Ubuntu
pulseaudio package

pulseaudio doesn't enforce remembered volume when changing to HDMI output

Bug #1378969 reported by Rasmus Wriedt Larsen
6
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
pulseaudio (Ubuntu)
New
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

When I change my sound output to use a HDMI output, even though `pactl list` reports the correct volume level, the output volume is in fact 100%. Executing the following command afterwards solves the problem.

$ pactl set-sink-volume <SINK-NUM> +0

Attached is three outputs of `pactl list`:
1) "hdmi-before" : taken when HDMI output is working as it should
2) "hdmi-after" : this is taken after changing away from the HDMI output (to laptop speaker), and back to HDMI again -- reported volume level is 50%, but real output level is 100%.
3) "hdmi-after-adjust" : taken after executing the command listed above (which sets real output level to 50%)

If it has any interest, I used the built in system settings to change sound output (even though the same problem occurs when doing so from the command line).

----
I'm using Ubuntu 14.04.1

$ pulseaudio --version
pulseaudio 4.0

$ pactl --version
pactl 4.0
Compiled with libpulse 4.0.0
Linked with libpulse 4.0.0

----

Please see comment below if the problem still seems unclear

=================================================================

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:4.0-0ubuntu11
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-36.63-generic 3.13.11.6
Uname: Linux 3.13.0-36-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.5
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: rasmus 2685 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c: rasmus 2685 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D3p: rasmus 2685 F...m pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Wed Oct 8 19:49:58 2014
InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-05-23 (138 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140417)
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 07/04/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: GAET35WW (1.12 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 33643EG
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrGAET35WW(1.12):bd07/04/2012:svnLENOVO:pn33643EG:pvrThinkPadEdgeS430:rvnLENOVO:rn33643EG:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 33643EG
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad Edge S430
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

See original description
Revision history for this message
Rasmus Wriedt Larsen (rasmuswl) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Rasmus Wriedt Larsen (rasmuswl) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Rasmus Wriedt Larsen (rasmuswl) wrote :

hurray for one-file-at-a-time

description: updated
Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :

the volume of your sony tv is controlled by your sony remote control

hdmi codec has nmo volume control

pulseaudio only use software volume

it won't restore the same volume if you change the volume by the sony remote control

Changed in pulseaudio (Ubuntu):
status: New → Incomplete
Revision history for this message
Rasmus Wriedt Larsen (rasmuswl) wrote :

It seems like I didn't explain myself quite clearly then.

The volume setting on the TV has been constant this whole time. Lets just say that the setting is such that the music is playing very loud.

Lets say I want to change that, so I go into my sound settings on my laptop, changing the "software" volume level from 100% to 50%. All is very good now, as the music is playing at a normal sound level.

Maybe my girlfriend gets a phone call, so to be polite I change the sound output to be my headphones (which are plugged in). As I do so, the volume level on the laptop is set to 10%, as it was last time I used my headphones.

When the phone call is over, I change the sound output back to the TV (which is connected over HDMI). The problem is that the music is playing very loud, even though the reported volume level on my laptop is 50% (as before).

---

That is what my bug is about.

As I tried to explain above, this can be solved by finding the Sink ID (pactl list | grep 'Sink #') and afterwards doing a dummy change to the volume level (pactl set-sink-volume <SINK-NUM> +0). This changes the sound level on my TV, back to the music playing at a normal level.

---

Hope this clears things up

Rasmus Wriedt Larsen (rasmuswl)
Changed in pulseaudio (Ubuntu):
status: Incomplete → New
description: updated
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