Enable “StarLabs Mic (Processed)” (echo-cancel mic)

Overview

This guide helps you turn on echo cancellation by selecting the processed microphone input.

First: create the “StarLabs Mic (Processed)” device (one-time)

The “StarLabs Mic (Processed)” option will not appear until you create it with a PipeWire config file.

Step 1: Open Terminal

• Press Ctrl + Alt + T

Step 2: Create the config file

Copy/paste this whole block into Terminal:

mkdir -p ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d

cat > ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/99-starlabs-mic-processing.conf <<'EOF'
context.modules = [
    { name = libpipewire-module-echo-cancel
        flags = [ ifexists nofail ]
        args = {
            # Creates a virtual source that applies WebRTC processing.
            # Note: select this new source in your audio settings.
            aec.method = webrtc
            aec.args = {
                noise_suppression = true
                gain_control = true
                high_pass_filter = true
            }

            source.props = {
                node.name = "starlabs_mic_processed"
                node.description = "StarLabs Mic (Processed)"
                media.class = "Audio/Source"
            }

            capture.props = {
                node.name = "starlabs_mic_capture"
            }

            sink.props = {
                node.name = "starlabs_mic_sink"
                node.description = "StarLabs Mic (Processed Sink)"
                media.class = "Audio/Sink"
            }

            playback.props = {
                node.name = "starlabs_mic_playback"
            }
        }
    }
]
EOF

Step 3: Restart audio services

Copy/paste:

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Wait 5–10 seconds.

Step 2 (Recommended): Select it in GNOME Settings

1. Open Settings.
2. Click Sound.
3. Scroll to Input.
4. Select StarLabs Mic (Processed).

Important: Some apps pick their own microphone

Apps like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet may have a mic selector inside the app.

• If it still sounds wrong in the app, open the app’s Audio / Microphone settings.
• Select StarLabs Mic (Processed) there too.

Terminal fallback: set it as default with wpctl

Step A: Find the device ID

Run:

wpctl status

Look under Sources for StarLabs Mic (Processed) and note the ID number.

Step B: Set it as the default microphone

Replace <ID> with the number you found:

wpctl set-default <ID>

Troubleshooting

I don’t see “StarLabs Mic (Processed)” in Settings

1. Restart services again:

systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

2. Confirm the config file exists:

ls -l ~/.config/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/99-starlabs-mic-processing.conf

If that file is missing, the processed mic won’t appear.