HDMI Audio Not Working

jorsborn · 01-11-2015, 08:01 PM

I have just switched over from DVI to HDMI on a new monitor. I would like to feed the audio out over HDMI. Currently I get no audio over HDMI. Is there a setting to enable this? I am running Debian Wheezy with XFCE.

kilgoretrout · 01-12-2015, 01:07 PM

Install the PulseAudio Volume Control if it's not already installed:

# apt-get install pavucontrol

Open the application and go to the "Configuration" tab. You usually see two drop down menu buttons for "Profile", one for built-in audio, analog and the other for "High Definition Audio Controller". The later is the one you usually need to fool around with to activate sound over hdmi. To completely have all sound through hdmi, try selecting "Digital Stereo(HDMI) Output" in the High Definition Audio Controller Profile and selecting "Off" for the analog profile.
Also, double check and make sure that sound over hdmi is supported in linux for your graphics card.

EDDY1 · 01-12-2015, 01:31 PM

You will also need a .asoundrc file withe hdmi set as default.

jorsborn · 01-24-2015, 08:03 PM

Thank you for the reply! I installed pavucontrol and then launched it. Upon doing so, I was presented with an error. The error is detailed in the screen capture but it basically says that the connection to PulseAudio failed. I am not an experienced Linux user but I do recall that there is an alternative sound driver (?) Alsa. Could that be my issue? If so, how do I configure which to use? Any thoughts?

In regards to the .asoundrc file. Should this be located in my home folder? I have no such file currently.

jorsborn · 01-24-2015, 08:06 PM

Possibly related to the HDMI issue I just noticed something odd... most menus appear fine however some application menus have text so small that it is unreadable. Examples attached.

Higgsboson · 01-25-2015, 11:39 AM

What sound card do you have?

Code:

aplay -l

If you have a new sound card then you'll probably have to install its appropriate drivers with apt-get install.

Once you have your sound card name do a quick search for it on the net with debian and ubuntu added.
If there are any known problems, then there should be solutions.
The ubuntu sites are helpful in my experience.

My radeon hdmi card gave me a few problems - but they were eventually sorted.

jorsborn · 01-25-2015, 12:05 PM

Thanks! Below is the output of aplay. I am off and searching on ALC887...

Quote:

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 1: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 1: ALC887-VD Digital [ALC887-VD Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Higgsboson · 01-25-2015, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorsborn

Thanks! Below is the output of aplay. I am off and searching on ALC887...

You might have found this link yourself:
Some guy has got sound working on the same card using debian.
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=59680

Looks like you'll be busy.

jorsborn · 01-25-2015, 02:05 PM

I had not stumbled on that one... thank you! I have compiled, installed and rebooted. Inside the mixer application is a list of controls (front mic, line in, surround, etc.). The only applicable control that I can see is IEC958. I have that enabled... though unlike other controls that have a level associated with it, the IEC958 does not.

Next I tried making a .asoundrc file in my home directory. I added...

Code:

pcm.!default {
	type hw
	card 0
}

ctl.!default {
	type hw           
	card 0
}

... though I don't know what good that does since I only have one card. Regardless, it doesn't seem to have had an effect on anything.

Higgsboson · 01-25-2015, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorsborn

I had not stumbled on that one... thank you! I have compiled, installed and rebooted. Inside the mixer application is a list of controls (front mic, line in, surround, etc.). The only applicable control that I can see is IEC958. I have that enabled... though unlike other controls that have a level associated with it, the IEC958 does not.

Go to Configuration on Pavucontrol.
There should be two 'Profile' fields.
The top profile should have your sound card as output. Select it.

Now on your desktop, find system settings for sound. Select your hdmi sound card.
Do this while playing sound in the background.

Code:

Next I tried making a .asoundrc file in my home directory. I added...

If it doesn't work then delete it. That's what I had to do.

jorsborn · 01-25-2015, 02:39 PM

Hmmm.... confused. Isn't pavucontrol for pulse audio? I am using alsa. I get the same error when I launch pavucontrol (see my 2nd post for screenshot).

Higgsboson · 01-25-2015, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jorsborn

Hmmm.... confused. Isn't pavucontrol for pulse audio? I am using alsa. I get the same error when I launch pavucontrol (see my 2nd post for screenshot).

Pulse Audio Volume Control is PAVuControl.
It's called pavucontrol on the command line. Sorry, I should've said pulse audio.

Ensure nothing is muted on alsa and that it can see your sound card when you press F6. Increase the sound settings with the 'up' arrow on your keyboard.
I eventually got sound on one OS when I made the correct setting on pulse audio.

EDDY1 · 01-25-2015, 05:14 PM

Your asoundrc needs to list the hda as default, when I gat home tonight I will post mine so you have an example that you can copy & edit.