USB Audio when using hdmi

[Rod2D2]

Please excuse me if this has been answered already. For those that have used USB audio as an alternative as @Wermy mentioned, can anyone tell me if the sound switches to the hdmi tv input when plugged in to a tv?

Also does it still work cutting the speaker sound to the headphones when they are plugged in? Is there any downside or features that are lost by using USB audio?

[Kilren]

Please excuse me if this has been answered already. For those that have used USB audio as an alternative as @Wermy mentioned, can anyone tell me if the sound switches to the hdmi tv input when plugged in to a tv?

Also does it still work cutting the speaker sound to the headphones when they are plugged in? Is there any downside or features that are lost by using USB audio?

The HDMI has priority, so when it is plugged in it will take over for audio source (volume is going through HDMI).

Headphones will not work while volume is being routed through HDMI.

Headphone/Speaker switch does work with the USB audio as long as it is wired correctly.
I don't think there are really any significant downsides. You'll actually get a higher quality sound rate since it is digital (however 8bit is still 8bit, so that is saying that the TV will look better since it is HD, even though you're watching a VHS. Sort of cancels each other out). The only possibly downside really is the use of another USB slot that could be used for something else (though, what is it that you're going to put there instead?).

I think it is a simpler install in the long run.

[Rod2D2]

Please excuse me if this has been answered already. For those that have used USB audio as an alternative as @Wermy mentioned, can anyone tell me if the sound switches to the hdmi tv input when plugged in to a tv?

Also does it still work cutting the speaker sound to the headphones when they are plugged in? Is there any downside or features that are lost by using USB audio?

The HDMI has priority, so when it is plugged in it will take over for audio source (volume is going through HDMI).

Headphones will not work while volume is being routed through HDMI.

Headphone/Speaker switch does work with the USB audio as long as it is wired correctly.
I don't think there are really any significant downsides. You'll actually get a higher quality sound rate since it is digital (however 8bit is still 8bit, so that is saying that the TV will look better since it is HD, even though you're watching a VHS. Sort of cancels each other out). The only possibly downside really is the use of another USB slot that could be used for something else (though, what is it that you're going to put there instead?).

I think it is a simpler install in the long run.

Thanks for the information. Have you been able to confirm that the audio definitely switches to the hdmi through a build of your own?

[Popcorn]

About HDMI taking over,i notice with my Pi Zero that it doesn't do this. I have reboot to go to HDMI. But on my Pi 2, I can hot plug in hdmi and it auto flips over. Anyone have this too?

[Kilren]

About HDMI taking over,i notice with my Pi Zero that it doesn't do this. I have reboot to go to HDMI. But on my Pi 2, I can hot plug in hdmi and it auto flips over. Anyone have this too?

I have the same issue. It does not do an auto switch, but needs a reboot to reprioritize (unlike the RPi2 or 3 that does switch). I don't think much of this problem though, because I don't have too many sudden changes desire to play it on TV or not.

[Rod2D2]

About HDMI taking over,i notice with my Pi Zero that it doesn't do this. I have reboot to go to HDMI. But on my Pi 2, I can hot plug in hdmi and it auto flips over. Anyone have this too?

I have the same issue. It does not do an auto switch, but needs a reboot to reprioritize (unlike the RPi2 or 3 that does switch). I don't think much of this problem though, because I don't have too many sudden changes desire to play it on TV or not.

So being set up with USB audio and booting up connected to hdmi the audio works on the hdmi input?

If that's the case then I'm ok with that. Like you mentioned I don't really see too many instances where I would have to make a sudden switch. It would be nice but I can live with that. I just don't want to lose the fully functional hdmi hookup in case I want to play on the tv with a ln external controller.

[Kilren]

So being set up with USB audio and booting up connected to hdmi the audio works on the hdmi input?

If that's the case then I'm ok with that. Like you mentioned I don't really see too many instances where I would have to make a sudden switch. It would be nice but I can live with that. I just don't want to lose the fully functional hdmi hookup in case I want to play on the tv with a ln external controller.

Right! You got it. If you boot up through HDMI, it will put it on the TV and push audio through HDMI. It doesn't switch if you unplug, you must reboot to make the switch (there might be a fix, but I don't figure it is worth the effort, it only takes a few seconds). If you boot up on the 3.5" display, it'll push audio through USB port.

[Rod2D2]

So being set up with USB audio and booting up connected to hdmi the audio works on the hdmi input?

If that's the case then I'm ok with that. Like you mentioned I don't really see too many instances where I would have to make a sudden switch. It would be nice but I can live with that. I just don't want to lose the fully functional hdmi hookup in case I want to play on the tv with a ln external controller.

Right! You got it. If you boot up through HDMI, it will put it on the TV and push audio through HDMI. It doesn't switch if you unplug, you must reboot to make the switch (there might be a fix, but I don't figure it is worth the effort, it only takes a few seconds). If you boot up on the 3.5" display, it'll push audio through USB port.

Sounds good. It's not a huge problem for me either but if anyone out there can figure it out please let us know how to do it.

[Fleder]

This command makes it easier to see what my actual output options are:

pacmd list-cards | grep output\:
That way of looking at the output of pacmd list-cards made me realize that the actual wording for my output is not output:hdmi-output but instead output:hdmi-stereo

This command is what worked for me:

pactl set-card-profile 0 output:hdmi-stereo
This is how I switched back to my laptop's internal speakers:

pactl set-card-profile 0 output:analog-stereo
This is how I changed the volume via command line:

amixer -D pulse sset Master 50%

Hope that helps.
You could put those each into a script and just execute when needed.