Re: [PATCH v3 14/18] HID: steelseries: Add Bluetooth call audio ducking control

From: Bastien Nocera

Date: Tue Mar 03 2026 - 06:10:10 EST

On Fri, 2026-02-27 at 18:50 -0500, Sriman Achanta wrote:
> Expose Bluetooth call audio ducking behavior as a writable ALSA
> enumerated mixer control ("Bluetooth Call Audio Ducking"), with three
> options: off, lower game audio by 12 dB, or mute game audio entirely.

You probably want to explain what "call ducking" or even "Bluetooth
call ducking" is.

>
> On the Arctis Nova 7 Gen2, this setting is stored alongside inactive
> timeout and Bluetooth auto-enable in a dedicated device configuration
> block. The settings request is expanded to also send a 0x00/0xa0
> device
> query in addition to the existing 0x00/0x20 audio settings query.
>
> Signed-off-by: Sriman Achanta <srimanachanta@xxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> drivers/hid/hid-steelseries.c | 120
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++--
> 1 file changed, 114 insertions(+), 6 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/hid/hid-steelseries.c b/drivers/hid/hid-
> steelseries.c
> index 47ffec481571..bb9abbb0b6f8 100644
> --- a/drivers/hid/hid-steelseries.c
> +++ b/drivers/hid/hid-steelseries.c
> @@ -30,12 +30,14 @@
> #define SS_CAP_SIDETONE BIT(6)
> #define SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME BIT(7)
> #define SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER BIT(8)
> +#define SS_CAP_BT_CALL_DUCKING BIT(9)
>
> #define SS_QUIRK_STATUS_SYNC_POLL BIT(0)
>
> #define SS_SETTING_SIDETONE 0
> #define SS_SETTING_MIC_VOLUME 1
> #define SS_SETTING_VOLUME_LIMITER 2
> +#define SS_SETTING_BT_CALL_DUCKING 3
>
> struct steelseries_device;
>
> @@ -80,12 +82,14 @@ struct steelseries_device {
> struct snd_ctl_elem_id sidetone_id;
> struct snd_ctl_elem_id mic_volume_id;
> struct snd_ctl_elem_id volume_limiter_id;
> + struct snd_ctl_elem_id bt_call_ducking_id;
> u8 chatmix_chat;
> u8 chatmix_game;
> bool mic_muted;
> u8 sidetone;
> u8 mic_volume;
> bool volume_limiter;
> + u8 bt_call_ducking;
>
> bool bt_enabled;
> bool bt_device_connected;
> @@ -573,6 +577,9 @@ static int
> steelseries_arctis_nova_7_write_setting(struct hid_device *hdev,
> case SS_SETTING_VOLUME_LIMITER:
> cmd = 0x3a;
> break;
> + case SS_SETTING_BT_CALL_DUCKING:
> + cmd = 0xb3;
> + break;
> default:
> return -EINVAL;
> }
> @@ -883,15 +890,23 @@ static void
> steelseries_arctis_nova_7_gen2_parse_status(struct steelseries_devic
>
> static int steelseries_arctis_nova_7_gen2_request_settings(struct
> hid_device *hdev)
> {
> - const u8 data[] = { 0x00, 0x20 };
> + const u8 audio_data[] = { 0x00, 0x20 };
> + const u8 device_data[] = { 0x00, 0xa0 };
> + int ret;
>
> - return steelseries_send_output_report(hdev, data,
> sizeof(data));
> + ret = steelseries_send_output_report(hdev, audio_data,
> sizeof(audio_data));
> + if (ret)
> + return ret;
> +
> + msleep(10);
> +
> + return steelseries_send_output_report(hdev, device_data,
> sizeof(device_data));
> }
>
> static void steelseries_arctis_nova_7_gen2_parse_settings(
> struct steelseries_device *sd, u8 *data, int size)
> {
> - if (size < 4)
> + if (size < 5)
> return;
>
> switch (data[0]) {
> @@ -900,6 +915,9 @@ static void
> steelseries_arctis_nova_7_gen2_parse_settings(
> sd->sidetone = data[2];
> sd->volume_limiter = data[3];
> break;
> + case 0xa0:
> + sd->bt_call_ducking = data[4];
> + break;
> case 0x37:
> sd->mic_volume = data[1];
> break;
> @@ -909,6 +927,9 @@ static void
> steelseries_arctis_nova_7_gen2_parse_settings(
> case 0x3a:
> sd->volume_limiter = data[1];
> break;
> + case 0xb3:
> + sd->bt_call_ducking = data[1];
> + break;
> }
> }
>
> @@ -1025,7 +1046,8 @@ static const struct steelseries_device_info
> arctis_nova_5x_info = {
> static const struct steelseries_device_info arctis_nova_7_info = {
> .sync_interface = 3,
> .capabilities = SS_CAP_BATTERY | SS_CAP_CHATMIX |
> SS_CAP_SIDETONE |
> - SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME | SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER,
> + SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME | SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER |
> + SS_CAP_BT_CALL_DUCKING,
> .quirks = SS_QUIRK_STATUS_SYNC_POLL,
> .sidetone_max = 3,
> .mic_volume_max = 7,
> @@ -1036,7 +1058,8 @@ static const struct steelseries_device_info
> arctis_nova_7_info = {
>
> static const struct steelseries_device_info arctis_nova_7p_info = {
> .sync_interface = 3,
> - .capabilities = SS_CAP_BATTERY | SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME |
> SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER,
> + .capabilities = SS_CAP_BATTERY | SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME |
> SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER |
> + SS_CAP_BT_CALL_DUCKING,
> .quirks = SS_QUIRK_STATUS_SYNC_POLL,
> .mic_volume_max = 7,
> .request_status = steelseries_arctis_nova_request_status,
> @@ -1050,7 +1073,8 @@ static const struct steelseries_device_info
> arctis_nova_7_gen2_info = {
> .capabilities = SS_CAP_BATTERY | SS_CAP_CHATMIX |
> SS_CAP_MIC_MUTE |
> SS_CAP_BT_ENABLED |
> SS_CAP_BT_DEVICE_CONNECTED |
> SS_CAP_EXTERNAL_CONFIG | SS_CAP_SIDETONE |
> - SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME | SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER,
> + SS_CAP_MIC_VOLUME | SS_CAP_VOLUME_LIMITER |
> + SS_CAP_BT_CALL_DUCKING,
> .sidetone_max = 3,
> .mic_volume_max = 7,
> .request_status = steelseries_arctis_nova_request_status,
> @@ -1557,6 +1581,70 @@ static const struct snd_kcontrol_new
> steelseries_volume_limiter_control = {
> .put = steelseries_volume_limiter_put,
> };
>
> +static const char *const bt_call_ducking_texts[] = {
> + "Off",
> + "Lower Volume (-12dB)",
> + "Mute Game",
> +};
> +
> +static int steelseries_bt_call_ducking_info(struct snd_kcontrol
> *kcontrol,
> +     struct snd_ctl_elem_info
> *uinfo)
> +{
> + return snd_ctl_enum_info(uinfo, 1,
> ARRAY_SIZE(bt_call_ducking_texts),
> + bt_call_ducking_texts);
> +}
> +
> +static int steelseries_bt_call_ducking_get(struct snd_kcontrol
> *kcontrol,
> +    struct snd_ctl_elem_value
> *ucontrol)
> +{
> + struct steelseries_device *sd = snd_kcontrol_chip(kcontrol);
> + unsigned long flags;
> +
> + spin_lock_irqsave(&sd->lock, flags);
> + ucontrol->value.enumerated.item[0] = sd->bt_call_ducking;
> + spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sd->lock, flags);
> + return 0;
> +}
> +
> +static int steelseries_bt_call_ducking_put(struct snd_kcontrol
> *kcontrol,
> +    struct snd_ctl_elem_value
> *ucontrol)
> +{
> + struct steelseries_device *sd = snd_kcontrol_chip(kcontrol);
> + unsigned long flags;
> + u8 new_value;
> + int ret;
> +
> + new_value = ucontrol->value.enumerated.item[0];
> + if (new_value >= ARRAY_SIZE(bt_call_ducking_texts))
> + return -EINVAL;
> +
> + spin_lock_irqsave(&sd->lock, flags);
> + if (sd->bt_call_ducking == new_value) {
> + spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sd->lock, flags);
> + return 0;
> + }
> + spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sd->lock, flags);
> +
> + ret = sd->info->write_setting(sd->hdev,
> SS_SETTING_BT_CALL_DUCKING,
> +       new_value);
> + if (ret)
> + return ret;
> +
> + spin_lock_irqsave(&sd->lock, flags);
> + sd->bt_call_ducking = new_value;
> + spin_unlock_irqrestore(&sd->lock, flags);
> +
> + return 1;
> +}
> +
> +static const struct snd_kcontrol_new
> steelseries_bt_call_ducking_control = {
> + .iface = SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_IFACE_MIXER,
> + .name = "Bluetooth Call Audio Ducking",
> + .info = steelseries_bt_call_ducking_info,
> + .get = steelseries_bt_call_ducking_get,
> + .put = steelseries_bt_call_ducking_put,
> +};
> +
> static int steelseries_snd_register(struct steelseries_device *sd)
> {
> struct hid_device *hdev = sd->hdev;
> @@ -1644,6 +1732,21 @@ static int steelseries_snd_register(struct
> steelseries_device *sd)
> sd->volume_limiter_id = kctl->id;
> }
>
> + if (sd->info->capabilities & SS_CAP_BT_CALL_DUCKING) {
> + struct snd_kcontrol *kctl;
> + struct snd_kcontrol_new ducking_ctl =
> steelseries_bt_call_ducking_control;
> +
> + ducking_ctl.access =
> SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_ACCESS_READWRITE;
> + if (sd->info->capabilities & SS_CAP_EXTERNAL_CONFIG)
> + ducking_ctl.access |=
> SNDRV_CTL_ELEM_ACCESS_VOLATILE;
> +
> + kctl = snd_ctl_new1(&ducking_ctl, sd);
> + ret = snd_ctl_add(sd->card, kctl);
> + if (ret < 0)
> + goto err_free_card;
> + sd->bt_call_ducking_id = kctl->id;
> + }
> +
> ret = snd_card_register(sd->card);
> if (ret < 0)
> goto err_free_card;
> @@ -1677,6 +1780,7 @@ static int steelseries_raw_event(struct
> hid_device *hdev,
> u8 old_sidetone;
> u8 old_mic_volume;
> bool old_volume_limiter;
> + u8 old_bt_call_ducking;
> bool is_async_interface = false;
>
> if (hdev->product == USB_DEVICE_ID_STEELSERIES_SRWS1)
> @@ -1694,6 +1798,7 @@ static int steelseries_raw_event(struct
> hid_device *hdev,
> old_sidetone = sd->sidetone;
> old_mic_volume = sd->mic_volume;
> old_volume_limiter = sd->volume_limiter;
> + old_bt_call_ducking = sd->bt_call_ducking;
>
> if (hid_is_usb(hdev)) {
> struct usb_interface *intf = to_usb_interface(hdev-
> >dev.parent);
> @@ -1763,6 +1868,9 @@ static int steelseries_raw_event(struct
> hid_device *hdev,
> if (sd->volume_limiter != old_volume_limiter)
> snd_ctl_notify(sd->card,
> SNDRV_CTL_EVENT_MASK_VALUE,
>        &sd->volume_limiter_id);
> + if (sd->bt_call_ducking != old_bt_call_ducking)
> + snd_ctl_notify(sd->card,
> SNDRV_CTL_EVENT_MASK_VALUE,
> +        &sd->bt_call_ducking_id);
> }
>
> return 0;