Reacting to microphone (input), instead of speakers (output)

[Ilovemyhous]

When/where was the bug introduced?

• Are you using cava from a package repository, like AUR?
  AUR

Describe the bug
cava is reacting to the microphone, instead of the speakers.
https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/50217071/144102743-7aae3bad-1460-4dc5-ad9f-0db2826784b2.mp4

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Used Octopi to install cava (0.7.4)
2. Then ran cava.

Expected behavior
I expected cava to react to the output, not the input.

Screenshots
Look video above

Desktop (please complete the following information):

Terminal emulator
Alacritty (0.9.0) and fish (3.3.1)

Additional context
Might be because I use PipeWire, instead of PulseAudio.
I already tried with PulseAudio, but it bricked my audio.

I already looked this issue, but it was an user issue.

[karlstav]

hi @Ilovemyhous

i am pretty sure pipewire is the reason behind this. since cava does not have a native pipewire input module but would rely on the pulseaudio support in pipewire. However I tried to reproduce this by installing pipewire on my ubunyu 21.10 setup and it worked fine.

do you know if you are running pipewire-pulse?

if so, you could run pactl list sources, find the .monitor source for your output device and set it as the 'source' in the '[input]' section of the cava config.

[Ilovemyhous]

Hi!
I indeed have pipewire_pulse (look image).

For the .monitor I found two entries. One from the audio card, and one from Nvidia. I took the audio card, but still not working. :/

I might have put the wrong name in the cava config.

[karlstav]

You need to remove the ; in front of the line you are trying to edit. Remove the ; before method = pulse also. Just so we are sure that we are using pulseaudio.

[Ilovemyhous]

Tried with
# For alsa 'source' will be the capture device.
# For fifo 'source' will be the path to fifo-file.
# For shmem 'source' will be /squeezelite-AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF where 'AA:BB:CC:DD:EE:FF' will be squeezelite's MAC address
method = pulse
; source = alsa_output.pci-0000_05_00.6.analog-stereo.monitor

along with removing the ; in front of the source but it didn't worked either.

[karlstav]

hmm well, you don't by any chance have the sound from your mic in your speakers as well? That would explain it. Other than that, I am not sure here.

[Ilovemyhous]

If you mean, that I hear like, my own voice, no.

But I'll try to install cava on Linux Mint.

[Ilovemyhous]

Hi!
So, I apparently already installed cava on my Mint distro, but it uses Pulseaudio.
I'll try to switch on Pulseaudio on Garuda too, and hope it won't break my audio outputs.

[Ilovemyhous]

Hey!
Some updates, so I finally had time to give PulseAudio a new try, and it worked, along with cava.

[James-hoerr]

I am using pipewire and experiencing the same issue. Is there any way to troubleshoot this further?

[James-hoerr]

I actually was able to solve this for anyone who finds this:

When getting the sources from: pactl list sources
Instead of using the monitor name use the source number

Source #65584
	State: IDLE
	Name: alsa_output.usb-Focusrite_Scarlett_2i2_USB_Y80P36N9A849F2-00.analog-stereo.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Scarlett 2i2 Camera Analog Stereo

So for the above:

 method = pulse
 source = alsa_output.usb-Focusrite_Scarlett_2i2_USB_Y80P36N9A849F2-00.analog-stereo.monitor

Does not work, but the below does

 method = pulse
 source = 65584

[Tupu4545]

I am using pipewire and I have changed the source to the source number listed in the pactl list sources instead of the .monitor but still I am facing the same issue

[IdreesM0]

Hi! Not opening new issue since mine is very similar to this one. I actually had the same setup working on my other laptop. I have the bars but they just do not respond to the music stream and if I unmute the mic, the high end has kinda have brain of its own. I have cave and pulseeffects-legacy installed from AUR.
My system:

pactl list sources

`Source #0
State: IDLE
Name: alsa_output.usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00.analog-stereo.monitor
Description: Monitor of FiiO BTR5 Analog Stereo
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 7
Mute: no
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
Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00.analog-stereo
Latency: 0 usec, configured 2000000 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
device.description = "Monitor of FiiO BTR5 Analog Stereo"
device.class = "monitor"
alsa.card = "2"
alsa.card_name = "FiiO BTR5"
alsa.long_card_name = "FiiO FiiO BTR5 at usb-0000:00:14.0-3, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:3:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "2972"
device.vendor.name = "FiiO Electronics Technology"
device.product.id = "0047"
device.product.name = "FiiO BTR5"
device.serial = "FiiO_FiiO_BTR5"
device.string = "2"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
Formats:
pcm

Source #1
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor
Description: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 8
Mute: no
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
Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
device.class = "monitor"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x6203108000 irq 161"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "06c8"
device.product.name = "Comet Lake PCH cAVS"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "0"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Formats:
pcm

Source #2
State: RUNNING
Name: alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 8
Mute: yes
Volume: front-left: 30421 / 46% / -20.00 dB, front-right: 30421 / 46% / -20.00 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 6554 / 10% / -60.00 dB
Monitor of Sink: n/a
Latency: 1845 usec, configured 40000 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "ALC295 Analog"
alsa.id = "ALC295 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x6203108000 irq 161"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "06c8"
device.product.name = "Comet Lake PCH cAVS"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "front:0"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "768000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "384000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Ports:
analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, availability unknown)
Active Port: analog-input-mic
Formats:
pcm

Source #3
State: RUNNING
Name: PulseEffects_apps.monitor
Description: Monitor of PulseEffects(apps)
Driver: module-null-sink.c
Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 26
Mute: no
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
Monitor of Sink: PulseEffects_apps
Latency: 0 usec, configured 10000 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
device.description = "Monitor of PulseEffects(apps)"
device.class = "monitor"
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
Formats:
pcm

Source #4
State: SUSPENDED
Name: PulseEffects_mic.monitor
Description: Monitor of PulseEffects(mic)
Driver: module-null-sink.c
Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 44100Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 27
Mute: no
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
Monitor of Sink: PulseEffects_mic
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
device.description = "Monitor of PulseEffects(mic)"
device.class = "monitor"
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
Formats:
pcm
`
AND

pactl list sinks

`Sink #0
State: RUNNING
Name: alsa_output.usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00.analog-stereo
Description: FiiO BTR5 Analog Stereo
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 7
Mute: no
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
Monitor Source: alsa_output.usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00.analog-stereo.monitor
Latency: 69735 usec, configured 90000 usec
Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
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 = "FiiO BTR5"
alsa.long_card_name = "FiiO FiiO BTR5 at usb-0000:00:14.0-3, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:3:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-3/1-3:1.0/sound/card2"
udev.id = "usb-FiiO_FiiO_BTR5-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "2972"
device.vendor.name = "FiiO Electronics Technology"
device.product.id = "0047"
device.product.name = "FiiO BTR5"
device.serial = "FiiO_FiiO_BTR5"
device.string = "front:2"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "768000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "384000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.description = "FiiO BTR5 Analog Stereo"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
Ports:
analog-output: Analog Output (type: Analog, priority: 9900, availability unknown)
Active Port: analog-output
Formats:
pcm

Sink #1
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 8
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 7864 / 12% / -55.25 dB, front-right: 7864 / 12% / -55.25 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "ALC295 Analog"
alsa.id = "ALC295 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x6203108000 irq 161"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "06c8"
device.product.name = "Comet Lake PCH cAVS"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "front:0"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "768000"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "384000"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Ports:
analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, availability unknown)
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, not available)
Active Port: analog-output-speaker
Formats:
pcm

Sink #2
State: RUNNING
Name: PulseEffects_apps
Description: PulseEffects(apps)
Driver: module-null-sink.c
Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 26
Mute: no
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
Monitor Source: PulseEffects_apps.monitor
Latency: 8612 usec, configured 10000 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS
Properties:
device.description = "PulseEffects(apps)"
device.class = "sound"
device.icon_name = "audio-card"
Formats:
pcm

Sink #3
State: SUSPENDED
Name: PulseEffects_mic
Description: PulseEffects(mic)
Driver: module-null-sink.c
Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 44100Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 27
Mute: no
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
Monitor Source: PulseEffects_mic.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS
Properties:
device.description = "PulseEffects(mic)"
device.class = "sound"
device.icon_name = "audio-card"
Formats:
pcm
`

the config file is setup for pulse as
`method = pulse

source = PulseEffects_apps.monitor
`
This is what cava looks like:

I could not make sense of manjaro cinnamon audio setup. Pipewire and pulseaudio both are installed. Trying to remove any one of them spills big dependency conflicts like muffin and manjaro-cinnamon. Trying to install pipewire-pulse also fails due to conflict.

pacmd list clients is a very long list. Please let me know if any more info is required. Help is much appreciated.

[RandomExplosion]

I too have been experiencing a similar problem.
I'm using pipewire with wireplumber and alacritty as my terminal emulator.
I get blank bars as described above. Interestingly cava doesn't seem to have opened a stream whatsoever as it is not present in qpwgraph/hevlum/carla/any other patchbay:

Breakdown of screenshot:
Top: Cava running in alacritty and displaying a blank spectrum
Bottom Left: Carla's Patchbay
Right: Big Meter lv2 plugin connected to monitor for my headphones

[karlstav]

@RandomExplosion, this sounds like a separate issue. are you sure pipewire is the selected input?

[Blueskygod]

My Server Name : PulseAudio (on pipewire 0.3.882)
terminal alacritty,kitty
systemctl --user status pipewire is active (running)
systemctl --user status pulseaudio is service not found
cava is working fine with mpd/mpcpp
but it doesn't work when i use spotify , youtube or local system music from dolphin store
help me fixing it please