How to fix audio configuration for aplay while using pulseaudio

Question

I want to record audio with arecord. The same on audacity works fine.

So after trying to record like documented:

arecord -f dat -d 5 -D plughw:0,0 /tmp/test.wav

failing with message: arecord: main:788: audio open error: No such file or directory

I try to simply play audio: at /dev/random | aplay -f S16_LE failes as well with

ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1052:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
aplay: main:788: audio open error: No such file or directory

… what am I doing wrong; or is pulseaudio the problem somehow that runs as well?

My device list with arecord -L:

null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
default:CARD=PCH
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=PCH
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Front speakers
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC269VB Analog
    Hardware device with all software conversions

alsamixer "lists" (with F6):

- default
0 HDA Intel HDMI
1 HDA Intel PCH

Solution

Pulseaudio grabs all available ALSA hardware devices. That means as long as Pulseaudio runs, you can neither record from nor play to hw:... and plughw:....

However, the usual configuration for Pulseaudio includes a compatibility layer for ALSA applications. It looks similar to

pcm.!default pulse
ctl.!default pulse

in your ~/.asoundrc (or system-wide settings).

This means all ALSA applications using default will be redirected to Pulseaudio, with the ability to choose devices via pavucontrol etc.

So: (1) either use arecord -D pulse, arecord -D default or similar, or (2) use parecord in the first place, or (3) stop Pulseaudio or use pasuspender.

Comments

[Admin]

arecord is with ALSA, parecord is with pulseaudio give it a try instead

[Dom UIXNZ]

Thanks, this answer finally helped be get my usb mic working alongside the speaker pHat