diff --git a/spa/include/spa/node/command.h b/spa/include/spa/node/command.h
index 571c10499..f630a6412 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/node/command.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/node/command.h
@@ -33,14 +33,22 @@ extern "C" {
 
 /* object id of SPA_TYPE_COMMAND_Node */
 enum spa_node_command {
-	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Suspend,
-	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Pause,
-	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start,
+	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Suspend,	/**< suspend a node, this removes all configured
+					  * formats and closes any devices */
+	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Pause,		/**< pause a node. this makes it stop emiting
+					  *  scheduling events */
+	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start,		/**< start a node, this makes it start emiting
+					  *  scheduling events */
 	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Enable,
 	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Disable,
 	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Flush,
 	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Drain,
 	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Marker,
+	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin,	/**< begin a set of parameter enumerations or
+					  *  configuration that require the device to
+					  *  remain opened, like query formats and then
+					  *  set a format */
+	SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd,	/**< end a transaction */
 };
 
 #define SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ID(cmd)	SPA_COMMAND_ID(cmd, SPA_TYPE_COMMAND_Node)
diff --git a/spa/include/spa/node/type-info.h b/spa/include/spa/node/type-info.h
index 9bda06631..60db9f664 100644
--- a/spa/include/spa/node/type-info.h
+++ b/spa/include/spa/node/type-info.h
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ static const struct spa_type_info spa_type_node_command_id[] = {
 	{ SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Flush,	SPA_TYPE_Int, SPA_TYPE_INFO_NODE_COMMAND_BASE "Flush",   NULL },
 	{ SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Drain,	SPA_TYPE_Int, SPA_TYPE_INFO_NODE_COMMAND_BASE "Drain",   NULL },
 	{ SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Marker,	SPA_TYPE_Int, SPA_TYPE_INFO_NODE_COMMAND_BASE "Marker",  NULL },
+	{ SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin,	SPA_TYPE_Int, SPA_TYPE_INFO_NODE_COMMAND_BASE "ParamBegin",  NULL },
+	{ SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd,	SPA_TYPE_Int, SPA_TYPE_INFO_NODE_COMMAND_BASE "ParamEnd",  NULL },
 	{ 0, 0, NULL, NULL },
 };
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-sink.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-sink.c
index 450ecd73a..a87cc72cb 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-sink.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-sink.c
@@ -239,6 +239,16 @@ static int impl_node_send_command(void *object, const struct spa_command *comman
 	spa_return_val_if_fail(command != NULL, -EINVAL);
 
 	switch (SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ID(command)) {
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin:
+		if ((res = spa_alsa_open(this)) < 0)
+			return res;
+		break;
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd:
+		if (this->have_format)
+			return 0;
+		if ((res = spa_alsa_close(this)) < 0)
+			return res;
+		break;
 	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start:
 		if (!this->have_format)
 			return -EIO;
diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-source.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-source.c
index 2773ab153..bda70844a 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-source.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm-source.c
@@ -241,6 +241,16 @@ static int impl_node_send_command(void *object, const struct spa_command *comman
 	spa_return_val_if_fail(command != NULL, -EINVAL);
 
 	switch (SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ID(command)) {
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin:
+		if ((res = spa_alsa_open(this)) < 0)
+			return res;
+		break;
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd:
+		if (this->have_format)
+			return 0;
+		if ((res = spa_alsa_close(this)) < 0)
+			return res;
+		break;
 	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_Start:
 		if (!this->have_format)
 			return -EIO;
diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
index a106ea7e4..6a427ab88 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.c
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 #define CHECK(s,msg,...) if ((err = (s)) < 0) { spa_log_error(state->log, msg ": %s", ##__VA_ARGS__, snd_strerror(err)); return err; }
 
-static int spa_alsa_open(struct state *state)
+int spa_alsa_open(struct state *state)
 {
 	int err;
 	struct props *props = &state->props;
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ static int spa_alsa_open(struct state *state)
 
 	CHECK(snd_output_stdio_attach(&state->output, stderr, 0), "attach failed");
 
-	spa_log_debug(state->log, NAME" %p: ALSA device open '%s' %s", state, props->device,
+	spa_log_info(state->log, NAME" %p: ALSA device open '%s' %s", state, props->device,
 			state->stream == SND_PCM_STREAM_CAPTURE ? "capture" : "playback");
 	CHECK(snd_pcm_open(&state->hndl,
 			   props->device,
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ int spa_alsa_close(struct state *state)
 	if (!state->opened)
 		return 0;
 
-	spa_log_debug(state->log, NAME" %p: Device '%s' closing", state, state->props.device);
+	spa_log_info(state->log, NAME" %p: Device '%s' closing", state, state->props.device);
 	if ((err = snd_pcm_close(state->hndl)) < 0)
 		spa_log_warn(state->log, "%s: close failed: %s", state->props.device,
 				snd_strerror(err));
@@ -539,6 +539,7 @@ int spa_alsa_set_format(struct state *state, struct spa_audio_info *fmt, uint32_
 	CHECK(snd_pcm_hw_params_set_period_size_near(hndl, params, &period_size, &dir), "set_period_size_near");
 	CHECK(snd_pcm_hw_params_get_buffer_size_max(params, &state->buffer_frames), "get_buffer_size_max");
 	CHECK(snd_pcm_hw_params_set_buffer_size_near(hndl, params, &state->buffer_frames), "set_buffer_size_near");
+
 	state->period_frames = period_size;
 	periods = state->buffer_frames / state->period_frames;
 
diff --git a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.h b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.h
index 2bf6a7e49..001ac415a 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.h
+++ b/spa/plugins/alsa/alsa-pcm.h
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ spa_alsa_enum_format(struct state *state, int seq,
 
 int spa_alsa_set_format(struct state *state, struct spa_audio_info *info, uint32_t flags);
 
+int spa_alsa_open(struct state *state);
 int spa_alsa_start(struct state *state);
 int spa_alsa_reassign_follower(struct state *state);
 int spa_alsa_pause(struct state *state);
diff --git a/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c b/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
index 10a27f8fd..390ae153a 100644
--- a/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
+++ b/spa/plugins/audioconvert/audioadapter.c
@@ -459,6 +459,9 @@ static int negotiate_format(struct impl *this)
 	state = 0;
 	format = NULL;
 
+	spa_node_send_command(this->follower,
+			&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin));
+
 	if (this->have_format)
 		format = spa_format_audio_raw_build(&b, SPA_PARAM_Format, &this->follower_current_format.info.raw);
 
@@ -471,7 +474,7 @@ static int negotiate_format(struct impl *this)
 		else {
 			debug_params(this, this->follower, this->direction, 0,
 					SPA_PARAM_EnumFormat, format, "follower format", res);
-			return res;
+			goto done;
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -484,16 +487,23 @@ static int negotiate_format(struct impl *this)
 			debug_params(this, this->convert,
 					SPA_DIRECTION_REVERSE(this->direction), 0,
 					SPA_PARAM_EnumFormat, format, "convert format", res);
-			return -ENOTSUP;
+			res = -ENOTSUP;
+			goto done;
 		}
 	}
-	if (format == NULL)
-		return -ENOTSUP;
+	if (format == NULL) {
+		res = -ENOTSUP;
+		goto done;
+	}
 
 	spa_pod_fixate(format);
 
 	res = configure_format(this, 0, format);
 
+done:
+	spa_node_send_command(this->follower,
+			&SPA_NODE_COMMAND_INIT(SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd));
+
 	return res;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/pipewire/stream.c b/src/pipewire/stream.c
index 916e69c18..5da8dc765 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/stream.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/stream.c
@@ -410,6 +410,9 @@ static int impl_send_command(void *object, const struct spa_command *command)
 			stream_set_state(stream, PW_STREAM_STATE_STREAMING, NULL);
 		}
 		break;
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamBegin:
+	case SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ParamEnd:
+		break;
 	default:
 		pw_log_warn(NAME" %p: unhandled node command %d", stream,
 				SPA_NODE_COMMAND_ID(command));