Microphone not working on Valve Index

[beniwtv]

Your system information

• Steam client version (build number or date): 1.6.7 (1563561782)
• Distribution (e.g. Ubuntu): Manjaro
• Graphics driver version (run nvidia-settings): Mesa 19.1.2
• Gist for SteamVR System Information: https://gist.github.com/beniwtv/16a833350111161f2bfc7c2aeb86e2b1
• Opted into Steam client beta?: Yes
• Opted into SteamVR beta?: Yes
• Have you checked for system updates?: Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

The Index microphone is detected on the system via ALSA and Pulseaudio, but no input is generated.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Plug in Valve Index
2. Start SteamVR
3. Try to use Index microphone - no sound

[Corben78]

When I have my C920 attached, though I have selected the Index HMD mic in PulseAudio, it's picking up the input of the C920 mic.

[dlpierce]

I am also getting no sound input from the Index mic. It shows up in the ALSA and PulseAudio mixer controls, and is the only enabled sound input device, but no sound is recorded in Star Trek Bridge Crew, or in native programs like kwave. I noticed it is listed as a mono device, which seems odd since my understanding is it's a stereo mic.

Running updated Arch Linux with the linux-amd-git kernel.

SteamVR System Information gist: https://gist.github.com/dlpierce/913c95e841498c849f72763b9c628b48

[Goofybud16]

I can confirm this issue on my system as well.

SteamVR 1.6.9
Debian Testing w/ Kernel 5.2.3 (for audio support)

System Report: https://gist.github.com/Goofybud16/e41842b0fa4181707d477d039a770aa3

The microphone shows up in Pulseaudio Volume Control, but it doesn't actually produce sound.

[Goofybud16]

I just plugged into a Windows machine temporarily and performed the latest firmware update. The microphone still does not work.

New system report with firmware updates:

https://gist.github.com/Goofybud16/a5962f131b298023e4bb0c616537f149

[JulianGro]

I am having the same problem on Linux Mint 19.1 (Ubuntu 18.04), but only since yesterday. It worked the day before yesterday. Used it the whole day in VRChat.

[Goofybud16]

I know when I reconnect the headset, it results in Pulseaudio Volume Control seemingly having to reconnect to Pulse (same behavior as running pulseaudio -k, which kills and restarts Pulse). This doesn't happen with my USB mixer, so I wonder if the Index's audio device is somehow causing Pulse to crash and/or misconfigure it? Restarting Pulse doesn't seem to help.

[JulianGro]

PulseAudio actually sometimes hangs when I open pacucontrol or a similar application, while the Index is connected. It stops hanging some time after closing the tool again.
Only a full computer restart helps for me. No ALSA or PulseAudio restart.

Also some additional information of the microphone not working:
I tried:
restarting ALSA
restarting PulseAudio
restarting the computer
reconnecting the Index multiple times
reconnecting the Index to different USB controllers

I am running:
Linux Mint 19.1 (Ubuntu 18.04 based)
ALSA k4.18.0-20-generic
pulseaudio 11.1
Nvidia 418.52.07 (audio output works)

[JulianGro]

Also just wanted to report that the microphone not working issue doesn't seem to be consistent. It just randomly started working for me again. No computer restart, no ALSA of PulseAudio restart, nothing.

[Vash63]

I'm also having microphone issues (among others). Haven't tested enough to see if it's intermittent but it works in Windows, in Linux it shows up in pavucontrol but does no report any input (bar graph doesn't move).

[Goofybud16]

When I demoed my Index on a Windows machine, the microphone appeared to work perfectly. It's definitely not a hardware issue on my headset.

Could someone with more regular access to a Windows machine check what the sample rate is for the Index microphone?

In my case, pacmd list-sources lists

* index: 14
        name: <alsa_input.usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8B37344787-LYM-01.analog-mono>
        driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
        flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
        state: RUNNING
        suspend cause: (none)
        priority: 9049
        volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
                balance 0.00
        base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
        volume steps: 65537
        muted: no
        current latency: 0.33 ms
        max rewind: 0 KiB
        sample spec: s16le 1ch 48000Hz
        channel map: mono
                     Mono
        used by: 1
        linked by: 1
        configured latency: 40.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
        card: 5 <alsa_card.usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8B37344787-LYM-01>
        module: 32
        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 = "3"
                alsa.card_name = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic"
                alsa.long_card_name = "Valve Corporation Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic at usb-0000:03:00.0-12.3.3, full spe"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.0-usb-0:12.3.3:1.1"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.3/0000:03:00.0/usb1/1-12/1-12.3/1-12.3.3/1-12.3.3:1.1/sound/card3"
                udev.id = "usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8B37344787-LYM-01"
                device.bus = "usb"
                device.vendor.id = "28de"
                device.vendor.name = "Valve Software"
                device.product.id = "2102"
                device.product.name = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic"
                device.serial = "Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8B37344787-LYM"
                device.string = "hw:3"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "192000"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "96000"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "analog-mono"
                device.profile.description = "Analog Mono"
                device.description = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic Analog Mono"
                alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
                alsa.components = "USB28de:2102"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
        ports:
                analog-input: Analog Input (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                        properties:

        active port: <analog-input>

EDIT: Also, if someone has the microphone working on Linux, please try and grab this output then too to see if anything is different.

[Corben78]

With SteamVR 1.7.2 it's now working for me.

[beniwtv]

Same with 1.7.2 - I will keep testing in the coming days to see if keeps working, just to make sure it's not temporary (as some people seem to see intermittent working/non-working)

[Zamundaaa]

Does not work for me on 1.7.2.

[Goofybud16]

Does not work for me on Beta 1.7.3 either.

If anyone has the mic working, do you mind posting the output of pacmd list-sources? Either the relevant section for the Index mic, or the whole thing (probably in a gist)

[beniwtv]

@Goofybud16 Here you go:

index: 6
	name: <alsa_input.usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8136E0D0E4-LYM-01.analog-mono>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
	state: RUNNING
	suspend cause: (none)
	priority: 9049
	volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	        balance 0,00
	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 0,35 ms
	max rewind: 0 KiB
	sample spec: s16le 1ch 48000Hz
	channel map: mono
	             Mono
	used by: 1
	linked by: 1
	configured latency: 40,00 ms; range is 0,50 .. 2000,00 ms
	card: 3 <alsa_card.usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8136E0D0E4-LYM-01>
	module: 33
	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 = "3"
		alsa.card_name = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Valve Corporation Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic at usb-0000:03:00.0-1.4.2.3.3, full"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:03:00.0-usb-0:1.4.2.3.3:1.1"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.3/0000:03:00.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.4/1-1.4.2/1-1.4.2.3/1-1.4.2.3.3/1-1.4.2.3.3:1.1/sound/card3"
		udev.id = "usb-Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8136E0D0E4-LYM-01"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "28de"
		device.vendor.name = "Valve Software"
		device.product.id = "2102"
		device.product.name = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic"
		device.serial = "Valve_Corporation_Valve_VR_Radio___HMD_Mic_8136E0D0E4-LYM"
		device.string = "hw:3"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "192000"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "96000"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "analog-mono"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Mono"
		device.description = "Valve VR Radio & HMD Mic Analog Mono"
		alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
		alsa.components = "USB28de:2102"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	ports:
		analog-input: Analog Input (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
	active port: <analog-input>

Did you get the message that SteamVR needs sudo access to finish setting it up when updating to 1.7.2.? I think it did something there.

One thing I have noticed though, I can make it not work when another process is using the ALSA device, PA will not work. In my case that was Jack.