media: restore pcm default and harden hevc path

Cargo.lock

@@ -1652,7 +1652,7 @@ checksum = "09edd9e8b54e49e587e4f6295a7d29c3ea94d469cb40ab8ca70b288248a81db2"
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_client"
-version = "0.22.22"
+version = "0.22.23"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "async-stream",
@@ -1686,7 +1686,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_common"
-version = "0.22.22"
+version = "0.22.23"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",
@@ -1698,7 +1698,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lesavka_server"
-version = "0.22.22"
+version = "0.22.23"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "base64",

client/Cargo.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ path                    = "src/main.rs"
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_client"
-version                 = "0.22.22"
+version                 = "0.22.23"
 edition                 = "2024"
 
 [dependencies]

client/src/input/audio_codec.rs

@@ -25,8 +25,8 @@ const MAX_PENDING_OPUS_METADATA: usize = 16;
 /// Resolve the requested upstream audio codec from runtime environment.
 ///
 /// Inputs: `LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC` or legacy `LESAVKA_AUDIO_CODEC`.
-/// Output: Opus by default, PCM when explicitly requested. Why: Opus should be
+/// Output: PCM by default, Opus when explicitly requested. Why: Opus is still
-/// the optimized path, but operators need an immediate known-good fallback.
+/// under active calibration; the launcher must boot into the known-good route.
 #[must_use]
 pub fn requested_upstream_audio_codec_from_env() -> UpstreamAudioCodec {
     std::env::var(AUDIO_CODEC_ENV)
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ pub fn requested_upstream_audio_codec_from_env() -> UpstreamAudioCodec {
         .or_else(|| std::env::var(AUDIO_CODEC_LEGACY_ENV).ok())
         .as_deref()
         .and_then(parse_upstream_audio_codec)
-        .unwrap_or(UpstreamAudioCodec::Opus)
+        .unwrap_or(UpstreamAudioCodec::PcmS16le)
 }
 
 /// Low-latency Opus packet encoder for already-framed 48 kHz stereo PCM.
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl OpusPacketEncoder {
             appsrc name=src is-live=true block=false format=time \
                 caps=audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,layout=interleaved,channels=2,rate=48000 ! \
             queue max-size-buffers=4 max-size-time=80000000 leaky=downstream ! \
-            opusenc audio-type=voice bitrate=64000 bitrate-type=constrained-vbr complexity=5 frame-size=20 ! \
+            opusenc audio-type=restricted-lowdelay bitrate=96000 bitrate-type=cbr complexity=7 frame-size=20 perfect-timestamp=true hard-resync=true ! \
             appsink name=sink emit-signals=false sync=false max-buffers=8 drop=true";
         let pipeline: gst::Pipeline = gst::parse::launch(desc)?.downcast().expect("pipeline");
         let appsrc = pipeline
@@ -184,12 +184,12 @@ mod tests {
     use lesavka_common::lesavka::AudioEncoding;
 
     #[test]
-    fn requested_audio_codec_defaults_to_opus_and_parses_pcm_fallback() {
+    fn requested_audio_codec_defaults_to_pcm_and_parses_opus() {
         temp_env::with_var(AUDIO_CODEC_ENV, None::<&str>, || {
             temp_env::with_var(AUDIO_CODEC_LEGACY_ENV, None::<&str>, || {
                 assert_eq!(
                     requested_upstream_audio_codec_from_env(),
-                    UpstreamAudioCodec::Opus
+                    UpstreamAudioCodec::PcmS16le
                 );
             });
         });
@@ -231,4 +231,89 @@ mod tests {
             );
         }
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn opus_encoder_decodes_non_silent_voice_like_pcm_when_plugin_is_available() {
+        let _ = gst::init();
+        if gst::ElementFactory::find("opusenc").is_none()
+            || gst::ElementFactory::find("opusdec").is_none()
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+        let mut packet = AudioPacket {
+            pts: 456_000,
+            data: sine_pcm_packet(
+                440.0,
+                AudioTransportProfile::pcm_s16le().expected_payload_bytes() as usize,
+            ),
+            frame_duration_us: 20_000,
+            ..AudioPacket::default()
+        };
+        audio_transport::mark_packet_pcm_s16le(&mut packet);
+
+        let mut encoder = OpusPacketEncoder::new().expect("opus encoder");
+        let mut encoded = None;
+        for _ in 0..4 {
+            encoded = encoder.encode_packet(packet.clone()).expect("encode");
+            if encoded.is_some() {
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+        let Some(encoded) = encoded else {
+            return;
+        };
+
+        let decoded = decode_opus_payload(&encoded.data).expect("decode opus payload");
+        let peak = decoded
+            .chunks_exact(2)
+            .map(|sample| i16::from_le_bytes([sample[0], sample[1]]).unsigned_abs())
+            .max()
+            .unwrap_or(0);
+        assert!(
+            peak > 1_000,
+            "decoded Opus should contain a real waveform, not silence/garbage"
+        );
+    }
+
+    fn sine_pcm_packet(freq_hz: f32, len: usize) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(len);
+        let frames = len / 4;
+        for frame in 0..frames {
+            let phase = (frame as f32 * freq_hz * std::f32::consts::TAU) / 48_000.0;
+            let sample = (phase.sin() * 12_000.0) as i16;
+            out.extend_from_slice(&sample.to_le_bytes());
+            out.extend_from_slice(&sample.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+        out
+    }
+
+    fn decode_opus_payload(payload: &[u8]) -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
+        let desc = "\
+            appsrc name=src is-live=true block=false format=time \
+                caps=audio/x-opus,channel-mapping-family=0 ! \
+            opusdec plc=false use-inband-fec=false min-latency=0 tolerance=0 ! \
+            audioconvert ! audioresample ! \
+            audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,layout=interleaved,channels=2,rate=48000 ! \
+            appsink name=sink emit-signals=false sync=false max-buffers=8 drop=true";
+        let pipeline: gst::Pipeline = gst::parse::launch(desc).ok()?.downcast().ok()?;
+        let appsrc = pipeline
+            .by_name("src")?
+            .downcast::<gst_app::AppSrc>()
+            .ok()?;
+        let appsink = pipeline
+            .by_name("sink")?
+            .downcast::<gst_app::AppSink>()
+            .ok()?;
+        pipeline.set_state(gst::State::Playing).ok()?;
+        let mut buffer = gst::Buffer::from_slice(payload.to_vec());
+        if let Some(meta) = buffer.get_mut() {
+            meta.set_pts(Some(gst::ClockTime::from_useconds(456_000)));
+            meta.set_duration(Some(gst::ClockTime::from_useconds(20_000)));
+        }
+        appsrc.push_buffer(buffer).ok()?;
+        let sample = appsink.try_pull_sample(gst::ClockTime::from_mseconds(100))?;
+        let decoded = sample.buffer()?.map_readable().ok()?.to_vec();
+        let _ = pipeline.set_state(gst::State::Null);
+        Some(decoded)
+    }
 }

client/src/input/camera/capture_pipeline.rs

@@ -340,7 +340,10 @@ impl CameraCapture {
                 .arg(capture_fps.to_string())
                 .arg("-video_size")
                 .arg(format!("{capture_width}x{capture_height}"));
-            if source_profile == CameraSourceProfile::Mjpeg {
+            if matches!(
+                source_profile,
+                CameraSourceProfile::Mjpeg | CameraSourceProfile::AutoDecode
+            ) {
                 command.arg("-input_format").arg("mjpeg");
             }
             command.arg("-i").arg(dev_label);

client/src/input/camera/encoder_selection.rs

@@ -132,13 +132,6 @@ impl CameraCapture {
         true
     }
 
-    #[cfg(not(coverage))]
-    fn gstreamer_hevc_hardware_encoder_available() -> bool {
-        ["nvh265enc", "vah265enc", "vaapih265enc", "v4l2h265enc"]
-            .iter()
-            .any(|name| buildable_encoder(name))
-    }
-
     #[cfg(not(coverage))]
     fn ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc_available() -> bool {
         Command::new("ffmpeg")
@@ -160,10 +153,7 @@ impl CameraCapture {
                 Self::ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc_available()
             }
             Some("gstreamer" | "gst") => false,
-            _ => {
+            _ => Self::ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc_available(),
-                !Self::gstreamer_hevc_hardware_encoder_available()
-                    && Self::ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc_available()
-            }
         }
     }
 

client/src/launcher/state/selection_models.rs

@@ -94,8 +94,8 @@ impl WebcamTransport {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum UpstreamAudioTransport {
-    #[default]
     Opus,
+    #[default]
     Pcm,
 }
 
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ impl UpstreamAudioTransport {
     /// Parse a GTK row id back into an upstream microphone transport.
     ///
     /// Inputs: compact id or familiar operator alias. Output: a supported
-    /// transport. Why: Opus is now the optimized path, but PCM must remain
+    /// transport. Why: PCM is the known-good route while Opus remains
-    /// one click away as the known-good audio fallback.
+    /// explicitly selectable for calibration and bandwidth experiments.
     pub fn from_id(raw: &str) -> Option<Self> {
         match raw.trim().to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
             "opus" | "compressed" => Some(Self::Opus),

client/src/launcher/tests/ui_runtime.rs

@@ -439,10 +439,10 @@ fn webcam_transport_combo_tracks_selected_upstream_codec() {
 }
 
 #[test]
-fn audio_transport_model_defaults_to_compressed_with_raw_fallback() {
+fn audio_transport_model_defaults_to_pcm_with_compressed_opt_in() {
     assert_eq!(
         UpstreamAudioTransport::default(),
-        UpstreamAudioTransport::Opus
+        UpstreamAudioTransport::Pcm
     );
     assert_eq!(UpstreamAudioTransport::Opus.as_id(), "opus");
     assert_eq!(UpstreamAudioTransport::Opus.label(), "Opus");

client/src/launcher/ui/eye_capture_bindings.rs

@@ -39,6 +39,18 @@
         format!("{}-{:03}", now.as_secs(), now.subsec_millis())
     }
 
+    fn capture_day_slug() -> String {
+        if let Ok(now) = glib::DateTime::now_local()
+            && let Ok(stamp) = now.format("%Y-%m-%d")
+        {
+            return stamp.to_string();
+        }
+        let now = SystemTime::now()
+            .duration_since(UNIX_EPOCH)
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        format!("{}", now.as_secs() / 86_400)
+    }
+
     fn expand_home_token(raw: &str) -> PathBuf {
         if raw.contains("$HOME") && let Some(home) = std::env::var_os("HOME") {
             return PathBuf::from(raw.replace("$HOME", &home.to_string_lossy()));
@@ -78,6 +90,14 @@
         Ok(root)
     }
 
+    fn ensure_eye_capture_dir(override_dir: Option<&Path>, kind: &str) -> Result<PathBuf, String> {
+        let root = ensure_eye_capture_root(override_dir)?;
+        let dir = root.join(capture_day_slug()).join(kind);
+        std::fs::create_dir_all(&dir)
+            .map_err(|err| format!("could not create {}: {err}", dir.display()))?;
+        Ok(dir)
+    }
+
     fn unique_capture_path(root: &Path, stem: &str, ext: &str) -> PathBuf {
         let mut candidate = root.join(format!("{stem}.{ext}"));
         if !candidate.exists() {
@@ -280,7 +300,7 @@
             pane.clip_button.connect_clicked(move |_| {
                 let root = {
                     let borrowed = save_state.borrow();
-                    match ensure_eye_capture_root(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref()) {
+                    match ensure_eye_capture_dir(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref(), "clips") {
                         Ok(path) => path,
                         Err(err) => {
                             widgets
@@ -321,6 +341,7 @@
             let record_button = pane.record_button.clone();
             record_button.connect_clicked(move |button| {
                 if save_state.borrow().timer.is_some() {
+                    button.remove_css_class("recording-active");
                     let finalize_rx = {
                         let mut state = save_state.borrow_mut();
                         if let Some(timer) = state.timer.take() {
@@ -352,6 +373,7 @@
                     {
                         Ok(Ok(output)) => {
                             button.set_sensitive(true);
+                            button.remove_css_class("recording-active");
                             button.set_label("Record");
                             widgets.status_label.set_text(&format!(
                                 "{} recording saved to {}.",
@@ -362,6 +384,7 @@
                         }
                         Ok(Err(err)) => {
                             button.set_sensitive(true);
+                            button.remove_css_class("recording-active");
                             button.set_label("Record");
                             widgets.status_label.set_text(&format!(
                                 "{} recording stop failed: {err}",
@@ -372,6 +395,7 @@
                         Err(std::sync::mpsc::TryRecvError::Empty) => glib::ControlFlow::Continue,
                         Err(std::sync::mpsc::TryRecvError::Disconnected) => {
                             button.set_sensitive(true);
+                            button.remove_css_class("recording-active");
                             button.set_label("Record");
                             widgets.status_label.set_text(&format!(
                                 "{} recording stop failed: recording worker disconnected.",
@@ -389,7 +413,7 @@
                 };
                 let root = {
                     let borrowed = save_state.borrow();
-                    match ensure_eye_capture_root(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref()) {
+                    match ensure_eye_capture_dir(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref(), "recordings") {
                         Ok(path) => path,
                         Err(err) => {
                             widgets
@@ -460,6 +484,7 @@
                 );
                 save_state.borrow_mut().timer = Some(timer);
                 button.set_sensitive(true);
+                button.add_css_class("recording-active");
                 button.set_label("Stop");
                 widgets.status_label.set_text(&format!(
                     "Recording {} at {} fps (~{} kbit)... press Stop to finish.",

client/src/launcher/ui_components/build_device_controls.rs

@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@
 
     let webcam_transport_combo = gtk::ComboBoxText::new();
     webcam_transport_combo.add_css_class("compact-combo");
-    for transport in [WebcamTransport::Hevc, WebcamTransport::Mjpeg] {
+    for transport in [WebcamTransport::Mjpeg, WebcamTransport::Hevc] {
         webcam_transport_combo.append(Some(transport.as_id()), transport.label());
     }
     webcam_transport_combo.set_active_id(Some(state.effective_webcam_transport().as_id()));
@@ -236,14 +236,14 @@
 
     let upstream_audio_transport_combo = gtk::ComboBoxText::new();
     upstream_audio_transport_combo.add_css_class("compact-combo");
-    for transport in [UpstreamAudioTransport::Opus, UpstreamAudioTransport::Pcm] {
+    for transport in [UpstreamAudioTransport::Pcm, UpstreamAudioTransport::Opus] {
         upstream_audio_transport_combo.append(Some(transport.as_id()), transport.label());
     }
     upstream_audio_transport_combo.set_active_id(Some(state.upstream_audio_transport.as_id()));
     upstream_audio_transport_combo.set_sensitive(true);
     upstream_audio_transport_combo.set_size_request(88, -1);
     upstream_audio_transport_combo.set_tooltip_text(Some(
-        "Upstream microphone transport for the live relay. Opus is compressed and low-bandwidth; PCM is the known-good fallback.",
+        "Upstream microphone transport for the live relay. PCM is the known-good default; Opus is compressed and experimental.",
     ));
 
     upstream_transport_row.append(&webcam_transport_combo);

client/src/launcher/ui_components/display_pane.rs

@@ -161,6 +161,7 @@ fn build_display_pane(title: &str, capture_path: &str) -> DisplayPaneWidgets {
     stabilize_button(&clip_button, 66);
     clip_button.set_tooltip_text(Some("Capture a still image for this eye."));
     let record_button = gtk::Button::with_label("Record");
+    record_button.add_css_class("media-toggle");
     stabilize_button(&record_button, 78);
     record_button.set_tooltip_text(Some("Record this eye feed until you stop."));
     let save_button = gtk::Button::with_label("Save");
@@ -191,10 +192,10 @@ fn build_display_pane(title: &str, capture_path: &str) -> DisplayPaneWidgets {
     capture_row.set_hexpand(true);
     breakout_row.set_hexpand(true);
     controls_grid.attach(&feed_row, 0, 0, 1, 1);
-    controls_grid.attach(&capture_row, 1, 0, 2, 1);
+    controls_grid.attach(&capture_row, 1, 0, 1, 1);
+    controls_grid.attach(&action_button, 2, 0, 1, 1);
     controls_grid.attach(&breakout_row, 0, 1, 1, 1);
-    controls_grid.attach(&capture_actions, 1, 1, 1, 1);
+    controls_grid.attach(&capture_actions, 1, 1, 2, 1);
-    controls_grid.attach(&action_button, 2, 1, 1, 1);
     footer_shell.append(&controls_grid);
     root.append(&footer_shell);
 

client/src/launcher/ui_components/style.rs

@@ -179,6 +179,11 @@ pub fn install_css(window: &gtk::ApplicationWindow) {
             border-color: rgba(96, 214, 126, 0.46);
             color: #dff7e4;
         }
+        button.media-toggle.recording-active {
+            background: rgba(96, 214, 126, 0.20);
+            border-color: rgba(96, 214, 126, 0.46);
+            color: #dff7e4;
+        }
         button.media-toggle:disabled {
             opacity: 0.7;
         }

common/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_common"
-version                 = "0.22.22"
+version                 = "0.22.23"
 edition                 = "2024"
 build                   = "build.rs"
 

common/src/audio_transport.rs

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub const PCM_FRAME_DURATION_US: u32 = 20_000;
 pub const OPUS_SAMPLE_RATE: u32 = 48_000;
 pub const OPUS_CHANNELS: u32 = 2;
 pub const OPUS_FRAME_DURATION_US: u32 = 20_000;
-pub const OPUS_DEFAULT_BITRATE_BPS: u32 = 64_000;
+pub const OPUS_DEFAULT_BITRATE_BPS: u32 = 96_000;
 
 /// Operator-facing upstream audio transport choice.
 ///
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ impl AudioTransportProfile {
 
     /// Return the first Opus profile Lesavka should test for upstream audio.
     ///
-    /// Inputs: none. Outputs: a 48 kHz stereo, 20 ms, 64 kbps voice-oriented
+    /// Inputs: none. Outputs: a 48 kHz stereo, 20 ms, 96 kbps low-delay
     /// profile. Why: Opus always runs internally at 48 kHz, and 20 ms frames
-    /// keep latency bounded while still giving the codec enough lookahead.
+    /// keep latency bounded while preserving enough quality for live speech.
     #[must_use]
     pub const fn opus_voice() -> Self {
         Self {

docs/operational-env.md

@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ These entries are intentionally concise because most are manual lab or CI harnes
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_APP_MAX_BYTES` | server UAC appsrc buffering override for lab tuning of microphone gadget output latency and stability |
 | `LESAVKA_UAC_APP_MAX_TIME_NS` | server UAC appsrc buffering override for lab tuning of microphone gadget output latency and stability |
 | `LESAVKA_MIC_NOISE_SUPPRESSION` | client microphone capture toggle; when truthy, inserts WebRTC DSP noise suppression before upstream audio transport |
-| `LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC` | client/server upstream microphone transport hint (`opus` or `pcm`); launcher defaults to Opus while the server installer defaults to PCM until Opus calibration is intentionally selected |
+| `LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC` | client/server upstream microphone transport hint (`opus` or `pcm`); launcher and installer default to PCM until Opus calibration is intentionally selected |
 | `LESAVKA_UPLINK_CAMERA_CODEC` | server camera ingress codec hint; records whether upstream camera media arrives as `mjpeg`, `h264`, or `hevc` before UVC output |
 | `LESAVKA_UPSTREAM_HEVC_AUDIO_PLAYOUT_MODE_OFFSETS_US` | server HEVC-ingress audio playout delay map by `WIDTHxHEIGHT@FPS`; overrides generic upstream audio offsets for HEVC |
 | `LESAVKA_UPSTREAM_HEVC_AUDIO_PLAYOUT_OFFSET_US` | server HEVC-ingress scalar audio playout delay in microseconds; used when no mode-specific value is present |

scripts/manual/run_client_to_rct_transport_probe.sh

@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ SSH_OPTS=${SSH_OPTS:-"-o BatchMode=yes -o ConnectTimeout=5"}
 LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE:-auto}
 LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_MODE=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_MODE:-${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE}}
 LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_CAMERA_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_CAMERA_CODEC:-auto}
-LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC:-${LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC:-opus}}
+LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC:-${LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC:-pcm}}
 REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK=${REMOTE_CAPTURE_STACK:-pulse}
 REMOTE_PULSE_CAPTURE_TOOL=${REMOTE_PULSE_CAPTURE_TOOL:-gst}
 REMOTE_PULSE_VIDEO_MODE=${REMOTE_PULSE_VIDEO_MODE:-cfr}

server/Cargo.toml

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ bench                   = false
 
 [package]
 name                    = "lesavka_server"
-version                 = "0.22.22"
+version                 = "0.22.23"
 edition                 = "2024"
 autobins                = false
 

server/src/audio/opus_decode.rs

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ impl OpusPacketDecoder {
         let desc = "\
             appsrc name=src is-live=true block=false format=time \
                 caps=audio/x-opus,channel-mapping-family=0 ! \
-            opusdec plc=true use-inband-fec=false ! \
+            opusdec plc=false use-inband-fec=false min-latency=0 tolerance=0 ! \
             audioconvert ! audioresample ! \
             audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,layout=interleaved,channels=2,rate=48000 ! \
             appsink name=sink emit-signals=false sync=false max-buffers=8 drop=true";
@@ -187,13 +187,19 @@ mod tests {
             decoded.data.len() >= 1_000,
             "decoded PCM should be far larger than one compressed Opus frame"
         );
+        assert!(
+            decoded.data.chunks_exact(2).any(|sample| {
+                i16::from_le_bytes([sample[0], sample[1]]).unsigned_abs() > 250
+            }),
+            "decoded Opus payload should preserve non-silent waveform energy"
+        );
     }
 
     fn encode_silent_opus_payload() -> Option<Vec<u8>> {
         let desc = "\
             appsrc name=src is-live=true block=false format=time \
                 caps=audio/x-raw,format=S16LE,layout=interleaved,channels=2,rate=48000 ! \
-            opusenc audio-type=voice bitrate=64000 bitrate-type=constrained-vbr complexity=5 frame-size=20 ! \
+            opusenc audio-type=restricted-lowdelay bitrate=96000 bitrate-type=cbr complexity=7 frame-size=20 perfect-timestamp=true hard-resync=true ! \
             appsink name=sink emit-signals=false sync=false max-buffers=8 drop=true";
         let pipeline: gst::Pipeline = gst::parse::launch(desc).ok()?.downcast().ok()?;
         let appsrc = pipeline
@@ -207,7 +213,7 @@ mod tests {
         pipeline.set_state(gst::State::Playing).ok()?;
 
         for index in 0..4u64 {
-            let mut buffer = gst::Buffer::from_slice(vec![0; 3_840]);
+            let mut buffer = gst::Buffer::from_slice(sine_pcm_packet(index, 3_840));
             if let Some(meta) = buffer.get_mut() {
                 let pts = gst::ClockTime::from_useconds(index * 20_000);
                 meta.set_pts(Some(pts));
@@ -226,4 +232,17 @@ mod tests {
         let _ = pipeline.set_state(gst::State::Null);
         None
     }
+
+    fn sine_pcm_packet(packet_index: u64, len: usize) -> Vec<u8> {
+        let mut out = Vec::with_capacity(len);
+        let frames = len / 4;
+        for frame in 0..frames {
+            let absolute = packet_index as usize * frames + frame;
+            let phase = (absolute as f32 * 440.0 * std::f32::consts::TAU) / 48_000.0;
+            let sample = (phase.sin() * 12_000.0) as i16;
+            out.extend_from_slice(&sample.to_le_bytes());
+            out.extend_from_slice(&sample.to_le_bytes());
+        }
+        out
+    }
 }

tests/compatibility/client/audio/client_opus_transport_contract.rs

@@ -5,8 +5,8 @@
 // Targets: `client/src/input/microphone.rs`,
 // `client/src/app/uplink_media/uplink_queue_metadata.rs`, and
 // `scripts/install/client.sh`.
-// Why: Opus is now the optimized microphone transport, while raw PCM remains
+// Why: Opus remains an optional compressed microphone transport, while raw PCM
-// one click away as the known-good fallback.
+// is the default known-good fallback.
 
 const MICROPHONE: &str = include_str!(concat!(
     env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"),
@@ -53,9 +53,20 @@ fn client_microphone_path_preserves_pcm_fallback_and_opus_selection() {
         );
     }
     assert!(
-        AUDIO_CODEC.contains("mark_packet_opus") && AUDIO_CODEC.contains("Opus by default"),
+        AUDIO_CODEC.contains("mark_packet_opus") && AUDIO_CODEC.contains("PCM by default"),
-        "client Opus encoder should stamp packets while documenting the default"
+        "client Opus encoder should stamp packets while documenting the safe default"
     );
+    for expected in [
+        "audio-type=restricted-lowdelay",
+        "bitrate=96000",
+        "plc=false",
+        "decode_opus_payload",
+    ] {
+        assert!(
+            AUDIO_CODEC.contains(expected),
+            "client Opus path should keep low-delay/non-silent evidence marker {expected}"
+        );
+    }
     for expected in [
         "pending_packets: VecDeque<AudioPacket>",
         "take_pending_packet(sample_pts_us)",

tests/contract/client/input/camera/client_camera_include_contract.rs

@@ -164,6 +164,9 @@ mod camera_include_contract {
         for expected in [
             "spawn_ffmpeg_raw_preview_tap",
             "-filter_complex",
+            "CameraSourceProfile::Mjpeg | CameraSourceProfile::AutoDecode",
+            "-input_format",
+            "mjpeg",
             "[vencsrc]format=nv12[vencout];[vprevsrc]format=rgba[vprevout]",
             ".arg(\"[vprevout]\")",
             ".arg(\"rawvideo\")",
@@ -182,6 +185,29 @@ mod camera_include_contract {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn hevc_prefers_proven_ffmpeg_nvenc_unless_gstreamer_is_explicit() {
+        let encoder_source = include_str!(concat!(
+            env!("CARGO_MANIFEST_DIR"),
+            "/client/src/input/camera/encoder_selection.rs"
+        ));
+
+        for expected in [
+            "Some(\"ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc\" | \"hevc_nvenc\" | \"nvenc\")",
+            "Some(\"gstreamer\" | \"gst\") => false",
+            "_ => Self::ffmpeg_hevc_nvenc_available()",
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                encoder_source.contains(expected),
+                "HEVC selection should keep FFmpeg/NVENC crash-avoidance marker {expected}"
+            );
+        }
+        assert!(
+            !encoder_source.contains("!Self::gstreamer_hevc_hardware_encoder_available()"),
+            "a present GStreamer HEVC encoder must not suppress the proven FFmpeg/NVENC path"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     #[cfg(coverage)]
     fn camera_bus_logger_coverage_stub_is_non_blocking() {

tests/contract/server/audio/server_opus_uac_contract.rs

@@ -38,11 +38,15 @@ fn uac_sink_remains_raw_pcm_and_guards_compressed_packets() {
     for expected in [
         "OpusPacketDecoder",
         "opusdec",
+        "plc=false",
+        "min-latency=0",
         "audio/x-opus",
         "audio/x-raw",
         "pending_packets: VecDeque<AudioPacket>",
         "take_pending_packet(sample_pts_us)",
         "push_pending_packet(&mut self.pending_packets",
+        "audio-type=restricted-lowdelay",
+        "sine_pcm_packet",
     ] {
         assert!(
             OPUS_DECODE.contains(expected),
@@ -58,7 +62,7 @@ fn opus_packets_are_detected_as_compressed_before_uac_handoff() {
         sample_rate: 48_000,
         channels: 2,
         frame_duration_us: 20_000,
-        data: vec![0x55; 160],
+        data: vec![0x55; 240],
         ..AudioPacket::default()
     };
 

tests/manual/client/sync_probe/client_rct_transport_probe_contract.rs

@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ fn client_rct_probe_is_non_mutating_and_passwordless_by_default() {
         "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE:-auto}",
         "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_MODE=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_MODE:-${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_MODE}}",
         "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_CAMERA_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_CAMERA_CODEC:-auto}",
-        "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC:-${LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC:-opus}}",
+        "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_UPSTREAM_AUDIO_CODEC:-${LESAVKA_UPLINK_AUDIO_CODEC:-pcm}}",
         "--camera-mode",
         "--camera-codec",
         "LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_START_DELAY_SECONDS=${LESAVKA_CLIENT_RCT_START_DELAY_SECONDS:-0}",

tests/performance/client/uplink/opus_transport_budget_contract.rs

@@ -17,12 +17,12 @@ fn opus_transport_budget_is_small_enough_to_be_worth_testing() {
     assert_eq!(pcm.sample_rate, opus.sample_rate);
     assert_eq!(pcm.channels, opus.channels);
     assert!(
-        opus.expected_payload_bytes() <= 200,
+        opus.expected_payload_bytes() <= 260,
-        "64 kbps, 20 ms Opus packets should stay near 160 bytes"
+        "96 kbps, 20 ms Opus packets should stay near 240 bytes"
     );
     assert!(
-        pcm.expected_payload_bytes() >= opus.expected_payload_bytes() * 20,
+        pcm.expected_payload_bytes() >= opus.expected_payload_bytes() * 12,
-        "Opus should remove at least 95% of raw PCM uplink byte pressure"
+        "Opus should remove over 90% of raw PCM uplink byte pressure"
     );
 }
 

tests/ui/client/launcher/client_codec_transport_ui_contract.rs

@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ fn webcam_transport_selector_exposes_real_hevc_and_mjpeg_choices() {
     }
 
     for marker in [
-        "for transport in [WebcamTransport::Hevc, WebcamTransport::Mjpeg]",
+        "for transport in [WebcamTransport::Mjpeg, WebcamTransport::Hevc]",
         "webcam_transport_combo.append(Some(transport.as_id()), transport.label());",
         "webcam_transport_combo.set_active_id(Some(state.effective_webcam_transport().as_id()));",
         "webcam_transport_combo.set_sensitive(true);",

tests/ui/client/launcher/client_launcher_layout_contract.rs

@@ -133,15 +133,16 @@ fn eye_panes_keep_the_docked_preview_footprint_without_forcing_maximized_width()
             < source_index("header_row.append(&capture_label);")
     );
     assert!(
-        source_index("controls_grid.attach(&breakout_row, 0, 1, 1, 1);")
+        source_index("controls_grid.attach(&capture_row, 1, 0, 1, 1);")
-            < source_index("controls_grid.attach(&capture_actions, 1, 1, 1, 1);")
+            < source_index("controls_grid.attach(&action_button, 2, 0, 1, 1);")
     );
     assert!(
-        source_index("controls_grid.attach(&capture_actions, 1, 1, 1, 1);")
+        source_index("controls_grid.attach(&breakout_row, 0, 1, 1, 1);")
-            < source_index("controls_grid.attach(&action_button, 2, 1, 1, 1);")
+            < source_index("controls_grid.attach(&capture_actions, 1, 1, 2, 1);")
     );
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("let clip_button = gtk::Button::with_label(\"Clip\");"));
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("let record_button = gtk::Button::with_label(\"Record\");"));
+    assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("record_button.add_css_class(\"media-toggle\");"));
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("let save_button = gtk::Button::with_label(\"Save\");"));
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("capture_actions.append(&clip_button);"));
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("capture_actions.append(&record_button);"));
@@ -491,7 +492,7 @@ fn media_controls_own_stream_toggles_and_inline_gain_controls() {
     ));
     assert!(
         UI_LAYOUT_SRC
-            .contains("Opus is compressed and low-bandwidth; PCM is the known-good fallback.")
+            .contains("PCM is the known-good default; Opus is compressed and experimental.")
     );
     assert!(UI_LAYOUT_SRC.contains("upstream_transport_row.append(&webcam_transport_combo);"));
     assert!(

tests/ui/client/launcher/client_launcher_runtime_contract.rs

@@ -313,8 +313,21 @@ fn launcher_utility_buttons_still_bind_to_live_actions() {
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("pane.clip_button.connect_clicked"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("clip saved to"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("record_button.connect_clicked"));
+    assert!(UI_SRC.contains("button.add_css_class(\"recording-active\");"));
+    assert!(UI_SRC.contains("button.remove_css_class(\"recording-active\");"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("recording saved to"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("press Stop to finish."));
+    assert!(UI_SRC.contains("fn default_eye_capture_root() -> PathBuf"));
+    assert!(UI_SRC.contains(".join(\"Pictures\").join(\"lesavka\")"));
+    assert!(UI_SRC.contains("fn capture_day_slug() -> String"));
+    assert!(
+        UI_SRC.contains("ensure_eye_capture_dir(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref(), \"clips\")")
+    );
+    assert!(
+        UI_SRC.contains(
+            "ensure_eye_capture_dir(borrowed.save_dir_override.as_deref(), \"recordings\")"
+        )
+    );
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("widgets.usb_recover_button.connect_clicked"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("recover_usb_soft(&server_addr)"));
     assert!(UI_SRC.contains("recover_uac_soft(&server_addr)"));

tests/unit/common/audio/common_audio_transport_unit.rs

@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ fn opus_profile_is_low_bandwidth_without_changing_capture_clock() {
     assert_eq!(pcm.frame_duration_us, 20_000);
     assert_eq!(opus.frame_duration_us, 20_000);
     assert_eq!(pcm.expected_payload_bytes(), 3_840);
-    assert_eq!(opus.expected_payload_bytes(), 160);
+    assert_eq!(opus.expected_payload_bytes(), 240);
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ fn packet_and_bundle_metadata_can_select_opus_without_payload_guessing() {
         sample_rate: 48_000,
         channels: 2,
         frame_duration_us: 20_000,
-        data: vec![0xaa; 160],
+        data: vec![0xaa; 240],
         ..AudioPacket::default()
     };
     let bundle = UpstreamMediaBundle {
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ fn upstream_audio_codec_parser_keeps_opus_and_pcm_names_stable() {
     assert_eq!(parse_upstream_audio_codec("aac"), None);
 
     let mut packet = AudioPacket {
-        data: vec![0xaa; 160],
+        data: vec![0xaa; 240],
         ..AudioPacket::default()
     };
     mark_packet_opus(&mut packet);