diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback.yaml
index 7e3dfe64..cffd3d44 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config1"  # Test specific clips (e.g., "playback_config1 playback_config2" or "play_48KHz_8b_2ch"), default: playback_config1
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config01.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config01.yaml
index 577a1eba..416721fc 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config01.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config01.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config1"  # Test specific clips (Config01: 8KHz, 8-bit, 1ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config02.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config02.yaml
index 249feddf..e08f7617 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config02.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config02.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config2"  # Test specific clips (Config02: 16KHz, 8-bit, 6ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config03.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config03.yaml
index 7279d0b0..22f60d85 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config03.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config03.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config3"  # Test specific clips (Config03: 16KHz, 16-bit, 2ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config04.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config04.yaml
index e9f2c885..22f05f26 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config04.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config04.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config4"  # Test specific clips (Config04: 22.05KHz, 8-bit, 1ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config05.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config05.yaml
index 7716b672..9cae4313 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config05.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config05.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config5"  # Test specific clips (Config05: 24KHz, 24-bit, 6ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config06.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config06.yaml
index a479aa02..913823b5 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config06.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config06.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config6"  # Test specific clips (Config06: 24KHz, 32-bit, 1ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config07.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config07.yaml
index 012c3bd6..038557f7 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config07.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config07.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config7"  # Test specific clips (Config07: 32KHz, 8-bit, 8ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config08.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config08.yaml
index 140a72ac..9185a95b 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config08.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config08.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config8"  # Test specific clips (Config08: 32KHz, 16-bit, 2ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config09.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config09.yaml
index c22c05d3..c8ae0cd1 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config09.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config09.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config9"  # Test specific clips (Config09: 44.1KHz, 16-bit, 1ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config10.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config10.yaml
index 7b90852a..efab1a3b 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config10.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/AudioPlayback_Config10.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SINK_CHOICE: "speakers"  # Playback sink: speakers or null, default: speakers
   CLIP_NAMES: "playback_config10"  # Test specific clips (Config10: 48KHz, 8-bit, 2ch)
   CLIP_FILTER: ""  # Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/Read_me.md b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/Read_me.md
index 9cbf64b0..074ee2d0 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/Read_me.md
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/Read_me.md
@@ -2,12 +2,12 @@
 
 ## Overview
 
-This suite automates the validation of audio playback capabilities on Qualcomm Linux-based platforms running a Yocto-based Linux system. It supports both PipeWire and PulseAudio backends, with robust evidence-based PASS/FAIL logic, asset management, and diagnostic logging.
+This suite automates the validation of audio playback capabilities on Qualcomm Linux-based platforms. It supports PipeWire, PulseAudio, and direct ALSA backends with robust evidence-based PASS/FAIL logic, asset management, and diagnostic logging.
 
 
 ## Features
 
-- Supports **PipeWire** and **PulseAudio** backends
+- Supports **PipeWire**, **PulseAudio**, and direct **ALSA** backends
 - **10-clip test coverage**: Comprehensive validation across diverse audio formats (sample rates: 8KHz-48KHz, bit depths: 8b-32b, channels: 1ch-8ch)
 - **Flexible clip selection**: 
   - Use generic config names (playback_config1-playback_config10) for easy selection
@@ -59,10 +59,29 @@ The test suite includes 10 diverse audio clip configurations covering various sa
 
 Ensure the following components are present in the target Yocto build:
 
-- PipeWire: `pw-play`, `wpctl`
-- PulseAudio: `paplay`, `pactl`
-- Common tools: `pgrep`, `timeout`, `grep`, `wget`, `tar`
-- Daemon: `pipewire` or `pulseaudio` must be running
+- PipeWire: `pw-play`, `wpctl`
+- PulseAudio: `paplay`, `pactl`
+- ALSA: `aplay`, `amixer`, `alsaucm` when UCM is available
+- Common tools: `pgrep`, `timeout`, `grep`, `wget`, `tar`
+- Daemon: `pipewire` or `pulseaudio` must be running
+
+## Backend and Route Selection
+
+When no backend is requested, the suite uses automatic selection. A physical PipeWire audio sink uses `pw-play`, and a physical PulseAudio sink uses `paplay`. Dummy, null, monitor, and loopback PipeWire sinks are not accepted as speaker routes.
+
+If automatic selection finds no physical managed speaker sink, the suite probes direct ALSA playback. It selects an ALSA card and PCM from the available device inventory, applies only mixer controls exposed by that card, and runs `aplay -D <device>`. This supports the Shikra primary-MI2S, secondary-TDM, and codec-direct route capabilities without selecting a form factor or assuming card `0`.
+
+An explicit backend request is never replaced:
+
+- `--backend pipewire` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=pipewire` runs `pw-play` only and skips if PipeWire has no physical speaker sink.
+- `--backend pulseaudio` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=pulseaudio` runs `paplay` only and skips if no matching sink is available.
+- `--backend alsa` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=alsa` runs `aplay` with the discovered ALSA route.
+
+## Audio Remoteproc Preflight
+
+Before backend discovery, the suite enumerates runtime remoteprocs and checks the configured firmware and topology under `/lib/firmware` or `/usr/lib/firmware`. It recognizes audio DSP identities and the Shikra modem-hosted audio path. A remoteproc named `modem` is ignored on non-Shikra targets because it is not their audio preflight dependency.
+
+If the matching remoteproc is `running`, the suite records its name and firmware evidence. If it is `offline`, the suite starts it only after confirming the corresponding firmware is provisioned. Generic audio DSP paths also require adjacent topology evidence. Shikra's modem-hosted path does not require an adjacent topology file because its public image packages `qdsp6sw` modem firmware and `lpaicp` audio firmware separately. The suite never stops a remoteproc. Platforms with no applicable audio remoteproc continue normally. Provisioning or start issues produce a clean skip with the reason.
 
 ## Overlay Build Support
 
@@ -210,7 +229,7 @@ cd Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback
 
 Environment Variables:
 Variable	             Description	                                   Default
-AUDIO_BACKEND	         Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio	       auto-detect
+AUDIO_BACKEND	         Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa	       auto-detect
 SINK_CHOICE	             Playback sink: speakers or null	               speakers
 CLIP_NAMES               Test specific clips (e.g., "playback_config1 playback_config2")    playback_config1
 CLIP_FILTER              Filter clips by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "16b" or "2ch")          unset
@@ -235,7 +254,7 @@ LAVA_TESTCASE_ID         Unique testcase ID written into the .res file for LAVA
 
 CLI Options
 Option	                    Description
---backend	                Select backend: pipewire or pulseaudio
+--backend	                Select backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa
 --sink	                    Playback sink: speakers or null
 --clip-name <names>         Test specific clips using playback_config1-playback_config10 or descriptive names (space-separated)
 --clip-filter <patterns>    Filter clips by sample rate, bit rate, or channels (space-separated patterns)
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/run.sh b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/run.sh
index 09eaf806..ecd38e81 100755
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/run.sh
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioPlayback/run.sh
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ AUDIO_TAR_URL="${AUDIO_TAR_URL:-https://github.com/qualcomm-linux/qcom-linux-tes
 export AUDIO_TAR_URL
 
 # ------------- Defaults / CLI -------------
-AUDIO_BACKEND=""
+AUDIO_BACKEND="${AUDIO_BACKEND:-}"
 SINK_CHOICE="${SINK_CHOICE:-speakers}" # speakers|null
 FORMATS="" # Will be set to default only if using legacy mode
 DURATIONS="" # Will be set to default only if using legacy mode
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ PASSWORD=""
 usage() {
   cat <<EOF_USAGE
 Usage: $0 [options]
-  --backend {pipewire|pulseaudio}
+  --backend {pipewire|pulseaudio|alsa}
   --sink {speakers|null}
   --overlay
       On Debian, ensure the Qualcomm AudioReach package set and prepare the
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ case "$audio_prepare_rc" in
   0)
     ;;
   2)
-    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed; reboot required"
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed, reboot required"
     echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
     exit 0
     ;;
@@ -416,6 +416,11 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
   esac
 done
 
+# Preserve an explicit backend request. Automatic fallback is only appropriate
+# when backend selection was left in auto mode.
+AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED="$AUDIO_BACKEND"
+export AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED
+
 # Prepare only the Debian user capabilities required by the selected mode.
 # Explicit base ALSA playback needs group membership but no systemd user
 # manager. Overlay and managed backends require the user session.
@@ -478,7 +483,7 @@ if [ "$AUDIO_OVERLAY_REQUESTED" -eq 1 ]; then
     0)
       ;;
     2)
-      log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed; reboot required"
+      log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed, reboot required"
       echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
       exit 0
       ;;
@@ -493,12 +498,30 @@ elif [ "$SYSTEMD_AVAILABLE" -eq 1 ] &&
   # Preserve the existing native/Yocto validation path. Debian base mode uses
   # command-level user probes during backend discovery instead.
   if ! setup_overlay_audio_environment; then
-    log_warn "Existing overlay audio environment validation failed; continuing with backend recovery flow"
+    log_warn "Existing overlay audio environment validation failed, continuing with backend recovery flow"
   fi
 else
-  log_info "systemd not available; skipping legacy overlay environment check"
+  log_info "systemd not available, skipping legacy overlay environment check"
 fi
 
+# Start an image-provisioned audio remoteproc before backend and device
+# discovery. Platforms without an applicable remoteproc continue unchanged.
+audio_prepare_audio_remoteproc
+audio_remoteproc_rc=$?
+
+case "$audio_remoteproc_rc" in
+  0)
+    ;;
+  2)
+    log_info "Audio remoteproc preflight not applicable: ${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON:-no matching remoteproc}"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - audio remoteproc preflight failed: ${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON:-unknown remoteproc error}"
+    echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
+    exit 0
+    ;;
+esac
+
 if [ "$SYSTEMD_AVAILABLE" -eq 0 ]; then
   MINIMAL_RAMDISK_MODE=1
   export MINIMAL_RAMDISK_MODE
@@ -680,7 +703,7 @@ fi
 export AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED
 
 if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND" ]; then
-  if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe; then
+  if audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery; then
     AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
     AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
     export AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED
@@ -688,7 +711,7 @@ if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND" ]; then
   elif audio_playback_bootstrap_backend_if_needed; then
     AUDIO_BACKEND="$(audio_run_helper_as_test_user --require-session detect_audio_backend 2>/dev/null || echo "")"
     if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND" ]; then
-      if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe; then
+      if audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery; then
         AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
         AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
         export AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED
@@ -710,7 +733,7 @@ log_info "Using backend: $AUDIO_BACKEND"
 
 backend_ok=0
 if [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "alsa" ]; then
-  if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe; then
+  if audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery; then
     backend_ok=1
   fi
 else
@@ -738,7 +761,8 @@ if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ]; then
   fi
 fi
 
-if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
+if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+   [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
   if [ "$AUDIO_PLAYBACK_DEBIAN_ROOT_MODE" -eq 1 ]; then
     log_warn "$TESTNAME: backend not available ($AUDIO_BACKEND) - attempting user-service recovery"
   else
@@ -762,7 +786,7 @@ if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
 fi
 
 if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
-  if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe; then
+  if audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery; then
     log_warn "$TESTNAME: falling back to ALSA direct playback path"
     AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
     AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
@@ -781,7 +805,8 @@ fi
 case "$AUDIO_BACKEND" in
   pipewire)
     if ! check_dependencies pw-play; then
-      if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe && check_dependencies aplay; then
+      if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+         audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery && check_dependencies aplay; then
         log_warn "$TESTNAME: PipeWire playback utility missing - falling back to ALSA"
         AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
         AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
@@ -795,7 +820,8 @@ case "$AUDIO_BACKEND" in
     ;;
   pulseaudio)
     if ! check_dependencies paplay; then
-      if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe && check_dependencies aplay; then
+      if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+         audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery && check_dependencies aplay; then
         log_warn "$TESTNAME: PulseAudio playback utility missing - falling back to ALSA"
         AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
         AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
@@ -832,7 +858,8 @@ if [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pipewire" ]; then
     fi
 
     if ! audio_run_helper_as_test_user --require-session audio_pw_ctl_ok 2>/dev/null; then
-      if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe && check_dependencies aplay; then
+      if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+         audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery && check_dependencies aplay; then
         log_warn "$TESTNAME: falling back to ALSA direct playback path"
         AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
         AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
@@ -855,7 +882,8 @@ elif [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pulseaudio" ]; then
     fi
 
     if ! audio_run_helper_as_test_user --require-session audio_pa_ctl_ok 2>/dev/null; then
-      if audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe && check_dependencies aplay; then
+      if [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+         audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery && check_dependencies aplay; then
         log_warn "$TESTNAME: falling back to ALSA direct playback path"
         AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
         AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
@@ -888,15 +916,37 @@ case "$AUDIO_BACKEND:$SINK_CHOICE" in
     SINK_ID="null"
     ;;
   alsa:*)
-    audio_playback_alsa_prepare >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     if [ -n "${AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE:-}" ]; then
       SINK_ID="$AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE"
     else
       SINK_ID="$(audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink)"
     fi
+
+    audio_playback_alsa_prepare \
+      "$(audio_alsa_device_card "$SINK_ID")" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     ;;
 esac
 
+if [ -z "$SINK_ID" ] && [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+   [ "$SINK_CHOICE" = "speakers" ] &&
+   { [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pipewire" ] || [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pulseaudio" ]; }
+then
+  log_warn "$TESTNAME: no physical $AUDIO_BACKEND speaker sink found, probing direct ALSA playback"
+
+  if audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery; then
+    AUDIO_BACKEND="alsa"
+    AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED=0
+    export AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED
+
+    SINK_ID="$AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE"
+    log_warn "$TESTNAME: falling back to direct ALSA playback device: $SINK_ID"
+  else
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - no physical $AUDIO_BACKEND speaker sink and ALSA playback probe failed"
+    echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
+    exit 0
+  fi
+fi
+
 if [ -z "$SINK_ID" ]; then
   log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - requested sink '$SINK_CHOICE' not found for $AUDIO_BACKEND"
   echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
@@ -995,7 +1045,7 @@ if [ "$USE_CLIP_DISCOVERY" = "true" ]; then
     case_name="$(generate_clip_testcase_name "$clip_file" 2>/dev/null || true)"
     if [ -z "$case_name" ]; then
       case_name="$(printf '%s' "$clip_file" | sed 's/\.[Ww][Aa][Vv]$//' | tr ' /' '__')"
-      log_warn "Clip name not in expected format; using generic testcase name: $case_name"
+      log_warn "Clip name not in expected format, using generic testcase name: $case_name"
     fi
 
     # Resolve full path
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord.yaml
index bbe86a6d..c5835b55 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config1"  # Test specific configs (e.g., "record_config1 record_config2"), default: record_config1
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config01.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config01.yaml
index a515e079..40b4799c 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config01.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config01.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config1"  # Test specific configs (Config01: 8KHz, 1ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config02.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config02.yaml
index 2cb6596c..347c579c 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config02.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config02.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config2"  # Test specific configs (Config02: 16KHz, 1ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config03.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config03.yaml
index da1322a2..77696c5c 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config03.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config03.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config3"  # Test specific configs (Config03: 16KHz, 2ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config04.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config04.yaml
index ef03c996..0f7f8f36 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config04.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config04.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config4"  # Test specific configs (Config04: 24KHz, 1ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config05.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config05.yaml
index 107efbb0..48e8c6f0 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config05.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config05.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config5"  # Test specific configs (Config05: 32KHz, 2ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config06.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config06.yaml
index fa5ba18d..5021758a 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config06.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config06.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config6"  # Test specific configs (Config06: 44.1KHz, 2ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config07.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config07.yaml
index 0bcbed26..bd4705fc 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config07.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config07.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config7"  # Test specific configs (Config07: 48KHz, 2ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config08.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config08.yaml
index 75e04e7c..cb3c8cbc 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config08.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config08.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config8"  # Test specific configs (Config08: 48KHz, 6ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config09.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config09.yaml
index 921f2af2..99d4a845 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config09.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config09.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config9"  # Test specific configs (Config09: 96KHz, 2ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config10.yaml b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config10.yaml
index cffeaf24..6e2a7e27 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config10.yaml
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/AudioRecord_Config10.yaml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ metadata:
     - functional
 
 params:
-  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio, default: auto-detect
+  AUDIO_BACKEND: ""  # Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa, default: auto-detect
   SOURCE_CHOICE: "mic"  # Recording source: mic or null, default: mic
   CONFIG_NAMES: "record_config10"  # Test specific configs (Config10: 96KHz, 6ch)
   CONFIG_FILTER: ""  # Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch"), default: unset
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/Read_me.md b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/Read_me.md
index 43b918dc..62ff611f 100644
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/Read_me.md
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/Read_me.md
@@ -2,11 +2,11 @@
 
 ## Overview
 
-This suite automates the validation of audio recording capabilities on Qualcomm Linux-based platforms running a Yocto-based Linux system. It supports both PipeWire and PulseAudio backends, with robust evidence-based PASS/FAIL logic, asset management, and diagnostic logging.
+This suite automates the validation of audio recording capabilities on Qualcomm Linux-based platforms. It supports PipeWire, PulseAudio, and direct ALSA backends with robust evidence-based PASS/FAIL logic, asset management, and diagnostic logging.
 
 ## Features
 
-- Supports **PipeWire** and **PulseAudio** backends
+- Supports **PipeWire**, **PulseAudio**, and direct **ALSA** backends
 - **10-config test coverage**: Comprehensive validation across diverse audio formats (sample rates: 8KHz-96KHz, channels: 1ch-6ch)
 - **Flexible config selection**: 
   - Use generic config names (record_config1-record_config10) for easy selection
@@ -59,7 +59,25 @@ Ensure the following components are present in the target Yocto build:
 - PulseAudio: `parecord`, `pactl`
 - ALSA: `arecord`
 - Common tools: `pgrep`, `timeout`, `grep`, `sed`
-- Daemon: `pipewire` or `pulseaudio` must be running
+- Daemon: `pipewire` or `pulseaudio` must be running
+
+## Backend and Route Selection
+
+When no backend is requested, the suite uses automatic selection. A real PipeWire audio source uses `pw-record`, and a real PulseAudio source uses `parecord`. Camera, dummy, null, monitor, and loopback PipeWire nodes are not accepted as microphone sources.
+
+If automatic selection finds no physical managed microphone source, the suite probes direct ALSA capture. It selects a card and PCM from the available device inventory, applies only mixer controls exposed by that card, and runs `arecord -D <device>`. This discovers the VA-DMIC capture route from its controls without selecting a form factor or assuming card `0`.
+
+An explicit backend request is never replaced:
+
+- `--backend pipewire` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=pipewire` runs `pw-record` only and skips if PipeWire has no physical microphone source.
+- `--backend pulseaudio` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=pulseaudio` runs `parecord` only and skips if no matching source is available.
+- `--backend alsa` or `AUDIO_BACKEND=alsa` runs `arecord` with the discovered ALSA route.
+
+## Audio Remoteproc Preflight
+
+Before backend discovery, the suite enumerates runtime remoteprocs and checks the configured firmware and topology under `/lib/firmware` or `/usr/lib/firmware`. It recognizes audio DSP identities and the Shikra modem-hosted audio path. A remoteproc named `modem` is ignored on non-Shikra targets because it is not their audio preflight dependency.
+
+If the matching remoteproc is `running`, the suite records its name and firmware evidence. If it is `offline`, the suite starts it only after confirming the corresponding firmware is provisioned. Generic audio DSP paths also require adjacent topology evidence. Shikra's modem-hosted path does not require an adjacent topology file because its public image packages `qdsp6sw` modem firmware and `lpaicp` audio firmware separately. The suite never stops a remoteproc. Platforms with no applicable audio remoteproc continue normally. Provisioning or start issues produce a clean skip with the reason.
 
 ## Overlay Build Support
 
@@ -176,7 +194,7 @@ cd Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord
 
 Environment Variables:
 Variable	      Description	                                                  Default
-AUDIO_BACKEND	  Selects backend: pipewire or pulseaudio	                      auto-detect
+AUDIO_BACKEND	  Selects backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa	                      auto-detect
 SOURCE_CHOICE	  Recording source: mic or null                                   mic
 CONFIG_NAMES      Test specific configs (e.g., "record_config1 record_config2")   record_config1
 CONFIG_FILTER     Filter configs by pattern (e.g., "48KHz" or "2ch")              unset
@@ -194,7 +212,7 @@ LAVA_TESTCASE_ID  Unique testcase ID written into the .res file for LAVA
 
 CLI Options:
 Option	                      Description
---backend	                  Select backend: pipewire or pulseaudio
+--backend	                  Select backend: pipewire, pulseaudio, or alsa
 --source	                  Recording source: mic or null
 --config-name <names>         Test specific configs using record_config1-record_config10 or descriptive names (space-separated)
 --config-filter <patterns>    Filter configs by sample rate or channels (space-separated patterns)
diff --git a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/run.sh b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/run.sh
index f5999db7..37d59724 100755
--- a/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/run.sh
+++ b/Runner/suites/Multimedia/Audio/AudioRecord/run.sh
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ done
 export AUDIO_OVERLAY_REQUESTED
 
 # ---------------- Defaults / CLI ----------------
-AUDIO_BACKEND=""
+AUDIO_BACKEND="${AUDIO_BACKEND:-}"
 SRC_CHOICE="${SRC_CHOICE:-mic}" # mic|null
 DURATIONS="" # Will be set to default only if using legacy mode
 RECORD_SECONDS="${RECORD_SECONDS:-30s}" # DEFAULT: 30s; 'auto' maps short/med/long
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ case "$audio_prepare_rc" in
   0)
     ;;
   2)
-    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed; reboot required"
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed, reboot required"
     echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
     exit 0
     ;;
@@ -332,6 +332,11 @@ while [ $# -gt 0 ]; do
   esac
 done
 
+# Preserve an explicit backend request. Automatic fallback is only appropriate
+# when backend selection was left in auto mode.
+AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED="$AUDIO_BACKEND"
+export AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED
+
 case "$AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL" in
   auto)
     AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL="$STRICT"
@@ -339,7 +344,7 @@ case "$AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL" in
   0|1)
     ;;
   *)
-    log_warn "Invalid AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL='$AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL'; using 0"
+    log_warn "Invalid AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL='$AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL', using 0"
     AUDIO_RECORD_STRICT_SIGNAL=0
     ;;
 esac
@@ -438,7 +443,7 @@ if [ "$AUDIO_OVERLAY_REQUESTED" -eq 1 ]; then
     0)
       ;;
     2)
-      log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed; reboot required"
+      log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - AudioReach kernel package changed, reboot required"
       echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
       exit 0
       ;;
@@ -453,12 +458,30 @@ elif [ "$SYSTEMD_AVAILABLE" -eq 1 ] &&
   # Preserve the existing native/Yocto validation path. Debian base mode uses
   # command-level user probes during backend discovery instead.
   if ! setup_overlay_audio_environment; then
-    log_warn "Existing overlay audio environment validation failed; continuing with backend recovery flow"
+    log_warn "Existing overlay audio environment validation failed, continuing with backend recovery flow"
   fi
 else
-  log_info "systemd not available; skipping legacy overlay environment check"
+  log_info "systemd not available, skipping legacy overlay environment check"
 fi
 
+# Start an image-provisioned audio remoteproc before backend and device
+# discovery. Platforms without an applicable remoteproc continue unchanged.
+audio_prepare_audio_remoteproc
+audio_remoteproc_rc=$?
+
+case "$audio_remoteproc_rc" in
+  0)
+    ;;
+  2)
+    log_info "Audio remoteproc preflight not applicable: ${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON:-no matching remoteproc}"
+    ;;
+  *)
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - audio remoteproc preflight failed: ${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON:-unknown remoteproc error}"
+    echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" >"$RES_FILE"
+    exit 0
+    ;;
+esac
+
 # Minimal ramdisk detection and cleanup trap (kills any manually bootstrapped daemons)
 if [ "$SYSTEMD_AVAILABLE" -eq 0 ]; then
   MINIMAL_RAMDISK_MODE=1
@@ -582,7 +605,8 @@ else
   fi
 fi
 
-if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
+if [ "$backend_ok" -ne 1 ] && [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+   [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "alsa" ]; then
   if [ "$SYSTEMD_AVAILABLE" -eq 1 ] && [ "${AUDIO_SYSTEMD_MANAGED:-0}" -eq 1 ]; then
     log_warn "$TESTNAME: backend not available ($AUDIO_BACKEND) - attempting restart+retry once"
     audio_record_restart_backend_best_effort "$AUDIO_BACKEND" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
@@ -724,8 +748,9 @@ esac
 # default source when no concrete source was discovered. On systems without
 # a real capture source, this can record from dummy/null/default paths or fail
 # after creating empty files.
-if [ -z "$SRC_ID" ] && [ "$SRC_CHOICE" = "mic" ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pipewire" ]; then
-  log_warn "$TESTNAME: no concrete PipeWire mic source found; probing direct ALSA capture path"
+if [ -z "$SRC_ID" ] && [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+   [ "$SRC_CHOICE" = "mic" ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pipewire" ]; then
+  log_warn "$TESTNAME: no concrete PipeWire mic source found, probing direct ALSA capture path"
 
   if audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile; then
     ALSA_CAPTURE_PROBED=1
@@ -738,13 +763,14 @@ if [ -z "$SRC_ID" ] && [ "$SRC_CHOICE" = "mic" ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" = "pipewi
 
     log_warn "$TESTNAME: falling back to direct ALSA capture device: $SRC_ID"
   else
-    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - no real capture source available; PipeWire mic source missing and ALSA capture probe failed: ${AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON:-capture path unavailable}"
+    log_skip "$TESTNAME SKIP - no real capture source available, PipeWire mic source missing and ALSA capture probe failed: ${AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON:-capture path unavailable}"
     echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME SKIP" > "$RES_FILE"
     exit 0
   fi
 fi
 
-if [ -z "$SRC_ID" ] && [ "$SRC_CHOICE" = "mic" ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "pipewire" ]; then
+if [ -z "$SRC_ID" ] && [ -z "$AUDIO_BACKEND_REQUESTED" ] &&
+   [ "$SRC_CHOICE" = "mic" ] && [ "$AUDIO_BACKEND" != "pipewire" ]; then
   for b in $BACKENDS_TO_TRY; do
     [ "$b" = "$AUDIO_BACKEND" ] && continue
 
@@ -1667,4 +1693,3 @@ fi
 log_fail "$TESTNAME FAIL"
 echo "$RESULT_TESTNAME FAIL" > "$RES_FILE"
 exit 1
-
diff --git a/Runner/utils/audio_common.sh b/Runner/utils/audio_common.sh
index 21b72630..0c984fb9 100755
--- a/Runner/utils/audio_common.sh
+++ b/Runner/utils/audio_common.sh
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ audio_fetch_assets_from_url() {
       log_info "Already extracted. Skipping download."
       return 0
     fi
-    log_warn "Extraction marker present but runnable clips not found; continuing with download/re-extract path"
+    log_warn "Extraction marker present but runnable clips not found, continuing with download/re-extract path"
   fi
 
   while [ "$fetch_attempt" -le "$fetch_attempts" ]; do
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ audio_fetch_assets_from_url() {
       if curl -fL --retry 3 --retry-delay 2 --connect-timeout 20 -o "$archive_path" "$url" >"$fetch_log" 2>&1; then
         download_ok=1
       else
-        log_warn "curl download failed on attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts}; showing last lines from $fetch_log"
+        log_warn "curl download failed on attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts}, showing last lines from $fetch_log"
         tail -n 20 "$fetch_log" 2>/dev/null || true
       fi
     fi
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ audio_fetch_assets_from_url() {
         if wget --tries=3 --timeout=20 -O "$archive_path" "$url" >"$fetch_log" 2>&1; then
           download_ok=1
         else
-          log_warn "wget download failed on attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts}; showing last lines from $fetch_log"
+          log_warn "wget download failed on attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts}, showing last lines from $fetch_log"
           tail -n 20 "$fetch_log" 2>/dev/null || true
         fi
       fi
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ audio_fetch_assets_from_url() {
     fi
 
     if [ "$fetch_attempt" -lt "$fetch_attempts" ]; then
-      log_warn "Download attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts} failed; retrying after ${fetch_retry_delay}s"
+      log_warn "Download attempt ${fetch_attempt}/${fetch_attempts} failed, retrying after ${fetch_retry_delay}s"
       sleep "$fetch_retry_delay"
     fi
 
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ audio_ensure_clip_ready() {
     fi
     # Bring network up and retry once
     if ! ensure_network_online; then
-        log_warn "Network unavailable; cannot fetch audio assets for $clip"
+        log_warn "Network unavailable, cannot fetch audio assets for $clip"
         return 2
     fi
     if [ -n "$url" ]; then
@@ -552,6 +552,27 @@ audio_pipewire_systemctl() {
   return $?
 }
 
+# Prefer the invoking suite directory for test-owned scratch files. PWD covers
+# helpers re-sourced in a child shell where SCRIPT_DIR is not exported, while
+# AUDIO_RECORD_USER_CAPTURE_DIR provides the prepared Debian-user workspace.
+audio_scratch_dir() {
+  for asd_candidate in \
+    "${SCRIPT_DIR:-}" \
+    "${PWD:-}" \
+    "${AUDIO_RECORD_USER_CAPTURE_DIR:-}" \
+    "${LOGDIR:-}"
+  do
+    if [ -n "$asd_candidate" ] &&
+       [ -d "$asd_candidate" ] &&
+       [ -w "$asd_candidate" ]; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$asd_candidate"
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done
+
+  return 1
+}
+
 # Restart PipeWire through systemd and wait for the service state to settle.
 #
 # Service scope:
@@ -580,7 +601,12 @@ audio_restart_pipewire_service() {
   aprs_next_log=10
   aprs_scope="system"
   aprs_exec_text="systemctl restart pipewire"
-  aprs_output_file="${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/audio-pipewire-systemctl.$$.log"
+  aprs_output_dir="$(audio_scratch_dir 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$aprs_output_dir" ]; then
+    log_fail "No writable Audio scratch directory is available"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  aprs_output_file="$aprs_output_dir/audio-pipewire-systemctl.$$.log"
  
   case "${AUDIO_SYSTEMCTL_USER_SCOPE:-0}" in
     0)
@@ -601,7 +627,7 @@ audio_restart_pipewire_service() {
   fi
  
   if ! command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log_fail "systemctl is unavailable; cannot restart PipeWire"
+    log_fail "systemctl is unavailable, cannot restart PipeWire"
     return 1
   fi
  
@@ -842,21 +868,71 @@ pwctl_inspect_safe() {
 }
 
 # ---------- PipeWire: sinks (playback) ----------
+# Return success only for a physical PipeWire audio sink. Dummy, null, monitor,
+# and loopback sinks can accept streams without producing hardware audio.
+pw_sink_is_real_audio() {
+  psira_id="$1"
+
+  [ -n "$psira_id" ] || return 1
+
+  psira_inspect="$(pwctl_inspect_safe "$psira_id" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  [ -n "$psira_inspect" ] || return 1
+
+  if ! printf '%s\n' "$psira_inspect" |
+      grep -Eiq 'media[.]class[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*"Audio/Sink'; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  psira_label="$({
+    printf '%s\n' "$psira_inspect" |
+      grep -m1 -E 'node[.](description|name)[[:space:]]*=' |
+      cut -d'"' -f2
+  } 2>/dev/null)"
+
+  if printf '%s\n' "$psira_label" |
+      grep -Eiq '(^|[._ -])(null|dummy|monitor|loopback|freewheel)($|[._ -])'; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Prefer speaker or headphone sinks, then any physical audio sink. Do not use a
+# PipeWire dummy sink as a successful speakers route.
 pw_default_speakers() {
-  st="$(pwctl_status_safe 2>/dev/null)" || { printf '%s\n' ""; return 0; }
- 
-  _block="$(printf '%s\n' "$st" | sed -n '/Sinks:/,/Sources:/p')"
-  _id="$(printf '%s\n' "$_block" \
-        | grep -i -E 'speaker|headphone' \
-        | sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p' \
-        | head -n1)"
-  [ -n "$_id" ] || _id="$(printf '%s\n' "$_block" \
-        | sed -n 's/^[^*]*\*[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p' \
-        | head -n1)"
-  [ -n "$_id" ] || _id="$(printf '%s\n' "$_block" \
-        | sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p' \
-        | head -n1)"
-  printf '%s\n' "$_id"
+  st="$(pwctl_status_safe 2>/dev/null)" || {
+    printf '%s\n' ""
+    return 0
+  }
+
+  block="$(printf '%s\n' "$st" | sed -n '/Sinks:/,/Sources:/p')"
+  preferred_ids="$(
+    printf '%s\n' "$block" |
+      grep -Ei 'speaker|headphone|line[._ -]*out|analog|hdmi' |
+      sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p'
+  )"
+  all_ids="$(
+    printf '%s\n' "$block" |
+      sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p'
+  )"
+  checked_ids=""
+
+  for id in $preferred_ids $all_ids; do
+    case " $checked_ids " in
+      *" $id "*)
+        continue
+        ;;
+    esac
+
+    checked_ids="$checked_ids $id"
+
+    if pw_sink_is_real_audio "$id"; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$id"
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done
+
+  printf '%s\n' ""
 }
 
 pw_default_null() {
@@ -901,13 +977,76 @@ pw_set_default_sink() {
 }
 
 # ---------- PipeWire: sources (record) ----------
+# Return success only for a real PipeWire audio capture source. This prevents
+# camera nodes listed under a generic Sources section from being selected.
+pw_source_is_real_audio() {
+  psira_id="$1"
+
+  [ -n "$psira_id" ] || return 1
+
+  psira_inspect="$(pwctl_inspect_safe "$psira_id" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  [ -n "$psira_inspect" ] || return 1
+
+  if printf '%s\n' "$psira_inspect" |
+      grep -Eiq 'media[.]class[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*"Video/Source'; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if ! printf '%s\n' "$psira_inspect" |
+      grep -Eiq 'media[.]class[[:space:]]*=[[:space:]]*"Audio/Source'; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  psira_label="$({
+    printf '%s\n' "$psira_inspect" |
+      grep -m1 -E 'node[.](description|name)[[:space:]]*=' |
+      cut -d'"' -f2
+  } 2>/dev/null)"
+
+  if printf '%s\n' "$psira_label" |
+      grep -Eiq '(^|[._ -])(null|dummy|monitor|loopback)($|[._ -])'; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Prefer microphone-labelled audio sources, then any real audio source. Never
+# fall back to the first unclassified source because it may be a camera node.
 pw_default_mic() {
-  st="$(pwctl_status_safe 2>/dev/null)" || { printf '%s\n' ""; return 0; }
- 
+  st="$(pwctl_status_safe 2>/dev/null)" || {
+    printf '%s\n' ""
+    return 0
+  }
+
   blk="$(printf '%s\n' "$st" | sed -n '/Sources:/,/^$/p')"
-  id="$(printf '%s\n' "$blk" | grep -i 'mic' | sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p' | head -n1)"
-  [ -n "$id" ] || id="$(printf '%s\n' "$blk" | sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p' | head -n1)"
-  printf '%s\n' "$id"
+  preferred_ids="$(
+    printf '%s\n' "$blk" |
+      grep -Ei 'mic|microphone|capture|audio.*input' |
+      sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p'
+  )"
+  all_ids="$(
+    printf '%s\n' "$blk" |
+      sed -n 's/^[^0-9]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)\..*/\1/p'
+  )"
+  checked_ids=""
+
+  for id in $preferred_ids $all_ids; do
+    case " $checked_ids " in
+      *" $id "*)
+        continue
+        ;;
+    esac
+
+    checked_ids="$checked_ids $id"
+
+    if pw_source_is_real_audio "$id"; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$id"
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done
+
+  printf '%s\n' ""
 }
 
 pw_default_null_source() {
@@ -2550,7 +2689,377 @@ audio_should_use_service_recovery() {
   return 1
 }
 
+# Require an image-provided ALSA topology in the configured DSP firmware
+# directory or its platform parent. Some images keep a shared platform topology
+# above variant-specific firmware directories such as cqs, iqs, or cqm.
+audio_remoteproc_topology_path() {
+  artp_firmware_path="$1"
+  artp_firmware_dir="$(dirname "$artp_firmware_path")"
+  artp_platform_dir="$(dirname "$artp_firmware_dir")"
+
+  for artp_search_dir in "$artp_firmware_dir" "$artp_platform_dir"; do
+    for artp_path in \
+      "$artp_search_dir"/*tplg* \
+      "$artp_search_dir"/*topology*
+    do
+      if [ -f "$artp_path" ]; then
+        printf '%s\n' "$artp_path"
+        return 0
+      fi
+    done
+  done
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Return success for a remoteproc identity commonly used to host the audio
+# firmware. The caller applies the Shikra platform gate to modem instances.
+audio_remoteproc_is_audio_candidate() {
+  ariac_name="$1"
+  ariac_firmware="$2"
+  ariac_identity="$(
+    printf '%s %s\n' "$ariac_name" "$ariac_firmware" |
+      tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]'
+  )"
+
+  case "$ariac_identity" in
+    *qdsp6sw*|*mdsp*|*audio*dsp*|*adsp*|*modem*)
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      return 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+# Return success when the runtime remoteproc name identifies a modem-hosted
+# audio path. This is intentionally based on the name, never its index.
+audio_remoteproc_is_modem() {
+  arim_name="$1"
+  arim_name_lower="$(printf '%s\n' "$arim_name" | tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]')"
+
+  case "$arim_name_lower" in
+    *modem*)
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      return 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+# Return success when runtime platform evidence identifies a Shikra target.
+# The preflight runs before the suites call detect_platform, so inspect both
+# any already-populated platform variables and the standard runtime DT paths.
+audio_platform_is_shikra() {
+  apis_identity="${PLATFORM_MACHINE:-} ${PLATFORM_TARGET:-}"
+  apis_identity="$apis_identity ${PLATFORM_SOC_MACHINE:-}"
+  apis_identity="$apis_identity ${PLATFORM_DT_MODEL:-}"
+  apis_identity="$apis_identity ${PLATFORM_DT_COMPAT:-}"
+
+  for apis_file in \
+    /proc/device-tree/model \
+    /proc/device-tree/compatible \
+    /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/model \
+    /sys/firmware/devicetree/base/compatible
+  do
+    if [ -r "$apis_file" ]; then
+      apis_value="$(tr '\000' ' ' <"$apis_file" 2>/dev/null || true)"
+      apis_identity="$apis_identity $apis_value"
+    fi
+  done
+
+  apis_identity="$(
+    printf '%s\n' "$apis_identity" |
+      tr '[:upper:]' '[:lower:]'
+  )"
+
+  case "$apis_identity" in
+    *shikra*)
+      return 0
+      ;;
+    *)
+      return 1
+      ;;
+  esac
+}
+
+# Reorder an inventory so a modem-hosted audio path is considered before DSP
+# fallbacks. The caller still validates its firmware and topology, and no
+# remoteproc index is inferred or hardcoded.
+audio_remoteproc_prioritize_modem() {
+  arpm_instances="$1"
+
+  for arpm_pass in modem other; do
+    while IFS='|' read -r arpm_path arpm_name arpm_firmware arpm_state ||
+          [ -n "$arpm_path" ]
+    do
+      if audio_remoteproc_is_modem "$arpm_name"; then
+        if [ "$arpm_pass" != "modem" ]; then
+          continue
+        fi
+      elif [ "$arpm_pass" != "other" ]; then
+        continue
+      fi
+
+      printf '%s|%s|%s|%s\n' \
+        "$arpm_path" \
+        "$arpm_name" \
+        "$arpm_firmware" \
+        "$arpm_state"
+    done <<EOF
+$arpm_instances
+EOF
+  done
+}
+
+# Check the audio-bearing remoteproc before audio tests begin. A matching
+# remoteproc needs image-provided firmware and topology evidence before an
+# offline instance is started. Return 2 when no applicable remoteproc exists.
+audio_prepare_audio_remoteproc() {
+  AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON=""
+  AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED=0
+  export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED
+  arpr_matched=0
+
+  if ! command -v list_remoteproc_instances >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
+     ! command -v find_image_firmware >/dev/null 2>&1 ||
+     ! command -v start_remoteproc >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="remoteproc helpers are unavailable"
+    export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+    return 2
+  fi
+
+  arpr_instances="$(list_remoteproc_instances 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$arpr_instances" ]; then
+    AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="no runtime remoteproc instances are exposed"
+    export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+    return 2
+  fi
+
+  arpr_instances="$(audio_remoteproc_prioritize_modem "$arpr_instances")"
+
+  while IFS='|' read -r arpr_path arpr_name arpr_firmware arpr_state ||
+        [ -n "$arpr_path" ]
+  do
+    arpr_is_shikra_modem=0
+
+    if ! audio_remoteproc_is_audio_candidate "$arpr_name" "$arpr_firmware"; then
+      continue
+    fi
+
+    # The modem-hosted audio remoteproc is a Shikra-specific path. Other
+    # platforms can expose a modem remoteproc without provisioning Shikra
+    # audio firmware, which must not block their normal audio validation.
+    if audio_remoteproc_is_modem "$arpr_name" &&
+       ! audio_platform_is_shikra; then
+      continue
+    fi
+    if audio_remoteproc_is_modem "$arpr_name"; then
+      arpr_is_shikra_modem=1
+    fi
+
+    arpr_matched=1
+    arpr_firmware_path="$(
+      find_image_firmware "$arpr_firmware" 2>/dev/null || true
+    )"
+    if [ -z "$arpr_firmware_path" ]; then
+      AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="audio remoteproc firmware is not provisioned: name='$arpr_name' firmware='$arpr_firmware'"
+      continue
+    fi
+
+    if [ "$arpr_is_shikra_modem" -eq 1 ]; then
+      # Public Shikra images package qdsp6sw as modem firmware and lpaicp as
+      # separate audio firmware. They do not provide an ALSA topology beside
+      # qdsp6sw, so firmware presence is the correct startup prerequisite.
+      arpr_topology_path="not-required"
+    else
+      arpr_topology_path="$(
+        audio_remoteproc_topology_path "$arpr_firmware_path" 2>/dev/null || true
+      )"
+      if [ -z "$arpr_topology_path" ]; then
+        AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="audio topology is not provisioned for firmware '$arpr_firmware_path'"
+        continue
+      fi
+    fi
+
+    case "$arpr_state" in
+      running)
+        log_info "Audio remoteproc ready: name='$arpr_name' state=running firmware='$arpr_firmware_path' topology='$arpr_topology_path'"
+        AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON=""
+        export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+        return 0
+        ;;
+      offline)
+        log_info "Starting offline audio remoteproc: name='$arpr_name' path='$arpr_path' firmware='$arpr_firmware_path' topology='$arpr_topology_path'"
+        if start_remoteproc "$arpr_path"; then
+          log_info "Audio remoteproc started: name='$arpr_name' path='$arpr_path'"
+          AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON=""
+          AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED=1
+          export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED
+          export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+          return 0
+        fi
+        AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="failed to start audio remoteproc: name='$arpr_name' path='$arpr_path'"
+        ;;
+      *)
+        AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="audio remoteproc is in unexpected state '$arpr_state': name='$arpr_name' path='$arpr_path'"
+        ;;
+    esac
+  done <<EOF
+$arpr_instances
+EOF
+
+  if [ "$arpr_matched" -eq 0 ]; then
+    AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON="no applicable audio remoteproc was identified"
+    export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+    return 2
+  fi
+
+  export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON
+  export AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Reuse the shared remoteproc preflight when a later ALSA probe needs a retry.
+# Success is reported only when this call started the offline remoteproc.
+audio_recover_offline_dsp() {
+  audio_prepare_audio_remoteproc
+  ard_rc=$?
+
+  if [ "$ard_rc" -eq 0 ] && [ "${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_STARTED:-0}" -eq 1 ]; then
+    AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON=""
+    export AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [ "$ard_rc" -eq 0 ]; then
+    AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON="audio remoteproc is already running"
+  else
+    AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON="${AUDIO_REMOTE_PROC_REASON:-no offline audio remoteproc was identified}"
+  fi
+
+  export AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Return success when an exact mixer control is exposed by the selected card.
+audio_alsa_control_exists() {
+  aace_card="$1"
+  aace_name="$2"
+
+  command -v amixer >/dev/null 2>&1 || return 1
+
+  amixer -c "$aace_card" controls 2>/dev/null |
+    grep -F "name='$aace_name'" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+# Set an optional mixer control without assuming that every platform has it.
+audio_alsa_set_control_if_present() {
+  aascip_card="$1"
+  aascip_name="$2"
+  aascip_value="$3"
+
+  if ! audio_alsa_control_exists "$aascip_card" "$aascip_name"; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  amixer -c "$aascip_card" \
+    cset "iface=MIXER,name=$aascip_name" "$aascip_value" >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+# List unique ALSA card indexes from procfs and the playback/capture inventories.
+audio_alsa_card_indexes() {
+  {
+    sed -n 's/^[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\)[[:space:]].*/\1/p' \
+      /proc/asound/cards 2>/dev/null
+    aplay -l 2>/dev/null |
+      sed -n 's/^card[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\):.*/\1/p'
+    arecord -l 2>/dev/null |
+      sed -n 's/^card[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\):.*/\1/p'
+  } | awk '!seen[$0]++'
+}
+
+# Extract the card index from an hw:CARD,DEV or plughw:CARD,DEV identifier.
+audio_alsa_device_card() {
+  printf '%s\n' "$1" |
+    sed -n 's/^\(plug\)\{0,1\}hw:\([0-9][0-9]*\),.*/\2/p'
+}
+
+# Return success after ALSA exposes at least one hardware capture PCM.
+audio_alsa_capture_inventory_available() {
+  if command -v arecord >/dev/null 2>&1 &&
+     arecord -l 2>/dev/null |
+       grep -E '^card[[:space:]]+[0-9]+:.*device[[:space:]]+[0-9]+:' \
+         >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if grep -E '^[0-9]+-[0-9]+:.*capture' /proc/asound/pcm \
+      >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Classify the playback route by mixer capabilities instead of platform names.
+# The profile controls both mixer preparation and preferred PCM selection.
+audio_alsa_playback_profile() {
+  aapp_card="$1"
+
+  if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+      "$aapp_card" "PRIMARY_MI2S_RX Audio Mixer MultiMedia1"; then
+    if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+        "$aapp_card" "Left Speaker Mixer Left DAC Switch" ||
+       audio_alsa_control_exists \
+        "$aapp_card" "Playback Path DC Blocking"; then
+      printf '%s\n' "primary-mi2s"
+      return 0
+    fi
+
+    printf '%s\n' "legacy-primary"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+      "$aapp_card" "SECONDARY_TDM_RX_0 Audio Mixer MultiMedia1"; then
+    printf '%s\n' "secondary-tdm"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if audio_alsa_control_exists "$aapp_card" "Rx Slot Mask"; then
+    printf '%s\n' "codec-direct"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+      "$aapp_card" "stream0.vol_ctrl0 MultiMedia1 Playback Volu"; then
+    printf '%s\n' "legacy-primary"
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  printf '%s\n' "generic"
+}
+
+# Find the first card exposing a recognized hardware playback route.
+audio_alsa_find_playback_card() {
+  for aafpc_card in $(audio_alsa_card_indexes); do
+    aafpc_profile="$(audio_alsa_playback_profile "$aafpc_card")"
+    if [ "$aafpc_profile" != "generic" ]; then
+      printf '%s\n' "$aafpc_card"
+      return 0
+    fi
+  done
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Enable UCM first, then apply only mixer controls present for the detected
+# primary-MI2S, secondary-TDM, codec-direct, or legacy playback path.
 audio_playback_alsa_prepare() {
+  ap_card="${1:-}"
+  ap_profile=""
   ap_ucm_card=""
 
   if [ "${SINK_CHOICE:-speakers}" = "null" ]; then
@@ -2569,20 +3078,88 @@ EOF
     fi
   fi
 
-  if command -v amixer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    if amixer -c 0 scontrols 2>/dev/null | grep -F "PRIMARY_MI2S_RX Audio Mixer MultiMedia1" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      amixer -c 0 cset name='PRIMARY_MI2S_RX Audio Mixer MultiMedia1' 1 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  if ! command -v amixer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [ -z "$ap_card" ]; then
+    ap_card="$(audio_alsa_find_playback_card 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  fi
+  if [ -z "$ap_card" ]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  ap_profile="$(audio_alsa_playback_profile "$ap_card")"
+
+  case "$ap_profile" in
+    primary-mi2s)
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Left Speaker Mixer Left DAC Switch" on || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Right Speaker Mixer Right DAC Switch" on || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Left Switch" on || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Right Switch" on || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Switch" on || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Volume" 10 || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Left Mixer Volume" 3 || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Right Mixer Volume" 3 || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Playback Path DC Blocking" 1 || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "PRIMARY_MI2S_RX Audio Mixer MultiMedia1" 1 || true
+      ;;
+    secondary-tdm)
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "SECONDARY_TDM_RX_0 Audio Mixer MultiMedia1" 1 || true
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "stream0.vol_ctrl0 MM1 Playback Volume" 65535 || true
+      ;;
+    legacy-primary)
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "PRIMARY_MI2S_RX Audio Mixer MultiMedia1" 1 || true
+      ;;
+  esac
+
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ap_card" "stream0.vol_ctrl0 MultiMedia1 Playback Volu" 65535 || true
+
+  if [ "$ap_profile" != "primary-mi2s" ]; then
+    audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+      "$ap_card" "Rx Slot Mask" 3 || true
+
+    if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+        "$ap_card" "SA1 FU21 Stereo Gain Offset dB"; then
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "SA1 FU21 Stereo Gain Offset dB" 72 || true
+    else
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Speaker Volume" 72 || true
     fi
-    if amixer -c 0 scontrols 2>/dev/null | grep -F "stream0.vol_ctrl0 MultiMedia1 Playback Volu" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      amixer -c 0 cset name='stream0.vol_ctrl0 MultiMedia1 Playback Volu' 65535 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
+    if audio_alsa_control_exists "$ap_card" "OT23 Usage Mode"; then
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "OT23 Usage Mode" 3 || true
+    else
+      audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+        "$ap_card" "Usage Mode" 3 || true
     fi
   fi
 
   return 0
 }
 
+# Prefer the PCM associated with a detected hardware route, then retain the
+# existing default, sysdefault, and first-device fallback order.
 audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink() {
   ap_dev=""
+  ap_card=""
+  ap_profile="generic"
 
   if [ "${SINK_CHOICE:-speakers}" = "null" ]; then
     echo "null"
@@ -2590,6 +3167,28 @@ audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink() {
   fi
 
   if command -v aplay >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    ap_card="$(audio_alsa_find_playback_card 2>/dev/null || true)"
+    if [ -n "$ap_card" ]; then
+      ap_profile="$(audio_alsa_playback_profile "$ap_card")"
+
+      case "$ap_profile" in
+        primary-mi2s|secondary-tdm)
+          if aplay -l 2>/dev/null |
+              grep -E "^card[[:space:]]+$ap_card:.*device[[:space:]]+0:" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            printf '%s\n' "plughw:$ap_card,0"
+            return 0
+          fi
+          ;;
+        codec-direct)
+          if aplay -l 2>/dev/null |
+              grep -E "^card[[:space:]]+$ap_card:.*device[[:space:]]+2:" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+            printf '%s\n' "plughw:$ap_card,2"
+            return 0
+          fi
+          ;;
+      esac
+    fi
+
     ap_dev="$(aplay -L 2>/dev/null | awk '/^default:CARD=/{print $1; exit}')"
     if [ -n "$ap_dev" ]; then
       echo "$ap_dev"
@@ -2613,13 +3212,15 @@ audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink() {
   return 1
 }
 
+# Prepare the selected card before verifying that its playback PCM can open.
 audio_playback_alsa_probe() {
   ap_probe_dev="$(audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink)"
   if [ -z "$ap_probe_dev" ]; then
     return 1
   fi
 
-  audio_playback_alsa_prepare >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  ap_probe_card="$(audio_alsa_device_card "$ap_probe_dev")"
+  audio_playback_alsa_prepare "$ap_probe_card" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 
   if audio_exec_with_timeout 5s aplay -D "$ap_probe_dev" -t raw -f S16_LE -r 48000 -c 2 -d 1 /dev/zero >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE="$ap_probe_dev"
@@ -2630,7 +3231,93 @@ audio_playback_alsa_probe() {
   return 1
 }
 
+# Print the successfully probed ALSA playback device for propagation from a
+# Debian Audio-user subprocess back into the root orchestrator.
+audio_playback_alsa_probe_device() {
+  if ! audio_playback_alsa_probe; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  printf '%s\n' "$AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE"
+}
+
+# Return success after ALSA exposes at least one hardware playback PCM.
+audio_alsa_playback_inventory_available() {
+  if command -v aplay >/dev/null 2>&1 &&
+     aplay -l 2>/dev/null |
+       grep -E '^card[[:space:]]+[0-9]+:.*device[[:space:]]+[0-9]+:' \
+         >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if grep -E '^[0-9]+-[0-9]+:.*playback' /proc/asound/pcm \
+      >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  return 1
+}
+
+# Probe direct ALSA playback in the prepared user context. When no playback PCM
+# exists, root may start one fully provisioned offline audio DSP and retry.
+audio_playback_probe_alsa_with_recovery() {
+  appawr_output="$(
+    audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe_device 2>/dev/null
+  )"
+  appawr_rc=$?
+
+  if [ "$appawr_rc" -eq 0 ] && [ -n "$appawr_output" ]; then
+    AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE="$(printf '%s\n' "$appawr_output" | tail -n 1)"
+    export AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  appawr_candidate="$(
+    audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_pick_alsa_sink 2>/dev/null || true
+  )"
+  if [ -n "$appawr_candidate" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if [ "$(id -u 2>/dev/null || echo 1)" -ne 0 ] ||
+     [ "${AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED:-0}" -eq 1 ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED=1
+  export AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED
+
+  if ! audio_recover_offline_dsp; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  appawr_wait=0
+  while [ "$appawr_wait" -lt 10 ]; do
+    if audio_alsa_playback_inventory_available; then
+      break
+    fi
+
+    sleep 1
+    appawr_wait=$((appawr_wait + 1))
+  done
+
+  appawr_output="$(
+    audio_run_helper_as_test_user audio_playback_alsa_probe_device 2>/dev/null
+  )"
+  appawr_rc=$?
+
+  if [ "$appawr_rc" -ne 0 ] || [ -z "$appawr_output" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE="$(printf '%s\n' "$appawr_output" | tail -n 1)"
+  export AUDIO_ALSA_PLAYBACK_DEVICE
+  return 0
+}
+
+# Enable UCM first, then configure any exposed VA-DMIC or legacy capture route.
 audio_record_alsa_prepare_capture() {
+  ar_card="${1:-}"
   ar_ucm_card=""
 
   if command -v alsaucm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -2645,19 +3332,64 @@ EOF
     fi
   fi
 
-  if command -v amixer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    if amixer -c 0 scontrols 2>/dev/null | grep -F "MultiMedia2 Mixer TERTIARY_MI2S_TX" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      amixer -c 0 cset name='MultiMedia2 Mixer TERTIARY_MI2S_TX' 1 >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    fi
+  if ! command -v amixer >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
   fi
 
+  if [ -z "$ar_card" ]; then
+    for ar_candidate_card in $(audio_alsa_card_indexes); do
+      if audio_alsa_control_exists "$ar_candidate_card" "VA DEC0 MUX" ||
+         audio_alsa_control_exists \
+          "$ar_candidate_card" "MultiMedia2 Mixer TERTIARY_MI2S_TX"; then
+        ar_card="$ar_candidate_card"
+        break
+      fi
+    done
+  fi
+  if [ -z "$ar_card" ]; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "VA DEC0 MUX" "VA_DMIC" || true
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "VA DMIC MUX0" "DMIC0" || true
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "VA_AIF1_CAP Mixer DEC0" 1 || true
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "VA_DEC0 Volume" 100 || true
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "MultiMedia3 Mixer VA_CODEC_DMA_TX_0" 1 || true
+  audio_alsa_set_control_if_present \
+    "$ar_card" "MultiMedia2 Mixer TERTIARY_MI2S_TX" 1 || true
+
   return 0
 }
 
+# Prefer the capture PCM implied by the available VA DMA controls, falling back
+# to the first ALSA capture device for platforms with other routing schemes.
 audio_record_pick_alsa_capture() {
   ar_dev=""
+  ar_card=""
 
   if command -v arecord >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    for ar_card in $(audio_alsa_card_indexes); do
+      if audio_alsa_control_exists \
+          "$ar_card" "MultiMedia3 Mixer VA_CODEC_DMA_TX_0"; then
+        if arecord -l 2>/dev/null |
+            grep -E "^card[[:space:]]+$ar_card:.*device[[:space:]]+2:" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+          printf '%s\n' "plughw:$ar_card,2"
+          return 0
+        fi
+      elif audio_alsa_control_exists "$ar_card" "VA DEC0 MUX"; then
+        if arecord -l 2>/dev/null |
+            grep -E "^card[[:space:]]+$ar_card:.*device[[:space:]]+3:" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+          printf '%s\n' "plughw:$ar_card,3"
+          return 0
+        fi
+      fi
+    done
+
     ar_dev="$(arecord -l 2>/dev/null | sed -n 's/^card[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\):.*device[[:space:]]*\([0-9][0-9]*\):.*/hw:\1,\2/p' | head -n 1)"
     if [ -n "$ar_dev" ]; then
       echo "$ar_dev"
@@ -2681,9 +3413,14 @@ audio_record_alsa_capture_probe() {
     return 1
   fi
 
-  audio_record_alsa_prepare_capture >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  ar_probe_card="$(audio_alsa_device_card "$ar_probe_dev")"
+  audio_record_alsa_prepare_capture "$ar_probe_card" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 
-  ar_probe_out="$(mktemp /tmp/audio_record_probe.XXXXXX.wav 2>/dev/null || echo /tmp/audio_record_probe.$$)"
+  ar_probe_dir="$(audio_scratch_dir 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$ar_probe_dir" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  ar_probe_out="$(mktemp "$ar_probe_dir/audio_record_probe.XXXXXX.wav" 2>/dev/null || printf '%s\n' "$ar_probe_dir/audio_record_probe.$$.wav")"
   rm -f "$ar_probe_out" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
 
   for ar_probe_combo in "S16_LE 16000 1" "S16_LE 48000 1" "S16_LE 48000 2"; do
@@ -2739,12 +3476,17 @@ audio_probe_alsa_capture_profile() {
     return 1
   fi
 
+  probe_dir="$(audio_scratch_dir 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$probe_dir" ]; then
+    AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON="no writable Audio scratch directory is available"
+    return 1
+  fi
   probe_tmp=""
   if command -v mktemp >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    probe_tmp="$(mktemp /tmp/audio_record_probe.XXXXXX.wav 2>/dev/null || true)"
+    probe_tmp="$(mktemp "$probe_dir/audio_record_probe.XXXXXX.wav" 2>/dev/null || true)"
   fi
   if [ -z "$probe_tmp" ]; then
-    probe_tmp="/tmp/audio_record_probe.$$.$(date +%s 2>/dev/null || echo 0).wav"
+    probe_tmp="$probe_dir/audio_record_probe.$$.$(date +%s 2>/dev/null || echo 0).wav"
   fi
 
   probe_cleanup() {
@@ -2796,6 +3538,10 @@ audio_probe_alsa_capture_profile() {
   fi
 
   for dev in $probe_devices; do
+    # Mixer controls and PCM devices must come from the same ALSA card.
+    probe_card="$(audio_alsa_device_card "$dev")"
+    audio_record_alsa_prepare_capture "$probe_card" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+
     for combo in \
       "S16_LE 48000 1" \
       "S16_LE 16000 1" \
@@ -3045,7 +3791,9 @@ audio_card_dt_audio_expected() {
     return 0
   fi
 
-  compat_match_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/audio_compat_match.XXXXXX" 2>/dev/null || printf '%s\n' "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/audio_compat_match.$$")"
+  compat_match_dir="$(audio_scratch_dir 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  [ -n "$compat_match_dir" ] || return 1
+  compat_match_file="$(mktemp "$compat_match_dir/audio_compat_match.XXXXXX" 2>/dev/null || printf '%s\n' "$compat_match_dir/audio_compat_match.$$")"
   : > "$compat_match_file" 2>/dev/null || return 1
 
   find /proc/device-tree -name compatible -type f 2>/dev/null |
@@ -3175,7 +3923,12 @@ audio_card_validate_pcm_nodes() {
     return 1
   fi
 
-  pcm_tmp_file="$(mktemp "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/audio_pcm_lines.XXXXXX" 2>/dev/null || printf '%s\n' "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/audio_pcm_lines.$$")"
+  pcm_tmp_dir="$(audio_scratch_dir 2>/dev/null || true)"
+  if [ -z "$pcm_tmp_dir" ]; then
+    log_fail "No writable Audio scratch directory is available"
+    return 1
+  fi
+  pcm_tmp_file="$(mktemp "$pcm_tmp_dir/audio_pcm_lines.XXXXXX" 2>/dev/null || printf '%s\n' "$pcm_tmp_dir/audio_pcm_lines.$$")"
   : > "$pcm_tmp_file" 2>/dev/null || return 1
 
   while IFS='|' read -r card_idx card_id card_desc || [ -n "$card_idx" ]; do
@@ -3394,7 +4147,7 @@ audio_refresh_overlay_devices() {
     debian)
       ;;
     qcom-distro|poky|openembedded|oe)
-      log_info "Native image detected; AudioReach device refresh is not required"
+      log_info "Native image detected, AudioReach device refresh is not required"
       return 0
       ;;
     *)
@@ -3425,10 +4178,10 @@ audio_refresh_overlay_devices() {
  
       log_pass "Kernel module dependency metadata refreshed"
     else
-      log_warn "depmod is unavailable; kernel module metadata was not refreshed"
+      log_warn "depmod is unavailable, kernel module metadata was not refreshed"
     fi
   else
-    log_info "AudioReach packages are unchanged; depmod refresh is not required"
+    log_info "AudioReach packages are unchanged, depmod refresh is not required"
   fi
  
   ###########################################################################
@@ -3479,7 +4232,7 @@ audio_validate_dma_heap_access() {
   fi
 
   log_fail "$avdha_node is present but is not accessible to uid=$(id -u 2>/dev/null || echo unknown)"
-  log_fail "Fix audioreach-config udev/group policy; the test will not chmod the node"
+  log_fail "Fix audioreach-config udev/group policy, the test will not chmod the node"
   return 1
 }
 
@@ -4024,7 +4777,7 @@ audio_prepare_audioreach_udev_rule() {
     debian)
       ;;
     qcom-distro|poky|openembedded|oe)
-      log_info "Native image detected; AudioReach udev preparation is not required"
+      log_info "Native image detected, AudioReach udev preparation is not required"
       return 0
       ;;
     *)
@@ -4039,12 +4792,12 @@ audio_prepare_audioreach_udev_rule() {
   fi
 
   if ! command -v udevadm >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log_fail "udevadm is unavailable; cannot activate AudioReach device rules"
+    log_fail "udevadm is unavailable, cannot activate AudioReach device rules"
     return 1
   fi
 
   if ! command -v stat >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log_fail "stat is unavailable; cannot validate AudioReach device permissions"
+    log_fail "stat is unavailable, cannot validate AudioReach device permissions"
     return 1
   fi
 
@@ -4117,7 +4870,7 @@ audio_prepare_audioreach_udev_rule() {
       return 1
     fi
   else
-    log_info "dma_heap subsystem is not currently enumerated; rule remains installed"
+    log_info "dma_heap subsystem is not currently enumerated, rule remains installed"
   fi
 
   log_info "Waiting for udev event processing to settle"
@@ -4132,7 +4885,7 @@ audio_prepare_audioreach_udev_rule() {
   # The node may not exist yet when the driver has not been loaded. Runtime
   # preparation performs the mandatory existence check later.
   if [ ! -e /dev/dma_heap/system ]; then
-    log_info "/dev/dma_heap/system is not currently present; permission validation is deferred"
+    log_info "/dev/dma_heap/system is not currently present, permission validation is deferred"
     return 0
   fi
 
@@ -4224,7 +4977,7 @@ audio_prepare_test_packages() {
  
   case "$atp_os_id" in
     qcom-distro|poky|openembedded|oe)
-      log_info "Native image detected; Audio package preparation is not required"
+      log_info "Native image detected, Audio package preparation is not required"
       return 0
       ;;
     debian)
@@ -4350,7 +5103,7 @@ audio_prepare_test_packages() {
       log_info "AudioReach DKMS version changed: ${atp_before_dkms:-not-installed} -> ${atp_after_dkms:-not-installed}"
     fi
   else
-    log_info "AudioReach packages were already installed; runtime package state is unchanged"
+    log_info "AudioReach packages were already installed, runtime package state is unchanged"
   fi
  
   # Do not continue into Audio testing after installing or upgrading the DKMS
@@ -4500,7 +5253,7 @@ audio_prepare_debian_audio_environment() {
     log_pass "User is already a member of audio: $apdae_user"
   else
     if ! command -v usermod >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      log_fail "usermod is unavailable; cannot configure Audio test user"
+      log_fail "usermod is unavailable, cannot configure Audio test user"
       return 1
     fi
 
@@ -4563,12 +5316,12 @@ audio_prepare_debian_audio_environment() {
 
   if [ "$apdae_need_user_manager" -eq 1 ]; then
     if ! command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      log_fail "systemctl is unavailable; cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
+      log_fail "systemctl is unavailable, cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
       return 1
     fi
 
     if [ ! -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
-      log_fail "systemd is not running; cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
+      log_fail "systemd is not running, cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
       return 1
     fi
 
@@ -4773,7 +5526,7 @@ audio_run_as_test_user() {
   fi
 
   if ! command -v runuser >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log_fail "runuser is unavailable; cannot execute an Audio command as the Debian user"
+    log_fail "runuser is unavailable, cannot execute an Audio command as the Debian user"
     return 1
   fi
 
@@ -5217,9 +5970,9 @@ audio_record_dump_mixers() {
   } >"$ardm_out" 2>/dev/null
 }
 
-# Probe the ALSA capture path as the Debian Audio user while copying the
-# discovered profile back into the root orchestrator.
-audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile() {
+# Run one capture probe in the correct user context and copy its profile into
+# the root orchestrator.
+audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile_once() {
   if [ "${AUDIO_RECORD_DEBIAN_ROOT_MODE:-0}" -ne 1 ]; then
     audio_probe_alsa_capture_profile
     return $?
@@ -5278,6 +6031,54 @@ audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile() {
   return "$arpacp_rc"
 }
 
+# Retry capture discovery after a narrowly guarded audio-DSP startup. Recovery
+# is attempted once and only when ALSA exposes no capture PCM at all.
+audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile() {
+  if audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile_once; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [ "${AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON:-}" != \
+       "no ALSA capture device candidates found" ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  if [ "${AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED:-0}" -eq 1 ]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED=1
+  export AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_ATTEMPTED
+
+  if ! audio_recover_offline_dsp; then
+    AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON="$AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON, ${AUDIO_DSP_RECOVERY_REASON:-audio DSP recovery was not applicable}"
+    export AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON
+    return 1
+  fi
+
+  arpacp_wait=0
+  while [ "$arpacp_wait" -lt 10 ]; do
+    if audio_alsa_capture_inventory_available; then
+      break
+    fi
+
+    sleep 1
+    arpacp_wait=$((arpacp_wait + 1))
+  done
+
+  if audio_record_probe_alsa_capture_profile_once; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [ "${AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON:-}" = \
+       "no ALSA capture device candidates found" ]; then
+    AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON="$AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON after audio DSP startup"
+    export AUDIO_ALSA_CAPTURE_REASON
+  fi
+
+  return 1
+}
+
 # Prepare the Debian Audio test user and re-execute the current test as that
 # user.
 #
@@ -5477,7 +6278,7 @@ audio_prepare_debian_audio_test_user() {
     log_pass "User is already a member of audio: $apdatu_user"
   else
     if ! command -v usermod >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      log_fail "usermod is unavailable; cannot configure Audio test user"
+      log_fail "usermod is unavailable, cannot configure Audio test user"
       return 1
     fi
 
@@ -5612,12 +6413,12 @@ audio_prepare_debian_audio_test_user() {
 
   if [ "$apdatu_need_user_manager" -eq 1 ]; then
     if ! command -v systemctl >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-      log_fail "systemctl is unavailable; cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
+      log_fail "systemctl is unavailable, cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
       return 1
     fi
 
     if [ ! -d /run/systemd/system ]; then
-      log_fail "systemd is not running; cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
+      log_fail "systemd is not running, cannot prepare PipeWire user services"
       return 1
     fi
 
@@ -5722,7 +6523,7 @@ audio_prepare_debian_audio_test_user() {
   ###########################################################################
 
   if ! command -v runuser >/dev/null 2>&1; then
-    log_fail "runuser is unavailable; cannot execute Audio test as $apdatu_user"
+    log_fail "runuser is unavailable, cannot execute Audio test as $apdatu_user"
     return 1
   fi
 
@@ -5863,7 +6664,7 @@ $avrwo_meta
 EOF
 
   [ "$avrwo_format" -eq 1 ] 2>/dev/null || {
-    log_warn "od WAV fallback supports PCM only; format=$avrwo_format requires Python"
+    log_warn "od WAV fallback supports PCM only, format=$avrwo_format requires Python"
     return 1
   }
 
@@ -6050,7 +6851,7 @@ audio_validate_recorded_wav() {
     return $?
   fi
 
-  log_warn "Python WAV validator unavailable; using bounded od/dd fallback"
+  log_warn "Python WAV validator unavailable, using bounded od/dd fallback"
   if audio_validate_recorded_wav_od \
       "$avrw_file" \
       "$avrw_source_kind" \
@@ -6126,7 +6927,7 @@ audio_validate_recording_result() {
         export AUDIO_WAV_VALIDATION_SUMMARY
         return 1
       fi
-      log_warn "Recorder ended through expected watchdog timeout rc=$avrr_rc; validated WAV payload is accepted"
+      log_warn "Recorder ended through expected watchdog timeout rc=$avrr_rc, validated WAV payload is accepted"
       ;;
     *)
       AUDIO_WAV_VALIDATION_SUMMARY="${AUDIO_WAV_VALIDATION_SUMMARY} recorder_rc=$avrr_rc recorder_status=failed"