[tbb-bugs] #28017 [Applications/Tor Browser]: no sound on ALSA. MediaPlayback Warning OpenCubeb failed to init cubeb

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#28017: no sound on ALSA. MediaPlayback Warning OpenCubeb failed to init cubeb
-------------------------+------------------------------------------
 Reporter:  needle8420   |          Owner:  tbb-team
     Type:  defect       |         Status:  new
 Priority:  Low          |      Component:  Applications/Tor Browser
  Version:               |       Severity:  Minor
 Keywords:  alsa, audio  |  Actual Points:
Parent ID:               |         Points:
 Reviewer:               |        Sponsor:
-------------------------+------------------------------------------
 for audio playback on linux
 firefox needs pulseaudio

 without pulseaudio
 firefox prints the cryptic warnings

 {{{
 [Child 4063, MediaPlayback #2] WARNING: 7f1413fe37c0 OpenCubeb() failed to
 init cubeb: file /var/tmp/build/firefox-
 f3a77068c185/dom/media/AudioStream.cpp, line 388
 [Child 4063, MediaPlayback #2] WARNING: Decoder=7f141d749800
 [OnMediaSinkAudioError]: file /var/tmp/build/firefox-
 f3a77068c185/dom/media/MediaDecoderStateMachine.cpp, line 3750
 }}}


 i would need to re-compile firefox with
 --enable-alsa
 --disable-pulseaudio
 in the mozconfig
 for native alsa support

 or with
 --enable-jack
 --disable-pulseaudio
 for native jackaudio support

 why i prefer alsa over pulseaudio?
 cos alsa gives lower latency
 and better audio video sync

 pulseaudio is just too big for me

 --

 workaround: apulse

 if you dont want to re-compile firefox
 or if firefox completely drops alsa support

 then use apulse
 from https://github.com/i-rinat/apulse
 as pulseaudio emulator on alsa
 its a partial implementation of the pulseaudio API
 which runs faster than the whole PA server

 apulse needs dmix
 see
 /usr/share/apulse/asoundrc.sample
 and edit your
 /etc/asound.conf

 --

 to make torbrowser play audio to alsa

 in your
 ~/.local/share/torbrowser/tbb/*/tor-browser*/Browser/firefox

 replace
 exec "$basedir/firefox.real" "$@"

 with
 exec apulse "$basedir/firefox.real" "$@"

 --

 more on: firefox vs alsa
 https://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/03/firefox-52-no-sound-pulseaudio-alsa-
 linux
 https://github.com/webcompat/web-bugs/issues/14690

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Ticket URL: <https://trac.torproject.org/projects/tor/ticket/28017>
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