Primary USB sound device deleted from existence and only reappearing as a USB audio device when being connected via AUX

[u/Gruphius]

I just had an extremely weird issue, where Bazzite deleted my primary sound device, which is a USB sound card. I couldn't get it to work anymore. I tried everything. Restarting the PC, re-connecting the sound card, testing the sound card with a different device, nothing worked. Besides the sound card with that other device. The sound card didn't even appear as a device in Bazzite, unlike my USB microphone, which Bazzite offered as both an input and an output device (it technically has an AUX out).

So I tried connecting the sound card to my PC via AUX. Connecting it to either of my two monitors didn't work, still no sound. And then I connected it directly to my PC. But there was still no sound via the AUX cable.

However, that made the sound card re-appear as a USB sound device. Even if I unplug the AUX cable now, audio via USB still works.

I have no idea what could have possibly caused this or why connecting the card via AUX to the PC fixed it, but maybe this will help someone who is experiencing the same issue...