Sound stops when switching user

Thomas,

This is a bit of a shot in the dark, because I don't use Amarok. But you want to check that second user is in the audio group:

    $ grep audio /etc/group

If the second user's name is not included in that group, you can add it by:

    $ adduser <usesrname> audio

That will add the user to the group.

Please report back here and let me know if this resolves your question, or if you require further information.

Thanks,

Harvey

Hello

Both users are included in the audio group. Both users can play music, just not at the same time and also, both users have ESD enabled.

Thomas,

As I mentioned previously, I'm not a wolf user. But I located this in the forums:

    http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=604007

Might it help?

Please let me know if this resolves the question, if not I'll step out of the way.

Thanks,

Harvey

Thanks but I have seen that way of sharing Amaroks db. But this doesn't solve my audio problem...

The reason is PulseAudio. PulseAudio stops all sound if you switch to another console and/or switch to a different user. I don't know if there is a workaround.

Thomas,

I've just installed Amarok, and created a new user to test what you are trying to do.

Based on my testing, I don't see that it is possible to continue playing a sound track while switching users. Your observation that each user has their own instance of sound is verifiable by the following:

1. Log in to first user
2. Run in terminal:
    $ ls -l /dev/shm
3. Note permissions and user/group names for pulse-shm-*
4. Switch to second user
5. Run in terminal:
    $ ls -l /dev/shm
6. Note permissions and user/group names for second pulse-shm-*

This indicates that each instance of pulse is only readable by the individual user, and demonstrates that each user has their own instance.

Research shows database sharing is possible however. But this is not what you are trying to achieve.

So to repeat, it does not look like it is possible to continue a song while switching amongst different users on the desktop.

What I have observed however, is that if a song is playing in amarok for User A, and the desktop is switched to User B anbd then back to User A, the song will still be playing.

Please report back here and let me know if this resolves your original question, or if you require further information.

Thanks,

Harvey

Btw, MPD would be the better solution for your task.

Hi Thomas,

I'm just checking back in to see if the information provided Solved your question. If so, please report back here and change the status of the question.

Thanks!

Harvey

corresponding bug is filed at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/rhythmbox/+bug/236177

I have the same issue, and could it be that using ALSA could be a solution?

This was fine before, but seems to have changed in hardy. Am i right in thinking that Gutsy was using asla??? and could a change to alsa solve this?

hopeful...

I have the same issue, and could it be that using ALSA could be a solution?

This was fine before, but seems to have changed in hardy. Am i right in thinking that Gutsy was using asla??? and could a change to alsa solve this?

hopeful...

AFAICT is a problem in pulseaudio, and i'm sorry to say it looks to be by design (the concept of the ubuntu devs is to have different "sound sessions" per user).

It has a workaround though, which i've applied succesfully. See https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/213149 (Policykit technique - the other, more extreme workaround of having pulseaudio daemon work in system mode i haven't tried).