Fedora Core 3 Sound Issues

DamianBrennan · 03-28-2005, 05:39 AM

I have recently installed Fedora Core 3 on a custom PC. This is my first Linux experience and I would have to say it has been quite good bar one small issue. I have no sound on FC3. I initially had it, then around 3 weeks ago it disappeared. I have all the available updates installed and still no sound. Nothing is muted and I have tried a few of the different things on here, but still no sound......

Tried diabling ACPI
Tried playing with sound levels
Even re-installed but still no sound.....

If anyone could offer some assistance it would be greatly appreciated, I am enjoying the freedoms and flexibilty in Fedora, if only I could fix the sound.

ichrispa · 03-28-2005, 05:45 AM

Hey,
I had a similar problem only some time ago. The problem with my FC3 was that the soundlevel of the card itself got zeroed, but there was no bar for it in any applet.
Given that you use ALSA try this:
call up amixer in the console and set PCM, Master, Wave, Wave surround and your cards driver to 90% (I think there is a graphical interface for this, again in the cosole. Consult the man pages...)

Did it work?

DamianBrennan · 03-28-2005, 06:07 AM

I have found this area and all the values are set to '0'
But I cant work out how to change them yet

johnnydangerous · 03-28-2005, 06:21 AM

do a gnome-alsamixer or similar it was and in modprobe.conf comment the lines with something like save restore snd-intel.. I really can't check now exact names but you'll see and test

it works

Jamo · 03-28-2005, 07:18 AM

There is console app for ALSA named 'alsamixer'. You can change sound levels and mute sound sources with it. I leave it usually on one of VC's (Ctrl+Alt+F4) so I can quickly change sound levels during game. :-)

You need to set & unmute at least Master and PCM levels. I have Ensonic 5880 AudioPCI and I had to mute thing named IEC958 (no idea what that is and why it's on by default) because only output was static noise.

After setting all wanted things, you can store them. Do as root in console:

Code:

/usr/sbin/alsactl store 0

If you have several soundcards (e.g. mainboard sound chip is in use), you need to specify right card number to store settings. For example, I have two of them stated in /etc/modules.conf, FC3 autodetected snd-cmipci as card 0, I swapped them manually to avoid excessive configuring. :-)

Code:

alias snd-card-0 snd-ens1371
alias snd-card-1 snd-cmipci

Now when your system boots, ALSA loads all settings from /etc/asound.state file.

One graphical tool for setting ALSA for KDE is 'kmix', it's quite similar to 'alsamixer',
but I think it won't save settings for system until you do above trick with alsactl.

DamianBrennan · 03-28-2005, 05:13 PM

Have tried these things, no idea what is causing the problem.....

Code:

modprobe.conf

alias eth0 sis900
alias snd-card-0 snd-intel8x0
options snd-card-0 index=0
install snd-intel8x0 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-intel8x0 && /usr/sbin/alsactl restore >/dev/null 2>&1 || :
remove snd-intel8x0 { /usr/sbin/alsactl store >/dev/null 2>&1 || : ; }; /sbin/modprobe -r --ignore-remove snd-intel8x0
alias usb-controller ehci-hcd
alias usb-controller1 ohci-hcd

Code:

asound.state

state.SI7012 {
	control.1 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Surround Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.2 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Surround Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.3 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Center Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.4 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Center Playback Volume'
		value 28
	}
	control.5 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'LFE Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.6 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'LFE Playback Volume'
		value 28
	}
	control.7 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Surround Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.8 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Surround Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.9 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.10 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.11 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Mono Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.12 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Master Mono Playback Volume'
		value 28
	}
	control.13 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Phone Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.14 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Phone Playback Volume'
		value 28
	}
	control.15 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Mic Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.16 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Mic Playback Volume'
		value 28
	}
	control.17 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Mic Boost (+20dB)'
		value true
	}
	control.18 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Line Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.19 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Line Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.20 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'CD Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.21 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'CD Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.22 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Aux Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.23 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Aux Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.24 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'PCM Playback Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.25 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 31'
		iface MIXER
		name 'PCM Playback Volume'
		value.0 28
		value.1 28
	}
	control.26 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type ENUMERATED
		comment.item.0 Mic
		comment.item.1 CD
		comment.item.2 Video
		comment.item.3 Aux
		comment.item.4 Line
		comment.item.5 Mix
		comment.item.6 'Mix Mono'
		comment.item.7 Phone
		iface MIXER
		name 'Capture Source'
		value.0 Line
		value.1 Mix
	}
	control.27 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Capture Switch'
		value.0 true
		value.1 true
	}
	control.28 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 15'
		iface MIXER
		name 'Capture Volume'
		value.0 13
		value.1 13
	}
	control.29 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type ENUMERATED
		comment.item.0 Mic1
		comment.item.1 Mic2
		iface MIXER
		name 'Mic Select'
		value Mic1
	}
	control.30 {
		comment.access read
		comment.type IEC958
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
		value '0fff000f00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
	}
	control.31 {
		comment.access read
		comment.type IEC958
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
		value cf00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
	}
	control.32 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type IEC958
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Default'
		value '0082000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
	}
	control.33 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Switch'
		value true
	}
	control.34 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type INTEGER
		comment.range '0 - 3'
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA'
		value 0
	}
	control.35 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type ENUMERATED
		comment.item.0 AC-Link
		comment.item.1 'A/D Converter'
		iface MIXER
		name 'IEC958 Playback Source'
		value AC-Link
	}
	control.36 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Exchange Front/Surround'
		value true
	}
	control.37 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Spread Front to Surround and Center/LFE'
		value true
	}
	control.38 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type ENUMERATED
		comment.item.0 Off
		comment.item.1 '6 -> 4'
		comment.item.2 '6 -> 2'
		iface MIXER
		name Downmix
		value Off
	}
	control.39 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Surround Jack as Input'
		value true
	}
	control.40 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'Center/LFE Jack as Input'
		value true
	}
	control.41 {
		comment.access 'read write'
		comment.type BOOLEAN
		iface MIXER
		name 'External Amplifier'
		value true
	}
}

Thanks for the trouble so far.... If these files help you in any way, cause they dont help me......
LOL

bearwood · 03-28-2005, 10:15 PM

Each time I have installed FC3 the sound doesn't work, but I turn off Arts in KDE- control centre-sound..-sound control (or something like that, I'm on windows at work) and deselect Arts. Then get kmix or gmix up (should be able to see them in the menus) and play with the settings/sliders. I have to mute"Line in as Surround" and then set the CD, Master, PCM and Lfe channels for my setup.

ichrispa · 03-29-2005, 09:23 AM

Accessing amixer is simple. run amixer and you will get a list of what channels exist and what they are set to. They obviously need to be set to something else than 0.
The simplest syntax is "amixer set [name of the channel] [percent 0-100]%". For example if you want to change Master you type
amixer set Master 100%
percent is a vague, in reality it is converted to an integer ranging from 0 to 255. So instead of the the eaxample abover you could try this:
amixer set Master 255

Whichever pleases you. The idea is that you set Master, PCM, Wave, Wave Surround and your card input to more than 0, preferably something like 90%.
If you want to you can try alsamixer, but there is a bug in my version that mutes the sound as soon as the cards level or balance is changed. Go with text mode just to be sure.
For a detailed description of amixer type "man amixer".

So, is there any sound?

DamianBrennan · 03-30-2005, 05:24 PM

Code:

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 31 [100%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 31 [100%] [on]

In the first Line where it says 'Master',0. Does the zero mean anything detrimental to sound?

This is the Master Volume Control and the rest look similar to this. They are all at non zero levels. But still no sound.....

Could it be a mobo issue. I wouldn't imagine it being so, sound worked fine on Windows before the install.... It is an ASUS P4S800-MX board.

Thanks once again for the assistance

ichrispa · 03-31-2005, 02:35 AM

If I remember correctly the 0 is only the instance of the channel, not imperative for sound.

I reread your original post and noticed that setting don't just disappear. As the Merovingian wisely said there is only cause and effect. Did you perhaps install and run any sound - related software or install new hardware?

Further more, is your sound card installed correctly?
If your system is unaware of the existence of a sound card it is quite propable that you won't even get an error message other than "file or device does not exist".
Check the following: is there a device file called dsp or audio in your /dev directory? If yes then take an audio file and pipe the output to that file (like "cat myaudio.au > /dev/dsp"). Alternatively you can use aplay (like "cat myaudio | aplay"), but you should be using ALSA to do this. The first one should feed the output directly to your soundcard. If you get to have problems with this the most likely problem is the lack of a proper driver...
If however this failes take a look if the card was detected during boot (dmesg or screen during boot). If the card does not appear the mostly likely cause for it is that the card is not plugged in correctly (open the box up and check...).
One last thing - what sort of driver are you using? I'm asking because amixer targets ALSA, and if of course you are using some other sound server there is no use in changing ALSA soundlevels.
other than that the only sollution I can remember is recompiling your kernel with the proper modules (check with lsmod if they are already running, soundcore would be the one that is responsible for sound support...). I found a detailed description of how to deal with soundcard problems at http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO.html, there's also a link to a kerel compiling howto, or you can install ALSA, take a look at http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/alsa-howto/

Are your speakers still silent?

DamianBrennan · 03-31-2005, 05:15 AM

When I use the auto detect it finds the correct card...
I have both an audio and dsp file under /dev.......
when I pipe the sound to it, I get no sound and a heap of gargon on the screen....

It is an integrated Sound Card on MOBO......
Next thing I suppose is to re-install alsa, can this be done using yum ??

thanx

rvmitch · 04-05-2005, 09:32 PM

I had a similar problem using an Intel AC '97 sound card. It worked okay during firstboot but quit shortly after that. Just for grins I booted the system using the original FC3 kernel and voila, the sound card works again. So is there a good workaround for this or do we have to wait for an updated kernel that includes everything needed for normal sound?

Alesia · 04-06-2005, 02:06 PM

I don't want to distract from Damian's problem, so tell me if I should create a new thread for mine, which is somewhat similar.

We installed FC3 three weeks ago and have yet to get the sound working correctly, if at all. It's finding the right card, VIA 823x rev60 Chip: Realtek ALC658 rev 0 (integrated on the MoBo, also) and says the driver is snd-82xx...

Sometimes we get distressing beeping sounds from Gnome applications that simply won't shut off until the process is killed. But useful, coherent, intelligble sounds? We've never heard one.

I will furnish any information necessary to get this working -- my husband is currently squashing the last of the sendmail imps, and so the sound issue fell to me...

Any help would be everlastingly appreciated.

ichrispa · 04-15-2005, 05:30 AM

Yes, you can do this, in fact you should do this, using yum. However I do not believe that it is ALSA facing a problem, it is probably the driver you use and that is not administered by ALSA.
As I said before, there is a detailed tutorial that explains how to alter drivers in your kernel on
http://www.faqs.org/docs/Linux-HOWTO/Sound-HOWTO.html, there is also a mailing list available specializing on sound problems. I believe that they will be much more capable to help you than I am...

Alesia - what exactly have you done to cause FC3 to make a useful, coherent, intelligble sound? If you use something like XMMS might there be a faulty pluggin? Since the kernel can make sounds (it is a speaker sound that beep, right?) so should other programs. The kernel and the programs access audio devices the same way as any other program, so I suspect the program being the one thing having the problem...

ichrispa · 04-15-2005, 05:31 AM

Oh, Damian, what do you mean by "Gargon"? Is there something coherent like an error message or just meaningless ASCII running down the screen?