Fix: audio isolation via PULSE_SINK env var before QApplication

- Replace fragile PID-based PulseAudioIsolator class with module-level
  PULSE_SINK approach: create virtual null sink BEFORE QApplication()
  so Qt routes all audio there automatically
- Add verification that the monitor source actually exists before trusting it
- Add clear startup diagnostics (✓ confirmations for each step)
- get_audio_capture_source() now double-checks monitor still exists
- Fails loudly instead of silently falling back to default.monitor
- Remove threading import (no longer needed)
- Add atexit cleanup for virtual sink teardown

techdj_qt.py

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import requests
 import re
 import socketio
 import subprocess
-import threading
+import atexit
 from pathlib import Path
 import soundfile as sf
 
@@ -110,161 +110,147 @@ QSlider#crossfader::handle:horizontal:hover {
 """
 
 # --- AUDIO ISOLATION ---
-# PulseAudio virtual sink so streaming/recording only captures THIS app's audio,
+# We create a PulseAudio virtual null sink and set PULSE_SINK *before* Qt
-# not YouTube Music, Spotify, system sounds, etc.
+# initialises audio.  That forces ALL audio from this process to the virtual
+# sink automatically – no fragile PID-based routing needed.
+#
+# A loopback copies the virtual-sink audio back to the real speakers so the
+# DJ still hears their mix.  Streaming/recording capture from the virtual
+# sink's monitor, which contains ONLY this app's audio.
 
-class PulseAudioIsolator:
+_AUDIO_SINK_NAME   = "techdj_stream"
-    """Manages a PulseAudio/PipeWire virtual sink for app-only audio capture.
+_AUDIO_MONITOR     = f"{_AUDIO_SINK_NAME}.monitor"
+_audio_sink_module = None  # pactl module ID for the null sink
+_audio_lb_module   = None  # pactl module ID for the loopback
+_audio_isolated    = False # True when the virtual sink is active
 
-    Usage:
-        source = PulseAudioIsolator.acquire()   # "techdj_stream.monitor" or "default.monitor"
-        ...capture from `source`...
-        PulseAudioIsolator.release()
 
-    Reference-counted: the virtual sink stays alive until the last user releases it.
+def _cleanup_stale_sinks():
-    A loopback is created so the DJ still hears their mix through speakers.
+    """Remove leftover techdj_stream modules from a previous crash."""
-    """
-    _ref_count = 0
-    _sink_module_id = None
-    _loopback_module_id = None
-    _lock = threading.Lock()
-
-    SINK_NAME = "techdj_stream"
-
-    @classmethod
-    def acquire(cls):
-        """Create the virtual sink (if needed) and route app audio to it.
-        Returns the PulseAudio monitor source name to capture from."""
-        with cls._lock:
-            cls._ref_count += 1
-            if cls._ref_count == 1:
-                if not cls._create_sink():
-                    cls._ref_count -= 1
-                    return "default.monitor"
-            cls._route_app_audio(cls.SINK_NAME)
-            return f"{cls.SINK_NAME}.monitor"
-
-    @classmethod
-    def release(cls):
-        """Release the virtual sink. Removed when last user releases."""
-        with cls._lock:
-            cls._ref_count = max(0, cls._ref_count - 1)
-            if cls._ref_count == 0:
-                cls._destroy_sink()
-
-    @classmethod
-    def refresh_routes(cls):
-        """Re-route app audio (call periodically to catch new PulseAudio streams)."""
-        with cls._lock:
-            if cls._ref_count > 0 and cls._sink_module_id:
-                cls._route_app_audio(cls.SINK_NAME)
-
-    # -- internal helpers --
-
-    @classmethod
-    def _create_sink(cls):
-        try:
-            if not shutil.which("pactl"):
-                print("[AUDIO] pactl not found - cannot isolate audio")
-                return False
-
-            # Clean up any stale sinks from a previous crash
-            cls._cleanup_stale_sinks()
-
-            # Create a null sink dedicated to this app
-            result = subprocess.run(
-                ['pactl', 'load-module', 'module-null-sink',
-                 f'sink_name={cls.SINK_NAME}',
-                 f'sink_properties=device.description="TechDJ_Stream"'],
-                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
-            )
-            if result.returncode != 0:
-                print(f"[AUDIO] Virtual sink failed: {result.stderr.strip()}")
-                return False
-            cls._sink_module_id = result.stdout.strip()
-
-            # Loopback: route virtual-sink audio back to speakers so DJ can monitor
-            result = subprocess.run(
-                ['pactl', 'load-module', 'module-loopback',
-                 f'source={cls.SINK_NAME}.monitor',
-                 'latency_msec=50'],
-                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
-            )
-            if result.returncode == 0:
-                cls._loopback_module_id = result.stdout.strip()
-            else:
-                print(f"[AUDIO] Loopback failed (DJ may not hear audio): {result.stderr.strip()}")
-
-            cls._route_app_audio(cls.SINK_NAME)
-            print("[AUDIO] Virtual sink active - app audio isolated")
-            return True
-        except Exception as e:
-            print(f"[AUDIO] Virtual sink error: {e}")
-            return False
-
-    @classmethod
-    def _cleanup_stale_sinks(cls):
-        """Remove any leftover techdj_stream sinks from a previous crash."""
     try:
         result = subprocess.run(
             ['pactl', 'list', 'modules', 'short'],
-                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+            capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
         )
         for line in result.stdout.strip().split('\n'):
-                if 'module-null-sink' in line and cls.SINK_NAME in line:
+            if _AUDIO_SINK_NAME in line and (
-                    module_id = line.split()[0]
+                    'module-null-sink' in line or 'module-loopback' in line):
-                    subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', module_id],
+                mod_id = line.split()[0]
+                subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', mod_id],
                                capture_output=True, timeout=5)
-                    print(f"[AUDIO] Cleaned up stale sink module {module_id}")
+                print(f"[AUDIO] Cleaned up stale module {mod_id}")
-                if 'module-loopback' in line and cls.SINK_NAME in line:
-                    module_id = line.split()[0]
-                    subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', module_id],
-                                   capture_output=True, timeout=5)
-                    print(f"[AUDIO] Cleaned up stale loopback module {module_id}")
     except Exception:
         pass
 
-    @classmethod
+
-    def _destroy_sink(cls):
+def _setup_audio_isolation():
+    """Create the virtual sink and set PULSE_SINK.
+
+    **MUST** be called before QApplication() so that Qt's audio output
+    is automatically routed to the virtual sink.
+    """
+    global _audio_sink_module, _audio_lb_module, _audio_isolated
+
+    if not shutil.which('pactl'):
+        print('[AUDIO] pactl not found – audio isolation disabled '
+              '(install pulseaudio-utils or pipewire-pulse)')
+        return
+
+    _cleanup_stale_sinks()
+
+    # 1. Create null sink
+    r = subprocess.run(
+        ['pactl', 'load-module', 'module-null-sink',
+         f'sink_name={_AUDIO_SINK_NAME}',
+         f'sink_properties=device.description="TechDJ_Stream"'],
+        capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
+    )
+    if r.returncode != 0:
+        print(f'[AUDIO] Failed to create virtual sink: {r.stderr.strip()}')
+        return
+    _audio_sink_module = r.stdout.strip()
+
+    # 2. Loopback → real speakers so the DJ hears the mix
+    r = subprocess.run(
+        ['pactl', 'load-module', 'module-loopback',
+         f'source={_AUDIO_MONITOR}',
+         'latency_msec=50'],
+        capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
+    )
+    if r.returncode == 0:
+        _audio_lb_module = r.stdout.strip()
+    else:
+        print(f'[AUDIO] Loopback failed (DJ may not hear audio): {r.stderr.strip()}')
+
+    # 3. Verify the sink and its monitor actually exist
+    verify = subprocess.run(
+        ['pactl', 'list', 'sources', 'short'],
+        capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
+    )
+    if _AUDIO_MONITOR not in verify.stdout:
+        print(f'[AUDIO] ERROR: monitor source "{_AUDIO_MONITOR}" not found!')
+        print(f'[AUDIO] Available sources:\n{verify.stdout.strip()}')
+        # Tear down the sink we just created since the monitor isn't there
+        if _audio_sink_module:
+            subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', _audio_sink_module],
+                           capture_output=True, timeout=5)
+            _audio_sink_module = None
+        return
+
+    # 4. Force this process's audio to the virtual sink
+    os.environ['PULSE_SINK'] = _AUDIO_SINK_NAME
+    _audio_isolated = True
+    print(f'[AUDIO] ✓ Virtual sink "{_AUDIO_SINK_NAME}" active (module {_audio_sink_module})')
+    print(f'[AUDIO] ✓ Loopback active (module {_audio_lb_module})')
+    print(f'[AUDIO] ✓ PULSE_SINK={_AUDIO_SINK_NAME} — all app audio routed to virtual sink')
+    print(f'[AUDIO] ✓ Capture source: {_AUDIO_MONITOR}')
+
+
+def _teardown_audio_isolation():
+    """Remove the virtual sink (called at process exit via atexit)."""
+    global _audio_sink_module, _audio_lb_module, _audio_isolated
+    for mod_id in (_audio_lb_module, _audio_sink_module):
+        if mod_id:
             try:
-            cls._route_app_audio('@DEFAULT_SINK@')
+                subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', mod_id],
-        except Exception:
-            pass
-        for mid in (cls._loopback_module_id, cls._sink_module_id):
-            if mid:
-                try:
-                    subprocess.run(['pactl', 'unload-module', mid],
                                capture_output=True, timeout=5)
             except Exception:
                 pass
-        cls._sink_module_id = None
+    _audio_sink_module = None
-        cls._loopback_module_id = None
+    _audio_lb_module = None
-        print("[AUDIO] Virtual sink removed")
+    if _audio_isolated:
+        _audio_isolated = False
+        os.environ.pop('PULSE_SINK', None)
+        print('[AUDIO] Virtual sink removed')
 
-    @classmethod
+
-    def _route_app_audio(cls, target_sink):
+def get_audio_capture_source():
-        """Move this process's PulseAudio sink-inputs to *target_sink*."""
+    """Return the PulseAudio source to capture from.
-        pid = str(os.getpid())
+
+    If the virtual sink is active this returns its monitor; otherwise
+    falls back to default.monitor (which captures ALL system audio).
+    """
+    if _audio_isolated:
+        # Double-check the monitor source still exists (PipeWire can be fussy)
         try:
-            result = subprocess.run(
+            r = subprocess.run(
-                ['pactl', 'list', 'sink-inputs'],
+                ['pactl', 'list', 'sources', 'short'],
-                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5
+                capture_output=True, text=True, timeout=5,
             )
-            current_idx = None
+            if _AUDIO_MONITOR in r.stdout:
-            for line in result.stdout.split('\n'):
+                print(f'[AUDIO] Capturing from isolated source: {_AUDIO_MONITOR}')
-                s = line.strip()
+                return _AUDIO_MONITOR
-                if s.startswith('Sink Input #'):
+            else:
-                    current_idx = s.split('#')[1].strip()
+                print(f'[AUDIO] ERROR: {_AUDIO_MONITOR} disappeared! '
-                elif 'application.process.id' in s and current_idx:
+                      f'Available: {r.stdout.strip()}')
-                    m = re.search(r'"(\d+)"', s)
+        except Exception as e:
-                    if m and m.group(1) == pid:
+            print(f'[AUDIO] pactl check failed: {e}')
-                        subprocess.run(
+    print('[AUDIO] WARNING: virtual sink not active – capturing ALL system audio!')
-                            ['pactl', 'move-sink-input', current_idx, target_sink],
+    print('[AUDIO] The listener WILL hear all your system audio (YouTube, Spotify, etc).')
-                            capture_output=True, timeout=5
+    return 'default.monitor'
-                        )
+
-                    current_idx = None
+
-        except Exception:
+atexit.register(_teardown_audio_isolation)
-            pass
 
 
 # --- WORKERS ---
@@ -767,7 +753,6 @@ class RecordingWorker(QProcess):
     def __init__(self, parent=None):
         super().__init__(parent)
         self.output_file = ""
-        self._using_virtual_sink = False
         self.readyReadStandardError.connect(self.handle_error)
     
     def start_recording(self, output_path):
@@ -778,13 +763,8 @@ class RecordingWorker(QProcess):
             self.recording_error.emit("FFmpeg not found. Install with: sudo apt install ffmpeg")
             return False
         
-        print(f"[RECORDING] Starting: {output_path}")
+        source = get_audio_capture_source()
-        
+        print(f"[RECORDING] Starting: {output_path}  (source={source})")
-        # Acquire isolated audio source (virtual sink or fallback)
-        source = PulseAudioIsolator.acquire()
-        self._using_virtual_sink = (source != "default.monitor")
-        if not self._using_virtual_sink:
-            print("[RECORDING] WARNING: Using default.monitor - ALL system audio will be recorded")
         
         args = [
             "-f", "pulse",
@@ -802,15 +782,13 @@ class RecordingWorker(QProcess):
         return True
     
     def stop_recording(self):
-        """Stop the recording and release the virtual sink."""
+        """Stop the recording."""
         if self.state() == QProcess.ProcessState.Running:
             print("[RECORDING] Stopping...")
             self.write(b"q")
             self.waitForFinished(3000)
             if self.state() == QProcess.ProcessState.Running:
                 self.kill()
-        PulseAudioIsolator.release()
-        self._using_virtual_sink = False
     
     def handle_error(self):
         """Handle FFmpeg stderr (which includes progress info)"""
@@ -819,10 +797,10 @@ class RecordingWorker(QProcess):
             print(f"[RECORDING ERROR] {err}")
 
 class StreamingWorker(QThread):
-    """Streams this app's audio output to a server using Socket.IO.
+    """Streams this app's isolated audio output to a server using Socket.IO.
 
-    Uses PulseAudioIsolator to capture ONLY the DJ app's audio,
+    PULSE_SINK is set at startup so ALL audio from this process goes to the
-    not YouTube Music, Spotify, or other system sounds.
+    virtual sink automatically.  We just capture from its monitor here.
     """
     streaming_started = pyqtSignal()
     streaming_error = pyqtSignal(str)
@@ -834,7 +812,6 @@ class StreamingWorker(QThread):
         self.stream_url = ""
         self.is_running = False
         self.ffmpeg_proc = None
-        self._using_virtual_sink = False
 
     def on_connect(self):
         print("[SOCKET] Connected to DJ server")
@@ -861,11 +838,8 @@ class StreamingWorker(QThread):
 
             self.sio.connect(self.stream_url)
             
-            # Acquire isolated audio source (virtual sink or fallback)
+            source = get_audio_capture_source()
-            source = PulseAudioIsolator.acquire()
+            print(f"[STREAM] Capturing from: {source}")
-            self._using_virtual_sink = (source != "default.monitor")
-            if not self._using_virtual_sink:
-                print("[STREAM] WARNING: Capturing ALL system audio (pactl unavailable)")
             
             cmd = [
                 "ffmpeg",
@@ -884,7 +858,6 @@ class StreamingWorker(QThread):
                 cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.PIPE, bufsize=8192
             )
             
-            last_reroute = time.time()
             while self.is_running and self.ffmpeg_proc.poll() is None:
                 chunk = self.ffmpeg_proc.stdout.read(8192)
                 if not chunk:
@@ -892,11 +865,6 @@ class StreamingWorker(QThread):
                 if self.sio.connected:
                     self.sio.emit('audio_chunk', chunk)
                     
-                # Periodically re-route audio (handles new sink-inputs from track changes)
-                if self._using_virtual_sink and time.time() - last_reroute > 3:
-                    PulseAudioIsolator.refresh_routes()
-                    last_reroute = time.time()
-                    
         except Exception as e:
             self.streaming_error.emit(f"Streaming thread error: {e}")
         finally:
@@ -914,8 +882,6 @@ class StreamingWorker(QThread):
             try: self.ffmpeg_proc.terminate()
             except: pass
             self.ffmpeg_proc = None
-        PulseAudioIsolator.release()
-        self._using_virtual_sink = False
         if self.sio and self.sio.connected:
             try:
                 self.sio.emit('stop_broadcast')
@@ -2362,6 +2328,10 @@ class DJApp(QMainWindow):
         event.accept()
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
+    # Create virtual sink BEFORE QApplication so Qt's audio output
+    # is automatically routed to it via PULSE_SINK env var.
+    _setup_audio_isolation()
+
     app = QApplication(sys.argv)
     app.setApplicationName("TechDJ Pro")
     app.setDesktopFileName("techdj-pro")