Microphone and Front Panel Headphone Jack Issues (Modmic 3, MAG Z690 motherboard)

jchapman32 · 03-28-2022, 04:53 PM

Hello,

Having a couple audio issues. I can't get my microphone to function even though it seems to be detected. I also have issues with my front panel headphone jack.

Microphone:

When plugged in to the back panel microphone jack, lists as 'Microphone - USB Audio'. Does not function. I have noticed some strange behavior where if I do a mic test on discord and play noise through my headphones that the mic will pick up the digital sound as input which echos it. Any input into the mic as normal does not work.

Front panel jack:

Any audio device plugged into the back panel jack seems to be listed under 'Speakers - USB Audio', I've had no issues using the back panel for speakers or headphones. On the front panel, the device lists under 'Headphones - USB Audio' though no sound will come through. Interestingly, if I have my speakers plugged in at the same time, I will still hear audio through the speakers even when I have the headphones selected as the primary device.

Hardware:

Microphone - Modmic 3.0
Headphones - Audio Technica ATH-M50x
Motherboard - MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk WiFi DDR4
OS - Pop! OS 21.10

Initial troubleshooting through threads I found about Alsamixer:

I have three sound cards listed, but none show devices like 'headphones', 'speakers', 'microphone', etc.

Screenshots of the three:
https://i.imgur.com/LnS6j45.png
https://i.imgur.com/9St8562.png
https://i.imgur.com/7sFh8Js.png

Let me know if any other info would be useful to diagnose. Help on either issue would be greatly appreciated!

aus9 · 03-28-2022, 10:29 PM

HI until you get a better reply....the third image suggests missing firmware and or missing codec for that device.

1) Please be blunt....what type of device do you want sound out of?
eg laptop speakers, hdmi cable to monitor to surround sound, BT speakers, BT headphones etc
b) what kind of mic is this?
3.5 mm single channel mic, or one with a volume inline controller, usb lead mic etc

2) please go to this page and follow its directions
https://www.alsa-project.org/wiki/AlsaInfo

I do not care if you change dir to /tmp and run from tmp
I do not care if you prefer to upload to your own host site such as dropbox.....but the info script asks a lot and provides a lot of info

3) Have you checked your bios setup for sound if you are trying to use onboard sound?

4) if that mic is for image 1 for usb.....you need to press F4 to see capture,
arrow key to get to the control for mic
press space on or off to toggle active or deactive
then raise volumes

there is a rumour....as I do not own this device, it has its own mute switch

jchapman32 · 03-29-2022, 04:42 PM

1) The sound output is working with any device I plug into the jack directly connected to the motherboard. The front panel jack does not work.

b) 3.5mm, single channel. Has an attachable physical mute switch. No difference when attached / not attached.

2) Output: http://alsa-project.org/db/?f=7a4139...bc69e5f36732e1

3) I didn't notice anything abnormal in BIOS. Mic also works out of the box in Windows.

4) Here's alsamixer on the USB Audio card with Capture selected:

https://i.imgur.com/LlAWSnt.png

Turning up 'Analog In' makes the digital audio input more sensitive (essentially seems I have two audio output channels while my mic is active). No input through the mic works.

aus9 · 03-29-2022, 09:53 PM

Hi

Not home at moment
1. Suggest header pin wrong for front panel

2 you have both pipewire and pulse running.
Disable one or both

3 i tend to have mic vol 70 and I have a mic boost set to 0 but accept you do not have that control

aus9 · 03-30-2022, 06:01 AM

home now, does 7ad0 Alder Lake-S HD Audio Controller
from https://pci-ids.ucw.cz/v2.2/pci.ids
match your knowledge of the hardware for your sound device?

2) if I have the correct manual
https://imgur.com/azgTk4u

your front panel connectors are more complicated than mine.
page 37 from here
https://www.manualowl.com/m/MSI/MAG-...ownload/653399

3) if I have the correct page, your mobo appears to be too modern for intel codecs,
you appear to have alc4080
https://www.msi.com/Motherboard/MAG-...HAWK-WIFI-DDR4
(I clicked on audio down the page a bit)

no such beast found for codecs
https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/late...dio/index.html

hmmm....maybe we should swap....I have a

Code:

inxi -M
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: Micro-Star model: B450 GAMING PLUS MAX (MS-7B86) v: 3.0
    serial: <superuser required> BIOS: American Megatrends LLC. v: H.C0
    date: 05/17/2021

jchapman32 · 04-01-2022, 04:45 PM

1) I'm not entirely sure. I haven't messed with audio hardware much prior.

2) The ports also work on Windows, so I'm sure it's wired correctly. Been focusing on trying things to make the mic work. Only thing stopping me from using Linux as my daily driver.

3) Damn hah, sure let's swap. That's unfortunate though.. I've found only a couple similar threads but nothing has worked for me so far unfortunately.

aus9 · 04-02-2022, 09:19 PM

Does windows tell you what codec your hardware uses?

and is it alder lake or something else please.

2) can you reply about pipewire and pulseaudio both running please. Its harder to trouble shoot when you have 2 front ends running.

It is also possible to disable both front ends....but I am not sure you are an Alsa lover like me.
If interested try this as non-root

Code:

systemctl --user stop pulseaudio.socket 
systemctl --user stop pulseaudio.service

I do not have pipewire installed but I imagine it has similar "services"

ondoho · 04-03-2022, 12:50 AM

^ The ampersands (&) after the systemctl commands make no sense; it's better to take it away and wait for command completion instead. If it takes too long, that could be an important hint in itself.

aus9 · 04-03-2022, 05:53 AM

sorry they are my ampersands from an autostart icewm file, I have removed them