Over a month after its previous 1.4.2 release, the PipeWire team announced the third bugfix update to the 1.4 series, v1.4.3, for this widely adopted Linux multimedia server that manages audio and video streams.
Among the standout improvements, PipeWire’s netjack2 implementation has seen significant fixes. The driver and manager roles, which had experienced issues in previous versions, have now been corrected, leading to more reliable network audio streaming.
MIDI data writing is also improved, with errors being handled more gracefully—a welcome change for users relying on complex MIDI setups. Additionally, the update refines UMP (Universal MIDI Packet) sysex handling.
At the core PipeWire level, the update introduces the ability for all commands to be directed to the node, unlocking the potential for sending custom commands and providing greater flexibility for developers and power users alike.
On the modules front, beyond netjack2 fixes, improvements to filter-graph state management within the filter chain translate to more stable and predictable audio processing chains.
The SPA (Simple Plugin API) component receives several targeted fixes as well. Among these, the default filter value is set correctly, the UMP program change conversion to MIDI 1.0 is fixed, and raw format buffer handling in v4l2 is optimized to avoid dropping important headers.
Furthermore, ALSA support sees enhancements, particularly around audio channel validation, helping to ensure more accurate audio device integration.
For users and developers who dig into diagnostics, the pw-mididump tool now correctly debugs UMP SysRT messages, making troubleshooting MIDI data flows easier.
Finally, JACK compatibility benefits from better handling of sysex messages in UMP format by appending converted MIDI1 sysex, which enhances interoperability in hybrid audio environments.
Refer to the changelog for more information about all changes in the new version.
