by ghmitch » Dec 3rd, '15, 03:06
I finally happened upon the solution to this mystery. Pulse Audio has a volume control application with five tabs. Two for record, two for playback, and one for applications. I have always been using the playback and record tabs. I really did not understand that application tab. But the application tab is key to getting all audio applications to work correctly. The record settings in PA are meaningless when applications are involved. PA is set up so each application has its own unique settings. So for video calling on Chrome, whether Facebook Messenger or Google Hangouts, you need to first make sure you have the PA volume control app up on the applications tab which will be blank. Then bring up Chrome and start your video call. When you start the video call, "Chrome" will immediately appear on the PA volume control application tab, and THAT is where you set your record levels. Default for Chrome is always mute, almost certainly for security reasons. Unmute record and magic will happen. After all these years I am still learning how PA works. I almost had udev figured out when systemd came along and now I am back to square one again. Our Linux devs just don't have any mercy on us old guys. LOL Always something new and improved and totally confusing.