I believe it was a joke, as in Windows programs work better (or at all) with administrator privileges.

This is exactly what my SlackBuild does. Although, if you don't want to install PulseAudio system-wide, I would suggest a cleaner solution instead of this quick and dirty hack which might not even work tomorrow.

It's possible to run pulseaudio as root but with another configuration, non-default on skype all-in-one package (need modify the start script and changes on configuration files). I never tested (nor tried to test) that.

yes I can but pulseaudio always complains that I am root and not suppose to but it runs anyway.

Wow. Once again I am so indebted to LQ and especially the Slackware section, of course. In this case I am specifically indebted to AlienBob because I have no idea how Google Talk/Hangouts escaped my notice, but it did, and because of this thread and Eric's comment and others (notably Bertman and metageek) I have Google Talk/Hangouts working and it just rocks! It not only solves the Alsa vs/ Pulseaudio problem (to the curb foul beast!) but because a channel can handle up to 100 people it solves Raidcall issues which, now owned by MS, has followed the exact same path as Skype, forced "upgrades" that break anything that runs on Linux, even if in Wine. Shoot! it even has Whiteboarding which means I can use it in business as well as friends, family and gaming.
Many Thanks

zerouno's package is the best bet. Even for my multilib system. You can get the slackbuild at:
http://repository.slacky.eu/slackwar...network/skype/

Works like a charm. Thanks zerouno!

It works!

zerouno's package worked for me as well (Slackware 14.1 64-bit, no multilib). Now I don't have to keep a laptop with Win7 running just for Skype...
If you have the slackpkg+ package, installing it is as easy as

slackpkg install skype

(provided slacky is in your repo list). Thank you very much, zerouno!

Slackware 14.1 64-bit, no multilib all up to date.

I had zerouno skype 4.1.0.20 for x86_64 working with same webcam, tried it today said Skype cannot connect, trying latest version skype-4.3.0.37-x86_64-1sl.txz.

Bus 003 Device 006: ID 046d:081b Logitech, Inc. Webcam C310

Under Skype Options/Sound Devices I see PulseAudio server (local) for Microphone, Speakers, Ringing.

Make a test sound plays the sound, Make a test call, plays the prompt, I say testing testing testing, nothing plays back.

Kmix shows USB Device 0X46d:0x81b, capture is checked, mic level is all the way up.

I can see myself in Options/Video Devices.

Is there log file or something that might show any relevant messages?

sh -x /usr/bin/skype
+ SKYPE=/usr/share/skype
+ '[' -e /usr/share/skype/lib64 ']'
+ LIB32=/usr/share/skype/lib
+ export GCONV_PATH=/usr/share/skype/lib/gconv
+ GCONV_PATH=/usr/share/skype/lib/gconv
+ export QT_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/share/skype/lib/plugins
+ QT_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/share/skype/lib/plugins
+ export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=:/usr/share/skype/lib:/usr/share/skype/lib64
+ LD_LIBRARY_PATH=:/usr/share/skype/lib:/usr/share/skype/lib64
+ grep -q pcm.skype_out /home/username/.asoundrc
+ /usr/share/skype/bin/pulseaudio --start
+ '[' 0 -ne 0 ']'
+ LD_PRELOAD=/usr/share/skype/lib/libv4l/v4l1compat.so
+ PULSE_LATENCY_MSEC=60
+ /usr/share/skype/skype
+ /usr/share/skype/bin/pulseaudio --kill

thanks

I don't understand why Ekiga isn't used. It's been open-source for an awfully long time and it just works. It's the answer to getting rid of a Microshaft-centric PoS software that people don't trust (for good reason) yet keep using (which makes no sense to me) and actually complain about *because* it's closed-source and who owns it. I mean it's the old 'Can't see the forest for the trees' syndrome.

@glorsplitz

the microphone works in other applications?

post your /home/username/.asoundrc
and the output of "arecord -l"

use alsamixer to be sure that your mic is really unmuted:
1) run alsamixer
2) press F6 to select the correct audiocard (if you have more than one)
3) press F4 to select capture device
you should have a lot of controls; one is "capture" that is the main; press SPACE and be sure that there is a red text "CAPTURE" uppercased; also you should have at least a microphone; select one and press SPACE, then tune the levels.

then run
you may need to modify "plug:skype_in" with "hw:1" or similar; the kde audio configurator can help you to select the correct device.

1 members found this post helpful.

arecord -l
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 2: ALC892 Alt Analog [ALC892 Alt Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: U0x46d0x81b [USB Device 0x46d:0x81b], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0


In alsamixer, F6 selected "USB Device 0X46d:0x81b" "This sound device does not have any playback controls.".

F6 again, selected "HDA Intel PCH", F4 selected Capture, made sure level was up, plugged in headphone mic and it worked.

Brought up Skype, test call played back my voice.

So I guess with my setup the USB mic isn't recognized?


With headphone mic plugged in:
arecord -f cd -D plug:skype_in |aplay -D plug:skype_out
I tapped on the headphone mic and could hear it.


I got something working now, thanks zerouno.

try
arecord -f cd -D hw:1 |aplay -D plug:skype_out

be sure to stop skype&pulseaudio and all other application can use microphone.

is it an external webcam? try it in another computer (windows also)

yes external webcam Logitech HD Webcam C310

with Skype and no other mic apps running

arecord -f cd -D hw:1 |aplay -D plug:skype_out

produced:
Recording WAVE 'stdin' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
arecord: set_params:1239: Channels count non available
aplay: playback:2715: read error

this webcam works fine in windows

thanks for helping

I was just sent what seems to be a solution to our PA-related problems. This is a PulseAudio emulator: https://github.com/i-rinat/apulse. I haven't tested it yet. Can anyone?

UPDATE. Just tested it. The sound seems to be working with no issues.

2 members found this post helpful.

I also have a Logitech webcam as well and also for me the microphone doesn't want to work with the package as provided by Zeroune and I get a similar error-message (it worked mostly when I build pulseaudio through SBo).

Part of the problem in testing is that the above arecord command fails to record if I don't set the default capture device in .asound.rc. In that case I need to use

arecord -f cd -D plughw:#,# -d 10 /filename

to be able to record sound and get around the above error. The key difference is the need to use plughw instead of hw. My understanding is that this makes sure that formats that are not supported by the hardware get converted.

Strangely enough piping the output of arecord into aplay as Zerouno suggest above with plughw instead of hw does play back the microphone but leads to the sound self-amplification, ie the sounds just gets stronger and stronger very rapidly and a very distinct echo. Very strange as that doesn't happen when I just save the sound to file.

So unfortunately I am still puzzled how to adapt the asound.rc file in the Zerouno package to get this running.