Upgrade to 35: Sound is working, but issue with surround 5 & 5.1

After some years of continuing upgrades, I have now conducted a fresh install of F35.

In F34 and before, I used pulseaudio and got Analog Surround 5.1 output when playing Music (e.g. with Shortwave). Now in F35, with neither pulseaudio nor pipewire, I can get Surround 5.1 to work for the rear speakers, center speaker and the subwoofer. Only Surround 4 delivers sound to left, right, front & rear.

I would value ideas of how to look into getting sound to all the speakers.

  • executed sudo dnf swap wireplumber pipewire-media-session
  • executed systemctl --user enable --now wireplumber to start wireplumber service manually
    sudo dnf swap --allowerasing pulseaudio pipewire-pulseaudio
    packages just to be safe
    reboot your computer
systemctl --user status session.slice

to verify

  • pipewire is the Sound Server
  • wireplumber is the Session Manager for pipewire

Provide the output if problem still present
inxi -Fzx

2 Likes
systemctl --user status session.slice

gets me to

         ├─pipewire-pulse.service
         │ └─2540 /usr/bin/pipewire-pulse
         ├─pipewire.service
         │ └─2538 /usr/bin/pipewire
         └─wireplumber.service
           └─2539 /usr/bin/wireplumber

If you haven’t updated recently, there was an alsa-{lib,ucm} update ( 1.2.6.1-2.fc35 ) that recently posted. Probably unrelated but can’t hurt.

Have you tried switching to the pro audio profile via pavucontrol?
I had better luck with my hdmi connection with utilizing that profile, I haven’t dug into the why.

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here you go, slightly edited out some probably unrelated system characteristics

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.11-200.fc35.x86_64 x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc
  v: 2.37-10.fc35 Desktop: GNOME 41.2
  Distro: Fedora release 35 (Thirty Five)
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASRock model: X470 Taichi serial: <superuser required>
  UEFI: American Megatrends v: P4.70 date: 03/29/2021
CPU:
  Info: 6-Core model: AMD Ryzen 5 3600 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 2
  rev: 0 cache: L2: 3 MiB
  flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  bogomips: 86415
  Speed: 2153 MHz min/max: 2200/3600 MHz boost: enabled Core speeds (MHz):
  1: 2153 2: 3756 3: 2411 4: 3163 5: 4001 6: 2178 7: 2240 8: 3777 9: 2083
  10: 3990 11: 4178 12: 2039
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU117 [GeForce GTX 1650] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nvidia
  v: 470.94 bus-ID: 0f:00.0
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.14 driver: loaded: nvidia
  unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,nouveau,vesa resolution: 1: 1920x1080~75Hz
  2: 1024x768~60Hz 3: 1920x1080~60Hz
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 470.94
  direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
  bus-ID: 0f:00.1
  Device-2: AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: ASRock
  driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 11:00.4
  Device-3: Cambridge Silicon Radio Avantree DG60 type: USB
  driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus-ID: 1-6.3:9
  Device-4: Creative SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit External SB0490 type: USB
  driver: snd-usb-audio bus-ID: 1-6.4.4.2:12
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.11-200.fc35.x86_64 running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PipeWire v: 0.3.40 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 3168NGW [Stone Peak] driver: iwlwifi
  v: kernel bus-ID: 08:00.0
  IF: wlp8s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: ASRock driver: igb v: kernel
  port: d000 bus-ID: 0a:00.0
  IF: enp10s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-3: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel bus-ID: 0b:00.0
  IF: wlp11s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-4: Realtek RTL8153 Gigabit Ethernet Adapter type: USB driver: r8152
  bus-ID: 2-2.3:3
  IF: enp2s0f0u2u3 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
  bus-ID: 1-12:6
  Report: rfkill ID: hci1 rfk-id: 1 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
  rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: see --recommends
  Device-2: Intel Wireless-AC 3168 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8
  bus-ID: 1-9:4
  Report: ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
  rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: N/A
RAID:
  Device-1: md126 type: mdraid level: raid-10 status: active size: 3.62 TiB
  Info: report: 4/4 UUUU blocks: 3886954496 chunk-size: 512K
  Components: Online: 0: sdc1 1: sdd1 2: sde1 3: sdf1
  Device-2: md127 type: mdraid level: raid-0 status: active size: 792.62 GiB
  Info: report: N/A blocks: 831118336 chunk-size: 512k
  Components: Online: 0: nvme0n1p3 1: nvme1n1p2
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 15.46 TiB used: 4.81 TiB (31.1%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Kingston model: SA2000M8500G size: 465.76 GiB
  temp: 33.9 C
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 vendor: Kingston model: SA2000M8500G size: 465.76 GiB
  temp: 33.9 C
  ID-3: /dev/sda vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 500GB size: 465.76 GiB
  ID-4: /dev/sdb vendor: Western Digital model: WD5000AAKX-003CA0
  size: 465.76 GiB
  ID-5: /dev/sdc vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM008-2FR102 size: 1.82 TiB
  ID-6: /dev/sdd vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM008-2FR102 size: 1.82 TiB
  ID-7: /dev/sde vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM001-1ER164 size: 1.82 TiB
  ID-8: /dev/sdf vendor: Toshiba model: DT01ACA300 size: 2.73 TiB
  ID-9: /dev/sdg vendor: Western Digital model: WD60EZAZ-00SF3B0
  size: 5.46 TiB
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 110 GiB used: 17.17 GiB (15.6%) fs: btrfs
  dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
  ID-2: /boot size: 487.2 MiB used: 244.2 MiB (50.1%) fs: ext4
  dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
  ID-3: /boot/efi size: 219.8 MiB used: 13.8 MiB (6.3%) fs: vfat
  dev: /dev/nvme1n1p1
  ID-4: /home size: 3.56 TiB used: 1.53 TiB (42.8%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-11
  mapped: home_vg-home
  ID-5: /var size: 88.03 GiB used: 6.8 GiB (7.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-4
  mapped: medium_vg-var00
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 130 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%)
  dev: /dev/sdb2
  ID-2: swap-2 type: zram size: 8 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  Message: No sensor data found. Is lm-sensors configured?
Info:
  Processes: 450 Uptime: 40m Memory: 62.71 GiB used: 5.04 GiB (8.0%)
  Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 11.2.1 Packages: 49
  note: see --pkg Shell: Bash v: 5.1.8 inxi: 3.3.09
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is up to date

the pro profile does not help; it also disables in my settings the choice of configurations. I can only select the different configurations in the analog output profile.

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Just an FYI
When you edit the output of commands, unless you are 100% certain that what you remove is of no concern, you are likely to remove something that may be of need to those trying to assist.

Please, in the future, only redact the portions that may be of risk such as user ID or machine id that would present a possibility for someone to directly attack you.

For example, device one under Audio: says NVIDIA but gives no info about what nvidia device it is whereas the full output would have given us that info.

1 Like

Thanks for your information. Unfortunately, my ground of risk assessment might be different to yours, given that we very likely have very different knowledge bases.

thank you for the example. I have now included the NVIDIA info. If you let me know what other information might be helpful, I am happy to take another look at the long output of the command.

In my system log I find the message from pipewire

pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-Creative_Technology_SB_Live__24-bit_External-00.analog-stereo-47) suspended -> error (Start error: No space left on device)

am not sure whether this fits the issue.
Also, after the F35 upgrade I am hearing every couple of minutes a click, both on the speaker, and sometimes also “in” the mic. I do not know how to produce that click.

Your caution is understood.
The inxi command only produces hardware and driver info. If you run it as a regular user it does not include specific identifying info that the root user sees, such as machine serial numbers and mac addresses. You can see that with the <filter> and <superuser required> inserts where data is blocked for the regular user. The Machine portion above reflects this.

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Just to provide some more illustration of the issue
Visualised with QjackCtl I see that the sound source (music in this case) seems to speak to all 5.1 channels of my device.
fcfff1684f90af876b673cd66d704d4b5d56bc24.png

Also, when I Test the speakers in gnome-control-center, then I can hear all the 5+1 speakers.
However, when I play music, I only head in two speakers. When I, however, configure the sound device as 4.0, then I can hear on 4 speakers.

Dear all, ok, I have now updated the inxi output at Upgrade to 35: Sound is working, but issue with surround 5 & 5.1 - #5 by ingli. If you can have another look, that would be amazing.

Hi, If you can hear the 4 speaker with Surround 4.0, it must be the LFE speaker (woofer?) that don’t have the sound out.

Would you like to try this, by modifying file /etc/pipewire/client.conf? Please also read some link I share on that comment. If it works, it will help others related to same issue.

1 Like

Sorry, I should have made this more explicit.

When I select 4.0 Output, I can hear Front Left&Right as well as Rear Left&Right. Subwoover is working, too. But the Subwoofer cannot be controlled in gnome-control-center. Not working at all is the Front Center speaker.
Just to reiterate: all speakers worked on my earlier install of Fedora 34 (currently I am on a fresh install; though my home directory is migrated).

aplay -L gets me

null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
sysdefault
Default Audio Device
pipewire
PipeWire Sound Server
default
Default ALSA Output (currently PipeWire Media Server)
sysdefault:CARD=DG60
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
Front output / input
surround21:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=DG60,DEV=0
Avantree DG60, USB Audio
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1
HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=2
HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=4
HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=5
HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=6
HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
HDMI Audio Output
sysdefault:CARD=Generic
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
Front output / input
surround21:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Digital
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
sysdefault:CARD=External
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
Front output / input
surround21:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=External,DEV=0
SB Live! 24-bit External, USB Audio
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output

aplay -l gets me

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: DG60 [Avantree DG60], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 11: HDMI 5 [HDMI 5]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 12: HDMI 6 [HDMI 6]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC1220 Analog [ALC1220 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC1220 Digital [ALC1220 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: External [SB Live! 24-bit External], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

wpctl status gets me on 5.1 Output:

PipeWire ‘pipewire-0’ [0.3.40, il@idesktop, cookie:2686137123]
└─ Clients:
31. WirePlumber [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2561]
32. WirePlumber [export] [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2561]
38. GNOME Volume Control Media Keys [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2773]
40. GNOME Shell Volume Control [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2491]
41. xdg-desktop-portal [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:3124]
72. Shortwave [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2]
79. GNOME Settings [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:19177]
84. Mutter [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:2491]
86. Firefox [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:4389]
112. wpctl [0.3.40, il@idesktop, pid:20879]

Audio
├─ Devices:
│ 42. Avantree DG60 [alsa]
│ 43. SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit External SB0490 [alsa]
│ 44. HDA NVidia [alsa]
│ 45. Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller [alsa]

├─ Sinks:
│ 39. Avantree DG60 Analog Stereo [vol: 0.76]
│ 48. HDA NVidia Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) [vol: 0.98]
│ 49. Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller Digital Stereo (IEC958) [vol: 0.74]
│ * 58. SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit External SB0490 Analog Surround 5.1 [vol: 0.41]

├─ Sink endpoints:

├─ Sources:
│ * 158. SoundBlaster Live! 24-bit External SB0490 Analog Stereo [vol: 0.71]

├─ Source endpoints:

└─ Streams:
73. Shortwave
56. output_RL > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_RL
74. output_FR > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_FR
133. output_RR > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_RR
162. output_FC > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_FC
166. output_LFE > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_LFE
183. output_FL > SB Live! 24-bit External:playback_FL
160. GNOME Settings
46. monitor_FL
62. monitor_LFE
91. monitor_FR
95. input_RR < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_RR
105. input_FR < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_FR
139. input_FC < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_FC
140. monitor_FC
142. monitor_RL
143. input_FL < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_FL
145. input_LFE < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_LFE
147. input_RL < SB Live! 24-bit External:monitor_RL
150. monitor_RR

Thanks for the pointer to 1941366 – NO sound on subwoofer after update from f32 to f34 - indeed helpful to get a sense of what might be going on.

Hmm, as per Dell XPS 9510 and Fedora 35 - #10 by oprizal, I am trying to edit /etc/pipewire/client.conf but that file (and directory) does not exist on my system. Should I create it?

Oh I miss type. Should on /usr/share/pipewire/client.conf

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hmm, ok, I edited the values at /usr/share/pipewire/client.conf:
channelmix.upmix = true and
channelmix.lfe-cutoff = 140, and tried also 0 and 180.

And after every change ran as a normal user systemctl restart --user pipewire wireplumber.

I cannot observe any change. Sound is still not working as expected.

Also, like in Dell XPS 9510 and Fedora 35 - #10 by oprizal

test all 4 speaker and only got 2 when playing music

I can test (within gnome control center) all 5 speakers + 1 subwoofer, but when playing music (etc) I can only hear front (L&R) or with 4.0 Output hear Front L&R and Rear L&R and subwoofer.

1 Like

Thank you for testing. :grinning:

happy to test, and thanks for your thoughts/pointers so far! Just edited my prior post to indicate more explicitly that it is still not working. :wink:

:thinking: I found weird things. When playing wav file sample of surround 5.1 (person counting 1 to 6) with elementary-music as yours, I lost one sound, but when I use audacious, all sounds comes.

If it also happen with you, maybe pipewire/wireplumber leave all those things to the player app to manage it.

1 Like

Hm, unfortunately, I cannot reproduce a different output by audacious. Might it depend on the audio file? It should not, I guess, but maybe it does?