Arch Linux

ropy

Member

Registered: 2015-08-15

Posts: 2

Can't record with Microphone

Hi....

I've tried a lot of things but I don't know what I'm missing. I can't record anything and mic is not working (its not a hardware issue). I'm trying to record with arecord. Here's an screenshot of my alsamixer config + some other information:

$ arecord -l
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: VT1802 Analog [VT1802 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_hda_codec_via      24576  1
snd_hda_codec_generic    69632  1 snd_hda_codec_via
snd_hda_intel          28672  5
snd_hda_controller     28672  1 snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec          98304  4 snd_hda_codec_via,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_controller
snd_hda_core           28672  4 snd_hda_codec_via,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_controller
snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm                90112  3 snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_controller
snd_timer              28672  1 snd_pcm
snd                    69632  17 snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_via,snd_pcm,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
soundcore              16384  1 snd

What should I do?

Last edited by ropy (2015-08-15 17:44:00)

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,601

Re: Can't record with Microphone

Are you running Pulseaudio?

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Chocapeek

Member

Registered: 2012-08-30

Posts: 15

Re: Can't record with Microphone

I've been having a similar issue, although with a different chipset (NVidia MCP77/78 @ Compaq CQ50).

Alsa is only detecting one capture device, everything is unmuted and @max volume.
Changing the model in /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-conf didn't work (went through them all).

While browsing for older posts on the subject I have found nothing new that has shown me a glance of hope, partly because of how detailed the wiki is.

Is there anyone who already solved this issue?

Cheers

Rumor

Member

From: Albany, NY

Registered: 2006-07-07

Posts: 638

Re: Can't record with Microphone

What microphone(s) are you using, and what interface do they have? (e.g. 1/8 jack or USB)

I ask because I do a fair amount of recording using a USB microphone that shows up in alsamixer as a separate sound device. When Audacity doesn't recognize my microphone, I have to open the F6 menu in alsamixer to confirm that they system sees it. For whatever reason, I find the problem is solved by unplugging the mic and plugging it back in, then resetting the gain in alsamixer under the settings for the USB mic.

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ropy

Member

Registered: 2015-08-15

Posts: 2

Re: Can't record with Microphone

Are you running Pulseaudio?

Yes!

What microphone(s) are you using, and what interface do they have? (e.g. 1/8 jack or USB)

Laptop's built-in mic; there's also a 3.5mm Jack for external mic.

Last edited by ropy (2015-08-18 14:10:35)

headkase

Member

Registered: 2011-12-06

Posts: 1,986

Re: Can't record with Microphone

Are you running Pulseaudio?

Yes!

Try this: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Pu … o#guvcview

The instructions are for guvcview but PulseAudio might be suspending your microphone too on idle.  All you have to do is list the sources to see if it's suspended.  If it is then try the given changes.

ewaller

Administrator

From: Pasadena, CA

Registered: 2009-07-13

Posts: 20,601

Re: Can't record with Microphone

I might suggest running pavucontrol and looking at the (working from memory here) the Input devices tab.  Configure it to show all devices.  If you can see your microphone represented, does the audio level meter bounce when you make noise?  is the microphone un-muted here?
Run a program that you expect to have use your microphone. Does that program show up in the tab of things that are recording (I forget the nomenclature)  If that program shows up, what source is it using?  if it is not the microphone, can you change it to the microphone?

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Nothing is too wonderful to be true, if it be consistent with the laws of nature -- Michael Faraday
The shortest way to ruin a country is to give power to demagogues.— Dionysius of Halicarnassus
---
How to Ask Questions the Smart Way

headkase

Member

Registered: 2011-12-06

Posts: 1,986

Re: Can't record with Microphone

Also in pavucontrol under the input tab the microphone should be the fallback device, the checkbox - when you click it the colour will fill in.