Arch Linux

PeteMo

Member

From: H'Burg, VA

Registered: 2006-01-26

Posts: 191

Website

alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

I am having some trouble getting sound working on my fresh arch install.  Any help would be appreciated.  I know there are tons of threads here on sound, but I have not had any luck with their suggestions.  I have followed the wiki article on setting up alsa.  I have done the following:
     - installed alsa-libs, alsa-utils, and alsa-oss
     - the proper modules are loaded (snd_intel8x0 and snd_pcm_oss)
     - all possible setttings in alsamixer are unmuted and turned up
     - added myself to the "audio" group
     - alsa is loaded at boot
     - double checked that the speakers are plugged in and turned on
     - although it is not removed now, I have removed the snd-intel8x0m module as was suggested in another thread

I can "play" music in either beep-media-player or aplay/mpg321 on the command line, but no sound is emitted.  The players play the file, with no complaints, until end of file.  Beep-media-player is set to use the alsa driver in its preferences.  Below are some snippets of code that might be of value.

root@arch:~ $ lsmod | grep snd
snd_intel8x0m          15372  0
snd_intel8x0           30620  0
snd_ac97_codec         95136  2 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0
snd_ac97_bus            2176  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss            50848  0
snd_mixer_oss          17920  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                84100  4 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              22148  1 snd_pcm
snd                    49124  7 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore               8160  1 snd
snd_page_alloc          8840  3 snd_intel8x0m,snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm

root@arch:~ $ lshwd | grep audio
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp.|ICH4 845G/GL Chipset AC'97 Audio Controller (snd-intel8x0)

 /etc/rc.conf
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng !hotplug !pcmcia network portmap nfslock @netfs @crond @alsa)

/etc/modprobe.conf
# OSS Compatibility
install snd-pcm modprobe -i snd-pcm ; modprobe snd-pcm-oss ; true
install snd-seq modprobe -i snd-seq ; modprobe snd-seq-oss ; true
# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.10 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
alias sound-slot-0 snd-intel8x0
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---

shbang

Member

Registered: 2005-10-03

Posts: 76

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

I have alsa similar to you with the following exceptions:

I do not have the alias entries created by alsaconf in modprobe.conf

I start alsa in rc.conf but not in the background (@)

I do NOT have EVERYTHING unmuted and turned up in alsamixer.  Line, CD, MIC, MIC Boost, Video, and Phone are muted.  PCM Out is Post 3D.  Mono out is Mix.

After sound is working run alsactl store to save sound levels.

rayjgu3

Member

From: Chicago IL usa

Registered: 2004-07-04

Posts: 695

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

run alsamixer

line jack sense [off] does it
if its on no sound

was my issue see
http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php? … highlight=

PeteMo

Member

From: H'Burg, VA

Registered: 2006-01-26

Posts: 191

Website

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

I'm still not having any luck.  I've tried removing the alsaconf generated lines in /etc/modprobe.conf, and I'm not loading alsa in the background in /etc/rc.conf.  I also played with the settings in alsamixer.  Line jack sense was not on by default.

I booted with an ubuntu live cd I had lying around to see what sound related modules were loaded there.  Sound did not work in the live environment either, with the same symptoms - player programs working, just no sound emitted.  I find that kinda strange, since prior to running arch, I used ubuntu and sound worked out of the box.  I certainly thought if it worked in the installed ubuntu that it would work in the live environment.

I hooked the speakers into my desktop machine just to rule that out, and they work fine there.  The machine I'm having trouble with is a laptop, if that makes any difference.

Any other ideas?  I'm running out of things to try, myself.

rayjgu3

Member

From: Chicago IL usa

Registered: 2004-07-04

Posts: 695

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

do you have it pluged in headphone jack or line out
try both make sure head phone jack is enabled

when booting up watch for when loading modules do you here a tick
if so id say theres a setting in there somewhere either something needs to be turned off/on if you dont there may be problem with hardware (hope not)

shbang

Member

Registered: 2005-10-03

Posts: 76

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

What kernel are you using?

Moo-Crumpus

Member

From: Hessen / Germany

Registered: 2003-12-01

Posts: 1,488

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

Hip-Shot:
Remove the oss entries out of modprobe.conf.

---

Frumpus ♥ addict
[mu'.krum.pus], [frum.pus]

scarecrow

Member

From: Greece

Registered: 2004-11-18

Posts: 715

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

Agree with the former suggestions: remove the "alias" arguments from your modprobe.conf.
I have the same soundcard with just the OSS compatibility entries left in. It just works.

---

Microshaft delenda est

PeteMo

Member

From: H'Burg, VA

Registered: 2006-01-26

Posts: 191

Website

Re: alsa configured, audio "plays", but no sound [solv

Thanks guys!  Sound is now working.  I did not need the alsa generated aliases in /etc/modprobe.conf.  I had removed them earlier without luck, but I've tried so many things now, that it could have been more than one thing.  Thanks again!