying to access the hardware directly, rather than using pulseaudio (which will lock it up, as in other devices can not access it at the same time). Seems very unrelated to the issue my question is about though.
    – confetti
    May 10, 2019 at 3:25

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