[SOLVED] ALSA volume too low

anyusername · 02-02-2018, 06:06 PM

I have Google assistant running on a headless system. The sound output is via a USB sound card but the volume is too low, even with volume set to max on alsamixer. I've been trying to figure out how to enable pre-amp, but have been unsuccessful. The current asoundrc is:

Code:

pcm.!default {
 type asym
 capture.pcm "mic"
 playback.pcm "speaker"
}
pcm.mic {
 type plug
 slave {
 pcm "hw:0,0"
 format S16_LE
 }
}
pcm.speaker {
 type plug
 slave {
 pcm "hw:2,0"
 }
}

Any ideas on how I can enable pre-amp or otherwise increase the volume?

Ztcoracat · 02-02-2018, 06:35 PM

Open the terminal and type alsamixer.

Raise up the volume, pcm and the front mic's on the column.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1YUp_g6JMw

A double MM at the bottom of the column means it's muted. A double 00 means unmuted:-

HTH

anyusername · 02-02-2018, 07:09 PM

This is all I have available:

https://i.imgur.com/WcSmEMK.png

ferrari · 02-02-2018, 07:34 PM

Expose your sound card controls in alsamixer by pressing F6 (choose the appropriate card) and adjust as necessary.

anyusername · 02-02-2018, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrari

Expose your sound card controls in alsamixer by pressing F6 (choose the appropriate card) and adjust as necessary.

The screenshot is the appropriate card. The speaker volume is at max but still far too quiet. Same USB sound card on a pulseaudio system is significantly louder, so issue is with alsa.

ferrari · 02-02-2018, 08:00 PM

And the PCM level?

anyusername · 02-03-2018, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ferrari

And the PCM level?

Makes no difference to the volume.

ferrari · 02-03-2018, 02:30 PM

So why did you mark it solved now?

Ztcoracat · 02-03-2018, 04:45 PM

What's the output of:

Code:

aplay -l

anyusername · 02-04-2018, 04:37 AM

I've figured it out.

It's nothing to do with Alsa, rather the Google Assistant API has the ability to control volume, i.e. "Hey Google, volume level 8".

ferrari · 02-04-2018, 04:48 AM

Thanks for the update. It may be of benefit to others who come searching.

Ztcoracat · 02-04-2018, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyusername

I've figured it out.

It's nothing to do with Alsa, rather the Google Assistant API has the ability to control volume, i.e. "Hey Google, volume level 8".

Where are the settings for the API at?

anyusername · 02-05-2018, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Where are the settings for the API at?

I changed it through voice command, i.e. "Hey Google, set volume to 8" or "Hey Google, set volume to 75%".

Ztcoracat · 02-05-2018, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by anyusername

I changed it through voice command, i.e. "Hey Google, set volume to 8" or "Hey Google, set volume to 75%".

Cool-

Any idea where the settings are if someone doesn't have voice cmd?

anyusername · 02-06-2018, 01:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ztcoracat

Cool-

Any idea where the settings are if someone doesn't have voice cmd?

Sorry, but I did not go any further than setting them by voice. How would one interact with Google Assistant without voice command?