USB Sound pops at initial stream

[steve303]

I've been having this problem on and off for a while and have researched various solutions with no resolution. Any initial sound output is preceded by a loud DC pop - almost as if the sound output is being switch on. This occurs whenever the sound output is changed from one application source to another ( *pop* system bell system bell *pop* jitsi *pop* chat application).

Here's the system details:

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CODENAME=ulyssa
EDITION="Cinnamon"
DESCRIPTION="Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa"
Kernel: 5.4.0-74-generic
 

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pactl list sinks
Sink #0
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.usb-BEHRINGER_UMC202HD_192k-00.analog-stereo
	Description: UMC202HD 192k Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 7
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 20963 /  32% / -29.70 dB,   front-right: 20963 /  32% / -29.70 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.usb-BEHRINGER_UMC202HD_192k-00.analog-stereo.monitor
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	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 = "UMC202HD 192k"
		alsa.long_card_name = "BEHRINGER UMC202HD 192k at usb-0000:3c:00.0-1.2.3, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:3c:00.0-usb-0:1.2.3:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.4/0000:04:00.0/0000:05:02.0/0000:3c:00.0/usb3/3-1/3-1.2/3-1.2.3/3-1.2.3:1.0/sound/card2"
		udev.id = "usb-BEHRINGER_UMC202HD_192k-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "1397"
		device.vendor.name = "BEHRINGER International GmbH"
		device.product.id = "0507"
		device.product.name = "UMC202HD 192k"
		device.serial = "BEHRINGER_UMC202HD_192k"
		device.string = "front:2"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "17632"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "4408"
		device.access_mode = "mmap"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "UMC202HD 192k Analog Stereo"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	Ports:
		analog-output: Analog Output (priority: 9900)
	Active Port: analog-output
	Formats:
		pcm

As you can see, the device goes into Suspend - which I thought was the issue.

I've tried setting the /proc power control:

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cat /sys/bus/usb/devices/usb3/power/control 
on

as well as creating UDEV rules for this:

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 cat /etc/udev/rules.d/70-usb-power.rules 
 ACTION=="add", SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTR{idVendor}=="1397", ATTR{idProduct}=="0507", TEST=="power/control", ATTR{power/control}="on"

I've tried removing the usb.core auto suspend in grub as well:

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cat /sys/module/usbcore/parameters/autosuspend
-1

as well as even setting the pulse audio variables to disable Idle suspend.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I kept thinking this is related to usb power suspension, but it may be related to some kind of stream lock - as it seems to occur regularly whenever the audio stream application source changes. At this point, I feel like I'm kinda at a loss, and would appreciate any insights into how I could resolve this annoying issue. Thanks in advance.

[all41]

I've been having this problem on and off for a while and have researched various solutions with no resolution. Any initial sound output is preceded by a loud DC pop - almost as if the sound output is being switch on. This occurs whenever the sound output is changed from one application source to another ( *pop* system bell system bell *pop* jitsi *pop* chat application).

I kept thinking this is related to usb power suspension, but it may be related to some kind of stream lock - as it seems to occur regularly whenever the audio stream application source changes. At this point, I feel like I'm kinda at a loss, and would appreciate any insights into how I could resolve this annoying issue. Thanks in advance.

Hi steve303--welcome to the mint forums.

I've been having this problem on and off

Oh my--those once in a while issues are difficult.
methinks you have a better handle on the audio issue than I--but offering this:
Have a look at the alsa mixer settings in terminal:

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alsamixer

perhaps pulseaudio might be a solution:

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apt install pavucontrol

It's command line as well. Check the settings in those utilities

My sound output is coupled to an external surround system with subwoofers--and I remember having this
thump/click sound when starting .mp3--but not in several years and I don't remember the mitigation.
Before a computer shutdown I firstly power down the amps--which automatically disconnect the speakers before
poweroff so no thumps.
Forum member/moderator MrEen is the real sound authority here.
Unfortunately MrEen is hiatus for personal reasons--but you would do well to scan his posts,
you will gain insight and may even discover a solution.
Thumbs up for providing good info with your topic.
Cheers

[steve303]

Thanks. I was able to get the pulse sink device from going into suspend by removing the idle on suspend module in the pulse default.ca file. Unfortunately this didn't resolve the problem. I can faithfully reproduce the issue by changing audio output applications (eg. system to audacious or audacious to firefox or vice-versa). I noticed that monitoring the application streams in pavucontrol seems to suppress the popping. Finally, after some digging, I've found that when the popping does occurs the following appears at least once in system logs:

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kernel: [ 4143.952058] retire_capture_urb: XXXX callbacks suppressed

So I am a bit more confused, as I am not sure if this is a pulse issue affecting kernel usb module or a usb kernel issue affecting pulse. Based on the behaviour when pavucontrol is running, I am betting it is a pulse user space issue.

[vimes666]

(I realize this thread is 3 months old, but it may still help)
I had a similar problem. A (light) pop at the start of the audio and one 6 seconds after the audio stopped, followed by a very soft hum. I traced it back to the hdaudio being suspended.
I managed to fix it by setting the power control for hdaudio to 'on' in stead of 'auto' by doing

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sudo su

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echo "on" > /sys/bus/hdaudio/devices/hdaudioC0D0/power/control

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exit

Unfortunately the setting doesn't stick between boots. I did not find time for that part yet

[MrEen]

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sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/snd-hda-intel.conf <<<'options snd-hda-intel power_save=0'

That's what was needed here. Becomes active after a reboot.

[vimes666]

@MrEen: Yes, I was looking for that one. Hda, I was looking for hdaudio, thats why I didnt find it. Thanks!
I hope it helps the topic starter too.

[MrEen]

You are welcome vimes666.

[kc8oye]

I have this same issue!

I have just installed linux Mint 20.2 / cinnamon onto my Dell Inspiron 3670.. one of the questions I have... is that linux reports that I have an intel sound card which I don't.. it's a RealTek H.D card...

System: Kernel: 5.4.0-90-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7
wm: muffin dm: LightDM Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal
Machine: Type: Desktop System: Dell product: Inspiron 3670 v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis:
type: 3 serial: <filter>
Audio: Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:a348

Below is my external interface for recording.
Device-2: Focusrite-Novation Scarlett 2i2 USB type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio
bus ID: 1-1:2 chip ID: 1235:8210
Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-90-generic