[Help request]: Output working, but now my headset mic is not working

Nobody has claimed this yet.

**Describe your problem**
I followed the instructions to the best of my ability, got to the end and now have split the audio outputs as desired, but my microphone (plugged into the front audio in jack) no longer works. It is listed in the audio settings and the UI shows its plugged in status correctly, but it's not picking up sound.

**System information**

- **Operating System**: Manjaro KDE
- **Kernel Version**: 6.12.48-1-MANJARO (64-bit)
- **Manufacturer**: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
- **Product Name**: TUF X470-PLUS GAMING
- **Type of device (laptop, desktop...)**: desktop (custom build; the above is the motherboard)

Fill with output of each command

**`pactl info`**

```yaml
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 178
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: ace
Host Name: bolthoard
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.8)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-lineout
Default Source: alsa_input.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-input
Cookie: d83e:b8ab

```

**Codecs `cat /proc/asound/card*/codec#* | grep -E 'Codec|Vendor Id|Subsystem Id|Address'`**

```yaml
Codec: ATI R6xx HDMI
Address: 0
Vendor Id: 0x1002aa01
Subsystem Id: 0x00aa0100
Codec: Realtek ALC887-VD
Address: 0
Vendor Id: 0x10ec0887
Subsystem Id: 0x10438760
```

**Cards `pactl list cards`**

```yaml
Card #54
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_0e_00.3
Driver: alsa
Owner Module: n/a
Properties:
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "hw:1"
api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "pci"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0e:00.3"
device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0e_00.3"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "11378678"
device.product.id = "0x1457"
device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
device.profile-set = "/etc/alsa-card-profile/mixer/profile-sets/split-ports-profile.conf"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0e:00.3/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
media.class = "Audio/Device"
spa.object.id = "4"
factory.id = "15"
client.id = "47"
object.id = "54"
object.serial = "54"
object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic"
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,10438760,00100302"
alsa.id = "Generic"
device.string = "1"
Profiles:
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input: Speakers Output + Microphone Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5050, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-headphones+input:analog-stereo-input: Headphones Output + Microphone Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5050, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-lineout: Speakers Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5000, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-headphones: Headphones Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5000, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 2, sources: 1, priority: 80, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout: Analog Stereo Outputs Only (sinks: 2, sources: 0, priority: 70, available: yes)
input:analog-stereo-input: Microphone Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 50, available: yes)
pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
Active Profile: output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input
Ports:
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
Properties:
port.type = "headphones"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
card.profile.port = "0"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout, output:analog-stereo-headphones, output:analog-stereo-headphones+input:analog-stereo-input
analog-output-lineout-split: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 5, availability unknown)
Properties:
port.type = "line"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 5"
card.profile.port = "1"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout, output:analog-stereo-lineout, output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input
analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8500, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, available)
Properties:
port.type = "mic"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
card.profile.port = "2"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-headphones+input:analog-stereo-input
analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8200, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "mic"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
card.profile.port = "3"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-headphones+input:analog-stereo-input
analog-input-linein: Line In (type: Line, priority: 8100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "line"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
card.profile.port = "4"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo-headphones+output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-lineout+input:analog-stereo-input, output:analog-stereo-headphones+input:analog-stereo-input
```

**Sinks before and after: `pactl list sinks`**

When you started

```yaml
Sink #64
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo
Description: Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo
Driver: PipeWire
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 4294967295
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB, front-right: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,10438760,00100302"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.id = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "front:1"
api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
audio.channels = "2"
audio.position = "FL,FR"
card.profile.device = "5"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "pci"
device.class = "sound"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
device.id = "54"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.routes = "2"
factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
media.class = "Audio/Sink"
device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo"
node.nick = "ALC887-VD Analog"
node.pause-on-idle = "false"
object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic:5:playback"
port.group = "playback"
priority.driver = "1009"
priority.session = "1009"
factory.id = "19"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
client.id = "47"
node.driver = "true"
node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
object.id = "64"
object.serial = "64"
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0e:00.3"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0e_00.3"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "11528599"
device.product.id = "0x1457"
device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0e:00.3/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
spa.object.id = "4"
device.string = "1"
Ports:
analog-output-lineout: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 5, available)
Active Port: analog-output-headphones
Formats:
pcm
```

Now

```yaml
Sink #64
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-headphones
Description: Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Headphones
Driver: PipeWire
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 4294967295
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB, front-right: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-headphones.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,10438760,00100302"
alsa.device = "2"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.id = "ALC887-VD Alt Analog"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Alt Analog"
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "hw:1,2"
api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
audio.channels = "2"
audio.position = "FL,FR"
card.profile.device = "0"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "pci"
device.class = "sound"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
device.id = "54"
device.profile.description = "Headphones"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo-headphones"
device.routes = "1"
factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
media.class = "Audio/Sink"
device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-headphones"
node.nick = "ALC887-VD Alt Analog"
node.pause-on-idle = "false"
object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic:0:playback"
port.group = "playback"
priority.driver = "721"
priority.session = "721"
factory.id = "19"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
client.id = "47"
node.driver = "true"
node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
object.id = "64"
object.serial = "64"
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0e:00.3"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0e_00.3"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "11378678"
device.product.id = "0x1457"
device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
device.profile-set = "/etc/alsa-card-profile/mixer/profile-sets/split-ports-profile.conf"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0e:00.3/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
spa.object.id = "4"
device.string = "1"
Ports:
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
Active Port: analog-output-headphones
Formats:
pcm

Sink #65
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-lineout
Description: Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller Speakers
Driver: PipeWire
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 4294967295
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 37356 / 57% / -14.65 dB, front-right: 37356 / 57% / -14.65 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-lineout.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,10438760,00100302"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.id = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfce00000 irq 106"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "hw:1,0"
api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
audio.channels = "2"
audio.position = "FL,FR"
card.profile.device = "1"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "pci"
device.class = "sound"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
device.id = "54"
device.profile.description = "Speakers"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo-lineout"
device.routes = "1"
factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
media.class = "Audio/Sink"
device.description = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.3.analog-stereo-lineout"
node.nick = "ALC887-VD Analog"
node.pause-on-idle = "false"
object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic:1:playback"
port.group = "playback"
priority.driver = "1009"
priority.session = "1009"
factory.id = "19"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
client.id = "47"
node.driver = "true"
node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
object.id = "65"
object.serial = "65"
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0e:00.3"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0e_00.3"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "11378678"
device.product.id = "0x1457"
device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 00h-0fh) HD Audio Controller"
device.profile-set = "/etc/alsa-card-profile/mixer/profile-sets/split-ports-profile.conf"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0e:00.3/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
spa.object.id = "4"
device.string = "1"
Ports:
analog-output-lineout-split: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, availability group: Legacy 5, availability unknown)
Active Port: analog-output-lineout-split
Formats:
pcm
```

**Aplay before and after `aplay -l`**

When you started

```yaml
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 11: HDMI 5 [HDMI 5]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC887-VD Digital [ALC887-VD Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
```

Now

```yaml
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 11: HDMI 5 [HDMI 5]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC887-VD Digital [ALC887-VD Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 2: ALC887-VD Alt Analog [ALC887-VD Alt Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
```

No source file, test, or entry point is named. Start by reviewing the guide instructions and reproducing the reported state on the listed Manjaro system with the provided pactl and codec commands. Done means identifying the cause of the detected but nonfunctional front microphone and recording a confirmed fix or documenting the limitation.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.