Arch Linux

AtlanticVoyager

Member

Registered: 2009-08-11

Posts: 23

Front microphone jack not working

I have a triple boot system - Arch and Debian Linuxes and Windows XP.
Rear microphone jack works on all OSs but front microphone jack only works with Windows XP.
Has anyone else had this problem and know how to solve it? Is it a Linux kernel problem, an Alsa driver problem, or a soundcard driver problem? The front headphone jack works with the Linuxes, but not the front microphone jack.
Any help would be much appreciated, thank you.

Xyne

Administrator/PM

Registered: 2008-08-03

Posts: 6,963

Website

Re: Front microphone jack not working

Sanity check: have you actually enabled the device with alsamixer and tested some recording software with the correct input device settings?

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AtlanticVoyager

Member

Registered: 2009-08-11

Posts: 23

Re: Front microphone jack not working

Yes I have. I have tested the mic using the Skype Call Testing Service. I can use Skype by plugging the headset into the rear speaker and microphone jacks. Using exactly the same alsamixer settings, if I transfer the headset jack plugs into the front sockets, then only the headphones work. The microphone does not work. As I said, the microphone front socket does work in Windows XP, so it is not a computer fault, but an operating system fault, in both Linuxes.
Obviously I would like to use the front sockets. It is much easier to plug the jacks in when there is a Skype call.

AtlanticVoyager

Member

Registered: 2009-08-11

Posts: 23

Re: Front microphone jack not working

Does anyone have any helpful suggestions about causes and cures?

Wintervenom

Member

Registered: 2008-08-20

Posts: 1,011

Re: Front microphone jack not working

Has anyone else had this problem...?

Yes, I have the same problem with my Conexant CX20561.  Neither the built-in or the external microphones work with ALSA, but they work fine with OSS.

SIGTERM

Member

Registered: 2009-09-19

Posts: 67

Website

Re: Front microphone jack not working

Got it working, Just play with alsamixer (remember to press F5 to see all devices)...

Last edited by SIGTERM (2009-09-26 13:50:26)