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JatinKaushal

Member

Registered: 2015-07-10

Posts: 25

[Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

So I plugged in my earphones in the microphone jack, set pulseaudio to pick up from it, maxed out all the input volumes, made sure nothing was muted in alsamixer, and started recording. The audio was barely audible even when I was screaming as loud as I could next to the microphone. The mic works perfectly on Linux Mint that's dual booted on the very same machine. Am I missing a package or something?

(Ask for any logs/configs you require)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 21,736

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

post, while recording

pacmd list-sources
pacmd list-source-outputs
amixer -c$index of your card from aplay -l

(maybe even from both systems, for comparison's sake. Which program are you trying to record with?

Last edited by V1del (2017-07-03 20:10:57)

JatinKaushal

Member

Registered: 2015-07-10

Posts: 25

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

Oh god. So sorry for the very late reply. The mic doesn't seem to be working properly on Mint either. Works on Windows (on another machine) though.

Here are the outputs of the commands:
for pacmd list-sources:

2 source(s) available.
    index: 0
	name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
	state: RUNNING
	suspend cause: 
	priority: 1950
	volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	max rewind: 344 KiB
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	used by: 1
	linked by: 1
	configured latency: 40.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
	monitor_of: 0
	card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
	module: 7
	properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7310000 irq 33"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "8c20"
		device.product.name = "8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "0"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
  * index: 1
	name: <alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
	state: RUNNING
	suspend cause: 
	priority: 9959
	volume: front-left: 99957 / 153% / 11.00 dB,   front-right: 99957 / 153% / 11.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	base volume: 6554 /  10% / -60.00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 1.78 ms
	max rewind: 0 KiB
	sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	used by: 2
	linked by: 2
	configured latency: 10.00 ms; range is 1.00 .. 2000.00 ms
	card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
	module: 7
	properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "ALC662 rev3 Analog"
		alsa.id = "ALC662 rev3 Analog"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7310000 irq 33"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "8c20"
		device.product.name = "8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "front:0"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC662 rev3"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0662,10280611,00100300"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	ports:
		analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (priority 8500, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (priority 8200, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-linein: Line In (priority 8100, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				
	active port: <analog-input-front-mic>

for pacmd list-source-outputs

3 source output(s) available.
    index: 77
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: DONT_MOVE 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 0 <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor>
	volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 13.24 ms
	requested latency: 40.00 ms
	sample spec: float32le 1ch 25Hz
	channel map: mono
	             Mono
	resample method: peaks
	owner module: 9
	client: 89 <PulseAudio Volume Control>
	properties:
		media.name = "Peak detect"
		application.name = "PulseAudio Volume Control"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "32"
		application.id = "org.PulseAudio.pavucontrol"
		application.icon_name = "audio-card"
		application.version = "3.0"
		application.process.id = "14439"
		application.process.user = "cocoa"
		application.process.host = "arch-os"
		application.process.binary = "pavucontrol"
		application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
		window.x11.display = ":0.0"
		application.process.machine_id = "02902610cd3840789bc403c1abe0afdf"
		application.process.session_id = "c1"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-application-id:org.PulseAudio.pavucontrol"
    index: 78
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: DONT_MOVE 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 1 <alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
	volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	requested latency: 40.00 ms
	sample spec: float32le 1ch 25Hz
	channel map: mono
	             Mono
	resample method: peaks
	owner module: 9
	client: 89 <PulseAudio Volume Control>
	properties:
		media.name = "Peak detect"
		application.name = "PulseAudio Volume Control"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "32"
		application.id = "org.PulseAudio.pavucontrol"
		application.icon_name = "audio-card"
		application.version = "3.0"
		application.process.id = "14439"
		application.process.user = "cocoa"
		application.process.host = "arch-os"
		application.process.binary = "pavucontrol"
		application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
		window.x11.display = ":0.0"
		application.process.machine_id = "02902610cd3840789bc403c1abe0afdf"
		application.process.session_id = "c1"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-application-id:org.PulseAudio.pavucontrol"
    index: 93
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: START_CORKED 
	state: RUNNING
	source: 1 <alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
	volume: front-left: 99957 / 153% / 11.00 dB,   front-right: 99957 / 153% / 11.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	requested latency: 10.00 ms
	sample spec: float32le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	             Stereo
	resample method: copy
	owner module: 9
	client: 106 <SoundRecorder>
	properties:
		media.name = "Record Stream"
		application.name = "SoundRecorder"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "32"
		application.process.id = "15479"
		application.process.user = "cocoa"
		application.process.host = "arch-os"
		application.process.binary = "gjs-console"
		application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
		window.x11.display = ":0.0"
		application.process.machine_id = "02902610cd3840789bc403c1abe0afdf"
		application.process.session_id = "c1"
		module-stream-restore.id = "source-output-by-application-name:SoundRecorder"

for amixer -c 1 (it would let me use the -l parameter)

Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 21,736

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

note that aplay -l is a different command, and that the amixer -c1 output is of the wrong card, it should be from your analog card as opposed to HDMI. The ALSA reported base volume (which acts as the 100% value of pulse) is very low. You might have to adjust/add a micboost or similar specifically in alsamixer (or with amixer, would be nice to have the output of that from the correct card, right now that would be

amixer -c0

but the ALSA indices can be unstable)

Last edited by V1del (2017-07-05 08:01:18)

JatinKaushal

Member

Registered: 2015-07-10

Posts: 25

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

Thanks for the reply V1del.

So firstly, I applied a micboost by following this https://badlinuxadvice.wordpress.com/20 … -gnulinux/ article, but I couldn't find a Mic Boost option. I unmuted all the muted channels I could find, but still no luck.

Here is the output of amixer -c0

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [on]
  Front Right: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
  Front Right: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
  Front Right: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 63
  Front Left: Capture 63 [100%] [30.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 63 [100%] [30.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 63
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [-17.25dB] [off]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [-17.25dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Auto-Mute Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Enabled'
Simple mixer control 'Channel Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '2ch' '4ch' '6ch'
  Item0: '2ch'
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Rear Mic' 'Front Mic' 'Line'
  Item0: 'Front Mic'
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',1
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Rear Mic' 'Front Mic' 'Line'
  Item0: 'Rear Mic'
Simple mixer control 'Loopback Mixing',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]

zuwarm

Member

Registered: 2017-06-20

Posts: 7

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

Only speaking for Alsa:
Maybe make sure you selected the correct 'Input Source', (Rear Mic, Front Mic or Line).
Also there might be a 'Digital' Capture control, sometimes only after you started an Alsa application for the first time. Try to raise this slightly.

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 21,736

Re: [Pulseaudio] Recording through microphone has low volume

Your Front Mic is pretty low and there's a chance that the pulse control can't properly write back to hardware, what happens if you boost that a little?