Microphone not working

DWilliams · 2011-02-23 22:57:00

I recently re-installed Arch. Before the reinstall, my mic was working just fine. Now, I cannot seem to get it to work.

I'm using ALSA and my mic is plugged into the "front mic" port. I went into alsamixer and unmuted/turned up all mic related channels and set my input source to front mic. If I go to "Capture" and "Capture 1" then hit my space bar over them, a red L and R appear next to them (not entirely sure what this does). When I do that, the only input I get from my mic is a loud screeching noise that doesn't have its intensity or anything changed by making noise or blowing into the mic, so it's not picking up the input.

DWilliams · 2011-02-23 23:23:11

Ok upon further investigation, it seems I have some sort of feedback loop going on. I know it's a software feedback since this is a headset mic so the mic cannot possibly pick up sounds from the headphones.

If I am recording while sound is being output, it echoes in the mic which would also explain the screeching feedback.

DWilliams · 2011-02-25 00:20:35

I've tested it with several programs and whatever sound is being output gets redirected as input to the mic and causes the echo/feedback.

I've googled a lot and found several people saying stuff like "make sure mic boost and any amplification is down and/or off" but I've messed with every slider in alsamixer and none of them seem to make a difference other than how loud the feedback is.

It's like the opposite of how mics usually work. Before, any mic input would echo as output unless you mute the front mic channel, but now output is being sent as input and the solution isn't as straightfoward.

oliver · 2011-02-25 20:29:32

i have a laptop with intel HD audio and I had a real hard time getting the microphone to work until I opened up alsamixer, shifted over to the 'capture' device and hit the <space> bar. I have no idea what it was, but it toggled something (I saw the change on the screen) and the mic started working

I thought I had to unmute something, but only the <space> bar thing got it working - it was already unmuted and had the volume up

Last edited by oliver (2011-02-25 20:30:22)

DWilliams · 2011-02-25 20:43:27

oliver wrote:

i have a laptop with intel HD audio and I had a real hard time getting the microphone to work until I opened up alsamixer, shifted over to the 'capture' device and hit the <space> bar. I have no idea what it was, but it toggled something (I saw the change on the screen) and the mic started working
I thought I had to unmute something, but only the <space> bar thing got it working - it was already unmuted and had the volume up

I don't really know what it does either, but I've tried it. When Capture is "off" there is no mic input or even the feedback noise, but when it's on I get the feedback

lagagnon · 2011-02-25 21:38:09

DWilliams: run "amixer" and have a close look at all the settings to see what might be your problem.

oliver · 2011-02-25 22:12:33

DWilliams wrote:

I don't really know what it does either, but I've tried it. When Capture is "off" there is no mic input or even the feedback noise, but when it's on I get the feedback

I must be high or something... I just realized you put this in your first post.

I had something similar where there was lots and lots of background noise (but no feedback)... I lowered the level of "Internal Mic Boost" (I had two of them) and it was about acceptable. The weird thing is they didn't have the red "Capture L R" next to them but they didn't actually work until I enabled it the "Capture" device itself

DWilliams · 2011-02-26 00:52:16

lagagnon wrote:

DWilliams: run "amixer" and have a close look at all the settings to see what might be your problem.

Hmm I don't spot anything obviously wrong. Here's the output:

Simple mixer control 'Master Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 211 [83%] [-8.80dB]
  Front Right: Playback 211 [83%] [-8.80dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 42
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 39 [93%] [-4.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 39 [93%] [-4.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 25 [81%] [3.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 25 [81%] [3.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: cvolume penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 3
  Front Left: Capture 2 [67%] [20.50dB]
  Front Right: Capture 2 [67%] [20.50dB]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 42
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.00dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 42
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 42
  Mono: Playback 40 [95%] [-3.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 21 [68%] [-3.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 21 [68%] [-3.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: cvolume penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 3
  Front Left: Capture 2 [67%] [20.50dB]
  Front Right: Capture 2 [67%] [20.50dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 31
  Front Left: Capture 23 [74%] [18.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 23 [74%] [18.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 31
  Front Left: Capture 23 [74%] [18.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 23 [74%] [18.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Digital',0
  Capabilities: cvolume penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 120
  Front Left: Capture 100 [83%] [20.00dB]
  Front Right: Capture 100 [83%] [20.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Independent HP',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'OFF' 'ON'
  Item0: 'OFF'
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Stereo Mixer' 'Rear Mic' 'Front Mic' 'Line'
  Item0: 'Front Mic'
Simple mixer control 'Rear Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Smart 5.1',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

DWilliams · 2011-02-27 00:31:32

Anybody have any suggestions at all?

.devilok · 2011-02-27 14:56:40

Same problem as yours.. Mic still wont work

Bass! · 2011-03-26 04:10:04

Same here with hda-intel soundcard

I suppose that problem appeared when Kernel or Alsa were updated.

Bass! · 2011-03-27 19:14:01

I soved it!

My solution:

1) Download alsa-driver manually: ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/driver/a … 24.tar.bz2 and extract it.
2) ./configure --with-cards=hda-intel --with-sequencer=yes
make && sudo make install
3) reboot and see results.

Last edited by Bass! (2011-03-27 19:14:45)

Arch Linux

#1 2011-02-23 22:57:00

Microphone not working

#2 2011-02-23 23:23:11

Re: Microphone not working

#3 2011-02-25 00:20:35

Re: Microphone not working

#4 2011-02-25 20:29:32

Re: Microphone not working

#5 2011-02-25 20:43:27

Re: Microphone not working

#6 2011-02-25 21:38:09

Re: Microphone not working

#7 2011-02-25 22:12:33

Re: Microphone not working

#8 2011-02-26 00:52:16

Re: Microphone not working

#9 2011-02-27 00:31:32

Re: Microphone not working

#10 2011-02-27 14:56:40

Re: Microphone not working

#11 2011-03-26 04:10:04

Re: Microphone not working

#12 2011-03-27 19:14:01

Re: Microphone not working

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