True, true @Martin.
I use Windows so no stranger to hardware config issues, and the ‘use a USB soundcard’ is my go-to solution there too. Cutting the Gordian Knot, so to speak. So I’ve no problem with that for the Raspberry Pi. Also good for the RPi 400 - which I like the idea of - which lacks the headphone socket.
I have to remind myself that working with any conventional instrument can involve quite a lot of time maintaining it rather than playing it. So, you’re right. Fair enough.
I’m curious about what you mean by that? (Btw, where did you get that date from? I can’t see it anywhere…)
Looks like june 2019 to present, from the history page
EDIT and the issue tracker is alive and kicking Issues · PipeWire / pipewire · GitLab
@robin.newman I confirm that your fix works, and I get sound from SPi either through the AV Jack or the USB sound card. Thank you so much for this! 
The date is not a problem at all. midi is quite old 
1980
Thanks, this hack worked for me on a Pi4, but audio is very crackly.
It’s just SonicPi, speaker-test -t wav -c 2 test plays audio without crackles.
Great! 
Now i can use my lovely Focusrite 2i4 mkII.
Unfortunately, taxing programs tend to stutter and click easely compared to the hdmi out… but for now, i can use the raspy 400 for simple sketches.