I have Roon Server installed on Linux and the client running on the same machine through Bottles. I’ve noticed that Roon’s volume is significantly higher than other audio sources on the same machine. My audio is going through a Scarlett Solo. I found that I can’t change the volume directly in the Roon client - it says “Volume control is fixed”. Why is this happening, and is there any way I can turn the volume of Roon down to match other audio sources?
The Scarlet’s Solo (audio interface) has hardware volume control (monitor), which cannot be controlled by software. When using Roon, you are most likely using Exclusive Mode whereas other software is probably using the software mixer, which has software volume control on the computer.
Yes, but I don’t see anything about fixed volume, even in advanced settings (also, weirdly, as soon as I open the device setup dialog, my mouse stops working until I unplug it and plug it back in).
Yes, but the Volume control setting is on “Device volume”, not “Fixed volume”. I tried toggling it to fixed and back, but no change in the volume pop-up. (Also, weirdly, as soon as I open the device setup dialog, my mouse stops working until I unplug it and plug it back in.)
Where is this setting controlled? I don’t find anything that sounds relevant in Roon’s audio settings.
You probably need to read the following help guide.
These are the audio settings for volume. As mentioned, you have hardware volume control only, so this means adjusting the monitor volume to the correct level. Fixed volume offers highest quality and delivers line level volume to the device.
This is defined by the audio device chosen in Settings → Audio.
Meaning since Roon recognizes my Scarlett Solo, it applies some defaults that I cannot change, which result in the volume being unchangeable in Roon?
I haven’t, but I’m doing that now, although I’m having a hard time - it seems there’s a conflict between Roon and any other application that wants to play audio. As soon as I play audio through some other application (e.g. Tauon, Firefox), Roon starts complaining that it can’t acquire the audio device or something. If I instead start playing on Roon first, then I’m unable to play audio from anything else - my system acts as if the Scarlett is unplugged until I reboot.
Roon needs to have exclusive mode to your DAC..so yes you cannot use your DAC multi-source at the same time. If you want to use Firefox, etc, you’d need to shut down Roon completely. That’s how Roon designed to work.
Even once I shut down the client, my sound device is still unavailable. Is that by design? I’m starting to think that maybe Roon isn’t for me. All I really wanted was a way to listen to my owned music as well as a streaming service on the same platform. I’m not especially interested in all the hi-fi/audiophile aspects.
Curious, have you downloaded the latest driver for it? That might help.
Hopefully someone that actual use this DAC in their system can help, or actual Roon help desk. I have UMC202HD similiar to your unit, but never tried to use it as DAC to listen to music. Sorry can’t help you further.
Good luck mon ami!
You mean driver for the Scarlett? No, I’ve never downloaded any driver for it since I switched to Linux.
You’d need to shut down the Roon server, not just the client.
Not exactly. The device advertises its capabilities over USB, and Roon adjusts the settings accordingly.
It’d be really helpful if you shared a screenshot of Settings —> Audio, and confirm the default audio device in Linux GUI.
Although this morning, I’m unable to replicate the issue with the audio device disappearing for other applications. I opened Roon, started a track, paused, then opened Tauon and started a track. That all went fine. When I went back to Roon (after closing Tauon) it also worked fine.
Something is off here. The Scarlett Solo is a USB device and should be listed under Settings → Audio. For example,…
… where StarBook is, in my example, HDA Intel PCH ALC269VB Analog, and the TANCHJIM Space identified as TANCHJIM-SPACE (a USB DAC.) Is desktop the USB interface and Scarlett Solo? It looks like HD-Audio Generic ALC897 Analog is the default PC audio device.
However, when plugging in a USB DAC, Ubuntu will make this the default audio output, which is likely why you are getting issues where Roon can’t acquire the audio device because the system has control. Therefore, under Ubuntu Settings → Sound, change the Output Device to Speakers - Built-in Audio.
Desktop is the zone.
My guess is that this is something to do with running the client in Bottles/wine.
Also, I’m on Arch so Ubuntu directions don’t apply.