Documentation / Troubleshooting / How to check the player’s audio output

How to check the player’s audio output

Introduction and orientation

Check which audio outputs Linux offers, where playback is routed and whether the output is muted. A configured volume level does not prove that the speakers are audible.

What is needed for audio playback

The player, any converters or LED processor, and the display or speakers must support the selected audio path. An HDMI picture alone does not confirm that audio is carried. Check external speaker connections and volume.

Checking audio on the device

To hear sound, the display or player must have working speakers or connected external speakers. Some displays have built-in speakers; others require external speakers. Check the connection and volume of external speakers.

The player can send sound through different outputs, for example HDMI to the display or another audio output. If the correct output is selected and sound works, there is no need to change it.

How to check the output

Open the service menu and select Audio.
In Volume Control, open the Output Devices tab.
Find the output matching your connection, such as HDMI / DisplayPort.
If there is more than one output, select the one connected to the intended display or speakers. Set it as the default if needed.
Check that the output is not muted and has a suitable volume.
Play content with sound and confirm that you can hear it. If not, also check the display or speaker volume and connections.

1Output Devices – the tab showing audio outputs.

2Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (HDMI) – an audio output of the player. Additional entries appear if more outputs are available.

3Green button – sets that output as the default.

4Port – selects a port or route within the displayed output. HDMI / DisplayPort is selected in the image.

5Volume and mute – check the output volume and whether it is muted.

This window selects the player’s audio output. If the display or external sound system has its own output or speaker settings, select them on that device.

To check where currently playing audio is routed, open the Playback tab. The Show menu only filters the displayed outputs.

Checking audio remotely

You can also check audio output settings remotely using the remote console. You can see which outputs are available, which is the default, which port it uses and whether it is muted. During playback, you can also check where the audio stream is routed. The output cannot confirm that sound is actually audible from the speakers.

Before you start

The remote console is available only to users with the Server Administrator role or higher.

Enter each command separately in the remote console. They only read information and do not change settings. You must have permission to use the console; if you do not normally use it, ask your software provider for help.

Wait for the actual command output. SEND OK only confirms sending. If the console does not return results for other commands either, an empty reply cannot be interpreted as a missing tool or device fault.

Play content with audio and check the settings.
On the device, play a campaign with a video known to contain an audio track, or play a video with audio in an application. In the device settings, check that audio is enabled and the maximum volume is set; for a campaign, also check its audio settings. Use the remote preview to check that the content is actually playing. The preview alone does not confirm that audio is audible. Keep the content playing while you continue with the checks below.
Check that the audio inspection tool is available.
pactl is a tool that lists audio outputs and their settings. The following command checks whether the player can find it.
```
command -v pactl
```
If a path such as /usr/bin/pactl appears, continue. If the command completed but returned no path, the tool was not found. This is not an audio fault: ask your provider for the supported procedure rather than installing anything yourself.
Find the default audio output.
The following command lists basic audio-service information. Find Default Sink: it identifies the default audio output, such as HDMI. Note its name so you can compare it with the next listing.
```
pactl info
```
An error such as Connection failure means the tool could not connect to the audio service. It does not establish that the sound card is missing or faulty. Send the output to your provider; without a connection, the remaining pactl commands cannot provide the required information.
List all available audio outputs.
Each line in the following listing represents one audio output. Find the name from Default Sink. Names may contain hdmi or analog, but vary by device. The number at the start of the line identifies that output in this listing.
```
pactl list short sinks
```
SUSPENDED may simply mean that nothing is currently playing on that output. It does not establish a fault. If the expected output is missing, send the listing to your provider.

Check mute and volume.

The following detailed listing contains a separate block for each output. Find the block with the name you noted, then check the items below.

pactl list sinks

What to look for	What it means
`Mute`	`yes` means the output is muted; `no` means this setting is not muting it.
`Volume`	Check the volume percentage for each channel. A zero value may explain silence.
`Active Port`	Shows the selected connector or route, if reported by the driver. Compare it with the actual connection.

Example: reading the output

Sink #47
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.iec958-stereo
Description: Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 50%, front-right: 50%
Active Port: iec958-stereo-output (S/PDIF)

The default output in pactl info matches the listed iec958-stereo output. The active port Digital Output (S/PDIF) identifies an S/PDIF digital output, not HDMI. If the screen is connected via HDMI, compare the output with the physical connection and check the available outputs and profiles on the device. A single listed output does not prove that the hardware lacks HDMI audio support.

Mute: no means the output is not muted; Volume: 50% applies to both channels. State: SUSPENDED can indicate inactivity; availability unknown does not confirm a connection. None of these values alone proves that sound is audible.

Check where the playing audio is actually routed.
Leave the known media playing and run the following command. Each block represents an application’s audio stream. Match its Sink value to the output number from step 4. This shows where that stream is actually routed; it may differ from the default output in step 3.
```
pactl list sink-inputs
```
If no stream is listed during expected playback, the audio service is not showing one through this access. Check that the media is actually playing and contains an audio track. An empty listing alone does not establish a speaker fault or explain why the stream is absent.
If the console shows only OK without a Sink Input block, this does not confirm that audio is playing. Check again during playback; if other commands return results, no stream is currently shown in this listing.
Compare the result with an on-site check.
If audio is routed to the expected output, is not muted and has a non-zero volume, ask someone on site to check display volume, selected input, cable and speakers. The console shows software settings, not proof of audible sound. Change settings only in response to the findings.

Technical note for administrators

pactl queries the audio server of the current user session (PulseAudio or a compatible service). The console may run as a different user from the playback application. Do not reuse another user’s UID or session path, or automatically add sudo; an authorised administrator must verify the correct access.

pactl — Ubuntu / PulseAudio