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Thread: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

  1. #1

    Talking Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Ok this is tested on hardy with standard pulse audio setup, its a bit clunky but I prefer it over dmix hacks.

    Create a script

    gedit ~/bin/pause_pulse

    Code:
    #!/bin/sh
    # temporarily pause pulseaudio so I can use Skype or whatever
    pasuspender -- /usr/bin/zenity --info --text "Click OK to resume Pulseaudio"
    Make it executable
    chmod +x ~/bin/pause_pulse

    Ok now setup skype

    • Fire up skype goto options
    • Goto notifications tab
    • Click the advanced view button
    • Select Incoming ring call
    • check the "execute script" checkbox
    • paste in ~/bin/pause_pulse (this might require the full path)
    • click apply
    • Select Outgoing ring call
    • check the "execute script" checkbox
    • paste in ~/bin/pause_pulse (this might require the full path)
    • click apply


    That's it.. when a call starts you that will trigger pasuspender.. just click the button to start pulse sound again

    It not perfect but I can at least use skype again...

    EDIT: Also useful is to make a panel icon that runs the script.. gives you a bit more control
    Last edited by KillerKiwi; May 12th, 2008 at 11:45 PM.

  2. #2
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Hi there,

    Your solution works, but there are disadvantages. PulseAudio will be blocked from using the sound card while your script is active (unless your card supports hardware mixing, perhaps).

    It seems Debian have recently fixed some bugs in the "pulse_pcm" driver for ALSA, meaning that Skype can now work correctly with PulseAudio (providing your system is configured correctly). The latest version of Skype is also available in OSS form, meaning that the "padsp" wrapper is an option; both of these solutions work better than using "pasuspender", as Skype will no longer hog the sound card, even during a call.

    See my HOWTO (Step A, C and General Tips is probably what you need to follow) here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4928900
    Last edited by psyke83; May 12th, 2008 at 01:20 PM.

  3. #3
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    I'm on Fedora 9 and this is absolutely brilliant! It might be worth pointing out that you'll probably have to change the devices in Skype's audio settings from 'default' to use this script though. And psyke83, wonderful, but I would assume rawhide's packages are newer than Debian's, and it's still not working for me. Also, the padsp/skype OSS solution results in unusably-stuttering sound.

  4. #4

    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Quote Originally Posted by psyke83 View Post
    Hi there,

    Your solution works, but there are disadvantages. PulseAudio will be blocked from using the sound card while your script is active (unless your card supports hardware mixing, perhaps).

    It seems Debian have recently fixed some bugs in the "pulse_pcm" driver for ALSA, meaning that Skype can now work correctly with PulseAudio (providing your system is configured correctly). The latest version of Skype is also available in OSS form, meaning that the "padsp" wrapper is an option; both of these solutions work better than using "pasuspender", as Skype will no longer hog the sound card, even during a call.

    See my HOWTO (Step A, C and General Tips is probably what you need to follow) here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=4928900
    I know it stops other sounds... but that is actually what I want when I'm on the phone I'm hoping pulse will have a way of doing this semi-automatic in the future.. no idea how you would UI it though

    Good to see a fix is on its way

    I tried the OSS version, the sound quality was terrible, lots of pops and crackles

  5. #5
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    I had unbearably cracky sound with OSS version. Just wanted to suggest a slight improvement to the workaround: if one uses

    pasuspender -- /usr/bin/zenity --notification --text "Resume Pulseaudio"

    zenity produces a less intrusive notification area icon, which reenables pulseaudio when clicked. one can also give a --window-icon=XXX.png option to select the icon to be used.

    I think the workaround is OK, until the skype developers decide to make it pulseaudio-compatible, or I get pissed off and start using Ekiga

    thanks for the idea.

  6. #6
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Quote Originally Posted by simplyw00x View Post
    I'm on Fedora 9 and this is absolutely brilliant! It might be worth pointing out that you'll probably have to change the devices in Skype's audio settings from 'default' to use this script though. And psyke83, wonderful, but I would assume rawhide's packages are newer than Debian's, and it's still not working for me. Also, the padsp/skype OSS solution results in unusably-stuttering sound.
    I have Fedora 9 installed as well, and it doesn't work because the required configuration is not set by default. See this bug: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...io/+bug/198453 (yes, it applies to Fedora as much as Ubuntu).

  7. #7
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    I love you. Truly.

    Worked a treat!

  8. #8
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    I have tried with a lot of different ways to get it working but banshee seems to lock up the driver and skype tells me the audiodriver is uavailable..

    the terminal gives me the following output:
    Code:
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave

  9. #9
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Quote Originally Posted by nidelius View Post
    I have tried with a lot of different ways to get it working but banshee seems to lock up the driver and skype tells me the audiodriver is uavailable..

    the terminal gives me the following output:
    Code:
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:874:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
    This guide uses a poor workaround - it suspends the PulseAudio server while Skype is running. That means that either Skype or PulseAudio applications can play audio, but not both.

    Look at this instead (with emphasis on the note for Skype in Appendix B): http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=789578

  10. #10
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    Re: Stupid Skype / Pulseaudio Fix

    Easiest fix: just apt-get remove pulseaudio. You are not going to miss it.

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