Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

chris_debian · 2009-03-11 21:36:11

Hi,

I've just done a fresh install, and my alsa settings are incorrect.

I have two soundcards, one for VoIP and one for multimedia (music).

When I run alsactl as a user, I get a very minimal screen, not the usual channels I would expect to find. Can anyone tell me how I can configure both of my soundcards?

Many thanks,

Chris.

r.b · 2009-03-11 22:08:07

Have you tried running alsaconf?

chris_debian · 2009-03-12 08:27:23

r.b wrote:

Have you tried running alsaconf?

Ahhh.... additionally, I may have some alsa remnants in my /home, that is causing problems. Will alsaconf be system wide, or per user? I would prefer system wide.

Cheers,

Chris.

r.b · 2009-03-12 19:07:21

It should be system-wide. Also, make sure that you've added yourself to the audio group. If you haven't done that, the command is

gpasswd -a <username> audio

Just run that as root and replace <username> with your username.

haxit · 2009-03-12 19:33:54

Did you check the wiki and follow the instructions?

chris_debian · 2009-03-12 21:52:11

Yup, I checked the wiki.

My user is already in /etc/group.

I'll scratch my head and try to work it out. It seems so difficult having two sound cards, and I can't see why it should be. Both cards are seen when I do alsaconf, but I just can't seem to configure them.

Chris.

wonder · 2009-03-12 21:57:58

install alsa-utils and use alsamixer. man alsamixer

-c <card number or identification>
              Select  the  soundcard  to use, if you have more than one. Cards
              are numbered from 0 (the default).

Last edited by wonder (2009-03-12 21:58:06)

vaquerito · 2009-03-12 22:17:38

Hi, try blacklisting pc speaker modules

 sudo vi /etc/modprobe.d/sound

in /etc/modprobe.d/sound:

blacklist snd_pcsp
blacklist pcspkr

and reboot

test1000 · 2009-03-13 13:13:15

@wonder, doesn't that just select what kind of soundcard you want to choose volume for?

pcm.!default {
type hw
card 1
}

ctl.!default {
type hw
card 1
}

in ~/.asoundrc might work though..

note: this just sets the next card alsa detects as the default one(which most apps are set up to use)

Last edited by test1000 (2009-03-13 13:27:14)

chris_debian · 2009-03-13 18:41:37

Well I don't seem to be any better off, and when I try to use xfce's mixer, I get:

GStreamer was unable to detect any sound devices. Some sound system specific GStreamer packages may be missing. It may also be a permissions problem.

I know my Arch install is nearly sorted, but this bit is a real pain. I've only got two sound cards!

Thanks,

Chris.

chris_debian · 2009-03-13 18:42:50

Maybe I need to look to see whether dmesg reported seeing the cards. This may indicate that a module wasn't loaded if nothing reported.

Chris.

test1000 · 2009-03-14 01:20:15

http://alsa.opensrc.org/.asoundrc#Default_PCM_device

delete and/or move away /etc/asound.conf too if you have it..

also i would suggest starting very basic. the stupid aplay or ecasound utility can't play all wavs for example(gives you an error) but xmms can(altough, when i tried it, xmms worked with those very same files on&off, go figure..). if it plays in xmms but you can't hear anything then it's almost certainly a volume issue(that is, check alsamixer/other mixer ans see if the channels are muted or low).

another thing that might be or not be correct; have you deleted audio entry in xorg.conf(maybe this doesn't even exist..)

Last edited by test1000 (2009-03-14 01:23:01)

Arch Linux

#1 2009-03-11 21:36:11

Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#2 2009-03-11 22:08:07

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#3 2009-03-12 08:27:23

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#4 2009-03-12 19:07:21

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#5 2009-03-12 19:33:54

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#6 2009-03-12 21:52:11

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#7 2009-03-12 21:57:58

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#8 2009-03-12 22:17:38

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#9 2009-03-13 13:13:15

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#10 2009-03-13 18:41:37

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#11 2009-03-13 18:42:50

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

#12 2009-03-14 01:20:15

Re: Help setting-up soundcard with ALSA.

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