PulseAudio is selecting the USB device for output because that's correct behaviour for USB speakers. And PulseAudio thinks the mic is a speaker because that's what ALSA seems to be telling it.
The real problem here is that the Linux kernel seems to be reporting the mic is an output device. Much like bug 1749207. ** Package changed: pulseaudio (Ubuntu) => linux (Ubuntu) ** Summary changed: - Ubuntu Budgie selects USB mic as default audio output after every reboot. + Linux reports Samson Meteor USB mic as an output device -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to pulseaudio in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1762725 Title: Linux reports Samson Meteor USB mic as an output device Status in linux package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: Whenever I reboot my system, pulseaudio selects my Samson Meteor USB mic as the default output device. I have to manually select the analog output every time. Also, the Default effect sound does not make any noise. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 18.04 Package: pulseaudio 1:11.1-1ubuntu7 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.15.0-13.14-generic 4.15.10 Uname: Linux 4.15.0-13-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.20.9-0ubuntu4 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC2: guru 2355 F.... pulseaudio /dev/snd/controlC1: guru 2355 F.... pulseaudio /dev/snd/controlC0: guru 2355 F.... pulseaudio CurrentDesktop: Budgie:GNOME Date: Tue Apr 10 08:54:30 2018 InstallationDate: Installed on 2018-04-07 (2 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu-Budgie 18.04 LTS "Bionic Beaver" - Beta amd64 (20180404) SourcePackage: pulseaudio UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 06/06/2017 dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc. dmi.bios.version: A.52 dmi.board.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M. dmi.board.name: B350M MORTAR ARCTIC (MS-7A37) dmi.board.vendor: MSI dmi.board.version: 2.0 dmi.chassis.asset.tag: To be filled by O.E.M. dmi.chassis.type: 4 dmi.chassis.vendor: MSI dmi.chassis.version: 2.0 dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrA.52:bd06/06/2017:svnMSI:pnMS-7A37:pvr2.0:rvnMSI:rnB350MMORTARARCTIC(MS-7A37):rvr2.0:cvnMSI:ct4:cvr2.0: dmi.product.family: To be filled by O.E.M. dmi.product.name: MS-7A37 dmi.product.version: 2.0 dmi.sys.vendor: MSI To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1762725/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp