Setting the microphone in Valve games in Linux

[Vapor Dosh]

I usually don't use microphone in games, but I thought of checking it out in L4D2, and it's not working out. Steam itself picks microphone input, but mic test in L4D2 instead catches the game's own audio. I made the game launch in Proton and I got the exact same issue. I also tried CSGO and unfortunately it has the same problem. I tested a non-Valve game as well, specifically Killing Floor 1, and while it doesn't have the proper mic test to my knowledge, it appeared to actually pick microphone input correctly if the hub thingy is to be believed.

The only options in voice configuration for voice input/output device are default and "Wbudowany dźwięk Analogowe stereo" ("Built-in sound Analog stereo" or whatever it's called in English) which both work the same.

[Vapor Dosh]

Okay, I don't think I can understand how this helped, but I had another microphone lying around and I felt like testing it. I plugged it in, and lo and behold, L4D2 mic test was passed. I switched back to my headset and now it also works. I'm glad I solved my problem, but I have no idea how this happened.

[Marlock]

probably could also solve the issue by switching the input from the distro's sound settings, or from "pavucontrol" if the distro settings are too simplistic

the extra mic being plugged in/out must've triggered pulse-audio to refresh the list and select a new real input to be used in default input channel, or something like that... the game selects the wrong one at first but obbeys the automated inout change triggered by the system

fyi I have a spare mic I use to solve Skype sound issues by switching back and forth between inputs too

[Vapor Dosh]

I should have mentioned in the OP that I did try pavucontrol and couldn't find in it alternative input to switch to.

Your explanation makes sense, I just didn't think one no-name microphone makes a difference from another no-name microphone.

[Vapor Dosh]

Originally posted by Rogue:

What about the mic settings for Steam itself? Does the mic work in Steam?

Yes, like I said Steam itself did work with the microphone properly from the start.

[Vapor Dosh]

Those settings are what I mentioned in the OP and it works the same in either case.

[Marlock]

Originally posted by Ghost:

So the issue, as I've understood it, seems to be as follows: Steam picks up audio input normally, but sometimes Valve games take game audio output as input. And it doesn't seem to be an issue in non-Valve games.

I recommend reporting this on Valve's Github. Issue tracking has been moved there.

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#reporting-issues

I seems like an issue with the game engine rather than steam itself...

Shouldn't that be reported for the correct game engine repo instead, eg Source 1 or Sorce 2?

their list of github software:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/

Source 1 games are all in one place:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Source-1-Games

[Marlock]

Originally posted by Ghost:

The link I provided explains how to report issues and has links to the relevant issue lists.

You're right!

That's actually much better than just linking to the steam-for-linux issues page directly as I've been doing till now, I'll definitely use it going forward.


ps:
OMG! Valve should fix the software requirements for Steam in another section of this page ASAP!!!
(https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux#hardware-and-software-requirements)

They still recommend AMDGPU PRO instead of Mesa, even though they explicitly ask for Mesa on the Proton Requirements page...