I’m trying to use my thunderbolt audio interface but I can’t.
Boltctl shows that it is authorized but there’s no trace of it in alsamixer.
Having to use it for music purpose in Reaper d.a.w. I need it for recording.
How can I fix this?
Thanks in advance.
I’m still on this.
So, I was asking if needed authorize the domain for the thunderbolt device in order to see it in the system. Before to try it and mess something (for security) I would a consideration if someone has already experienced with this kind of stuff.
I’m litterally getting crazy!
I can’t find a way to find/add my thunderbolt audio interface in alsa.
What I have to do?
thunderbolt module is loaded;
boltctl says that the device is ok, authorized and enrolled;
dmesg doesn’t shows any error both for thunderbolt and my audio interface ;
lspci shows the thunderbolt pci card (gigabyte titan-ridge).
Do I need to set some rule for alsa or path for the device? If yes, how I have to set it?
I tried to do it but maybe for the wrong pci port.
No wikis or forums seem to talk about this issue. Am I the only one in the world to face this problem?
Any suggestion?
I just have a few questions. This is a Thunderbolt dock? What is the audio interface you refer to? Is it just a DAW plugged into the thunderbolt dock?
Here is:
Looks pretty fancy. I’m sure it’s made to work on Windows. Maybe not so easy to get it working on Linux.
Does it show the audio device using this?
aplay -l
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture#Set_the_default_sound_card
aplay -l doesn’t shows it. So, I’m trying to add it manually in different config file (asound.state, self-made alsa.conf, and others) follow some AI guideline and reading tons of wiki pages about alsa.
Then, in EndeavourOS some config files like asound or asoundrc are not placed where described in arch wiki for alsa (I had to create myself the asoundrc in the home directory, but it didn’t worked, so I deleted it).
It’s strange, because if I plug it to the pc with usb2, it works. The problem is just with thunderbolt. Maybe I need to set the pci thunderbolt card instead the device?
Maybe?
If could be that, where I have to set it? In what config file and how I have to write the settings?
Anyway, looking in the asound.state file, settings for internal pc dac realtek are described one-by-one. So, do I have to write a setting for each single in/out of my audio interface? This could be eternal to do!
I read that alsa would do it automatically and being my interface saw by the system I can’t realize why it won’t works by itself. Is thunderbolt to be considered so different by the way usb works and recognized by the system? Why is so complicated to set it?
Have you tried the plasma-thunderbolt package? I don’t know exactly what it does or how it works.
Not yet. I will try it. Anyway, I’m on cinnamon and xfce. I hope plasma packages does not break anything. If something new, I’ll keep updated the topic. For now, thanks for the suggestion.
I need to raise up this again because it is an absolute paradoxal situation.
Boltctl, dmesg, lspci, lsmod | grep thunderbolt and so on do not give any error. Nothing. Nothing of nothing. Everything is absolutely ok. The device is working, authorized and enrolled. No permission required. Everything run by itself (for the system). But commands like aplay -l doesn’t list my thunderbolt device, either alsamixer.
Trying to solve it with AI, after long time, suddenly it says that ALSA doesn’t control directly thunderbolt devices. Instead it points to the thunderbolt controller (would it be that?). My thunderbolt audio interface is plugged-in using a pci card (Gigabyte Titan Ridge) that lspci gives in output.
So… why it won’t works???
I would try to ask infos to the ALSA team, either to Wim Taymans to ask about settings for pipewire, but I have no social network account and I can’t find any mail to ask them some suggestion. I guess BIOS/EFI settings are ok and, to be completely sure, I also added my user to the group for audio/video access in the system (and surely, it was a waste of time being already the admin of my system).
It is like linux won’t recognized any sound flux by it. Is there a way to “unlock” the pipe?
Maybe I have to set something in Wireplumber too?
I have the same problem in Artix Linux too (and there, ALSA won’t load in dinit)
Despair is knockin’!!! 
I don’t know but maybe you could show the output of each of the following.
dmesg -w #While connecting the dock and the jack
pacmd list-cards
pacmd list-sinks
For dmesg -w, output is:
[ 11.018993] thunderbolt 0-1: new device found, vendor=0xb4 device=0x51
[ 11.018998] thunderbolt 0-1: Antelope Audio ZenTour SC
For pacmd list-cards:
3 card(s) available.
index: 0
name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_21_00.1>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 6
properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0x91080000 irq 244"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:21:00.1"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:20/0000:20:03.1/0000:21:00.1/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "10de"
device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
device.product.id = "228b"
device.product.name = "GA104 High Definition Audio Controller"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "GA104 High Definition Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
profiles:
output:hdmi-stereo: Uscita «Digital Stereo (HDMI)» (priority 5900, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround: Uscita «Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI)» (priority 800, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71: Uscita «Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI)» (priority 800, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Uscita «Digital Stereo (HDMI 2)» (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Uscita «Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2)» (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Uscita «Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2)» (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Uscita «Digital Stereo (HDMI 3)» (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Uscita «Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3)» (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Uscita «Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3)» (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Uscita «Digital Stereo (HDMI 4)» (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Uscita «Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4)» (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Uscita «Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4)» (priority 600, available: no)
off: Spento (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <off>
ports:
hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
index: 1
name: <alsa_card.usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 8
properties:
alsa.card = "2"
alsa.card_name = "UC02"
alsa.long_card_name = "UC02 UC02 at usb-0000:47:00.1-3, full speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:3:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-3/5-3:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.name = "UC02"
device.product.id = "0000"
device.product.name = "UC02"
device.serial = "UC02_UC02_UC02"
device.string = "2"
device.description = "UC02"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
profiles:
input:mono-fallback: Ingresso «Mono» (priority 1, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo: Uscita «Stereo analogico» (priority 6500, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo+input:mono-fallback: Uscita «Stereo analogico» + Ingresso «Mono» (priority 6501, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo: Uscita «Stereo digitale (IEC958)» (priority 5500, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo+input:mono-fallback: Uscita «Stereo digitale (IEC958)» + Ingresso «Mono» (priority 5501, available: unknown)
output:iec958-ac3-surround-51: Uscita «Surround digitale 5.1 (IEC958/AC3)» (priority 300, available: unknown)
output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:mono-fallback: Uscita «Surround digitale 5.1 (IEC958/AC3)» + Ingresso «Mono» (priority 301, available: unknown)
off: Spento (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <output:analog-stereo+input:mono-fallback>
sinks:
alsa_output.usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00.analog-stereo/#0: UC02 Stereo analogico
sources:
alsa_output.usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00.analog-stereo.monitor/#0: Monitor of UC02 Stereo analogico
alsa_input.usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00.mono-fallback/#1: UC02 Mono
ports:
analog-input-mic: Microfono (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
analog-output: Uscita analogica (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
iec958-stereo-output: Uscita digitale (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
index: 2
name: <alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 9
properties:
alsa.card = "3"
alsa.card_name = "ALC1220-VB-DT"
alsa.long_card_name = "Realtek-ALC1220-VB-Desktop"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:5:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-5/5-5:1.0/sound/card3"
udev.id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0414"
device.vendor.name = "Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd"
device.product.id = "a002"
device.product.name = "USB Audio"
device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
device.string = "3"
device.description = "USB Audio"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
profiles:
HiFi: Default Alsa Profile (priority 9200, available: unknown)
off: Spento (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <HiFi>
sinks:
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__SPDIF__sink/#1: USB Audio S/PDIF Out
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Headphones__sink/#2: USB Audio Front Headphones
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Speaker__sink/#3: USB Audio Speakers
sources:
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__SPDIF__sink.monitor/#2: Monitor of USB Audio S/PDIF Out
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Headphones__sink.monitor/#3: Monitor of USB Audio Front Headphones
alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Speaker__sink.monitor/#4: Monitor of USB Audio Speakers
alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Mic2__source/#5: USB Audio Front Microphone
alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Mic1__source/#6: USB Audio Microphone
alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Line__source/#7: USB Audio Line In
ports:
[Out] SPDIF: S/PDIF Out (priority 100, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
[Out] Headphones: Front Headphones (priority 300, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
[Out] Speaker: Speakers (priority 200, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
[In] Mic2: Front Microphone (priority 300, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
[In] Mic1: Microphone (priority 200, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
[In] Line: Line In (priority 100, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
and for pacmd list-sinks:
4 sink(s) available.
* index: 0
name: <alsa_output.usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00.analog-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: APPLICATION|IDLE
priority: 9049
volume: front-left: 19532 / 30%, front-right: 19532 / 30%
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100%
volume steps: 256
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 0 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 0
sample spec: s16le ch 2 48000 Hz
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-UC02_UC02_UC02-00>
module: 8
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
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 = "UC02"
alsa.long_card_name = "UC02 UC02 at usb-0000:47:00.1-3, full speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:3:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-3/5-3:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-UC02_UC02_UC02-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.name = "UC02"
device.product.id = "0000"
device.product.name = "UC02"
device.serial = "UC02_UC02_UC02"
device.string = "front:2"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "384000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "192000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Stereo analogico"
device.description = "UC02 Stereo analogico"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
analog-output: Uscita analogica (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <analog-output>
index: 1
name: <alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__SPDIF__sink>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: APPLICATION|IDLE
priority: 9041
volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 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: 2
sample spec: s16le ch 2 44100 Hz
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.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00>
module: 9
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio #2"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "2"
alsa.card = "3"
alsa.card_name = "ALC1220-VB-DT"
alsa.long_card_name = "Realtek-ALC1220-VB-Desktop"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:5:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-5/5-5:1.0/sound/card3"
udev.id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0414"
device.vendor.name = "Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd"
device.product.id = "a002"
device.product.name = "USB Audio"
device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
device.string = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT,2"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "HiFi: SPDIF: sink"
device.profile.description = "S/PDIF Out"
alsa.mixer_device = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT"
device.description = "USB Audio S/PDIF Out"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
[Out] SPDIF: S/PDIF Out (priority 100, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <[Out] SPDIF>
index: 2
name: <alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Headphones__sink>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: APPLICATION|IDLE
priority: 9043
volume: front-left: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, front-right: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 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: 3
sample spec: s16le ch 2 48000 Hz
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.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00>
module: 9
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio #1"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "1"
alsa.card = "3"
alsa.card_name = "ALC1220-VB-DT"
alsa.long_card_name = "Realtek-ALC1220-VB-Desktop"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:5:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-5/5-5:1.0/sound/card3"
udev.id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0414"
device.vendor.name = "Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd"
device.product.id = "a002"
device.product.name = "USB Audio"
device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
device.string = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT,1"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "384000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "192000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "HiFi: Headphones: sink"
device.profile.description = "Front Headphones"
alsa.mixer_device = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT"
device.description = "USB Audio Front Headphones"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
[Out] Headphones: Front Headphones (priority 300, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
active port: <[Out] Headphones>
index: 3
name: <alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00.HiFi__Speaker__sink>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: APPLICATION|IDLE
priority: 9042
volume: front-left: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, front-right: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, rear-left: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, rear-right: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, front-center: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, lfe: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, side-left: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 dB, side-right: 26463 / 40% / -23.63 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: 4
sample spec: s16le ch 8 48000 Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe,side-left,side-right
Surround 7.1
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 2 <alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00>
module: 9
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
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 = "3"
alsa.card_name = "ALC1220-VB-DT"
alsa.long_card_name = "Realtek-ALC1220-VB-Desktop"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:47:00.1-usb-0:5:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:40/0000:40:01.1/0000:41:00.0/0000:42:08.0/0000:47:00.1/usb5/5-5/5-5:1.0/sound/card3"
udev.id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0414"
device.vendor.name = "Giga-Byte Technology Co., Ltd"
device.product.id = "a002"
device.product.name = "USB Audio"
device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
device.string = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "1536000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "768000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "HiFi: Speaker: sink"
device.profile.description = "Speakers"
alsa.mixer_device = "_ucm0007.hw:ALC1220VBDT"
device.description = "USB Audio Speakers"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
[Out] Speaker: Speakers (priority 200, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
active port: <[Out] Speaker>
Yes it does show the hardware. I think it maybe needs to set the profile as enabled or something like that. Or could be wrong sink used? I wish i could be more helpful.
Edit: I see on the back panel it has Thunderbolt connection and usb-A ? Have you tried connecting it with usb-A to see if it works?
I used it in the past with usb2.0 just for hearing music, not for recording and it was working pretty well. I have not tried on this last days. The problem is just for thunderbolt.
Anyway, your quote for the Antelope string’s output is from dmesg. ALSA and pipewire (or pulseaudio) don’t shows it. That’s the problem, because I cannot get any routing for that, even select it in reaper daw.
If it works on usb maybe that’s the solution for now. I don’t know that recording would be any different using usb verses thunderbolt? 
Thunderbolt drastically get lower latency.
Recording to 44.1khz or a little more, is ok. But increasing frequency to 192khz, having speed in connection is better.
Anyway, is there a method to conversate with some kernel mantainers without any social network?
Until now, I used only the boltctl command. But if I try to use the boltd command to control the thunderbolt daemon, the command is not found! “man boltd” prints the manual for it. Watching htop, boltd is running but it seems impossible to command something to it…
I don’t have any thunderbolt devices. I was looking through some info about it though.