Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

arinlares · 2010-06-03 01:47:34

Sound device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family)
Kernel module: snd-hda-intel
Alsa is up to date
Kernel 2.6.33.4-1

Sometimes, when I use a program reliant on ALSA, there'll be static in the channel (it happens after different spans of use, different programs). I can run a program fine for an hour, exit it, do something else, run the same program again, and get static coming out of the speakers and headphones, with the sound I'm supposed to be hearing only coming through the headphones if they're plugged in, or the speakers if I'm not using headphones.

I've tried everything, and run Alsaconf (which, despite a serious attempt at looking busy, does nothing I haven't already done). I can't seem to get the static to stop once it starts, unless I shutdown my computer and start it up again (I can't restart, it must be shut down). The contents of my modprobe.conf are below.

options snd-hda-intel model=auto

EDIT: IT turns out to be an underrun in the PCM channel, whatever that means. I still wish to adress the issue.

Last edited by arinlares (2010-06-03 08:36:48)

enyaw_ecurb · 2010-06-03 12:03:42

Hi

I don't have a clue what's that about, but I think there are a few things you could try (If you did not already).

speaker-test -d default -c 2 -t wav

This should print you the configuration of the card (maybe look after buffer_size) and with the parameter "-b" you can specify the buffer-time in microseconds. Maybe that does help and you can set the buffer-time in your asoundrc.

On the other hand it looks like a bug/quirk in the driver for your card. Maybe there are some parameters you could pass to snd-hda-intel or the developers fixed some things in newer versions of alsa.

Good Luck!

sultanoswing · 2010-06-03 22:35:46

I had a similar sounding problem (no pun intended), which turned out to be redundant modules in my rc.conf.

Worth checking that you haven't somehow got multiple modules competing for resources - although where to begin, I hope someone else can help with!

arinlares · 2010-06-04 02:22:21

The driver-bug option sounds likely, I'll have to try adjusting the buffer when the static starts up again, and will look into kernel modules, and post back on anything I find.

Forgot to mention: I have one of two different compositors (cairo-compmgr and compiz), running at any one time. Could this have something to do with it? The static occurs with or without, but seems to happen more with a compiz than any other WM I have set up.

Last edited by arinlares (2010-06-04 02:23:03)

arinlares · 2010-06-10 06:12:55

Sorry for the bump, but I experienced it again (in Awesome WM, with cairo-compmgr not compositing, but running in the background still). I saw a post in the Ubuntu forum for what seemed to be a similar issue (alsa, snd-hda-intel).

Following the procedure (speaker-test brought noise into the mix with dilute volume, figured I'd try it), I ran "sudo rmmod snd-hda intel" then "sudo modprobe snd-hda-intel" and speakertest again. It created light static with the expected sound low in the mix, so I ran "sudo alsactl init" and then speaker-test, this time with a -b 2048 with success, and ran an application, and the problem's gone. It isn't exactly solved (needs to be patched... where to report?), but it's a workaround.

EDIT: Didn't work. It is confirmable as an alsa issue. I'm running cmus right now (terminal, no X running), and there's no static.

Last edited by arinlares (2010-06-10 06:27:28)

Arch Linux

#1 2010-06-03 01:47:34

Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

#2 2010-06-03 12:03:42

Re: Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

#3 2010-06-03 22:35:46

Re: Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

#4 2010-06-04 02:22:21

Re: Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

#5 2010-06-10 06:12:55

Re: Static in output from Alsa, snd-hda-intel, and Intel

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