After Mint Upgrade from 20 to 21.3 - No audio in Steam games

[MaximB]

Hi,

I've finally upgraded from Linux Mint 20 to 21.3
I have system audio, can listen to music and youtube
But when I start any Steam game, the game has no audio.

Steam Voice output device: default (also tried the two other options, but they also have no audio output)


Steam system info:

Code: Select all

Computer Information:
Manufacturer: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
Model: ROG CROSSHAIR VIII HERO (WI-FI)
Form Factor: Desktop
No Touch Input Detected
Processor Information:
CPU Vendor: AuthenticAMD
CPU Brand: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X 12-Core Processor
CPU Family: 0x17
CPU Model: 0x71
CPU Stepping: 0x0
CPU Type: 0x0
Speed: 4672 MHz
24 logical processors
12 physical processors
Hyper-threading: Supported
FCMOV: Supported
SSE2: Supported
SSE3: Supported
SSSE3: Supported
SSE4a: Supported
SSE41: Supported
SSE42: Supported
AES: Supported
AVX: Supported
AVX2: Supported
AVX512F: Unsupported
AVX512PF: Unsupported
AVX512ER: Unsupported
AVX512CD: Unsupported
AVX512VNNI: Unsupported
SHA: Supported
CMPXCHG16B: Supported
LAHF/SAHF: Supported
PrefetchW: Unsupported
Operating System Version:
Linux Mint 21.3 (64 bit)
Kernel Name: Linux
Kernel Version: 6.5.0-21-generic
X Server Vendor: The X.Org Foundation
X Server Release: 12101004
X Window Manager: Mutter (Muffin)
Steam Runtime Version: steam-runtime_0.20240123.75011
Video Card:
Driver: NVIDIA Corporation NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti/PCIe/SSE2
Driver Version: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.161.07
OpenGL Version: 4.6
Desktop Color Depth: 24 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 59 Hz
VendorID: 0x10de
DeviceID: 0x1e07
Revision Not Detected
Number of Monitors: 1
Number of Logical Video Cards: 1
Primary Display Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Desktop Resolution: 3840 x 2160
Primary Display Size: 65.35" x 36.61" (74.88" diag), 166.0cm x 93.0cm (190.2cm diag)
Primary Bus: PCI Express 16x
Primary VRAM: 11264 MB
Supported MSAA Modes: 2x 4x 8x 16x
Sound card:
Audio device: Nvidia GPU 91 HDMI/DP
Memory:
RAM: 64201 Mb
VR Hardware:
VR Headset: None detected
Miscellaneous:
UI Language: English
LANG: en_IL
Total Hard Disk Space Available: 1828717 MB
Largest Free Hard Disk Block: 158633 MB
Storage:
Number of SSDs: 6
SSD sizes: 6001G,5000G,4000G,4000G,4000G,2000G
Number of HDDs: 0
Number of removable drives: 0

[1000]

I guess you can test on a new user account.
If it works, you need to delete the old configuration in your home directory - probably sound, or reinstall Steam.
( after reboot system, system will create new config files )
I just wanted to ask to be sure.
Have you upgraded to a newer system without having to reinstall the entire system / without .iso file?
Because if you installed system on a clean partition,
you don't have old files and there is no point in checking the sound on a new user account.

However, if you have not formatted the partition and you have old files, then
- You can install / reinstall Steam on new user acount and check
- You can find game and run by hand, when Steam is closed / not running.
Some games without Steam should also work.
( I used " locate " command for find files, but it need have updated file database [ sudo updatedb ] )

[MaximB]

I've made some testing....

Tried to run a game (visual novel with native Linux client) outside of steam, still no audio
renamed the directory .config/pulse logged-off\logged-in - new pulse dir was created automatically and I got no system audio at all, not even in audio/video files/
deleted the new dir and renamed the old pulse dir, audio/video/youtube working again, game audio still not.

Created a new user, tried to run a game outside of steam - no audio. and also no system audio at all. (similar to when I renamed the pulse dir of the original user)

also in my original account:
cat ~/.config/pulse/b76cc7b1bbdc489e93909d2043031de8-default-sink
alsa_output.pci-0000_0a_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1

and in the new account this file is empty.

Maybe Mint 21.3 doesn't use pulse or something?
What do you suggest?

[MiZoG]

Pulseaudio is the default sound server in Ubuntu 22.04.x/Mint 21.x.
Since you say you "upgraded" (and not "fresh-installed") and if we assume you upgraded this system here, some things could possibly go wrong with the upgrade.
Post your full system specs (System Reports --> System Information --> Press "Copy" --> Paste here) as your system it is now. Steam's "System Information" simply won't cut in on these forums. That information has only made clear that Steam sees your hdmi output as default.

[MaximB]

System info:

Code: Select all

System:
  Kernel: 6.5.0-21-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: N/A Desktop: Cinnamon 6.0.4 tk: GTK 3.24.33
    wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 21.3 Virginia base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG CROSSHAIR VIII HERO (WI-FI) v: Rev X.0x
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends v: 0901 date: 08/27/2019
Battery:
  Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech Wireless Keyboard serial: <filter>
    charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: Discharging
  Device-2: hidpp_battery_1 model: Logitech Wireless Mouse serial: <filter>
    charge: 55% (should be ignored) rechargeable: yes status: Discharging
CPU:
  Info: 12-core model: AMD Ryzen 9 3900X bits: 64 type: MT MCP smt: enabled arch: Zen 2 rev: 0
    cache: L1: 768 KiB L2: 6 MiB L3: 64 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2314 high: 4409 min/max: 2200/4672 boost: enabled cores: 1: 3073 2: 2200
    3: 2200 4: 2200 5: 2200 6: 4409 7: 2195 8: 2196 9: 2195 10: 2200 11: 2195 12: 2200 13: 2200
    14: 2200 15: 2133 16: 1963 17: 2200 18: 2200 19: 2200 20: 2189 21: 2200 22: 2194 23: 2200
    24: 2196 bogomips: 182061
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU102 [GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Rev. A] vendor: ASUSTeK driver: nvidia v: 535.161.07
    pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: none off: HDMI-A-1 empty: DP-1,DP-2,Unknown-1
    bus-ID: 0a:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:1e07 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: nvidia gpu: nvidia display-ID: :0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3840x2160 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 1016x572mm (40.0x22.5") s-diag: 1166mm (45.9")
  Monitor-1: HDMI-0 res: 3840x2160 dpi: 59 size: 1660x930mm (65.4x36.6") diag: 1903mm (74.9")
  OpenGL: renderer: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 535.161.07
    direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA TU102 High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0a:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:10f7 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0c:00.4 chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k6.5.0-21-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel pcie: speed: 5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: ASUSTeK driver: igb v: kernel pcie:
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: d000 bus-ID: 05:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:1539 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Device-3: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 06:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2723 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp6s0 state: down mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-6:3 chip-ID: 8087:0029
    class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block:
    hardware: no software: no address: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 22.74 TiB used: 19.52 TiB (85.8%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO Plus 2TB size: 1.82 TiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 2B2QEXM7 temp: 51.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD60EFAX-68JH4N0 size: 5.46 TiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s
    type: HDD rpm: 5400 serial: <filter> rev: 0A82 scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Seagate model: M3 Portable size: 3.64 TiB speed: <unknown>
    type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 9300 scheme: GPT
  ID-4: /dev/sdc type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD My Passport 25E2 size: 3.64 TiB
    speed: <unknown> type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 4005 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdd type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD Elements 2620 size: 4.55 TiB
    type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 1023 scheme: GPT
  ID-6: /dev/sde type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD My Passport 25E2 size: 3.64 TiB
    type: N/A serial: <filter> rev: 4004 scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 45.53 GiB used: 29.89 GiB (65.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3
  ID-2: /boot size: 919.7 MiB used: 364.5 MiB (39.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
  ID-3: /boot/efi size: 93.5 MiB used: 6 MiB (6.5%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
  ID-4: /home size: 1.74 TiB used: 1.51 TiB (86.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: -2 file: /swapfile
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 6 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-2: 1-5:2 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 05e3:0610 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-5.1:4 info: Corsair H115iRGBPROXT type: Keyboard driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    interfaces: 1 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 100mA chip-ID: 1b1c:0c21 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: 1-5.3:5 info: ASUSTek AURA LED Controller type: HID driver: hid-generic,usbhid
    interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 16mA chip-ID: 0b05:18f3 class-ID: 0300
    serial: <filter>
  Device-3: 1-6:3 info: Intel AX200 Bluetooth type: Bluetooth driver: btusb interfaces: 2
    rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 100mA chip-ID: 8087:0029 class-ID: e001
  Hub-3: 2-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 3-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 6 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-5: 3-2:2 info: ASMedia ASM1074 High-Speed hub ports: 4 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 174c:2074 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 3-4:3 info: Logitech Unifying Receiver type: Keyboard,Mouse
    driver: logitech-djreceiver,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 98mA
    chip-ID: 046d:c534 class-ID: 0301
  Hub-6: 4-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-7: 4-2:2 info: ASMedia ASM1074 SuperSpeed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s power: 8mA
    chip-ID: 174c:3074 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 4-2.2:3 info: Western Digital Elements 2620 type: Mass Storage driver: usb-storage
    interfaces: 1 rev: 3.2 speed: 5 Gb/s power: 896mA chip-ID: 1058:2620 class-ID: 0806
    serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 4-2.4:4 info: Western Digital My Passport (WD40NMZW) type: Mass Storage
    driver: usb-storage interfaces: 1 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s power: 896mA chip-ID: 1058:25e2
    class-ID: 0806 serial: <filter>
  Hub-8: 5-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-9: 6-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Hub-10: 7-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-11: 7-2:2 info: Atmel 4-Port Hub ports: 4 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 03eb:0902 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-12: 8-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 4 rev: 3.1 speed: 10 Gb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0003
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 8-1:2 info: Western Digital My Passport (WD40NMZW) type: Mass Storage
    driver: usb-storage interfaces: 1 rev: 3.1 speed: 5 Gb/s power: 896mA chip-ID: 1058:25e2
    class-ID: 0806 serial: <filter>
  Device-2: 8-3:3 info: Seagate RSS LLC Maxtor M3 Portable type: Mass Storage driver: uas
    interfaces: 1 rev: 3.0 speed: 5 Gb/s power: 144mA chip-ID: 0bc2:61b7 class-ID: 0806
    serial: <filter>
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 36.0 C mobo: 35.0 C gpu: nvidia temp: 36 C
  Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 0 gpu: nvidia fan: 28%
Repos:
  Packages: 3189 apt: 3170 flatpak: 11 snap: 8
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/c_falco-mame-focal.list
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/deadsnakes-ppa-focal.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/google-chrome.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] http: //dl.google.com/linux/chrome/deb/ stable main
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/inkscape_dev-stable-focal.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list
    1: deb https: //mirror.rackspace.com/linuxmint/packages virginia main upstream import backport
    2: deb http: //mirror.il-jr.kamatera.com/ubuntu jammy main restricted universe multiverse
    3: deb http: //mirror.il-jr.kamatera.com/ubuntu jammy-updates main restricted universe multiverse
    4: deb http: //mirror.il-jr.kamatera.com/ubuntu jammy-backports main restricted universe multiverse
    5: deb http: //security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ jammy-security main restricted universe multiverse
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pcsx2-team-pcsx2-daily-focal.list
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-beta.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/steam-stable.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
    2: deb-src [arch=amd64,i386 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/steam.gpg] https: //repo.steampowered.com/steam/ stable steam
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/teams.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64] https: //packages.microsoft.com/repos/ms-teams stable main
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vivaldi.list
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/vscode.list
    1: deb [arch=amd64,arm64,armhf] http: //packages.microsoft.com/repos/code stable main
Info:
  Processes: 552 Uptime: 15h 43m wakeups: 72 Memory: 62.7 GiB used: 12.92 GiB (20.6%)
  Init: systemd v: 249 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 11.4.0 alt: 11/12/9
  Client: Unknown python3.10 client inxi: 3.3.13

Also maybe I should point out that my PC is connected to a Sony TVvia HDMI (Nvidia videocard),
But the sound used is from the Samsung Soundbar and not directly from the TV speakers.
But the soundbar is connected to the TV via bluetooth.

[MiZoG]

Your internal sound is detected.

1. Let's rule out possible connectivity issues
soundbar is connected to your TV via bluetooth... Explain me this. When you watch TV, you want to use a soundbar because it is superior to internal speakers, no? But when you're gaming why your soundbar has to be connected to TV when audio output is your pc sound card and not the TV receiver? You want sound from your pc and video from your TV, right? Am I misunderstanding your connectivity scheme? Is your soundbar connected to your internal sound card?

2. Is your internal card selectable as audio output in Sound Mixer (or PulseAudio Mixer if you install pavucontrol)?

[1000]

I just write something and then I'm gone.
Please continue MiZoG.

On new user account all sounds should work
I don't know.
- You can reinstall the system ( fresh )
- You can try test pipewire
I found
1. https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... untu-2204/
2. https://linux.how2shout.com/enable-pipe ... -or-20-04/
3. Ubuntu wiki https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DesktopTeam/TestPlans/Pipewire

However I don't know pipewire, I only hear positive comments.
You test at your own risk.
And I can not find qpwgraph GUI , it is in external ppa:pipewire-debian/pipewire-upstream
With GUI you can mix any sound or probably also video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDBGsbwMo40
It looks Cool, but if you want use equalizer, then it must be compatible with pipewire.
For example EasyEffects is for / working with pipewire.

Off-topic

Created a new user, tried to run a game outside of steam - no audio. and also no system audio at all.

Maybe on new user account you need switch sound from AMD Starship/Matisse to NVIDIA device.
On my system I use mate-volume-control --> Output
( Maybe you have something similar in Cinnamon )
Or alsamixer --> F6 key
Maybe you need also check settings in pavucontrol
( Serarch Steam in first tab "Playback" , then check if sound working there for Steam belt)

And note that " pactl info " command will show you which sound server you use.

[MaximB]

I just write something and then I'm gone.
Please continue MiZoG.

On new user account all sounds should work
I don't know.
- You can reinstall the system ( fresh )
- You can try test pipewire
I found
1. https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... untu-2204/
2. https://linux.how2shout.com/enable-pipe ... -or-20-04/
3. Ubuntu wiki https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DesktopTeam/TestPlans/Pipewire

However I don't know pipewire, I only hear positive comments.
You test at your own risk.
And I can not find qpwgraph GUI , it is in external ppa:pipewire-debian/pipewire-upstream
With GUI you can mix any sound or probably also video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDBGsbwMo40
It looks Cool, but if you want use equalizer, then it must be compatible with pipewire.
For example EasyEffects is for / working with pipewire.

Off-topic

Created a new user, tried to run a game outside of steam - no audio. and also no system audio at all.

Maybe on new user account you need switch sound from AMD Starship/Matisse to NVIDIA device.
On my system I use mate-volume-control --> Output
( Maybe you have something similar in Cinnamon )
Or alsamixer --> F6 key
Maybe you need also check settings in pavucontrol
( Serarch Steam in first tab "Playback" , then check if sound working there for Steam belt)

And note that " pactl info " command will show you which sound server you use.

I've followed this guide:
https://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/20 ... untu-2204/
Pipewire failed to make a sound for me,
I've removed it like in the guide and now pulseaudio wont work on my user:
#actl info
Connection failure: Connection refused
pa_context_connect() failed: Connection refused

No audio server.

But the stranger part is that for some reason the audio now working fine for my test user, in music and in games (outside steam)

I've deleted\renamed the pulse conf folder at my original user ~/.conf/pulse and reloged, but it won't auto-create the folder again.

Any ideas?

[MaximB]

Ok, this solved all my audio issues:

Code: Select all

sudo apt purge pulseaudio
sudo apt install pulseaudio
systemctl --user restart pulseaudio.service 
systemctl --user --now enable pulseaudio.service

[1000]

Congratulations