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Desktop PC microphone selection issues in Linux...

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by jonzn4SUSE

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Evening, all.

It's very rare I ask for help on ANY fora, if I'm honest. I can almost always sort out my own issues, especially with browsers. However, this one has stumped me.

I've noticed that, on any website where user interaction requires use of a microphone, the Linux build of Firefox only ever offers "source_default_name" for choice of microphone. Well, OK; I can see this being fine for the vast majority of folks who use a laptop; the built-in microphone WILL be the "default" microphone, no questions.

My question is this; what do those of us running desktop PCs do about microphone selection, hmm? A desktop PC doesn't HAVE a "built-in, default microphone", does it? By their very nature, any microphone you're going to use with a desktop is going to be an externally plugged-in device. I have three of these; a USB microphone.....a wireless headset, and the twin stereo mikes on a Logitech c920 webcam.

Do I get anything resembling a drop-down list to choose what I want to use? Uh-uh. Firefox - apparently! - doesn't "see" any of them. Not individually. All I ever see is "source_default_name".....

Grrrr...!!

C'mon, guys! Frankly, this is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Linux, to the best of my knowledge - unlike Windoze - doesn't make 'global' device settings, which every application then uses. It's always been far more fine-grained than that, allowing individual device use on a per-app basis. But that only works if the 'app' in question allows those choices to be made.

Any Chromium-based "clone" - and I use several of these, as I package portable versions for the Puppy Linux community - will give a full drop-down list of every available device it can find. Why can't the Linux builds of Firefox do the same?

I shall be interested to see what, if any, replies I get to this question. It's been bugging me for years...!

Mike.

Evening, all. It's very rare I ask for help on ANY fora, if I'm honest. I can almost always sort out my own issues, especially with browsers. However, this one has stumped me. I've noticed that, on any website where user interaction requires use of a microphone, the Linux build of Firefox only ever offers "source_default_name" for choice of microphone. Well, OK; I can see this being fine for the vast majority of folks who use a laptop; the built-in microphone WILL be the "default" microphone, no questions. My question is this; what do those of us running desktop PCs do about microphone selection, hmm? A desktop PC doesn't HAVE a "built-in, default microphone", does it? By their very nature, any microphone you're going to use with a desktop is going to be an externally plugged-in device. I have three of these; a USB microphone.....a wireless headset, and the twin stereo mikes on a Logitech c920 webcam. Do I get anything resembling a drop-down list to choose what I want to use? Uh-uh. Firefox - apparently! - doesn't "see" any of them. Not individually. All I ever see is "source_default_name"..... Grrrr...!! C'mon, guys! Frankly, this is about as much use as a chocolate teapot. Linux, to the best of my knowledge - unlike Windoze - doesn't make 'global' device settings, which every application then uses. It's always been far more fine-grained than that, allowing individual device use on a per-app basis. But that only works if the 'app' in question allows those choices to be made. Any Chromium-based "clone" - and I use several of these, as I package portable versions for the Puppy Linux community - will give a full drop-down list of every available device it can find. Why can't the Linux builds of Firefox do the same? I shall be interested to see what, if any, replies I get to this question. It's been bugging me for years...! Mike.

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It would help you case if you provide steps to replicate, the site(s) you're using that require a mic and screenshots showing the options you get in other browsers compared to Firefox. This is what I get in Google Meet. see screenshot --> https://paste.opensuse.org/96693104

Modified by jonzn4SUSE

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Here is what my OS is seeing for mic. see screenshot

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I suspect, of course, that this is one thing that will be seen as THE "issue" here. Puppy does not now, and never has, used PulseAudio. Stat. It's always made do with just ALSA itself.

(Cue cries of derision, and remarks like "Well, in that case, what can you expect?")

I'm trying to set my webcam as the "default_source_name" device to use.....but Firefox simply doesn't see it, OR give me the option to select it! Puppy's default audio selector picks up on my USB mike, or my headset, but because my webcam is input ONLY, it doesn't "see it", either.

Screeny supplied, as requested (this is in Google Meet, and shows what I always get). What does "default_source_name" even mean?

(Built-in Audio Analog Stereo. Hm. Sounds like you're using a laptop, yes? That IS what I would expect from a laptop.....but that's NOT what I'm using here. This is an HP Pavilion tower PC. No built-in microphone, y'see.)

Mike.

Modified by cromer.cat

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Okay, what happens when you click allow? Can you also show what you get in Chrome if it's different?