Hi I hope I can find someone who can help me with my audio issue.
On boot up I can’t start anything with audio, for example strawberry won’t play or videos in Firefox won’t start. I have to go to the audio settings select a different profile for my sound card then switch to the one I used to use, then I would have audio playback for a random amount of time until i have to do the same thing again.
How did I get there?
I couldn’t find the option to boost my Mic, but remembered from my earlier linux experiences that pulse had that option. So I installed pulse using octopi, everything was good, but after rebooting I encountered the issue I am having now. So I thought Pulse was to blame and deleted it again trough octopi. Now I had no audio and no audio settings.
I reinstalled Pulse (and all recommended packages) and now I am here.
I am using Plasma as my Desktop environment my sound card is a creative sound blaster z-series connected to a PCIe slot.
inxi -Fza:
System:
Kernel: 6.12.17-1-lts arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-linux-lts
root=UUID=6dab932d-dd67-4b94-99cd-3917131f813f rw nowatchdog
nvme_load=YES nvidia_drm.modeset=1 loglevel=3
Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.2 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.11.0
wm: kwin_wayland vt: 1 dm: SDDM Distro: EndeavourOS base: Arch Linux
Machine:
Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: Z170 PRO GAMING/AURA v: Rev X.0x
serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required>
UEFI-[Legacy]: American Megatrends v: 3805 date: 05/16/2018
CPU:
Info: model: Intel Core i7-7700K bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake
gen: core 7 level: v3 note: check built: 2018 process: Intel 14nm family: 6
model-id: 0x9E (158) stepping: 9 microcode: 0xF8
Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 4 cores: 4 threads: 8 tpc: 2
smt: enabled cache: L1: 256 KiB desc: d-4x32 KiB; i-4x32 KiB L2: 1024 KiB
desc: 4x256 KiB L3: 8 MiB desc: 1x8 MiB
Speed (MHz): avg: 4403 min/max: 800/4500 scaling: driver: intel_pstate
governor: powersave cores: 1: 4403 2: 4403 3: 4403 4: 4403 5: 4403 6: 4403
7: 4403 8: 4403 bogomips: 67224
Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx
Vulnerabilities:
Type: gather_data_sampling mitigation: Microcode
Type: itlb_multihit status: KVM: Split huge pages
Type: l1tf mitigation: PTE Inversion; VMX: conditional cache flushes, SMT
vulnerable
Type: mds mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
Type: meltdown mitigation: PTI
Type: mmio_stale_data mitigation: Clear CPU buffers; SMT vulnerable
Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
Type: retbleed mitigation: IBRS
Type: spec_rstack_overflow status: Not affected
Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
prctl
Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
sanitization
Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: IBRS; IBPB: conditional; STIBP: conditional;
RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected; BHI: Not affected
Type: srbds mitigation: Microcode
Type: tsx_async_abort mitigation: TSX disabled
Graphics:
Device-1: NVIDIA GP102 [GeForce GTX 1080 Ti] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nvidia
v: 570.124.04 alternate: nouveau,nvidia_drm non-free: 550/565.xx+
status: current (as of 2025-01; EOL~2026-12-xx) arch: Pascal code: GP10x
process: TSMC 16nm built: 2016-2021 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
ports: active: none off: DP-1,DP-2 empty: DVI-D-1,HDMI-A-1,HDMI-A-2
bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1b06 class-ID: 0300
Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
compositor: kwin_wayland driver: X: loaded: nvidia unloaded: modesetting
alternate: fbdev,nouveau,nv,vesa gpu: nvidia,nvidia-nvswitch
d-rect: 3840x1080 display-ID: 0
Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: primary,left model: Samsung S27E650 serial: <filter>
built: 2015 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2
size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
Monitor-2: DP-2 pos: right model: Idek Iiyama PL2770H serial: <filter>
built: 2022 res: mode: 1920x1080 hz: 165 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 82 gamma: 1.2
size: 598x336mm (23.54x13.23") diag: 686mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes:
max: 1920x1080 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: nvidia platforms: device: 0 drv: nvidia gbm:
drv: nvidia surfaceless: drv: nvidia wayland: drv: nvidia x11: drv: nvidia
API: OpenGL v: 4.6.0 vendor: nvidia v: 570.124.04 glx-v: 1.4
direct-render: yes renderer: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
memory: 10.74 GiB display-ID: :1.0
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.304 layers: 5 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 1080 Ti driver: N/A device-ID: 10de:1b06
surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor gpu: nvidia-smi wl: wayland-info
x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_avs bus-ID: 00:1f.3
chip-ID: 8086:a170 class-ID: 0403
Device-2: NVIDIA GP102 HDMI Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1
chip-ID: 10de:10ef class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Creative Labs CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D /
Z-Series BlasterX AE-5 Plus] driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 03:00.0 chip-ID: 1102:0012 class-ID: 0403
API: ALSA v: k6.12.17-1-lts status: kernel-api
tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: wireplumber
status: active 2: pipewire-alsa type: plugin 3: pw-jack type: plugin
tools: pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Server-2: PulseAudio v: 17.0-43-g3e2bb status: active with:
1: pulseaudio-alsa type: plugin 2: pulseaudio-jack type: module
tools: pacat,pactl,pavucontrol,pulsemixer
Network:
Device-1: Intel Ethernet I219-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: e1000e v: kernel
port: N/A bus-ID: 00:1f.6 chip-ID: 8086:15b8 class-ID: 0200
IF: enp0s31f6 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Info: services: NetworkManager,systemd-timesyncd
Drives:
Local Storage: total: 5.69 TiB used: 555.39 GiB (9.5%)
SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 500GB
size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 1B2QGXA7 temp: 35.9 C
scheme: MBR
ID-2: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 PRO 256GB
size: 238.47 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 2B6Q scheme: GPT
ID-3: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 EVO 500GB
size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 2B6Q scheme: MBR
ID-4: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Western Digital
model: WD20EURS-63S48Y0 size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 4096 B
logical: 512 B speed: 3.0 Gb/s tech: N/A serial: <filter> fw-rev: AB51
scheme: GPT
ID-5: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 vendor: Seagate model: FireCuda SE SSD
ZA2000GM10011 size: 1.82 TiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B
speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: D013 scheme: GPT
ID-6: /dev/sde maj-min: 8:64 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 1TB
size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s
tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 4B6Q scheme: GPT
Partition:
ID-1: / raw-size: 465.76 GiB size: 457.38 GiB (98.20%)
used: 300.41 GiB (65.7%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1
Swap:
Alert: No swap data was found.
Sensors:
System Temperatures: cpu: 42.0 C mobo: N/A
Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Info:
Memory: total: 64 GiB note: est. available: 62.74 GiB used: 5.5 GiB (8.8%)
Processes: 276 Power: uptime: 5h 36m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
suspend, test_resume image: 25.03 GiB services: org_kde_powerdevil,
power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
tool: systemctl
Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1287 libs: 383 tools: octopi,yay Compilers:
gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.37 running-in: konsole inxi: 3.3.37
lspci -k
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Xeon E3-1200 v6/7th Gen Core Processor Host Bridge/DRAM Registers (rev 05)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
Kernel driver in use: skl_uncore
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 6th-10th Gen Core Processor PCIe Controller (x16) (rev 05)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family USB 3.0 xHCI Controller (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family MEI Controller #1 (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: mei_me
Kernel modules: mei_me
00:17.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Q170/Q150/B150/H170/H110/Z170/CM236 Chipset SATA Controller [AHCI Mode] (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: ahci
00:1b.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #17 (rev f1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1b.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #19 (rev f1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev f1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1d.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port #9 (rev f1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Z170 Chipset LPC/eSPI Controller (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8694
00:1f.2 Memory controller: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family Power Management Controller (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
00:1f.3 Audio device: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family HD Audio Controller (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 86ae
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel, snd_soc_avs
00:1f.4 SMBus: Intel Corporation 100 Series/C230 Series Chipset Family SMBus (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. H110I-PLUS Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: i801_smbus
Kernel modules: i2c_i801
00:1f.6 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V (rev 31)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8672
Kernel driver in use: e1000e
Kernel modules: e1000e
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP102 [GeForce GTX 1080 Ti] (rev a1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 85f1
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidia_drm, nvidia
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GP102 HDMI Audio Controller (rev a1)
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 85f1
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
03:00.0 Audio device: Creative Labs CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] (rev 01)
Subsystem: Creative Labs SB1570 SB Audigy Fx
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
04:00.0 USB controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1142 USB 3.1 Host Controller
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8675
Kernel driver in use: xhci_hcd
05:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd NVMe SSD Controller PM9A1/PM9A3/980PRO
Subsystem: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd SSD 980 PRO
Kernel driver in use: nvme
Kernel modules: nvme
systemctl --user status pipewire
pipewire.service - PipeWire Multimedia Service
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.service; disabled; preset: enabled)
Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-03-17 08:21:30 CET; 5h 38min ago
Invocation: 784aef5b78a64ca2b39cc042e73d16c3
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire.socket
Main PID: 829 (pipewire)
Tasks: 3 (limit: 76900)
Memory: 10.1M (peak: 11.6M)
CPU: 466ms
CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewire.service
└─829 /usr/bin/pipewire
Mär 17 08:21:30 Kriegsspielliebesautomat systemd[713]: Started PipeWire Multimedia Service.
