Mixxx losing audio input

Help & Support
#1

Mixxx 2.3.0-beta (but problem also occurs with 2.2)

Windows 10, latest patches.

Windows WDM-KS API.

USB connection to Allen & Heath mixer, providing MIC input and main audio output.
PC onboard audio providing Monitor output
VB-Cable audio virtual loopback interface to connect other apps to Mixxx aux input.

When MIXXX starts, it does not recognise the MIC input on USB. Pressing “Query Devices” > “Apply” fixes this and things seem OK.
(I can live with that!)

Randomly, MIXXX will lose the MIC input. “Microphone (USB Audio codec)” still appears in preferences > sound > input", but no audio received.
Query Devices > Apply will temporarily fix it.

Any ideas where to look?

Thanks

#2

maybe a usb power issue?
had similiar with a USB controller that would disappear (and Mixxx freeze) but be available soon after.

#3

I don’t think it’s a USB power issue - it only loses the mic input. The output (on the same device) keeps going.

But trying a different USB port now - USB2 rather than 3.

Edit: Different USB makes no difference. Time to start looking at logfiles…

#4

Some more detail:

Start Mixxx. It doesn’t immediately recognise any audio devices.
Preferences > Sound > Query Devices > Apply

Now sees all audio devices.

logfile says:

Debug [Main]: SoundManager::setupDevices()
Debug [Main]: SoundDevicePortAudio::open() “SoundDeviceId(Speakers (Realtek HD Audio output), 22)”
Debug [Main]: framesPerBuffer: 1024
Debug [Main]: Requested sample rate: 44100 Hz, latency: 23.22 ms
Debug [Main]: Output channels: 2 | Input channels: 0
Debug [Main]: Opening stream with id 22
Debug [Main]: Opened PortAudio stream successfully… starting
Debug [Main]: PortAudio: Started stream successfully
Debug [Main]: Actual sample rate: 44100 Hz, latency: 24.3084 ms
Debug [Main]: SoundDevicePortAudio::open() “SoundDeviceId(Speakers (USB Audio CODEC), 25)”
Debug [Main]: framesPerBuffer: 1024
Debug [Main]: Requested sample rate: 44100 Hz, latency: 23.22 ms
Debug [Main]: Output channels: 2 | Input channels: 0
Debug [Main]: Opening stream with id 25
Debug [Main]: Opened PortAudio stream successfully… starting
Debug [Main]: PortAudio: Started stream successfully
Debug [Main]: Actual sample rate: 44100 Hz, latency: 23.22 ms
Debug [Main]: SoundDevicePortAudio::open() “SoundDeviceId(Microphone (USB Audio CODEC), 26)”

A few minutes afterwards, the mic stops working. The audio outputs remain OK.

And no new entries in the log file.
Is it possible to turn up the audio debug level?

#5

Just as a test (as I doubt this will be convenient to you), can you try with a jack mic instead of an USB one?
It could be USB related. “Recent” computers (starting about 7 years ago) only have 1 USB root, the other ports are only duplicated USB from the root. It’s a bit like old serial ports (Com 1, Com 2, Com 3 and com 4), as you only had realy 2 ports (Com 1 and 2), the other were duplicated.
USB signal can therefore be mixed-up (I won’t enter the technical part but this happens!).
If you get the same issue with Jack/integrated mic, you then have a config issue.
If you don’t get any issue, then this is logical that there is no new entry, as it is only the signal that doesn’t reach the device.

#6

Is there any other software running, or any media device daemons running in the background with a try icon only, that might scan audio devices and capture those?

Did you try another sound API? (don’t know what available on Win)

#7

I have now changed the audio buffer settings from 23.2ms to 46.4, and it appears to have been stable for the last 12 hours.

#8

I spoke too soon. Problem is still there. :frowning:

#9

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

#10

Yes, if I use Windows DirectSound, the mic is OK. However, the latency is too high for it to be usable.

#11

Tried using a different USB mixer (but still the generic windows USB audio drivers. Same problem.