Default audio device (typically built-in analog) does not show in Kubuntu 20.10 [closed]

After updating to Kubuntu 20.10 my built-in analog audio stopped showing in the KDE sound settings. Instead only the built-in digital output was showing.

The device is found by the kernel; sudo dmesg | grep audio finds a Realtek ALC887-VD.

The device is found by Alsa; aplay -L | grep -A2 sysdefault returns HDA Intel PCH, ALC887-VD Analog as default audio device.

The device is found by PulseAudio; pacmd list-cards | grep analog-output founds one line out and one headphone jack.

Still in the KDE audio settings I cannot select the analog line out.

Solution 1:

I have no idea why pipewire is included in KDE editions. It's exceedingly buggy and should never have found its way into production systems. You got lucky with sudo apt-get autoremove --purge pipewire* because when I do it on an Ubuntu-based KDE, it takes the entire desktop with it.

The better way to deal with pipewire is to disable it in systemd then pin it in apt.

sudo systemctl --global disable pipewire
sudo apt-mark hold libpipewire* pipewire*

That disables pipewire and prevents it from getting updated, which could potentially re-enable it.

If you want to control the default audio device, I recommend pavucontrol.

sudo apt install pavucontrol

It will allow you to specify the default output devices and control all audio inputs and outputs.