Audio Troubleshooting

Quick Reference

# Check audio system
pactl info                   # PulseAudio/PipeWire info
wpctl status                 # WirePlumber status
aplay -l                     # ALSA devices

# Volume control
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 50%
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 50%
alsamixer

# Test audio
speaker-test -c 2
aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav

# Restart audio
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
pulseaudio -k && pulseaudio --start

Audio Stack Overview

Linux Audio Architecture

Applications
     ↓
PipeWire / PulseAudio (sound server)
     ↓
ALSA (kernel interface)
     ↓
Hardware

  • ALSA - Kernel-level sound interface

  • PulseAudio - Legacy sound server (being replaced)

  • PipeWire - Modern replacement for PulseAudio (also handles video)

  • WirePlumber - Session manager for PipeWire

Identify Audio System

# Check if PipeWire is running
systemctl --user status pipewire
pgrep pipewire

# Check if PulseAudio is running
systemctl --user status pulseaudio
pgrep pulseaudio

# PipeWire with PulseAudio compatibility
pactl info | grep "Server Name"
# PipeWire shows: "PulseAudio (on PipeWire...)"
# Pure PulseAudio shows: "pulseaudio"

# Check WirePlumber
wpctl status

PipeWire Troubleshooting

Check PipeWire Status

# Service status
systemctl --user status pipewire
systemctl --user status pipewire-pulse
systemctl --user status wireplumber

# PipeWire info
pw-cli info all
pw-dump                      # Full state dump

# WirePlumber status
wpctl status
wpctl inspect @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@

# List nodes
pw-cli list-objects

Restart PipeWire

# Restart all PipeWire services
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

# Or kill and restart
killall pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
pipewire &
pipewire-pulse &
wireplumber &

Volume Control (WirePlumber)

# Get current volume
wpctl get-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@

# Set volume (0.0 - 1.5)
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 0.5      # 50%
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 0.5+     # Increase by 50%
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 0.05-    # Decrease by 5%

# Mute/unmute
wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle
wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 1          # Mute
wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 0          # Unmute

# Set default sink
wpctl set-default <id>

# List sinks to get ID
wpctl status | grep -A 10 "Sinks"

PipeWire Configuration

# Configuration locations
# /usr/share/pipewire/          # Default config
# ~/.config/pipewire/           # User overrides

# Copy default config for customization
mkdir -p ~/.config/pipewire
cp /usr/share/pipewire/pipewire.conf ~/.config/pipewire/

# Sample rate configuration
# ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/sample-rate.conf
context.properties = {
    default.clock.rate = 48000
    default.clock.allowed-rates = [ 44100 48000 96000 ]
}

# Restart after changes
systemctl --user restart pipewire wireplumber

PulseAudio Troubleshooting

Check PulseAudio Status

# Info
pactl info

# List sinks (outputs)
pactl list sinks short
pactl list sinks

# List sources (inputs)
pactl list sources short

# List cards (sound cards)
pactl list cards short

# List modules
pactl list modules short

Restart PulseAudio

# Kill and restart
pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio --start

# Or via systemctl (if running as service)
systemctl --user restart pulseaudio

# Verbose restart for debugging
pulseaudio -k
pulseaudio -vvv

Volume Control (PulseAudio)

# Set sink volume
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 50%
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ +5%
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ -5%

# Mute/unmute
pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ toggle
pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ 1     # Mute
pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ 0     # Unmute

# Set default sink
pactl set-default-sink <sink_name>

# Move application to different sink
pactl move-sink-input <input_index> <sink_name>

PulseAudio Configuration

# User config
~/.config/pulse/default.pa
~/.config/pulse/daemon.conf

# System config
/etc/pulse/default.pa
/etc/pulse/daemon.conf

# Example daemon.conf
# ~/.config/pulse/daemon.conf
default-sample-rate = 48000
resample-method = speex-float-5

# Reset to defaults
rm -rf ~/.config/pulse
pulseaudio -k

ALSA Troubleshooting

Check ALSA Devices

# List playback devices
aplay -l
aplay -L

# List capture devices
arecord -l
arecord -L

# Hardware info
cat /proc/asound/cards
cat /proc/asound/devices

# Check mixer
amixer
amixer scontrols

Test ALSA Directly

# Test speakers (bypassing PulseAudio/PipeWire)
speaker-test -c 2 -D hw:0,0

# Play WAV file
aplay -D hw:0,0 /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav

# Record
arecord -d 5 -f cd test.wav

# Play recording
aplay test.wav

ALSA Mixer Control

# Interactive mixer
alsamixer

# Keys:
# F6 - Select card
# m - Mute/unmute
# Arrow keys - Adjust volume
# Esc - Exit

# Command line
amixer set Master 50%
amixer set Master mute
amixer set Master unmute
amixer set Master 5%+
amixer set Master 5%-

# Save/restore mixer settings
alsactl store
alsactl restore

ALSA Configuration

# User config
~/.asoundrc

# System config
/etc/asound.conf

# Set default card
# ~/.asoundrc
defaults.pcm.card 1
defaults.ctl.card 1

# Define default device
pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}

ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}

# List available cards for config
cat /proc/asound/cards

Common Issues

No Sound at All

# 1. Check if muted
wpctl get-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@
pactl get-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@
amixer get Master

# 2. Check if correct output selected
wpctl status
pactl list sinks short
aplay -l

# 3. Unmute in alsamixer
alsamixer
# Check all channels, especially:
# Master, PCM, Speaker, Headphone

# 4. Check if card detected
lspci -v | grep -i audio
lsmod | grep snd

# 5. Restart audio system
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

# 6. Check logs
journalctl --user -u pipewire -f
journalctl --user -u wireplumber -f
dmesg | grep -i audio

Wrong Output Device

# List available outputs
wpctl status
pactl list sinks short

# Set default output
wpctl set-default <node_id>
pactl set-default-sink <sink_name>

# GUI tools
pavucontrol            # PulseAudio volume control
pwvucontrol            # PipeWire volume control (if installed)

Application Audio Not Working

# Check if application is using correct output
pactl list sink-inputs
wpctl status

# Move application to correct sink
pactl move-sink-input <input_index> <sink_name>

# Check application-specific settings
# Some apps have their own audio device settings

# Environment variables for apps
PULSE_SINK=<sink_name> application

Crackling/Popping Audio

# Adjust buffer size (PipeWire)
# ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/latency.conf
context.properties = {
    default.clock.quantum = 1024
    default.clock.min-quantum = 512
    default.clock.max-quantum = 2048
}

# For PulseAudio
# ~/.config/pulse/daemon.conf
default-fragments = 4
default-fragment-size-msec = 25

# Power management may cause issues
# Disable power saving for audio card
echo 0 > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save
echo N > /sys/module/snd_hda_intel/parameters/power_save_controller

# Make persistent
# /etc/modprobe.d/audio-power.conf
options snd_hda_intel power_save=0 power_save_controller=N

Audio Delay/Latency

# Check current latency
pw-top                       # PipeWire top (shows latency)

# Lower latency (may cause crackling)
# ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/low-latency.conf
context.properties = {
    default.clock.quantum = 256
    default.clock.min-quantum = 256
}

# For real-time audio
# Add user to audio group
sudo usermod -aG audio $USER

# Configure realtime scheduling
# /etc/security/limits.d/99-audio.conf
@audio   -  rtprio     95
@audio   -  memlock    unlimited

HDMI/DisplayPort Audio

# Check if HDMI audio detected
aplay -l | grep HDMI

# HDMI may be on different card
# Find HDMI device
aplay -L | grep -i hdmi

# Set HDMI as default
wpctl set-default <hdmi_node_id>
pactl set-default-sink <hdmi_sink_name>

# Test HDMI audio
speaker-test -c 2 -D plughw:1,3

# May need to enable in alsamixer
alsamixer
# Press F6, select HDMI card
# Unmute HDMI channels

USB Audio Device

# Check if USB audio detected
lsusb | grep -i audio
dmesg | grep -i usb | grep -i audio

# List audio devices
aplay -l

# USB device may appear as different card
cat /proc/asound/cards

# Set USB as default
# ~/.asoundrc
defaults.pcm.card 1
defaults.ctl.card 1

# Or via PulseAudio/PipeWire
wpctl set-default <usb_node_id>

# Hot-plug issues - restart audio after connecting
systemctl --user restart pipewire wireplumber

Bluetooth Audio

Bluetooth Audio Setup

# Install required packages
# Arch: pipewire-pulse (includes bluetooth support)
# May also need: bluez bluez-utils

# Check Bluetooth service
systemctl status bluetooth
systemctl enable --now bluetooth

# Connect via bluetoothctl
bluetoothctl
# [bluetooth]# power on
# [bluetooth]# agent on
# [bluetooth]# scan on
# [bluetooth]# pair XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
# [bluetooth]# connect XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
# [bluetooth]# trust XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

Bluetooth Audio Issues

# Check if connected
bluetoothctl info XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX

# Switch audio profile (A2DP vs HSP/HFP)
pactl list cards
pactl set-card-profile <card_name> a2dp-sink
pactl set-card-profile <card_name> headset-head-unit

# PipeWire: Check codec
wpctl status | grep -A5 bluetooth

# Audio cutting out - increase buffer
# ~/.config/pipewire/media-session.d/bluez-monitor.conf
# For newer WirePlumber:
# ~/.config/wireplumber/bluetooth.lua.d/50-bluez-config.lua
bluez_monitor.properties = {
    ["bluez5.enable-sbc-xq"] = true,
    ["bluez5.enable-msbc"] = true,
    ["bluez5.enable-hw-volume"] = true,
}

# Restart
systemctl --user restart pipewire wireplumber

Bluetooth Headset Microphone

# Headset profile needed for mic
# A2DP = high quality audio only
# HSP/HFP = lower quality + microphone

# Switch to headset profile
pactl set-card-profile <card_name> headset-head-unit

# Or via pavucontrol
# Configuration tab → select profile

# Check input device
wpctl status | grep -A5 Sources
pactl list sources short

Sound Card Configuration

Multiple Sound Cards

# List all cards
cat /proc/asound/cards

# Change card order (ALSA)
# /etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf
options snd_hda_intel index=0
options snd_usb_audio index=1

# Or blacklist on-board if using dedicated
# /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
blacklist snd_hda_intel

# Set default in ALSA
# ~/.asoundrc
defaults.pcm.card 1
defaults.ctl.card 1

# Reload
sudo alsa force-reload

Intel HDA Configuration

# Common Intel HDA issues
# Check model
cat /proc/asound/card0/codec*

# Try different model hints
# /etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf
options snd-hda-intel model=auto
# Or specific model:
options snd-hda-intel model=generic
options snd-hda-intel model=laptop-amic

# Common models:
# generic, laptop, laptop-amic, laptop-dmic
# dell-headset-multi, dell-e7x

# Reload module
sudo modprobe -r snd_hda_intel
sudo modprobe snd_hda_intel

Diagnostic Commands

Collect Audio Information

# System info
inxi -A                      # Audio summary
lspci -v | grep -i audio     # PCI audio devices
lsusb | grep -i audio        # USB audio devices

# Kernel modules
lsmod | grep snd
modinfo snd_hda_intel

# ALSA info
aplay -l
arecord -l
cat /proc/asound/cards
cat /proc/asound/devices
cat /proc/asound/pcm

# PipeWire info
pw-cli info all
wpctl status
systemctl --user status pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

# PulseAudio info
pactl info
pactl list
pacmd dump

Debug Logs

# PipeWire logs
journalctl --user -u pipewire -f
journalctl --user -u wireplumber -f

# Run PipeWire with debug
PIPEWIRE_DEBUG=4 pipewire

# PulseAudio verbose
pulseaudio -vvv

# Kernel audio messages
dmesg | grep -E "snd|audio|ALSA|HDA"

# ALSA debug
echo 1 > /sys/module/snd/parameters/debug
dmesg | grep ALSA

Quick Reference

# Identify audio system
pactl info | grep "Server Name"

# PipeWire/WirePlumber
systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber
wpctl status
wpctl set-volume @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ 50%
wpctl set-mute @DEFAULT_AUDIO_SINK@ toggle

# PulseAudio
pulseaudio -k && pulseaudio --start
pactl list sinks short
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 50%
pactl set-default-sink <sink_name>

# ALSA
aplay -l
alsamixer
speaker-test -c 2

# Test audio
speaker-test -c 2
aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav

# Common fixes
# 1. Check mute (alsamixer, pavucontrol)
# 2. Check correct output device selected
# 3. Restart audio services
# 4. Check kernel modules loaded (lsmod | grep snd)
# 5. Check dmesg for errors

See Also