Arch Linux

k2000

Member

Registered: 2009-12-02

Posts: 33

Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

Hi everyone,

I recently plugged a turn table in my computer.
I have 2 soundcards, on with my pc speakers (onboard) and another with the living room speakers (pci).
I plugged it in my onboard card I just unmuted the mic in alsamixer and it played without any additional configuration
When I plugged it in my pci soundcard it does not played at all, so I tried various setting for this card in alsamixer and did not succes.
But the real problem is that now no sound at all plays through this sound card, so I'm trying to restore alsamixer to defaut settings.

I got this post on ubuntu forums (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=237096) that says:

sudo /etc/init.d/alsa-utils reset 0

but theres no alsa-utils in /etc/rc.d.

I also tried

sudo alsactl init

but nothing happens.

help anyone?

Last edited by k2000 (2010-10-17 23:38:48)

k2000

Member

Registered: 2009-12-02

Posts: 33

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

So, I just tried something...
I deleted (after backing it up) /etc/asound.conf.
then,

alsactl restore

said something about not finding asound.conf, initializing using guess method. I guess it result in defaults settings.
But still no sound from the pci soundcard.
(yes, I checked if the channels where unmuted)
I don't know what mess I have done...

Last edited by k2000 (2010-10-15 00:55:14)

k2000

Member

Registered: 2009-12-02

Posts: 33

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

I just tested the pci card under windows and it still works. For a moment I thought maybe it was dead.

k2000

Member

Registered: 2009-12-02

Posts: 33

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

Under alsamixer, I just had to MUTE S/PDIF for the sound to play back again.
Please wait for me while I smash my head against the wall.

kailua

Member

Registered: 2010-05-27

Posts: 13

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

hi,

first of all you should search for an option to deactivate your onboard sound in bios. then you should read the alsa article in the wiki: http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Alsa for a correct installation of the needed packages and so on.
if your soundcard is configured right, you just need to run alsactl store once. the alsa-daemon will then restore the levels on each boot

of course there's no /etc/init.d/alsa-utils. this is a ubuntu-thing
in arch you control the alsa daemon with /etc/rc.d/alsa
and by the way it's just for saving and restoring the channel-levels on login/logout

if your soundcard is configured right, you just need to run alsactl store once. the alsa-daemon will then restore the levels on each boot

k2000

Member

Registered: 2009-12-02

Posts: 33

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

Thanks kailua,
But my problem is solved, I really just had to mute the S/PDIF channel.
I actually use the two soundcards, the onboard one is for my desktop speakers, and the pci one for the living room speaker. I use the second on only for mpd and, eventually, the turntable.
This way the sound from a youtube video, for exemple, does not play in the living room while someone else is listening music. And mpd can play back in any of the soundcards, or both of them.

kailua

Member

Registered: 2010-05-27

Posts: 13

Re: Restoring alsamixer defaults [solved]

ok now i understand. it's just because in my computer the onboard soundcard and the pci-card conflictet und there was no sound. but this was years ago.
good night