[SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

omega0 · 2021-07-05 11:31:14

I am getting sound only out of the right speaker when using HDMI output. Sound works fine with Analog output. My device is a Dell Inspiron 15 5558 laptop. I never noticed the difference until today, so I can't be sure if it has always been like this. Below are the most frequently asked outputs (from what I gathered after reading other threads).

$ aplay -l                                                 
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC3234 Analog [ALC3234 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

$ amixer -c0
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]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',3
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',4
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]

$ pacmd list-sinks 
2 sink(s) available.
    index: 1
	name: <alsa_output.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: SUSPENDED
	suspend cause: IDLE
	priority: 9039
	volume: front-left: 41848 /  64% / -11.69 dB,   front-right: 41848 /  64% / -11.69 dB
	       balance 0.00
	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 0.00 ms
	max request: 0 KiB
	max rewind: 0 KiB
	monitor source: 1
	sample spec: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	            Stereo
	used by: 0
	linked by: 0
	configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
	card: 1 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
	module: 7
	properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "ALC3234 Analog"
		alsa.id = "ALC3234 Analog"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7310000 irq 51"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card1"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "9ca0"
		device.product.name = "Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "front:1"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "768000"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "384000"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	ports:
		analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
	active port: <analog-output-speaker>
  * index: 2
	name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_03.0.hdmi-stereo>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
	state: RUNNING
	suspend cause: (none)
	priority: 9030
	volume: front-left: 20211 /  31% / -30.65 dB,   front-right: 20211 /  31% / -30.65 dB
	       balance 0.00
	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 925.60 ms
	max request: 337 KiB
	max rewind: 337 KiB
	monitor source: 3
	sample spec: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right
	            Stereo
	used by: 1
	linked by: 1
	configured latency: 980.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2176.87 ms
	card: 0 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_03.0>
	module: 6
	properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "HDMI 0"
		alsa.id = "HDMI 0"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "3"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI at 0xf7314000 irq 53"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:03.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "160c"
		device.product.name = "Broadwell-U Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "hdmi:0"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "768000"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "384000"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "hdmi-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (HDMI)"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (HDMI)"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				device.product.name = "DELL S2240L"
	active port: <hdmi-output-0>

$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     73728  1
snd_hda_codec_realtek  151552 1
snd_hda_codec_generic  98304  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_hda_intel          57344  5
snd_intel_dspcfg       28672  1 snd_hda_intel
snd_intel_sdw_acpi     20480  1 snd_intel_dspcfg
snd_hda_codec         172032  4 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek
ledtrig_audio          16384  2 snd_hda_codec_generic,dell_laptop
snd_hda_core          106496  5 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_hwdep              16384  1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm               147456  4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_core
snd_timer              45056  1 snd_pcm
snd                   114688  18 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_timer,snd_pcm
soundcore              16384  1 snd

$ lspci | grep Audio
00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Broadwell-U Audio Controller (rev 09)
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Wildcat Point-LP High Definition Audio Controller (rev 03)
08:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller (rev a1)

And AlsaMixer shows disabled controls for the Intel HDMI card.

AlsaMixer controls are disabled for Intel HDMI card

Edit

I found something old in systemd journal

Jul 05 16:22:46 precision audit[1]: SERVICE_START pid=1 uid=0 auid=4294967295 ses=4294967295 msg='unit=systemd-backlight@leds:dell::kbd_backlight comm="systemd" exe="/usr/lib/systemd/systemd/systemd" hostname=? addr=? terminal=? res=success'
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:00:03.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1b.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:08:00.1: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:08:00.1: Disabling MSI
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:08:00.1: Handle vga_switcheroo audio client
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_intel 0000:08:00.1: no codecs found!

Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0: autoconfig for ALC3234: line_outs=1 (0x14/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0) type:speaker
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:    hp_outs=1 (0x21/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:    mono: mono_out=0x0
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:    inputs:
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:      Headset Mic=0x19
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:      Headphone Mic=0x1a
Jul 05 16:22:46 precision kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0:      Internal Mic=0x12

Last edited by omega0 (2021-07-05 12:24:52)

V1del · 2021-07-05 11:49:11

And your receiver device (DAC monitor, whatever) is properly configured? You will always have "some" form of secondary control with digital streams, as no actual audio will be generated until the receiving entity does the digital to analog conversion.

A digital output is logically speaking always "mono" and only an off and on switch without an actual volume control it's up to your rendering device to convert the signal appropriately.

Last edited by V1del (2021-07-05 11:51:12)

omega0 · 2021-07-05 12:09:59

V1del wrote:

And your receiver device (DAC monitor, whatever) is properly configured? You will always have "some" form of secondary control with digital streams, as no actual audio will be generated until the receiving entity does the digital to analog conversion.
A digital output is logically speaking always "mono" and only an off and on switch without an actual volume control it's up to your rendering device to convert the signal appropriately.

My monitor was properly configured, but just not quite. This dumb solution worked.

Last edited by omega0 (2021-07-05 12:10:27)

V1del · 2021-07-05 12:17:44

The old unplug and plug again trick, neat. If this is [SOLVED] please mark it as such by editing the title in your initial post.

omega0 · 2021-07-05 12:27:04

Done! Thanks for pointing towards the receiver.

Arch Linux

#1 2021-07-05 11:31:14

[SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

#2 2021-07-05 11:49:11

Re: [SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

#3 2021-07-05 12:09:59

Re: [SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

#4 2021-07-05 12:17:44

Re: [SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

#5 2021-07-05 12:27:04

Re: [SOLVED] Intel HDMI outputs mono channel only

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