Skype can't access audio devices properly with Steam running.

steamclosed reviewednot reproducibleSteam clientAudio

ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#1949 · opened 2013-02-22 by Oxivois · updated 2013-02-22 · 4 comments · github

OOxivois 2013-02-22 github

As a friendly gamer, I often like talking on Skype while playing videogames: mostly with the friends I'm playing with.

I have moved to Linux recently, and after getting my "usual programs" installed and in check, I started trying to configure Skype. However, my audio devices of choice were not available in the list. After tinkering around for quite some time, I went to do other stuff, including closing Steam.

Later, I came back to configure Skype and see if I could make it work, and, surprisingly, all of the audio devices were listed. I managed to call a friend and have a nice chat. Then, later after hanging up, I opened Steam and my Skype calls started failing again. Once again, the audio devices weren't available.

I cannot choose the audio device of my choice in Skype whenever Steam is on and running.

I do not know whether this is Steam's or Skype's fault, but I believed it would be best to notify you.

-- System Information --
Processor Information:
Vendor: GenuineIntel
Speed: 1900 Mhz
2 logical processors
2 physical processors
HyperThreading: Unsupported
FCMOV: Supported
SSE2: Supported
SSE3: Supported
SSSE3: Supported
SSE4a: Unsupported
SSE41: Unsupported
SSE42: Unsupported

Network Information:
Network Speed:

Operating System Version:
Ubuntu 12.10 (64 bit)
Kernel Name: Linux
Kernel Version: 3.5.0-23-generic
X Server Vendor: The X.Org Foundation
X Server Release: 11300000
X Window Manager: GNOME Shell
Steam Runtime Version:

Video Card:
Driver: nouveau Gallium 0.4 on NV96

Driver Version:  3.0 Mesa 9.0
Desktop Color Depth: 24 bits per pixel
Monitor Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
VendorID:  0x10de
DeviceID:  0x640
Number of Monitors:  1
Number of Logical Video Cards:  1
Primary Display Resolution:  1360 x 768
Desktop Resolution: 1360 x 768
Primary Display Size: 15.98" x 9.02"  (18.35" diag)
                                        40.6cm x 22.9cm  (46.6cm diag)
Primary VRAM Not Detected

Sound card:
Audio device: Realtek ALC883

Memory:
RAM: 2001 Mb

Miscellaneous:
UI Language: English
LANG: en_US.UTF-8
Microphone: Not set
Total Hard Disk Space Available: 98779 Mb
Largest Free Hard Disk Block: 64825 Mb

Installed software:

Recent Failure Reports:

MMajkl578 2013-02-22 github

Please include your system information as requested at https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#reporting-issues.

Seems to work for me. I tried Skype test call while having opened a microphone test in Steam options and both were working correctly. Are you using something else than PulseAudio?

TTele42 2013-02-22 github

@Oxivois You can also try launching steam with skype in a test call and see if steam games can still play audio. I know that steam tends to leave it's openal client active after it's been initialized and that may hold the sound card captive on a pure alsa setup.

OOxivois 2013-02-22 github

I see, Majkl578. I have just added my System information to the post. Maybe there's something useful there.

Edit: I have tried configuring Skype again this time, and to my surprise, now the only audio devices available are "PulseAudio Server (local)". It also tells me that PulseAudio is running and that if I want to change my configuration I'll have to use my Desktop Manager volume control. Strangely, last time there were many devices, including one called "pulse (unknown)", "hdmi (unknown)", etc. Yet, when Steam was running, the list considerably dropped to four or five options, none of which worked. Now, Skype works correctly and my test calls are working, but I still do not know how the problem got solved or how was it created in the first place.

Ddavidw-valve maintainer 2013-02-22 github

I'm closing as non-reproducible. Please feel free to re-open if you work out a clear reproduction case in the future.

Nothing extracted yet.