[SOLVED]ALSA Problems

Zymus · 2010-05-14 15:53:02

A few days ago, I tried to listen to some music son my Arch system, and it didn't work. SO I installed all the Gstreamer plugins(base, good, bad, ugly), and that still didn't work. So i did

alsamixer

And unmuted everything. still no sound. So i tried to compile the alsa drivers myself. Still no sound. I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling alsa and the drivers and the gstreamer modules, nothing. Now today, for some reason, I can't use any of the alsa commands. I can't use alsactl, alsamixer, amixer, alsaconf, any of them. SO i was reading on other different forums about what could cause this, and they said that it might be because the kernel was compiled with no alsa support. So I try to compile a new kernel WITH alsa support, and I can't boot the kernel. I can't copy the output because my system freezes after it fails to load the kernel correctly. I'm attempting to use the onboard sound drivers (RealtekHD , Intel ICH9 South Bridge) From the Gigabyte EP35-DS3R Motherboard. I've tried compiling and installing the open source drivers from Realtek, and still no sound.

What options are out there for me?

Last edited by Zymus (2010-05-16 16:25:50)

geniuz · 2010-05-14 17:14:41

What exactly happens if you run alsaconf as root ?

ercula · 2010-05-14 17:19:14

Try adding yourself to the audio group in the /etc/group file.

Arch Wiki suggests doing this by issuing

# gpasswd -a USERNAME audio

Last edited by ercula (2010-05-14 17:31:00)

Zymus · 2010-05-14 21:00:47

@geniuz: The same things happen when i run as root. I do all my config editing and driver isntalling as root by habit.

@ercula: I haven't added myself to the audio group. Would notbeing in a certain group prevent even root from detecting the appropriate hardware?

Statix · 2010-05-14 21:15:03

What are you running to test the audio? The simplest test is just by running

speaker-test

What's the output of that?

If you could also provide amixer output that'd be great.

Zymus · 2010-05-14 22:16:59

Output of speaker-test:

[root@zenith ~]# speaker-test
speaker-test 1.0.23
Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
ALSA lib confmisc.c:768:(parse_card) cannot find card '0'
ALSA lib conf.c:4154:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_card_driver returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib confmisc.c:392:(snd_func_concat) error evaluating strings
ALSA lib conf.c:4154:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_concat returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib confmisc.c:1251:(snd_func_refer) error evaluating name
ALSA lib conf.c:4154:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_refer returned error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib conf.c:4633:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: No such file or directory
ALSA lib pcm.c:2211:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM default

Output of amixer:

[root@zenith ~]# amixer
amixer: Mixer attach default error: No such file or directory

Output of alsaconf:

[root@zenith ~]# alsaconf
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory

Output of alsactl:

[root@zenith ~]# alsactl store
alsactl: save_state:1504: No soundcards found...

davidm · 2010-05-14 22:21:41

what does 'lspci -v' reveal in regards to the sound card? I presume you are using the standard arch kernel?

Edit: I just read that you tried to recompile to get support. You probably don't need to do this (and in fact it might be why you are having issues in part now because the right drivers/modules aren't compiled in or loaded) but we should see the output of lspci first to see what you have exactly. The standard Arch kernel seems pretty good about detecting most hardware in my experience.

Last edited by davidm (2010-05-14 22:27:56)

Zymus · 2010-05-14 22:36:01

lspci -v output:

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device a002
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 3
Memory at f8200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

davidm · 2010-05-14 23:35:19

Zymus wrote:

lspci -v output:
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 02)
Subsystem: Giga-byte Technology Device a002
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 3
Memory at f8200000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
Capabilities: [60] MSI: Enable- Count=1/1 Maskable- 64bit+
Capabilities: [70] Express Root Complex Integrated Endpoint, MSI 00
Capabilities: [100] Virtual Channel
Capabilities: [130] Root Complex Link
Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

It looks like the standard kernel26 should not have problems detecting that. I see many people using it here on the forums. You should probably get rid of the custom compile and go back to it unless you have a strong preference to not do so. Right now your custom compiled kernel seems to be missing a lot and basically seems to have chance of working until you fix that.

I did see this info though (looks like it might apply to your card) :

http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Adv … chitecture

No Sound with Onboard Intel Sound Card
There may be an issue with two conflicting modules loaded, namely snd_intel8x0 and snd_intel8x0m. In this case, edit rc.conf and in the MODULES array blacklist the latter one so that it reads !snd_intel8x0m afterwards.
Muting the "External Amplifier" in alsamixer or amixer may also help. See the ALSA wiki.
With Intel Corporation 82801 I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller on laptop, you may need to add this line to
/etc/modprobe.d/sound
options snd-hda-intel model=laptop
or
options snd-hda-intel model=laptop enable=1 index=0
Otherwise, the pcspkr may not work, and only the headphone have sound.

Counter intuitive because you must actually mute one setting (external amplifier) apparently or you may not get sound. Completely opposite to what we normally expect. The alsa wiki states that in regards to a certain Dell model but it might apply to others as well. Try the module blacklisting as well... worth a shot.

Last edited by davidm (2010-05-14 23:38:06)

Zymus · 2010-05-15 03:13:02

Let me clarify. I tried using a custom kernel, but i got a sigterm everytime i tried to boot, leaving me at the initramfs, which was of no use to me. SO i restored it to the original and the the bootloader worked again. SO in essence, all this is still happening with the shipped kernel.

This may be a problem...

bash: /etc/modprobe.d/sound: No such file or directory

moslem.b · 2010-05-15 07:56:07

run

alsaconf

Zymus · 2010-05-15 08:33:45

Zymus wrote:

Output of alsaconf:
[root@zenith ~]# alsaconf
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory
ERROR: modinfo: could not open /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko: No such file or directory

Already did...

brebs · 2010-05-15 09:03:40

You've messed up your kernel. Fix your kernel, before trying to configure ALSA.

Zymus · 2010-05-15 16:23:18

brebs wrote:

You've messed up your kernel. Fix your kernel, before trying to configure ALSA.

I ahven't changed anything in the kernel. This kernel i'm using is the 2.6.33-ARCH kernel.

bzt · 2010-05-15 17:32:54

Sounds like the sound modules went missing. What is the output of:

lsmod | grep snd

and

modprobe snd

demian · 2010-05-15 18:02:30

zymus wrote:

So i tried to compile the alsa drivers myself.

This is probably why you don't have snd module anymore.
You should update your system and install the new kernel that just went into core.
Make a fresh start, you might just have a broken cable or forgot to unmute all devices (do it from commandline, not in alsaconf).

Zymus · 2010-05-15 23:27:17

@bzt: No output from lsmod | grep snd:

[root@zenith bin]# lsmod | grep snd
[root@zenith bin]#

and modprobe snd:

[root@zenith bin]# modprobe snd
FATAL: Could not open '/lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko': No such file or directory

I also did:

[root@zenith bin]# lsmod | grep sound
soundcore 6153 0
[root@zenith bin]#

Also, this is the ls -a of /lib/modules/2.6.33-ARCH/kernel/sound:

. .. ac97_bus.ko drivers i2c isa pcmcia soc soundcore.ko synth usb

Ok, so i upgrade to the new kernel in core, and now i can use the alsa tools. But i still don't get any sound.

EDIT: Ok, i fixed it all. had to jump through hoops to do it, but i did some various alsaconf args and alsactl things and now everything works ^_^

Last edited by Zymus (2010-05-16 02:32:49)

davidcarvalho · 2010-06-06 21:08:58

@OP: I understand you fixed the issue. But I am not an experienced Linux user. So please tell what I can do to the above as I have the same problem.
Thank you

Arch Linux

#1 2010-05-14 15:53:02

[SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#2 2010-05-14 17:14:41

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#3 2010-05-14 17:19:14

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#4 2010-05-14 21:00:47

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#5 2010-05-14 21:15:03

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#6 2010-05-14 22:16:59

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#7 2010-05-14 22:21:41

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#8 2010-05-14 22:36:01

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#9 2010-05-14 23:35:19

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#10 2010-05-15 03:13:02

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#11 2010-05-15 07:56:07

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#12 2010-05-15 08:33:45

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#13 2010-05-15 09:03:40

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#14 2010-05-15 16:23:18

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#15 2010-05-15 17:32:54

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#16 2010-05-15 18:02:30

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#17 2010-05-15 23:27:17

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

#18 2010-06-06 21:08:58

Re: [SOLVED]ALSA Problems

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