Firejail: VLC audio issue on the latest release 0.9.44.6.

[mr-blobbyyy]

No sound at all, tried both audio and video files. VLC error upon opening:

Audio output failed:
The audio device "default" could not be used:
No such file or directory.

...the video still plays, but no audio. Manually selecting the correct "audio device" within VLC's settings also does nothing (there's quite a few selections if you have a gpu that supports hdmi audio. I don't use this audio method as I have this sound "profile" as "off" within xfce's audio settings -- but VLC apparently still displays these options.)

xfce 4.12
vlc 2.2.2 (xenial repo :rage:)

I have a samson mic + audio setup usb using the usb audio driver, listening on headphones. Everything was fine on version 0.9.44.4. Other (non-firejailed apps) are playing audio normally. "Onboard audio" is disabled via the uefi/bios.

[mr-blobbyyy]

Ok I seemed to have found a workaround. Using these audio settings (versus selecting them on-the-fly while VLC was opened as mentioned previously) is working (remember to restart VLC because apparently VLC settings are not applied until a restart):

Curiously, with these settings if I now select "automatic" (or even "pulseaudio") again for the "output module" -- it still works...so the issue here is apparently a problem with ALSA accessing the "default" device specifically. If I select the "default" device for ALSA, the problem reproduces.

P.S. :man_facepalming: about "VCL" -- I can't be bothered making another screenie.

[mr-blobbyyy]

Ok I have a disappointing update, the method above will not work (for me) if another app is using the microphone (even if the mic is muted.) This simply includes loading a game in steam or if you're on the google hangouts page in firefox (or any page with flash?) as the error in VLC turns into this:

Audio output failed:
The audio device "sysdefault:CARD=Mic" could not be used:
Device or resource busy.

Exiting the page or game will make audio functional again. Very weird.

I also believe I have the relevant terminal errors for the default non-functional configuration:

ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1029:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
alsa audio output error: cannot open ALSA device "default": No such file or directory
core audio output error: module not functional
core decoder error: failed to create audio output

[mr-blobbyyy]

Update: looks like this issue doesn't affect the LTS version. My mistake probably for assuming 0.9.44.6 would work on Xenial.

[nick75e]

Hi!

I have the same issue with all sandboxed apps (firefox, vlc, spotify)
Did you find a solution?

Linux Mint 17.3, firejail 0.9.44.6

[ghost]

I have opened new issue for this bug,please provide your input there:
https://github.com/netblue30/firejail/issues/1054

[mr-blobbyyy]

@nick75e yeah, use the most recent LTS firejail 0.9.38.10 for Xenial and Trusty as this issue doesn't affect the LTS version.

[samhithaaaa]

I have opened new issue for this bug,please provide your input there:

1054

+1