Microphone recognised as disk!?

business_kid · 02-23-2024, 08:47 AM

I need to convince my system to see my new microphone as a microphone, and only that. I'm on Slackware64-15.0. Details are below.

This concerns ebay item number 125922022158
Long ebay.ie Link

This seems a mighty strange device. ~It's a usb microphone on a tripod with ever changing led colours, but it also identifies as a disk! It's brand name is BLOW. The label is in Polish, and gives the website: https://www.protech.com.pl/

It's not in yesterday's usb.ids. Here's what I can find on it.

Code:

dec@Ebony:~$sudo lsusb |grep Jieli
Bus 003 Device 003: ID 4c4a:4155 Jieli Technology UACDemoV1.0

Zoom actually gives the fullest description:"UACDemoV1.0 Audio-Default Audio Device"

dec@Ebony:~$lsblk |grep sdb
sdb           8:16   1     0B  0 disk 
[sdb only appeared when I plugged it in. the '0B' size is also somewhat odd.]

dec@Ebony:~$ls -l /dev/disk/by-id |grep usb-BR25
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root  9 Feb 23 09:09 usb-BR25_UDISK_4150325431313106-0:0 -> ../../sdb

dec@Ebony:~$ls -l /dev/disk/by-path             
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 9 Feb 23 09:09 pci-0000:0a:00.3-usb-0:2.1:1.0-scsi-0:0:0:0 -> ../../sdb

It doesn't feature in the UUID directories. Now my fstab has /dev/nvme0n1* & /dev/sda*, but a UUIID for the external disk, so it isn't a disk crisis.

But on the PC is a failed webcam/mic that I'm replacing. The mic works only if you yell at it from 3 inches. The camera turns my pale sickly-looking self into a face painted red LED, with all background colours appropriately shaded. Now when I replace that camera, whether the usb microphone module continues to load for this split-personality device is a very open question.

What I'd like is some clever tricks or options to make sure the microphone works, and to nobble it as a disk.

pan64 · 02-23-2024, 09:02 AM

at first you can cut that ebay link at the first question mark. https://www.ebay.ie/itm/125922022158? (use without that)
Otherwise you ought to create an udev rule for that device.
start somewhere here: https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...ux-environment

business_kid · 02-23-2024, 11:14 AM

Er, yes, and thank you https://www.ebay.ie/itm/125922022158 works just fine.

That stackexchange link quickly deteriorates into nagging and corrections. I dislike stackexchange. You go to the trouble of answering a problem. Nobody says 'thanks' but they go correcting you on the way you answered it.

I get the idea, though. One rule to disable everything on that usb.id, and another to allow the one specific usage you want.

I'll have a go at that when I feel able for a cryptic crossword puzzle. I never made friends with udev, so this will be a first.

business_kid · 02-24-2024, 11:55 AM

This is the relevant snippet from dmesg

Code:

dec@Ebony:~$sudo dmesg |tail -n 12
[   80.191300] usb 3-2.2: New USB device found, idVendor=4c4a, idProduct=4155, bcdDevice= 1.00
[   80.191306] usb 3-2.2: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[   80.191308] usb 3-2.2: Product: UACDemoV1.0
[   80.191309] usb 3-2.2: Manufacturer: Jieli Technology
[   80.191311] usb 3-2.2: SerialNumber: 4150325431313106
[   80.193202] usb-storage 3-2.2:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[   80.193438] scsi host6: usb-storage 3-2.2:1.0
[   81.249379] scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access     BR25     UDISK            1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[   81.249997] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Media removed, stopped polling
[   81.250770] sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk
[  164.396533] usb 3-2.1: reset high-speed USB device number 3 using xhci_hcd
[  185.723444] fuse: init (API version 7.34)

Note to self: Never again buy a clever microphone. You don't know whose brains they are.

business_kid · 02-24-2024, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan64

at first you can cut that ebay link at the first question mark. https://www.ebay.ie/itm/125922022158? (use without that)
Otherwise you ought to create an udev rule for that device.
start somewhere here: https://unix.stackexchange.com/quest...ux-environment

I've been through this stackexchange link. This seems to disallow all devices, then enable approved ones. Fine on servers. That's not acceptable for me, as a great variety of usb devices are used here. I can't go cobbling up some udev rule any time I want to allow a device. I have this one device that thinks it's a disk, or excites that reaction. Is there another way to do this? Edit usb.ids perhaps? Associate a module with it? Anything?

pan64 · 02-25-2024, 02:26 AM

I guess you need to disable the non-existent disk only.

business_kid · 02-25-2024, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pan64

I guess you need to disable the non-existent disk only.

Exactly. How do I do that? It's loading the usb-storage and seems to think it's a disk with the storage removed

. I even saw a comment to that effect. This is from /var/log/messages:

Code:

Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: new full-speed USB device number 5 using xhci_hcd
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: New USB device found, idVendor=4c4a, idProduct=4155, bcdDevice= 1.00
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: Product: UACDemoV1.0
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: Manufacturer: Jieli Technology
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb 3-2.1: SerialNumber: 4150325431313106
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony mtp-probe: checking bus 3, device 5: "/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0a:00.3/usb3/3-2/3-2.1" 
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony mtp-probe: bus: 3, device: 5 was not an MTP device 
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usb-storage 3-2.1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: scsi host6: usb-storage 3-2.1:1.0
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver usb-storage
Feb 22 09:42:06 Ebony kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver uas
Feb 22 09:42:07 Ebony kernel: scsi 6:0:0:0: Direct-Access     BR25     UDISK            1.00 PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
Feb 22 09:42:07 Ebony kernel: sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Media removed, stopped polling
Feb 22 09:42:07 Ebony kernel: sd 6:0:0:0: [sdb] Attached SCSI removable disk

BTW, MTP = Media Transfer Protocol. I've a thing about unknown acronyms. Is there some way I can say "Actually, that 4c4a:4155 device you might meet isn't a disk, but a microphone?"

business_kid · 02-27-2024, 06:55 AM

This is humiliating.

I tried zoom today, and the microphone couldn't be heard on zoom. OTOH, when I used (spit!) windows 11, it worked fine, and is not recognized as a disk

. I have to report this thing to linux-usb.org, which has a bot reading it's email. How does that work?

What's more, I couldn't change volume. I boosted it to 150% and it got no louder Is there anything I can pull to stop the kernel assigning usb-storage.ko to a microphone? As it's a usb device, I have the usb id.

smallpond · 02-27-2024, 10:27 AM

Let's get some details. Try

lsusb -v 003:003

business_kid · 02-27-2024, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallpond

Let's get some details. Try

lsusb -v 003:003

Thanks for your reply. It took a few minutes to figure out what you were looking for. Is this it? It's certainly more than "a few details"

Code:

dec@Ebony:~$lsusb -v -s 003:005

Bus 003 Device 005: ID 4c4a:4155 Jieli Technology UACDemoV1.0
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0        64
  idVendor           0x4c4a 
  idProduct          0x4155 
  bcdDevice            1.00
  iManufacturer           1 Jieli Technology
  iProduct                2 UACDemoV1.0
  iSerial                 3 4150325431313106
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength       0x008b
    bNumInterfaces          3
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          0 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower              100mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass         8 Mass Storage
      bInterfaceSubClass      6 SCSI
      bInterfaceProtocol     80 Bulk-Only
      iInterface              0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x81  EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0040  1x 64 bytes
        bInterval               1
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Control Device
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              9 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength       0x0027
        bInCollection           1
        baInterfaceNr(0)        2
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                12
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             4
        wTerminalType      0x0201 Microphone
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bNrChannels             1
        wChannelConfig     0x0000
        iChannelNames           0 
        iTerminal               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             6
        wTerminalType      0x0101 USB Streaming
        bAssocTerminal          2
        bSourceID               7
        iTerminal               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      5 (SELECTOR_UNIT)
        bUnitID                 7
        bNrInPins               1
        baSourceID(0)           5
        iSelector               0 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      6 (FEATURE_UNIT)
        bUnitID                 5
        bSourceID               4
        bControlSize            1
        bmaControls(0)       0x43
          Mute Control
          Volume Control
          Automatic Gain Control
        bmaControls(1)       0x00
        iFeature                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           6
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag         0x0001 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             1
        bSubframeSize           2
        bBitResolution         16
        bSamFreqType            1 Discrete
        tSamFreq[ 0]        48000
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x83  EP 3 IN
        bmAttributes            5
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Asynchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0060  1x 96 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x00
          bLockDelayUnits         0 Undefined
          wLockDelay         0x0000
dec@Ebony:~$

For the record, it's alone in it's usb port, no hubs or anything and no usb storage devices are in the pc at all. I can see it's clearly saying it's a mass storage device, and then saying it's a microphone. So that diagnostic hit the nail on the head.

It seems clear that linux is reading the first Interface Descriptor, and windows the second one.

mw.decavia · 02-27-2024, 04:07 PM

Your microphone appears to be supported by Alsa sound as of 2022
https://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=1...a73d860bf8e5c5

It is also not purely a microphone, from your lsusb it appears to be an entire (simple) sound card, with sub-devices for 2 sound channels and an onboard mixer, and onboard audio compression to offload some of the work of streaming. A web search suggests it may also have bluetooth receiving capability.

The "mass storage" descriptor appears possibly related to it transferring compressed audio in frames.

business_kid · 02-28-2024, 04:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mw.decavia

Your microphone appears to be supported by Alsa sound as of 2022
https://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=1...a73d860bf8e5c5

It is also not purely a microphone, from your lsusb it appears to be an entire (simple) sound card, with sub-devices for 2 sound channels and an onboard mixer, and onboard audio compression to offload some of the work of streaming. A web search suggests it may also have bluetooth receiving capability.

The "mass storage" descriptor appears possibly related to it transferring compressed audio in frames.

Thanks for your reply. I saw it there in your link. I don't know if we're talking about the same device. It doesn't seem to have support from alsa+pulse of 2024! It adds an unnecessary disk. The sales ad boasts none of the features you describe. If definitely doesn't provide a mixer. I can't even adjust the insufficient volume under pulse.

My model may be a cut down version. Mind you, if I met a microphone with all those bells & whistles, I wouldn't buy it.