I am trying to play two stereo channels with different (but synchronized) outputs -- a stereo backing track on one output (PreSonus Audiobox, via USB) with a click track on the other (in-built headphone jack for the laptop).
After much struggle figuring out the correct configuration, I was able to get this setup working yesterday. It is basically like a surround-sound 4.0 setup, mapped through two stereo outputs, as described here: https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Softwa ... dsoundcard
Code: Select all
pacmd load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:PCH sink_name=rearSink channel_map=rear-left,rear-right channels=2 sink_properties=device.description=RearSink
pacmd load-module module-combine-sink sink_name=combinedSink slaves=alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00.iec958-stereo,rearSink channel_map=front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right channels=4 remix=no sink_properties=device.description=Combined4Channel
One thing to note is that I had to run this from the command line, because if I tried to include in default.pa (either in ~/.config/pulseaudio or /etc/pulseaudio) it would not work and I'd see an error message logged in systemctl --user status pulseaudio.service. I found that I needed to wait about 15-30 seconds after the pulseaudio.service daemon started before these commands would work and actually created the sinks successfully.
I had this working successful for several hours yesterday, including after several reboots and tweaks.
However, today this setup doesn't want to work at all. Both the default headphones sink and the "rearSink" output to the PreSonus when they are selected, before I create the combinedSink but then nothing comes out of the rear when the combinedSink is created and selected (or when the rearSink itself is selected, after combinedSink is created). Sometimes, the default headphones and rearSink, when selected, output nothing at all, usually after the combinedSink is created.
I've been trying every which way of doing this... several restarts, checking (and not checking) where audio comes out from different selected devices in the Gnome setup at each step... but no luck.
The system will often freeze up when testing the audio outputs after the custom configurations are made, and the only way to get it unfrozen is to try to get to a terminal and run kill -9 on the pulseaudio process (regular kill and systemctl --user stop pulseaudio.service don't seem to make any difference when that happens)
Here is the output of pacmd list-sinks before any of the custom configurations are enabled:
Code: Select all
2 sink(s) available.
* index: 0
name: <alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00.iec958-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: IDLE
priority: 9047
volume: front-left: 35359 / 54% / -16.08 dB, front-right: 35359 / 54% / -16.08 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 0 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 0
sample spec: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 1 <alsa_card.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00>
module: 8
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "2"
alsa.card_name = "AudioBox USB 96"
alsa.long_card_name = "PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 at usb-0000:00:14.0-2, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:2:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "194f"
device.vendor.name = "PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc."
device.product.id = "0303"
device.product.name = "AudioBox USB 96"
device.serial = "PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000"
device.string = "iec958:2"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "705600"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "352800"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
device.description = "AudioBox USB 96 Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <iec958-stereo-output>
index: 1
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: IDLE
priority: 9039
volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 52057 / 79% / -6.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 0 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 2
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 2 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
module: 9
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.id = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xc1c10000 irq 52"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "1e20"
device.product.name = "7 Series/C216 Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "front:0"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
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-pci"
ports:
analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
active port: <analog-output-headphones>
Here is the output of cat /proc/asound/cards:
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0 [PCH ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
HDA Intel PCH at 0xc1c10000 irq 52
1 [NVidia ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
HDA NVidia at 0xc1080000 irq 17
2 [A96 ]: USB-Audio - AudioBox USB 96
PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 at usb-0000:00:14.0-2, high speed
And here is the output of pacmd list-sinks after adding my custom configuration from the command line
Code: Select all
4 sink(s) available.
* index: 0
name: <alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00.iec958-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: RUNNING
suspend cause: (none)
priority: 9047
volume: front-left: 35359 / 54% / -16.08 dB, front-right: 35359 / 54% / -16.08 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 209.18 ms
max request: 68 KiB
max rewind: 68 KiB
monitor source: 0
sample spec: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 1
linked by: 1
configured latency: 200.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 1 <alsa_card.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00>
module: 8
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "2"
alsa.card_name = "AudioBox USB 96"
alsa.long_card_name = "PreSonus AudioBox USB 96 at usb-0000:00:14.0-2, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:2:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb3/3-2/3-2:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "194f"
device.vendor.name = "PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc."
device.product.id = "0303"
device.product.name = "AudioBox USB 96"
device.serial = "PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000"
device.string = "iec958:2"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "705600"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "352800"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
device.description = "AudioBox USB 96 Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <iec958-stereo-output>
index: 1
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: IDLE
priority: 9039
volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 52057 / 79% / -6.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 0 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 2
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 2 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
module: 9
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.id = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xc1c10000 irq 52"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "1e20"
device.product.name = "7 Series/C216 Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "front:0"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
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-pci"
ports:
analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
active port: <analog-output-headphones>
index: 2
name: <rearSink>
driver: <module-alsa-sink.c>
flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: RUNNING
suspend cause: (none)
priority: 9030
volume: rear-left: 16853 / 26% / -35.39 dB, rear-right: 16853 / 26% / -35.39 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 199.70 ms
max request: 34 KiB
max rewind: 34 KiB
monitor source: 4
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: rear-left,rear-right
used by: 1
linked by: 1
configured latency: 200.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
module: 25
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.id = "CS4206 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xc1c10000 irq 52"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "1e20"
device.product.name = "7 Series/C216 Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "hw:PCH"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.description = "RearSink"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
index: 3
name: <combinedSink>
driver: <module-combine-sink.c>
flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: IDLE
suspend cause: (none)
priority: 1000
volume: front-left: 26388 / 40% / -23.70 dB, front-right: 26388 / 40% / -23.70 dB, rear-left: 26388 / 40% / -23.70 dB, rear-right: 26388 / 40% / -23.70 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 68 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 5
sample spec: s16le 4ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right
Surround 4.0
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 200.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 200.00 ms
module: 26
properties:
device.class = "filter"
combine.slaves = "alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_AudioBox_USB_96_000000000000-00.iec958-stereo,rearSink"
device.description = "Combined4Channel"
device.icon_name = "audio-card"
Note that I am running Ubuntu desktop 22.04 on a 2011 MacBook Pro. AudioPulse version is 15.99. And yes, I know the link at the top says you need version 16 for the "remix=no" flag to work, but the module description in this version says that it supports it, and it was working fine yesterday. I had to upgrade from 20.04 to 22.04 just to get 15.99. I've thought that perhaps the next step is trying to build 16.1 from source code...?
