[SOLVED] Mic works, but doesn't record on Slackware 13 + Pulseaudio woes

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 05:32 AM

Hey, I'm having trouble using a microphone under Slackware 13. I've turned up all possible microphone levels in alsamixer, and I can hear myself through the headphones loud and clear, but can't record anything. $ arecord and $ aplay give me silence.

Also, Skype calls are useless, because I can hear everything, but the other side can't hear me. I've tried all kinds of sound device settings with the Skype Test Call thing, but nothing worked.

I also realized that Skype (from Slackbuilds.org) gives this error message when starting it from bash:

Code:

bass@Slackware:~$ skype 
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
bt_audio_service_open: connect() failed: Connection refused (111)
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused
*** PULSEAUDIO: Unable to connect: Connection refused

Is this correlated with the mic problem, or is it just pulseaudio? I wanted to install PA 0.9.15 to use the latest Skype version, but it fails because libtool is too old.

First priority though is getting that dratted mic to work. Any guidance is greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Device is Intel HD Audio.

-A

Nylex · 09-05-2009, 05:54 AM

Maybe you need to change the input source to be able to use the microphone. If you run alsamixer, hit F4 to get to the capture settings, you'll hopefully see settings for "Input Source". Switch between the various items for those (using the up or down arrow keys) and see if that makes a difference.

Not sure about PulseAudio. I'm using the latest version of Skype (2.1 beta) on Slackware 13 and I don't need PulseAudio.

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nylex

Maybe you need to change the input source to be able to use the microphone. If you run alsamixer, hit F4 to get to the capture settings, you'll hopefully see settings for "Input Source". Switch between the various items for those (using the up or down arrow keys) and see if that makes a difference.

Not sure about PulseAudio. I'm using the latest version of Skype (2.1 beta) on Slackware 13 and I don't need PulseAudio.

There's no Input source anywhere in Alsamixer. I forgot to mention that this is a simple Intel HD Audio chip. Maybe it doesn't support that option..

Anyway when starting the static version of 2.1 beta (after having removed pulseaudio), I get this:

Code:

bass@Slackware:~$ Source/skype_static-2.1.0.47/skype 
ALSA lib pcm.c:2202:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM null
ALSA lib pcm.c:2202:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM null
ALSA lib pcm.c:2162:(snd_pcm_open_conf) Cannot open shared library /usr/lib/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_pulse.so
....

I can still hear sounds and stuff, but the mic is still not working. I think it's a general audio problem, and not Skype, because everything else is working really well..

Any ideas what it could be? Thanks!

-A

Nylex · 09-05-2009, 06:49 AM

Can you post lspci output for your audio device please? Just so we can see what the hardware actually is. What kind of machine is this?

Also, have you tried the dynamic version of Skype 2.1?

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 07:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nylex

Can you post lspci output for your audio device please? Just so we can see what the hardware actually is. What kind of machine is this?

Also, have you tried the dynamic version of Skype 2.1?

Here's lspci (I've marked the audio device with an arrow).

Code:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 03)
---->  00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller (rev 02)
03:00.0 Network controller: Intel Corporation PRO/Wireless 3945ABG [Golan] Network Connection (rev 02)
05:01.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
05:04.0 CardBus bridge: ENE Technology Inc CB1410 Cardbus Controller (rev 01)
05:06.0 FireWire (IEEE 1394): Ricoh Co Ltd R5C832 IEEE 1394 Controller
05:06.1 SD Host controller: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C822 SD/SDIO/MMC/MS/MSPro Host Adapter (rev 19)
05:06.2 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd R5C592 Memory Stick Bus Host Adapter (rev 0a)
05:06.3 System peripheral: Ricoh Co Ltd xD-Picture Card Controller (rev 05)

I actually tried installing the dynamic Skype version via a modified Slackbuild, but it seg-faulted. I didn't install the kde package set at all, so maybe it's just the missing dependencies.

But the sound problem is most probably not with Skype, because recording a wave file via ALSA simply doesn't work either.

Thanks!

-A

Nylex · 09-05-2009, 07:23 AM

Strange. My audio device is exactly the same and my microphone works fine. In alsamixer/kmix/other mixer, is there a "Front mic boost" slider in the capture controls (again, you'll have to press F4)? If so, try raising that to the maximum level. Also, make sure that the microphone isn't muted! Also, what does alsamixer say for "Card" and "Chip"?

About Skype: not sure what the problem is there then. You definitely need Qt 4.x installed for Skype, but that is in l/ rather than kde/.

Also, I'm running the 32-bit version of Slackware 13. Are you running the 64-bit version?

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nylex

Strange. My audio device is exactly the same and my microphone works fine. In alsamixer/kmix/other mixer, is there a "Front mic boost" slider in the capture controls (again, you'll have to press F4)? If so, try raising that to the maximum level. Also, make sure that the microphone isn't muted! Also, what does alsamixer say for "Card" and "Chip"?

About Skype: not sure what the problem is there then. You definitely need Qt 4.x installed for Skype, but that is in l/ rather than kde/.

Also, I'm running the 32-bit version of Slackware 13. Are you running the 64-bit version?

Here's the output of amixer by the way:

Code:

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [-12.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [-12.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Capture [on]
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%]
  Front Right: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 10 [67%] [15.00dB] [off]
  Front Right: Capture 10 [67%] [15.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Beep',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 15 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 15 [100%] [0.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Digital',0
  Capabilities: cvolume
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 120
  Front Left: Capture 60 [50%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Capture 60 [50%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Capture [off]
  Front Left: Playback 21 [68%] [-3.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 21 [68%] [-3.00dB] [on]

Alsamixer says:

Code:

Card: HDA Intel
Chip: Analog Devices AD1986A

Here's what I have in the Capture section:

Mic: Above this is "CAPTUR" and "L R" in red. Nothing editable
Mic Boos: Set to 33
Capture: Set to 67
Mix: Can't do anything here
Digital: 50
Internal: Can't do anything either.

/Edit: In the other sections, nothing is muted, except for "Beep".

I'm also on Slackware 32 by the way.

Thanks a lot for taking the time

-A

Bruce Hill · 09-05-2009, 07:57 AM

There are a lot of Intel HD Audio Controller's these days. Be more specific with the codec:

Code:

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec

I have a ThinkPad T61 and the mic didn't work on it with Skype, either. I finally gave up
and just boot into Vista when I do a Skype video call.

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

There are a lot of Intel HD Audio Controller's these days. Be more specific with the codec:

Code:

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec

I have a ThinkPad T61 and the mic didn't work on it with Skype, either. I finally gave up
and just boot into Vista when I do a Skype video call.

Here's the output:

Code:

bass@Slackware:~$ cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* |grep Codec
Codec: Analog Devices AD1986A
Codec: LSI ID 1040

Using another OS is unfortunately not an option for me, as I don't have the disk space for another OS on this machine. And besides, that'd be quite a nuisance (which you probably will agree with me on) AND I trust Slackware enough to know that a solution is possible

Thanks for any tips!

-A

Nylex · 09-05-2009, 08:17 AM

Do you happen to have a rear microphone port on your machine? If so, have you tried it? I just did a quick google and saw some threads on this (e.g. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=125487). Obviously, that might not apply to your machine.

I am, unfortunately, out of ideas

.

Ahmed · 09-05-2009, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nylex

Do you happen to have a rear microphone port on your machine? If so, have you tried it? I just did a quick google and saw some threads on this (e.g. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=125487). Obviously, that might not apply to your machine.

I am, unfortunately, out of ideas

.

There is a built-in mic in the machine, but it's not working either

Maybe if I remove alsa from the kernel and compile my own, I could get a driver that actually works.

Anyway thanks a lot for the help!

If nobody else has a solution I could report it to the Slackware developers.

-A

alexiy · 09-07-2009, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bruce Hill

There are a lot of Intel HD Audio Controller's these days. Be more specific with the codec:

Code:

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#* | grep Codec

I have a ThinkPad T61 and the mic didn't work on it with Skype, either. I finally gave up
and just boot into Vista when I do a Skype video call.

The same with me... T61 microphone doesn't work... No solutions so far?.

alexiy · 09-07-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexiy

The same with me... T61 microphone doesn't work... No solutions so far?

Hi, I got it working though...

alefmk · 09-07-2009, 02:51 PM

This is similar to my problem. Sound works perfectly when starting runlevel 3 and than starting X, but not when starting directly to runlevel 4. What runlevel are you starting with?

Bruce Hill · 09-07-2009, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alexiy

Hi, I got it working though...

Please post how you got it working, to help those less fortunate than you.