Installing desktop kills sound

oleksandr

Hello,
Shortly: If you install desktop on fresh install and updated to latest Retropie, it kills sound.

Full steps:

Install Retropie (retropie-buster-4.7.1-rpi4_400) on 64 GB SD Card using Raspberry PI Imager v1.5
Launch Raspberry Pi 4 Computer Modell B, 8GB RAM Artikel-Nr.: RPI4B-8GB EAN: 0765756931199
Configure ps3 controller, connect to Wifi, timezone/country Paris/CH Switzerland https://retropie.org.uk/docs/First-Installation/#wifi
Using RetroPie-Setup update to latest: system, script, packages.
Install sixaxis from Configuration/tools

So at this moment i updated to latest:
Retropie Setup V4.7.3(c6ea3123),
System rpi4(armv71)
EmulationStation v2.9.6RP
Sound works.

This step kills sound (https://retropie.org.uk/docs/FAQ/#where-did-the-desktop-go):
Using RetroPie-Setup: Configuration / Tools >> Raspbiantools >> Install Pixel Desktop Environment

After installation completed and system rebooted, no more sound thru hdmi, slider always fallback to 0, and if you switch to console F4, you can see log:
lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements!

PS: I have tried this steps didn't help: https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/26628/audio-issues-after-latest-raspbian-updates-june-2020

Do you know how to configure it so i can have Retropie with sound and desktop installed?

mitu

@oleksandr said in Installing desktop kills sound:

Do you know how to configure it so i can have Retropie with sound and desktop installed?

Installing the desktop would add PulseAudio as sound server, so that may be the culprit. Go into the Audio settings in RetroPie and choose the right Audio output. In EmulationStation, choose another Audio Device than HDMI (PCM/Master) and this should fix the slider and the error message.

DavidDraper

@mitu

RaspberryPi 4, 4 GB RAM
RetroPie 4.7.2
OS: Buster 10
Desktop installed

I usually take my RetroPie to two locations; one uses sounds via HDMI and the other through the 3.5 microphone port. Currently, sound in games is fine with the microphone port. There is no sound in ES. When I connect the system with HDMI sound, there is no sound in games or in ES.

I get that PulseAudio was added when I installed the desktop. But I've changed the audio to headphone and HDMI in the RetroPie menu; it doesn't make a difference.

Currently, I'm not getting the error message:

lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements!

Ideally, I'd like to have sound work in headphone and HDMI setups in games and ES. Is that possible with the PulseAudio installed?

David

mitu

@daviddraper Even if you're using PulseAudio, the Audio menu in RetroPie should work and set the correct audio output. Make sure you're using an up-to-date RetroPie-Setup.

DavidDraper

@mitu I updated RetroPie-Setup, but I am still in the same situation. HDMI Audio does not work;

Audio works with my startup video, so I know the speaker in the monitor works.
In The RetroPie Audio menu, I have selected HDMI
in the ES Sound Settings menu:
System Volume: 100%
Audio Card: Default
Audio Device: Master
Enable Navigation SOunds: On
Enable Video Audio: On
OMX Player Audio Device: Both.

Here is the copy of my aplay -L results:

pi@RetroPi:~ $ aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
jack
    JACK Audio Connection Kit
pulse
    PulseAudio Sound Server
default
    Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
output
sysdefault:CARD=b1
    bcm2835 HDMI 1, bcm2835 HDMI 1
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=b1,DEV=0
    bcm2835 HDMI 1, bcm2835 HDMI 1
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=b1,DEV=0
    bcm2835 HDMI 1, bcm2835 HDMI 1
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=b1,DEV=0
    bcm2835 HDMI 1, bcm2835 HDMI 1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=b1,DEV=0
    bcm2835 HDMI 1, bcm2835 HDMI 1
    Hardware device with all software conversions
usbstream:CARD=b1
    bcm2835 HDMI 1
    USB Stream Output
sysdefault:CARD=Headphones
    bcm2835 Headphones, bcm2835 Headphones
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=Headphones,DEV=0
    bcm2835 Headphones, bcm2835 Headphones
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Headphones,DEV=0
    bcm2835 Headphones, bcm2835 Headphones
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Headphones,DEV=0
    bcm2835 Headphones, bcm2835 Headphones
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Headphones,DEV=0
    bcm2835 Headphones, bcm2835 Headphones
    Hardware device with all software conversions
usbstream:CARD=Headphones
    bcm2835 Headphones
    USB Stream Output

Dave

DavidDraper

Update-

I ran sudo apt-get remove --purge pulseaudio and that did the trick. Audio is working over HDMI.

David

Agen7_0range

Worked as a solution for the most recent RetroPie install after Pixel desktop was installed and lost audio. Purge the audio package and everything came back with HDMI audio.