Microphone detected in pavucontrol, but has no input

General system Gaming, sound and video
1

Hi! Having an issue where my blue snowball, which I had previously been using with no issue, can no longer be detected by my PC. The mic is fine, as I have EOS installed on my macbook and it works perfectly on there. I also have a headset, and the microphone records just fine (maybe worth noting the blue snowball plugs in via usb, but this plugs in via pink+green audio jacks), so it’s specifically the blue snowball device that my computer is not handling properly. attached are some various outputs i’ve seen people try to use for diagnostics:

device on pavucontrol:

image
image503×143 2.14 KB

capture output on alsamixer:
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image632×466 44.9 KB

output of arecord -l

arecord -l
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 2: ALC887-VD Alt Analog [ALC887-VD Alt Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Snowball [Blue Snowball], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

output of pactl list cards

pactl list cards
Card #49
	Name: alsa_card.usb-BLUE_MICROPHONE_Blue_Snowball_201612-00
	Driver: alsa
	Owner Module: n/a
	Properties:
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "2"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "BLUE MICROPHONE Blue Snowball at usb-0000:02:00.0-3, full speed"
		api.alsa.card.name = "Blue Snowball"
		api.alsa.path = "hw:2"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio2"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.bus-id = "usb-BLUE_MICROPHONE_Blue_Snowball_201612-00"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:02:00.0-usb-0:3:1.0"
		device.description = "Blue Snowball"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-usb"
		device.name = "alsa_card.usb-BLUE_MICROPHONE_Blue_Snowball_201612-00"
		device.nick = "Blue Snowball"
		device.plugged.usec = "8555886"
		device.product.id = "0x0005"
		device.product.name = "Blue Snowball"
		device.serial = "BLUE_MICROPHONE_Blue_Snowball_201612"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.3/0000:02:00.0/usb1/1-3/1-3:1.0/sound/card2"
		device.vendor.id = "0x0d8c"
		device.vendor.name = "C-Media Electronics, Inc."
		media.class = "Audio/Device"
		spa.object.id = "6"
		factory.id = "15"
		client.id = "47"
		object.id = "49"
		object.serial = "49"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:Snowball"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "Blue Snowball"
		alsa.long_card_name = "BLUE MICROPHONE Blue Snowball at usb-0000:02:00.0-3, full speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
		alsa.components = "USB0d8c:0005"
		alsa.id = "Snowball"
		device.string = "2"
	Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: pro-audio
	Ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo

Card #50
	Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_07_00.1
	Driver: alsa
	Owner Module: n/a
	Properties:
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "0"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA NVidia at 0xf7080000 irq 85"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HDA NVidia"
		api.alsa.path = "hw:0"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:07:00.1"
		device.description = "TU104 HD Audio Controller"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_07_00.1"
		device.nick = "HDA NVidia"
		device.plugged.usec = "8449972"
		device.product.id = "0x10f8"
		device.product.name = "TU104 HD Audio Controller"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:07:00.1/sound/card0"
		device.vendor.id = "0x10de"
		device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
		media.class = "Audio/Device"
		spa.object.id = "2"
		factory.id = "15"
		client.id = "47"
		object.id = "50"
		object.serial = "50"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:NVidia"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xf7080000 irq 85"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Nvidia GPU 92 HDMI/DP"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10de0092,14583fc1,00100100"
		alsa.id = "NVidia"
		device.string = "0"
	Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 0, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: off
	Ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-surround, output:hdmi-surround71
		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "1"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1
		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "2"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2
		hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (type: HDMI, priority: 5600, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "3"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra3, output:hdmi-surround-extra3, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3

Card #51
	Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_09_00.3
	Driver: alsa
	Owner Module: n/a
	Properties:
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "1"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf7700000 irq 87"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		api.alsa.path = "hw:1"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:09:00.3"
		device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_09_00.3"
		device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
		device.plugged.usec = "8480666"
		device.product.id = "0x1457"
		device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:09:00.3/sound/card1"
		device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
		media.class = "Audio/Device"
		spa.object.id = "4"
		factory.id = "15"
		client.id = "47"
		object.id = "51"
		object.serial = "51"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic"
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf7700000 irq 87"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,1458a182,00100302"
		alsa.id = "Generic"
		device.string = "1"
	Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5565, available: yes)
		output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5500, available: yes)
		output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 365, available: no)
		output:iec958-ac3-surround-51: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 300, available: yes)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: no)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 2, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
	Ports:
		analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8500, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
		analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8200, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "1"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
		analog-input-linein: Line In (type: Line, priority: 8100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "line"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
				card.profile.port = "2"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
		analog-output-lineout: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "line"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
				card.profile.port = "3"
			Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "headphones"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 5"
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
				card.profile.port = "4"
			Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
			Properties:
				port.type = "spdif"
				card.profile.port = "5"
			Part of profile(s): output:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo

any assistance, even just a point in a possible direction, would be greatly appreciated.

2

I have a similar issue, also with a Blue Microphone. Mine is being called “generic”:

api.alsa.card.longname = “Generic Blue Microphones at usb-0000:00:14.0-2.2, high speed”

What fixes it for me, is physically unplug the USB cable to the microphone, and plug it back in. I hear the system “chime” as it loses the device, then chime again as the device is re-connected. And then it works, until the next reboot or sleep. Then it’s gone again.

I’ve tried what I could (and knew) about disabling USB power-saving states and processes, nothing helped. I started thinking that maybe my actual microphone is damaged / broken.