USB Audio / AudioBox no longer works

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1

I recently got my main PC back after a year. It is fully up to date again.
Everything is good, except my AudioBox USB sound card no longer works.
When I select the AudioBox in Pavucontrol the software, eg Rhythmbox, MPV, pauses playback and no sound comes through at all. I have toggled and tried every option in Pavucontrol to no effect.

aplay -l

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: USB [AudioBox USB], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [LG HDR 4K]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC233 Analog [ALC233 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

systemctl --user status pipewire

â—Ź pipewire.service - PipeWire Multimedia Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.service; disabled; preset: disabled)
    Drop-In: /usr/lib/systemd/user/service.d
             └─10-timeout-abort.conf
     Active: active (running) since Thu 2026-08-06 18:00:48 ACST; 2min 51s ago
 Invocation: 670e3b7a69d948a5af8fa002236a74c6
TriggeredBy: â—Ź pipewire.socket
   Main PID: 2607 (pipewire)
      Tasks: 3 (limit: 16496)
     Memory: 32.4M (peak: 34.4M)
        CPU: 796ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewire.service
             └─2607 /usr/bin/pipewire

Aug 06 18:03:32 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:32 fedora pipewire[2607]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-177) suspended -> e>
Aug 06 18:03:32 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-output-0-178) suspended ->>
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-177) suspended -> e>
Aug 06 18:03:37 fedora pipewire[2607]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument

I have tried kernels 7.14 to 7.16

2

My goodness, a visitor from the future? How is life in Nov 2028?

Did you inspect the journal? or disconnect the usb device, run journalctl -f and reconnect.

3

The future is fine, except my AudioBox is not working :slight_smile:

Aug 06 19:44:33 fedora systemd[1]: dnf-makecache.service: Consumed 404ms CPU time over 439ms wall clock time, 230.5M memory peak.
Aug 06 19:44:54 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: new full-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=194f, idProduct=0301, bcdDevice= 1.08
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: Product: AudioBox USB
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: Manufacturer: PreSonus Audio
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora kernel: usb 1-1: Quirk or no altset; falling back to MIDI 1.0
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora mtp-probe[31114]: checking bus 1, device 4: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.3/usb1/1-1"
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora mtp-probe[31114]: bus: 1, device: 4 was not an MTP device
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora mtp-probe[31123]: checking bus 1, device 4: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.3/usb1/1-1"
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora mtp-probe[31123]: bus: 1, device: 4 was not an MTP device
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora systemd[2786]: Reached target sound.target - Sound Card.
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-78) suspended -> error (Start error: Invalid argument)
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-output-0-77) suspended -> error (Start error: Invalid argument)
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:44:56 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_output.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-output-0-77) suspended -> error ((null))
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.link: 0x556bd0bf3b10: one of the nodes is in error out:running in:error
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.link: 0x556bd1733a40: one of the nodes is in error out:running in:error
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.link: 0x556bd0a52f20: one of the nodes is in error out:error in:running
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.link: 0x556bd0f197e0: one of the nodes is in error out:error in:running
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:45:01 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-78) suspended -> error (Start error: Invalid argument)
Aug 06 19:45:06 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:45:06 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-78) suspended -> error (Start error: Invalid argument)
Aug 06 19:45:11 fedora pipewire[2799]: spa.alsa: set_hw_params: Invalid argument
Aug 06 19:45:11 fedora pipewire[2799]: pw.node: (alsa_input.usb-PreSonus_Audio_AudioBox_USB-00.pro-input-0-78) suspended -> error (Start error: Invalid argument)
5

assuming card is still #0
does sudo alsactl info 0 and lsusb -v -d 194f:0301 provide something meaningful?

you could try whether sudo alsactl init 0 [option] has some effect
options: see alsactl --help

  -D,--ucm-defaults  execute also the UCM 'defaults' section
  -U,--no-ucm      don't init with UCM
  -m,--force-ucm-restore  force UCM restore for boot card groups
  -X,--ucm-nodev   show UCM no device errors

can you try an older kernel 7.0.x from 2026? :slight_smile: Or the live iso?

6 
alsactl: snd_card_iterator_sinit:281: Cannot find soundcard '0'...
[dict@fedora ~]$ sudo alsactl info 0
#
# Sound card
#
- card: 0
  id: USB
  name: AudioBox USB
  longname: PreSonus AudioBox USB at usb-0000:04:00.3-1, full speed
  driver_name: USB-Audio
  mixer_name: 
  components: USB194f:0301
  controls_count: 0
  pcm:
    - stream: PLAYBACK
      devices:
        - device: 0
          id: USB Audio
          name: USB Audio
          subdevices:
            - subdevice: 0
              name: subdevice #0
    - stream: CAPTURE
      devices:
        - device: 0
          id: USB Audio
          name: USB Audio
          subdevices:
            - subdevice: 0
              name: subdevice #0
  rawmidi:
    - stream: INPUT
      devices:
        - device: 0
          id: USB MIDI
          name: AudioBox USB
          subdevices:
            - subdevice: 0
              name: AudioBox USB MIDI 1
    - stream: OUTPUT
      devices:
        - device: 0
          id: USB MIDI
          name: AudioBox USB
          subdevices:
            - subdevice: 0
              name: AudioBox USB MIDI 1

Bus 001 Device 005: ID 194f:0301 PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc. AudioBox
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
Negotiated speed: Full Speed (12Mbps)
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 [unknown]
  bDeviceSubClass         0 [unknown]
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x194f PreSonus Audio Electronics, Inc.
  idProduct          0x0301 AudioBox
  bcdDevice            1.08
  iManufacturer           1 PreSonus Audio
  iProduct                2 AudioBox USB
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x0108
    bNumInterfaces          5
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              500mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass       255 Vendor Specific Class
      bInterfaceSubClass      0 [unknown]
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Control Device
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength       0x0035
        bInCollection           3
        baInterfaceNr(0)        2
        baInterfaceNr(1)        3
        baInterfaceNr(2)        4
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                12
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             9
        wTerminalType      0x0601 Analog Connector
        bAssocTerminal          1
        bNrChannels             2
        wChannelConfig     0x0003
          Left Front (L)
          Right Front (R)
        iChannelNames           0 
        iTerminal               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID            12
        wTerminalType      0x0101 USB Streaming
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bSourceID               9
        iTerminal               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                12
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             5
        wTerminalType      0x0101 USB Streaming
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bNrChannels             2
        wChannelConfig     0x0003
          Left Front (L)
          Right Front (R)
        iChannelNames           0 
        iTerminal               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             8
        wTerminalType      0x0301 Speaker
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bSourceID               5
        iTerminal               0 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink           5
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag         0x0001 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                14
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           3
        bBitResolution         24
        bSamFreqType            2 Discrete
        tSamFreq[ 0]        44100
        tSamFreq[ 1]        48000
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes            9
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Adaptive
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0126  1x 294 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         0 Undefined
          wLockDelay         0x0000
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        3
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        3
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink          12
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag         0x0001 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                14
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           3
        bBitResolution         24
        bSamFreqType            2 Discrete
        tSamFreq[ 0]        44100
        tSamFreq[ 1]        48000
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes           13
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Synchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0126  1x 294 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         0 Undefined
          wLockDelay         0x0000
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        4
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      3 MIDI Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength       0x0041
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 6
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (MIDI_IN_JACK)
        bJackType               1 Embedded
        bJackID                 1
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 6
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (MIDI_IN_JACK)
        bJackType               2 External
        bJackID                 2
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (MIDI_OUT_JACK)
        bJackType               1 Embedded
        bJackID                 3
        bNrInputPins            1
        baSourceID( 0)          2
        BaSourcePin( 0)         1
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (MIDI_OUT_JACK)
        bJackType               2 External
        bJackID                 4
        bNrInputPins            1
        baSourceID( 0)          1
        BaSourcePin( 0)         1
        iJack                   0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x03  EP 3 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval               0
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        MIDIStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 5
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (Invalid)
          bNumEmbMIDIJack         1
          baAssocJackID( 0)       1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x84  EP 4 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval               0
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        MIDIStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 5
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (Invalid)
          bNumEmbMIDIJack         1
          baAssocJackID( 0)       3

No luck.

Finished installing Fallout: New Califiornia and Live USB is prepped. Trying now.

7

Live USB running Sway F44 with Kernel 6.19 works.
Here is the journalctl output from plugging in the AudioBox with F44 6.19 Live USB

Aug 06 11:23:15 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: new full-speed USB device number 12 using xhci_hcd
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: New USB device found, idVendor=194f, idProduct=0301, bcdDevice= 1.08
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: Product: AudioBox USB
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: Manufacturer: PreSonus Audio
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: 3:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: Quirk or no altset; falling back to MIDI 1.0
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live mtp-probe[45698]: checking bus 3, device 12: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.4/usb3/3-1"
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live mtp-probe[45698]: bus: 3, device: 12 was not an MTP device

Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live mtp-probe[45712]: checking bus 3, device 12: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.4/usb3/3-1"
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live mtp-probe[45712]: bus: 3, device: 12 was not an MTP device
Aug 06 11:23:17 localhost-live kernel: usb 3-1: 3:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82

One thing I noticed, was Pavucontrol reported AudioBox as using Analog Audio on the Live USB, rather than the Pro Audio on my hardware install.

I do think this could be a bug then, what component do you think I should file under?

8

two options, either alsa kernel or alsa-ucm (package alsa-lib).

You could try downgrading alsa\*
or install a 6.19 kernel on your current system

kernels are available in updates-archive

9

Don’t know if your issue is the same as mine, but my USB headset doesn’t work properly on 7.1.x kernels - both on Fedora and other distros.

The output volume is lower (which isn’t fatal, 7.1’s version of “100%” is just about load enough), and sidetone isn’t properly controllable (only 0% and 100% are possible, neither of which is bearable for talking).

In my case it’s the same issue described here - kernel 7.1 looks for “sticky mixers” and handles the device differently when they are found.

Reverting to 7.0.x helps for now, and 7.2.x introduces a quirk flag so the new behaviour can be reverted on affected devices.

I verified on a Rawhide live USB that on 7.2.x the issue can be fixed with appropriate modprobe options to set the flag for my device.

It would be interesting to see if there’s a message containing the string sticky mixer anywhere in the journal. But then that’s not evident in the logs you already posted, so it could be a different issue with your device.

10

Have you tried a new user or clearing out ~/.local/state/wireplumber?