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diff --git a/docs/design/2026-07-10-audio-failure-taxonomy.org b/docs/design/2026-07-10-audio-failure-taxonomy.org index c504f81..efb6e0a 100644 --- a/docs/design/2026-07-10-audio-failure-taxonomy.org +++ b/docs/design/2026-07-10-audio-failure-taxonomy.org @@ -8,6 +8,14 @@ A catalogue of real, user-reported ways Linux audio input (microphone) and outpu Target: 50 input failure modes and 50 output failure modes, or exhaustion. Each entry names the layer, the symptom as a user reports it, the root cause, the known resolution, and a source. +** Saturation test (2026-07-10) + +To check whether the nine-cluster-per-direction taxonomy was representative or an artifact of how we first sampled, a blind resample: ten agents drew 108 fresh failure reports through five different doors per direction (specific hardware lines, external devices, non-Arch distros, broad community Q&A, and call/gaming apps), weighted toward 2024-2026 and non-Arch sources, none of them shown the clusters or the existing entries. Every result was then classified against the existing 18 clusters. + +Result: zero of 108 needed a new cluster. Roughly 70 re-found entries already in the catalogue (many hitting the exact same bug and source URL we had cited independently), which is entry-level saturation. The other ~34 were genuinely new distinct root causes, and all of them slotted into existing clusters. The new results spread across every cluster and concentrated where the original catalogue did (cluster 1 firmware/driver, and the app cluster). The app cluster grew densest, which confirms the Chrome incident that started this was representative, not a fluke. + +Conclusion: the clusters — what the doctor's probe ladder and verdict structure rest on — are complete and stable. Entries will keep growing (hardware × kernel × app is unbounded), but the design can rest on the taxonomy. The ~34 new entries the sweep surfaced are folded in below, under a "Saturation resample additions" heading in each direction, each carrying its cluster and remedy class inline. + * Input (microphone) failure modes Built 2026-07-10 from a parallel research sweep across eight layers (kernel/driver/firmware, ALSA, PipeWire/WirePlumber, Bluetooth, USB, app/portal, hardware, config/misc). 64 raw entries deduped to 58 distinct root causes. Each names the layer, the user-reported symptom, the cause, the known fix (with the concrete command where one exists), whether the fix needs root or a reboot, and a source. The =sudo/reboot= field is the first triage signal: a no-sudo, no-reboot fix is a candidate for an auto or guide remedy; a both/physical fix can only ever be a guide. @@ -94,6 +102,27 @@ Built 2026-07-10 from a parallel research sweep across eight layers (kernel/driv - XDG_RUNTIME_DIR unset in ssh/cron/non-login session (no). Recording works in the desktop terminal but fails from ssh or cron. Non-login sessions skip pam_systemd, so the socket in =/run/user/<uid>= isn't found. Fix: run as the seat user with =XDG_RUNTIME_DIR= set. [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=286176][arch 286176]] - Auto-gain (AGC) pulling the mic level toward zero (no). The mic gets progressively quieter; something keeps lowering the input volume. An app or WirePlumber is allowed to auto-adjust the source gain and only ratchets down. Fix: a WirePlumber access rule blocking the client from changing gain. [[https://www.lumeh.org/wiki/audio/stop-adjusting-my-microphone/][lumeh]] +** Saturation resample additions (2026-07-10) + +Genuinely-new input root causes from the blind resample, each tagged with the cluster it fits and its remedy class (so this doubles as their triage). Zero forced a new cluster. + +- Mic boost too high, records static/distortion (cluster 3 · AUTO). The inverse of boost-at-zero. Fix: lower Mic Boost. [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=211318][arch 211318]] +- App auto-gain zeroes the mic, Zoom/Discord (cluster 7 · GUIDE). The app's own auto-input-adjust drives the level to 0. Fix: disable "automatically adjust microphone volume" / input-sensitivity. [[https://community.zoom.com/t5/Meetings/Zoom-for-Linux-not-working-well-with-newer-distributions/m-p/22805][zoom community]] +- App selects the wrong input, "monitor of output", Teams (cluster 7 · GUIDE). Fix: set the device before launch, avoid the in-call chooser. [[https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/183216/in-ms-teams-for-linux-microphone-stopped-working][ms teams]] +- App requires PulseAudio, fails on bare ALSA, Signal/Webex (cluster 7 · GUIDE). WebRTC won't enumerate devices without the Pulse layer. Fix: install pipewire-pulse. [[https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Desktop/issues/5099][signal 5099]] +- Browser WebRTC captures one channel only, Jitsi/Firefox (cluster 7 · GUIDE). Firefox-specific channel handling. Fix: Chrome as workaround. [[https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet/issues/16828][jitsi 16828]] +- Mic classified as an output device, Pop COSMIC (cluster 2 · GUIDE). A desktop-environment device-role bug. Fix: none confirmed; tracked upstream. [[https://github.com/pop-os/cosmic-epoch/issues/1368][cosmic 1368]] +- SOF topology-file mismatch, DMIC visible but silent (cluster 1 · PRIV, REBOOT-TAIL). The firmware is present but the wrong .tplg loads. Fix: swap the topology file in firmware-sof. [[https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1772498][rh 1772498]] +- Webcam mic needs a USB init-delay quirk, Logitech C922 (cluster 1 · REBOOT-TAIL). Fix: kernel with USB_QUIRK_DELAY_INIT for the device. [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1885259][lp 1885259]] +- USB interface implicit-feedback / clock-source stutter, Behringer UMC (cluster 4 · REBOOT-TAIL). Fix: =implicit_fb= modprobe, or kernel 5.19+. [[https://nandakumar.org/blog/2023/01/upgrade-linux-for-umc202hd.html][nandakumar]] +- USB dual-channel device won't do input and output at once until a profile toggle, Elgato Wave (cluster 4 · AUTO). Fix: toggle the Pro Audio vs Duplex profile. [[https://forum.level1techs.com/t/elgato-wave-3-fails-to-work-as-microphone/221807][level1techs]] +- USB mic not reliably enumerated, a port/controller issue or a PipeWire add-race (cluster 4 · AUTO). Fix: restart PipeWire, or a different port. [[https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pipewire/pipewire/-/issues/1534][pw 1534]] +- PipeWire buffer/scheduling failure, source active but no samples (cluster 5 · GUIDE). "port_use_buffers" / "scheduling stopped node" in the log. Fix: unresolved upstream. [[https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/271847][nixpkgs 271847]] +- Sudo-run audio tools corrupt the WirePlumber state (cluster 9 · AUTO). Fix: =rm -r ~/.local/state/wireplumber=; never run audio tools under sudo. [[https://www.kubuntuforums.net/forum/currently-supported-releases/kubuntu-24-04-nitpick-noble-lts/hardware-support-bg/681510-kubuntu-24-04-microphone-volume-at-100-per-cent-on-every-reboot][kubuntu]] +- Audio-group membership blocks per-session access, older udev/ConsoleKit distros (cluster 9 · PRIV). Fix: remove the user from the =audio= group. [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/TheAudioGroup][ubuntu audio group]] +- Windows fast-startup wedges audio on a dual-boot (cluster 9 · GUIDE). Fix: disable Windows fast boot, or reload the sof module. [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=279824][arch 279824]] +- Dead mic transducer / faulty mic module (cluster 8 · GUIDE). Fix: hardware defect, replaced under warranty. [[https://community.frame.work/t/fedora-41-13th-gen-intel-core-microphone-not-working/64010][framework 64010]] + * Input triage The 58 input failure modes sorted into nine symptom clusters, each owned by a probe the doctor runs (or would run). Every entry carries a remedy class: @@ -387,6 +416,29 @@ Probe: none in-stack; the tail on a healthy verdict. The output mirror of input - Chromium doesn't follow the default-sink change :: GUIDE — reassign the stream in pavucontrol. - Electron app routed to the wrong sink :: GUIDE — move the stream in pavucontrol. +** Saturation resample additions (2026-07-10) + +Genuinely-new output root causes from the blind resample, each tagged with the cluster it fits and its remedy class. Zero forced a new cluster. + +- App picks the wrong audio backend, Spotify (cluster 9 · GUIDE). The app's built-in backend mis-routes. Fix: force the pulseaudio backend in the launch flags (=--audio-api=pulseaudio=). [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=285730][arch 285730]] +- A PipeWire regression breaks game audio, Proton XAudio2 titles (cluster 9 · GUIDE). Fix: downgrade PipeWire, or update to the fixed release. [[https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/8730][proton 8730]] +- App muted in the desktop per-app mixer, KDE Chrome (cluster 9 · AUTO). The Flatpak permission is fine; the app's stream is muted in the DE volume applet. Fix: unmute the app there. [[https://github.com/flathub/com.google.Chrome/issues/297][chrome 297]] +- App connection stale after an audio-stack update, Firefox (cluster 9 · AUTO). Fix: restart the app or the audio daemon. [[https://forum.endeavouros.com/t/solved-no-audio-in-firefox-from-pipewire-or-pulseaudio-update/26032][endeavour 26032]] +- Output defaults to the wrong digital out, needs alsactl init, Framework 16 (cluster 2 · AUTO). Fix: =alsactl init=, then select the analog output. [[https://community.frame.work/t/solved-framework-16-ai-300-series-ubuntu-24-04-speakers-work-but-not-headphones/81363][framework 81363]] +- WirePlumber disabled in config, no enumeration, NixOS (cluster 2 · AUTO). Fix: enable wireplumber in the config, rebuild. [[https://github.com/NixOS/nixpkgs/issues/402999][nixpkgs 402999]] +- A distro update drops an audio package, openSUSE =wireplumber-audio= (cluster 1 · PRIV). Fix: reinstall and lock the package. [[https://forums.opensuse.org/t/no-output-or-input-devices-after-zypper-dup-only-dummy-output-in-pipewire-on-tumbleweed/185154][opensuse 185154]] +- USB audio module not auto-loaded after a kernel update (cluster 1 · PRIV). Fix: add =snd_usb_audio= to =modules-load.d=. [[https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=443590][mint 443590]] +- Stray =model=generic= modprobe forces the wrong codec (cluster 1 · REBOOT-TAIL). Left by OEM/installer tooling. Fix: delete the leftover =/etc/modprobe.d= line. [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2092728][lp 2092728]] +- SOF driver aborts when the codec is hda_generic, Acer Swift (cluster 1 · REBOOT-TAIL). Fix: kernel 5.8+; =dmic_detect=0= workaround. [[https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1877757][lp 1877757]] +- Cirrus CS35L56 smart-amp firmware not applied, ROG G14 2024 (cluster 1 · REBOOT-TAIL). A newer amp than the CS35L41 already catalogued. Fix: newer kernel + firmware. [[https://www.mail-archive.com/debian-kernel@lists.debian.org/msg139811.html][debian-kernel]] +- Creative CA0132 card needs a kernel quirk, AE-5 Plus (cluster 1 · GUIDE). Reuses an existing PCI id with a different config. Fix: no userspace fix; kernel patch. [[https://forum.manjaro.org/t/soundblaster-creative-ae-5-plus-no-sound/60516][manjaro 60516]] +- ALC4080 enumerates as USB not HDA, front-panel node not exposed (cluster 4 · AUTO). Fix: an explicit ALSA sink in =pipewire.conf= pointing at the FP device. [[https://discussion.fedoraproject.org/t/headphone-audio-not-working-asus-rog-strix-z590-f-alc4080/76380][fedora 76380]] +- GPU HDMI audio KAE regression, Intel Arc DG2 (cluster 7 · GUIDE). Fix: kernel fix disables KAE for DG2; update kernel. [[https://www.phoronix.com/news/Intel-DG2-Audio-Fix-Linux-KAE][phoronix]] +- USB DAC silent at a specific sample rate, FiiO 44.1k (cluster 8 · AUTO). Fix: set =allowed-rates=. [[https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=180561][arch 180561]] +- BIOS firmware bug, crackle or dead speakers fixed by a BIOS update, MSI GF63 (cluster 1 · GUIDE). Broke on Windows too. Fix: flash the vendor BIOS update. [[https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=424474][mint 424474]] +- USB sound device not reliably enumerated after boot, an init race, Creative/Schiit (cluster 5 · GUIDE). Fix: replug; pin the profile. [[https://forum.zorin.com/t/usb-soundcard-creative-sound-blaster-hd-not-always-recognized-after-boot/66177][zorin 66177]] +- Audio-group membership blocks access, older udev/ConsoleKit distros (cluster 9 · PRIV). The same cross-cutting trap the input side hit. Fix: remove the user from the =audio= group. [[https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/TheAudioGroup][ubuntu audio group]] + * Sources Every entry carries its source inline as an org link. Reports span the Arch/Manjaro/EndeavourOS/Fedora/Ubuntu/Mint/openSUSE forums, askubuntu, the PipeWire and WirePlumber docs, ALSA and Flatpak issue trackers, kernel bug trackers, and vendor forums (NVIDIA, Dell). Collected 2026-07-10. |