Microphone worse on Linux | Arch Linux Community | Page 1

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 8:21 PM

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Distro: EndeavourOS
DE: KDE Plasma 6

Hello. Since switching to Linux, my friends on discord have noticed my microphone quality deteriorating.
I played a bit around in the sound settings, but did more harm than good.
The main issue is constant background noise whenever I speak (otherwise it is filtered out by discord).
Can you help me out please?

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:24 PM

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What sound system are you using? ALSA? Pulse? I'm new[ish] to linux and very new to Arch but have been doing some tinkering.

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:25 PM

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I honestly dont know, how do I check?

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:26 PM

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do you know what display manager you're using? kde, gnome, etc?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:26 PM

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KDE Plasma 6

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:27 PM

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My first instinct is to say switch to X11 haha, but that's just my anecdotal experience in a short time. That's probably not the core issue.

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What kind of mic you have?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:28 PM

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Some HyperX headset

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It worked fine on Windows, but now there is that white noise in the background.

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:28 PM

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can u open a terminal?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:29 PM

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ye

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:29 PM

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type this pactl info

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dont need to share what it says just curious if u have pulse or what installed

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:30 PM

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Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 2847
Tile Size: 65472

Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.0.4)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo.5
Default Source: alsa_input.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo
Cookie: 6003:edb8

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:30 PM

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it looks like it's using pipewire. again, im super naive/new, but i'm inclined to try logging out and back in with x11. and see if it's any diff. If it is (better or worse), might just need to tinker with mixer

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Have you also tried re-calibrating inside of Discord?

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also, make sure you don't have any other devices plugged in capturing audio, like a webcam

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confirm through discord's device dropdown

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:33 PM

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Just tested it. On X11 it is described to be "different, but weirdly different", maybe "a higher pitched white noise"?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:33 PM

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visual abyss Have you also tried re-calibrating inside of Discord?

I have but you can only filter out when not speaking, not the white noise when speaking

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:33 PM

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is it an analog or usb device?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:34 PM

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analog

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:34 PM

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type this pactl list short sources

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:35 PM

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2884 alsa_output.pci-0000_09_00.1.hdmi-stereo.monitor PipeWire s32le 2ch 48000Hz SUSPENDED
2885 alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo.5.monitor PipeWire s32le 2ch 48000Hz RUNNING
2886 alsa_input.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo PipeWire s32le 2ch 48000Hz RUNNING

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:35 PM

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white noise sometimes sounds like a dirty input cable or not fully seated or something even

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:36 PM

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ill clean it rq

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:36 PM

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Don't use water 😄

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Do arecord -l when you're back

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:37 PM

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didnt work

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Karte 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], Gerät 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
Sub-Geräte: 0/1
Sub-Gerät #0: subdevice #0
Karte 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], Gerät 2: ALC887-VD Alt Analog [ALC887-VD Alt Analog]
Sub-Geräte: 1/1
Sub-Gerät #0: subdevice #0

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:41 PM

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do parecord --version

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(if no command, you might not have the package, pulseaudio-utils)

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:42 PM

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pacat 17.0
Compiled with libpulse 17.0.0
Linked with libpulse 17.0.0

frank hamlet Mar 31, 2024, 9:42 PM

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Do you have automatic input sensitivity enabled in discord?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:42 PM

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no

frank hamlet Mar 31, 2024, 9:42 PM

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Why not?

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I have and it works perfectly here. Removes background noise etc

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:43 PM

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something I was going to suggest, is to try recording outside of discord first. E.g.,
timeout 5 parecord --file-format=wav output.wav --device=alsa_input.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:44 PM

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automatic input sensitivity only changes the minimum noise input discord needs to transmit the audio input, right?
so it doesnt filter background noise when speaking

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:44 PM

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then listen to that output.wav and see if it has the same whitenoise to yourself

frank hamlet Mar 31, 2024, 9:45 PM

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dusk copper automatic input sensitivity only changes the minimum noise input discord needs t...

I misred the topic, sorry. I thought the problem was that discord was transmitting white noise when he was not speaking

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:46 PM

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visual abyss then listen to that output.wav and see if it has the same whitenoise to yourself

there is absolutely white noise present, although idk how much is normal

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:46 PM

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so with that command i shared, at least you can start to troubleshoot outside discord without bothering your friends

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:47 PM

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lol

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:47 PM

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you could even make a quick script and time stamp it. try something/check for improvement

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:48 PM

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pardon me, i only switched to linux recently and have not found any GUI KDE options (outside of volume sliders and profiles) to play around with many sound settings

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:48 PM

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i honestly have had trouble with modern day analog more than any connection. During a 5-second recording, try just moving the cable slightly (dont break anything) and see if the noise changes a lot.

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Be gentle.

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:49 PM

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Im quite sure its not a hardware issue. Everything worked fine on Windows. Only when I made the switch, my friends told me the quality worsened noticeably.

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:50 PM

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If the whitenoise is steady, it might be an issue with the levels.

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are u still in x11 or in back to plasma?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 9:50 PM

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back on plasma (x11 has some issues for me (plasma as well but less lol))

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whitenoise is steady

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 9:55 PM

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Open your sound devices in System Settings

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Know what I mean?

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:01 PM

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dusk copper Karte 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], Gerät 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog...

It's worth just checking to see your device in Sound Devices (System Settings); the levels, and the Input Type (e.g, "Analog Stereo Input"),etc. Otherwise, I wonder if your issue is a drive-related one. I notice Alsa sees your device simply as:

Generic [HD-Audio Generic],

Do you know the exact device model?
PS - I may be unresponsive for a bit.

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:02 PM

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visual abyss Open your sound devices in System Settings

Yes. I checked both System Settings and PulseAudio settings, but both dont have any real settings besides profiles and volume

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:03 PM

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Is it set to Analog Stereo input?

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:03 PM

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visual abyss It's worth just checking to see your device in Sound Devices (System Settings); ...

Profile is Analog Stereo Duplex

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:03 PM

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It has both in/out on the cable, yes?

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(mic, and your headphone audio?)

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:04 PM

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I think the exact model is HyperX Cloud Alpha. At least the photos seem to be very similar to mine.

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:05 PM

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visual abyss It has both in/out on the cable, yes?

Both my in/out have the same cable and are then split apart into 2 cables, which are then inserted at the back of my pc

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:07 PM

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I'm so biased, I keep wanting to blame analog haha. Hmm.
You could try adjusting the volume locally, but boost full in discord. e.g.,
pactl set-source-volume alsa_input.pci-0000_0b_00.3.analog-stereo 50%

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:07 PM

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I see

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:07 PM

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it's not perfect but maybe until you find direct solution

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:08 PM

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Ill try it tomorrow on discord, thank you!

visual abyss Mar 31, 2024, 10:10 PM

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it should just work with Pulse Audio drivers / should be the same as windows. I just wonder if it was lower level in windows, and so your friends notice it more now. Who knows, I'm speculating. GL! I probably can't help much more otherwise, but if I think of something I'll share. I've fought with audio a bit getting used to this environment.

dusk copper Mar 31, 2024, 10:13 PM

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Yes, thank you very much

#Microphone worse on Linux