sound server

pe2338 · 07-02-2003, 02:26 AM

the sound work in console (mpg123) but it doesn't under X...

Why?

Debian woody with kernel 2.4.16 for the alsa sound driver (not my only option as long as some other works fine)

Abject · 07-05-2003, 02:24 AM

I have 2 guesses:

If you run with privs - like root - at the console, it could be a protection problem. Try:
<Imaginary CODE tag - hint, hint, Mods

>
# adduser your-username audio
</Imaginary CODE tag>

Or, if you built your own kernel, never, ever build the "standard" driver for your sound card in the kernel if you want to use ALSA. Only include "sound support" (soundcore?).

If the standard driver is a there, and is a module, you need to rmmod it. Somebody smarter than me can tell you how to permanently remove it - something involving modconf and update-modules, probably.

If you built the standard driver in a custom kernel, you'll have to make a new kernel (without the sound card driver) to use ALSA.

Here's a pretty good Debian ALSA Howto, but it assumes you haven't messed it up before starting (like I did).

HTH,
Ab.

pe2338 · 07-05-2003, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abject
I have 2 guesses:

If you run with privs - like root - at the console, it could be a protection problem. Try:
<Imaginary CODE tag - hint, hint, Mods >
# adduser your-username audio
</Imaginary CODE tag>

Or, if you built your own kernel, never, ever build the "standard" driver for your sound card in the kernel if you want to use ALSA. Only include "sound support" (soundcore?).

If the standard driver is a there, and is a module, you need to rmmod it. Somebody smarter than me can tell you how to permanently remove it - something involving modconf and update-modules, probably.

If you built the standard driver in a custom kernel, you'll have to make a new kernel (without the sound card driver) to use ALSA.

Here's a pretty good Debian ALSA Howto, but it assumes you haven't messed it up before starting (like I did).

HTH,
Ab.

Where is that "imaginary code tag - hint, hint..." suposed to be??

and the add-user yourname sound is supposed to insert the user into the sound group or what?

Sorry for the question but I didn't quite understood it...

Is not necessary for the sound driver to be alsa...so
I managed to start the ess form the console but how do I make it run as a daemon? Is an esD isn't it?

rcconf did not solve the problem...
the esd does not appear in the services list...
And does the rcconf have a help upon the services it manages like the setup services in the setup utility from RH?

HELP !
HELP !
HELP !
HELP !
HELP !
Please!

pe2338 · 07-05-2003, 10:33 AM

and another thing : I used the precompiled kernel for the K7 processors that came with the original CDs(downloaded).

Abject · 07-05-2003, 02:27 PM

First, they were just guesses (based on my mistakes).

Quote:

Where is that "imaginary code tag - hint, hint..." suposed to be??

Sorry. I was asking the moderators to add an HTML tag for code examples. I apologize for the confusion.

Quote:

and the add-user yourname sound is supposed to insert the user into the sound group or what?

/dev/dsp and other sound devices are usually owned by the "audio" group. If your regular username is not in that group and does not have root privileges, you won't be able to use them. The best way to give your use access is to add that user to the audio group. Do this:

# ls -la /dev/dsp

you should see something like this:

lrwxrwxrwx 1 root audio 9 Jul 1 18:34 /dev/dsp -> /dev/dsp0

If you don't see audio, then:

# chown :audio /dev/dsp

and then

# adduser <your unprivileged username> audio

Your unprivileged user must logout and back in for this to take effect. If you are running X when you do this, you should log out of X and restart X with <Ctrl><Alt><Backspace>

Quote:

Sorry for the question but I didn't quite understood it...

I'm the one who should apologize (I did!

). It's a good question. And a bad answer.

Quote:

Is not necessary for the sound driver to be alsa

You're right, but ALSA will be the standard sound infrastructure for GNU/Linux very soon, so it's good to practice.

Quote:

...so
I managed to start the ess form the console but how do I make it run as a daemon?

I hope I don't sound unhelpful, but sound is tricky stuff with Linux in general (non-commercial varieties). If I were having this problem, I'd google "Debian sound howto". This link looks promising (but it is for Potato - Debian 2.2).

Quote:

Is an esD isn't it?

rcconf did not solve the problem...
the esd does not appear in the services list...
And does the rcconf have a help upon the services it manages like the setup services in the setup utility from RH?

I don't know. Maybe we should take a step back. Can you please describe your system and especially you sound card or chip? Plus the output of dmesg right after start-up? Are you running "stable" (Woody, 3.1) Debian? Or Testing (Sarge)? Or Unstable (Sid)? Are you running KDE or Gnome?

Did you try the Debian Alsa Howto Imentioned in my previous reply?

pe2338 · 07-07-2003, 07:25 AM

At this moment I did a recompilation of the 2.4.16 kernel and added the ensoniq chip 1371 card (my sound board) as a module to it.. It works fine...

I will try to put the alsa driver again....
is correct "AGAIN" 'cause I downloaded the tutorial on the link page you gave me and it worked fine....

Thanks a lot!

By the way : how can one select the type of session that he/she would like to use (gnome/kde) if I don't like to start the X at boot time but from the console with startx or something similar?

pe2338 · 07-07-2003, 07:28 AM

using debian woody

acid_kewpie · 07-07-2003, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Abject

<Imaginary CODE tag - hint, hint, Mods >
# adduser your-username audio
</Imaginary CODE tag>

Imaginary?

Code:

function code_block {
  click_on_code_button(); 
  message_enter->($code_text);
  click_on_ok;
  return 1;
}

Abject · 07-07-2003, 09:11 PM

Chris - thanks!

BittaBrotha · 07-08-2003, 12:51 AM

I'm having sorta the same sound problem with Debian Sid. I installed the alsa sound drivers and everything seems to be working but I don't hear any thing from speakers.

any ideas?

Abject · 07-08-2003, 10:14 PM

Check the mixer? I think everything's muted by default. (Sounds stupid, but I've been this stupid)

BittaBrotha · 07-09-2003, 01:47 AM

I'm using alsamixer and tried it but still no sound from speakers.

pe2338 · 08-13-2003, 05:52 AM

alsamixer has also a mute command - press "M" to unmute

I wrote a little script in the /etc/profile that commands the amixer to unmute master and PCM and set sound levels to 100% and respectively 80%

TigerPawz · 08-17-2003, 11:45 PM

Okay, I have Knoppix/debian 3.2 beta Hd-installed to hard drive.. Sound works, but sound is like listening to it thru headphones ( or acts like the amp isn't working to boost sound).. mobo mainboard with AC97 Audio Via 82cxx ..

Weird how the sound works yet not loud enough to hear it

has anyone ever had this problem and how do I fix this?

pe2338 · 08-18-2003, 02:22 AM

run alsamixer or amixer and see if something is wrong there with the sound volume.

there are to controls that are important Master and PCM.Both must be at an over zero level. I use 100% Master and 80%PCM and have a script that runs at login (/etc/profile) but I intend to move it to the /etc/init.d and into the rc.2 to rc.5 to set the sound at he change of runlevels.