When tf_linux64 is out of focus it produces high-pitch sound

[Holek]

As the title suggests, when playing TF2 on Linux, everything is fine with the sound, but when I move focus away from it, it works in the background just fine, but produces a faint high-pitch noise, that is really irritating on headphones.

I am running it from Public release via Steam launcher with these flags: -novid -windowed -noborder (no audio flags)

My software specs:

• Linux Mint 22.2 Cinnamon
• Cinnamon 6.4.8
• Kernel 6.8.0-87-generic
• X11

Sound info:

$ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 339
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: holek
Host Name: Minty
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.0.5)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: bluez_output.BC_87_FA_1A_D0_06.1
Default Source: alsa_input.usb-Sonix_Technology_Co.__Ltd._USB_2.0_Camera_SN0001-02.analog-stereo
Cookie: eef4:cc65

I've isolated it to be happening also only during any gameplay, so eg. it doesn't occur in the main menu after start or disconnecting from any server.

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Unfortunately I do not have any other system to test it, but I cannot recall that happening on a Windows build from about 2 years ago. If somebody would be inclined to check whether that's the case there, too, that'd be swell.

[DRUN-s]

I'll try to recreate that. Try going from PipeWire 1.0.5 to 1.4.8

Also I recommend these options : -high -novid -nojoy -windowed -noborder -nosteamcontroller -nohltv -particles 1 -console if you have two screens directly tell which one you prefer : -displayindex [0=1st screen 1=2nd screen]

[Holek]

Honestly, I'm glad I could've reported that before what has happened today:

I am not opening TF2 until next Scream Fortress!

I will try all the opts later, without the -displayindex, because I only have one monitor, but I doubt that would change anything. This seems like some PulseAudio internal nonsense with network packets or something. I'm neither well-equipped nor well-versed in debugging PulseAudio internals to find anything on my own. This bug might occur in other Source 1 games on Linux, but I won't be testing them either.

[Holek]

I've tested the flags you mentioned, @DRUN-s, no difference. When I focus out of the game during a match, the high-pitch sound persists. Environment hasn't changed, haven't updated pipewire, as I was too scared to bork my current setup. If it works out of the box, then it should work with that setting,m as long as it's a modern Debian distro, imo. Again, it does not happen with any other video game or app. It seems to be TF2-specific.