Arch Linux

mDuo13

Member

Registered: 2010-04-25

Posts: 94

[Solved] Mute speakers/headphones separately

Basically, I have a desktop computer, with an ASUS P6T mobo and onboard Realtek sound and two 3.5" sound outputs - one on the back of my case, plugged into my speakers, and one on top that I occasionaly plug headphones into. I want to be able to mute the speakers while maintaining output to the headphones.

There are a lot of results for people trying to solve this on Google, but so far none of the solutions I've seen help. Most of them suggest using Alsamixer to mute the appropriate channels, but the channels I have in my alsamixer don't seem to be able to do this - I have a "Master" which controls both, a "Headphone" channel which can mute the headphones, not the external speakers, a "Front" channel which controls both, and some other channels like "Surround" and "Center" that aren't really in use.

So basically what I am saying is that if it were reasonable to plug my speakers into the top jack and plug my headphones into the rear jack, then alsamixer would do what I want it to, but unfortunately due to the way my speakers and seat are arranged that's not feasible.

Anyone else know what to do about all this?

NECRO EDIT: After one of the many kernel revisions since this post, the problem became fixed. In fact, it even changed so that the (rear-jack) speakers become automatically muted when headphones are plugged in. Sorry I don't have a specific revision to point out.

Last edited by mDuo13 (2013-02-11 23:08:57)

ngoonee

Forum Fellow

From: Between Thailand and Singapore

Registered: 2009-03-17

Posts: 7,362

Re: [Solved] Mute speakers/headphones separately

It depends on the alsa driver, not all of them allow individual muting. It may even be 'impossible' on a board level.

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codycarey

Member

Registered: 2009-08-21

Posts: 154

Re: [Solved] Mute speakers/headphones separately

If all else fails, http://www.monoprice.com/products/produ … 1&format=2

mDuo13

Member

Registered: 2010-04-25

Posts: 94

Re: [Solved] Mute speakers/headphones separately

Well, I know it's not technically impossible to control the two separately since I can mute the headphones without muting the speakers... but not vice-versa... @ngoonee - is it possible there's another driver out there that's more specific to my mobo's sound? Is there a place I could look for alternatives?

And the "buy-a-longass-cable-from-Monoprice" option doesn't cut it because the headphone jack is on top of my computer, where I often stack other stuff (such as my mousepad) when I don't have headphones plugged in, e.g. most of the time. If I could just switch the way they were wired at the mobo level, I'd do that, but unfortunately the back one is built-in.