Volume level drops back to default level when logging out of desktop [Solved]

[BitterTruth]

I do believe something is happening at logout when running systemd that is setting the alsa sound level to 40%, removing the user from the audio group prevents that, but we've had it that way for a long time without an ill effect.

Could it be the login manager doing something or the way you are logging in?

console =====> startx,
xinitrc
login manager

@siamhe how are you logging in btw?

I didn't see this minor issue when using pulseaudio with MX-21 and multiple desktops with systemd.

Points more and more to pipewire and wireplumber then?

The configuration files for wireplumber are in ~/.config/wireplumber/ (user configuration), /etc/wireplumber/ (global configuration), and then /usr/share/wireplumber/ (stock configuration).

If you guys are feeling brave enough you can have a look in there. Some people have had good results deleting their user configuration or replacing it with the stock one. If you don't want to do that, you could create a temporary user and see if the same problem occurs. That'll give you a clue that maybe it's your wireplumber config.

[richb]

The same set back to 40% happens as well in my KDE install. I have considered it a minor issue.

[siamhie]

I do believe something is happening at logout when running systemd that is setting the alsa sound level to 40%, removing the user from the audio group prevents that, but we've had it that way for a long time without an ill effect.

Could it be the login manager doing something or the way you are logging in?

console =====> startx,
xinitrc
login manager

@siamhe how are you logging in btw?

I've already mentioned this happens with LightDM (fluxbox, XFCE) and SDDM (KDE).

[siamhie]

The same set back to 40% happens as well in my KDE install. I have considered it a minor issue.

@richb I'm going to go ahead and call it a nuance but livable as I'll explain below.


@dolphin_oracle
I don't think there is anything we can do about the volume dropping when logging out and in to the desktop while booted to systemd.

I downloaded the Debian 12.1 Gnome live ISO and it also uses Pipewire for the audio server. XFCE and KDE versions use PulseAudio.
When logging out of the desktop and back in the volume level dropped back to their default value.


I set the master volume to 100

volume-level-100.png

After I log back in it resets to default of 36

volume-level-36.png

[dolphin_oracle]

Give that a user group has some interaction I’m actually blaming systemd’s user session management.

so a one-liner to remove a user from the audio group:

Code: Select all

gpasswd -d USER audio

and for any future users, you could edit /etc/adduser.conf and look for the line with the EXTRA_GROUPS and remove audio from it.

[siamhie]

Give that a user group has some interaction I’m actually blaming systemd’s user session management.

so a one-liner to remove a user from the audio group:

Code: Select all

gpasswd -d USER audio

and for any future users, you could edit /etc/adduser.conf and look for the line with the EXTRA_GROUPS and remove audio from it.

I'm kinda of blaming both pipewire and systemd for this. PulseAudio never needed the user removed from the audio group when booted to systemd.


@dolphin_oracle Can editing the adduser.conf be done during the live ISO install? I'm thinking of removing the spare SSD and reinstall MX-23 fluxbox.

[dolphin_oracle]

Give that a user group has some interaction I’m actually blaming systemd’s user session management.

so a one-liner to remove a user from the audio group:

Code: Select all

gpasswd -d USER audio

and for any future users, you could edit /etc/adduser.conf and look for the line with the EXTRA_GROUPS and remove audio from it.

I'm kinda of blaming both pipewire and systemd for this. PulseAudio never needed the user removed from the audio group when booted to systemd.


@dolphin_oracle Can editing the adduser.conf be done during the live ISO install? I'm thinking of removing the spare SSD and reinstall MX-23 fluxbox.

yes, but you'll still need to remove the default user from the group.

[siamhie]

I finally cracked the code.

To recap, when you boot up to systemd and log out of the desktop and then log back in, the volume level gets reset back to 40% regardless if you've set a predetermined level (say 50%) in pavucontrol.

If you have set a predetermined level (say 50%) and reboot the computer, the volume level will stay at 50% at login. Seems to only get reset when logging out of the desktop and back in.
This does not happen if you boot up in sys-v, only systemd.


The fix.
Edit the file policy-device-routes.lua in /usr/share/wireplumber/scripts

Code: Select all

-- the default volume to apply
default_volume = tonumber(config["default-volume"] or 0.4^3)

and change the value 0.4^3 to the volume level you want to set it to. I have tested all these values and they work.

10% volume

Code: Select all

0.1^3

20% volume

Code: Select all

0.2^3

30% volume

Code: Select all

0.3^3

40% volume

Code: Select all

0.4^3

50% volume

Code: Select all

0.5^3

60% volume

Code: Select all

0.6^3

70% volume

Code: Select all

0.7^3

80% volume

Code: Select all

0.8^3

90% volume

Code: Select all

0.9^3

100% volume

Code: Select all

1.0

[BV206]

I finally cracked the code.

I don't have a /usr/share/wireplumber/scripts/policy-device-routes.lua. Is it supposed to exist already or do you have to create it?

Do you know of a similar way to set the input audio level?

[siamhie]

I finally cracked the code.

I don't have a /usr/share/wireplumber/scripts/policy-device-routes.lua. Is it supposed to exist already or do you have to create it?

Do you know of a similar way to set the input audio level?

Are you using MX-23? MX-21 uses PulseAudio for it's sound server. (post your QSI)