Arch Linux

hayabusa

Member

Registered: 2014-07-05

Posts: 2

How to select default output device (microphone) in ALSA?

Hello,

My webcam microphone does not work.

It is not set in ALSA, and pulseaudio points back to ALSA. As a consequence, skype doesn't work.

I have read a bunch of wiki and manpages, found no answer. https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/ALSA#Configuration

Hence, how do I set usb webcam microphone as the default input device in ALSA? It is set by alsamixer, but

$ arecord -d 5 test-mic.wav
$ aplay test-mic.wav

produces nothing except files.

I've installed archlinux only because OpenBSD doesn't support skype. That's what I need from archlinux for.

I appreciate your answers and thank in advance.

emeres

Member

Registered: 2013-10-08

Posts: 1,570

Re: How to select default output device (microphone) in ALSA?

To use arecord with your webcam you need to know and specify the device:

arecord -l; # Look for your usb device
arecord -D hw:X,Y # where X is the card number and Y the device number

As for skype, it should have some configuration options.

hayabusa

Member

Registered: 2014-07-05

Posts: 2

Re: How to select default output device (microphone) in ALSA?

To use arecord with your webcam you need to know and specify the device:

arecord -l; # Look for your usb device
arecord -D hw:X,Y # where X is the card number and Y the device number

As for skype, it should have some configuration options.

I know the device. I can see it by various commands. I know for various config options. That's now what I'm asking.

I am asking how to specify it. Where is the config file for ALSA? Is it input or output device?

emeres

Member

Registered: 2013-10-08

Posts: 1,570

Re: How to select default output device (microphone) in ALSA?

grep -R capture /usr/lib/share/alsa/* -A 20

gives a hint to use dsnoop.

So the defaults node could/should (have not tested it) be used for this:

defaults.pcm.dsnoop.!card X
defaults.pcm.dsnoop.!device Y

Last edited by emeres (2014-07-05 21:04:52)