Headphones Microphone not detected

axolinx · 11-08-2023, 12:26 PM

I setup Mint 21.1 on a friends laptop. She has some standard wired earbuds with a microphone in the wire and it is not being detected.
On my current system running the same version as my friends laptop I launch pavucontrol and i can instantly see the microphone being detected in the input devices tab as i plug it in the laptop, the change is automatic and the external microphone works, but on my friends laptop, nothing happens.
I have tried a solution i found from an old thread adding:
options snd-hda-intel model=alc236,dell-headset-multi at the end of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf and then running sudo alsa force-reload.
This seems to have added the Headset microphone to the list of outputs in pavucontrol, but it shows (unplugged) no matter if the earbuds are plugged into the laptop.
Any other ideas?
System info: inxi, aplay and alsa-base.conf

Code:

System:
  Kernel: 5.15.0-76-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 11.3.0
    Desktop: Cinnamon 5.6.8 tk: GTK 3.24.33 wm: muffin vt: 7 dm: LightDM 1.30.0
    Distro: Linux Mint 21.1 Vera base: Ubuntu 22.04 jammy
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: LENOVO product: 81N3 v: Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15AST
    serial: <superuser required> Chassis: type: 10 v: Lenovo IdeaPad S145-15AST
    serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: LENOVO model: LNVNB161216 v: SDK0J40679WIN
    serial: <superuser required> UEFI: LENOVO v: AYCN18WW date: 06/05/2019
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 21.2 Wh (95.5%) condition: 22.2/30.0 Wh (74.0%)
    volts: 8.3 min: 7.6 model: LGC L17L2PF1 type: Li-poly serial: <filter>
    status: N/A
CPU:
  Info: dual core model: AMD A6-9225 RADEON R4 5 COMPUTE CORES 2C+3G bits: 64
    type: MCP smt: <unsupported> arch: Excavator rev: 0 cache: L1: 192 KiB
    L2: 2 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 2395 min/max: 1300/2600 boost: enabled cores: 1: 2395
    2: 2395 bogomips: 10380
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
Graphics:
  Device-1: AMD Stoney [Radeon R2/R3/R4/R5 Graphics] vendor: Lenovo
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel ports: active: eDP-1 empty: HDMI-A-1
    bus-ID: 00:01.0 chip-ID: 1002:98e4 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: AMD Topaz XT [Radeon R7 M260/M265 / M340/M360 M440/M445 530/535
    620/625 Mobile]
    vendor: Lenovo driver: amdgpu v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 4
    bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:6900 class-ID: 0380
  Device-3: Acer Integrated Camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
    bus-ID: 1-1.3:4 chip-ID: 5986:1135 class-ID: 0e02 serial: <filter>
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: amdgpu,ati
    unloaded: fbdev,modesetting,vesa gpu: amdgpu display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1080 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x285mm (20.0x11.2")
    s-diag: 582mm (22.9")
  Monitor-1: eDP res: 1920x1080 hz: 60 dpi: 142 size: 344x194mm (13.5x7.6")
    diag: 395mm (15.5")
  OpenGL: renderer: STONEY (stoney LLVM 15.0.7 DRM 3.42 5.15.0-76-generic)
    v: 4.5 Mesa 23.0.4-0ubuntu1~22.04.1 direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: AMD vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:01.1 chip-ID: 1002:15b3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Family 15h Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:09.2 chip-ID: 1022:157a class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-76-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9377 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Lenovo driver: ath10k_pci v: kernel pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1
    bus-ID: 02:00.0 chip-ID: 168c:0042 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp2s0 state: up mac: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Qualcomm Atheros type: USB driver: btusb v: 0.8 bus-ID: 1-1.2:3
    chip-ID: 0cf3:e500 class-ID: e001
  Report: hciconfig ID: hci0 rfk-id: 3 state: down
    bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes
    address: <filter>
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 238.47 GiB used: 102.94 GiB (43.2%)
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: SK Hynix model: HFS256G32TNH-73A0A
    size: 238.47 GiB speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: <filter> rev: 0Q00
    scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 233.18 GiB used: 102.94 GiB (44.1%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2
  ID-2: /boot/efi size: 511 MiB used: 6.1 MiB (1.2%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/sda1
Swap:
  ID-1: swap-1 type: file size: 2 GiB used: 126.5 MiB (6.2%) priority: -2
    file: /swapfile
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 54.8 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
  GPU: device: amdgpu temp: 54.0 C device: amdgpu temp: 60.0 C

aplay

Code:

** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices **
card 0: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC236 Analog [ALC236 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

alsa-base.conf

Code:

# autoloader aliases
install sound-slot-0 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-0
install sound-slot-1 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-1
install sound-slot-2 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-2
install sound-slot-3 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-3
install sound-slot-4 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-4
install sound-slot-5 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-5
install sound-slot-6 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-6
install sound-slot-7 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-7

# Cause optional modules to be loaded above generic modules
install snd /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-ioctl32 ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }
#
# Workaround at bug #499695 (reverted in Ubuntu see LP #319505)
install snd-pcm /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-pcm $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-pcm-oss ; : ; }
install snd-mixer /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-mixer $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-mixer-oss ; : ; }
install snd-seq /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-seq $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-oss ; : ; }
#
install snd-rawmidi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-rawmidi $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; : ; }
# Cause optional modules to be loaded above sound card driver modules
install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-emu10k1-synth ; }
install snd-via82xx /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-via82xx $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }

# Load saa7134-alsa instead of saa7134 (which gets dragged in by it anyway)
install saa7134 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install saa7134 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist saa7134-alsa ; : ; }
# Prevent abnormal drivers from grabbing index 0
options bt87x index=-2
options cx88_alsa index=-2
options saa7134-alsa index=-2
options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
# Ubuntu #62691, enable MPU for snd-cmipci
options snd-cmipci mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
# Keep snd-pcsp from being loaded as first soundcard
options snd-pcsp index=-2
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd-hda-intel model=alc236,dell-headset-multi

GlennsPref · 11-08-2023, 05:38 PM

Have you checked if your system output of inxi match your friend's system inxi output?

I see there Pulse audio and pipewire, pipewire should replace pulse-audio.

I have wireplumber and pipewire installed, not pulse-servers...

If there is a difference in the inxi outputs, it maybe why it can't work/connect.

The otherthing is,

is the hp/mic port clean? (try a different headset)

frankbell · 11-08-2023, 08:15 PM

If you have not already done so, install the Pulse Audio Mixer (pavucontrol--it's in the repos).

It gives you more granular control over devices than typical volume control applications. You may find that that device is muted.

axolinx · 11-09-2023, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GlennsPref

Have you checked if your system output of inxi match your friend's system inxi output?

I see there Pulse audio and pipewire, pipewire should replace pulse-audio.

I have wireplumber and pipewire installed, not pulse-servers...

If there is a difference in the inxi outputs, it maybe why it can't work/connect.

The otherthing is,

is the hp/mic port clean? (try a different headset)

Good points here.

I mentioned my system to state that i have plugged the same earbuds and they work.
Now comparing both inxi outputs, mine (the working system) shows this:

Code:

Audio:     Device-1: Intel Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           chip ID: 8086:9d71 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.15.0-87-generic

vs my friend's:

Code:

Audio:
  Device-1: AMD vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 00:01.1 chip-ID: 1002:15b3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: AMD Family 15h Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 00:09.2 chip-ID: 1022:157a class-ID: 0403
  Sound Server-1: ALSA v: k5.15.0-76-generic running: yes
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 15.99.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.48 running: yes

So in my case, inxi shows only the alsa server is running, although i can see the pipewire.service enabled if i check with systemctl..

I am lost and do not understand why the 3 services are installed and running by default in an ubuntu based system. In my case i have fiddled around with my settings to make my bluetooth headset microphone work in the past so that may be why my services show different, it was a long time ago, i had to disable pulseaudio to make it work.

Should i try a similar approach on my friend's laptop?

axolinx · 11-09-2023, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankbell

If you have not already done so, install the Pulse Audio Mixer (pavucontrol--it's in the repos).

It gives you more granular control over devices than typical volume control applications. You may find that that device is muted.

Please have the courtesy of actually reading the OP before making suggestions. Thank you

GlennsPref · 11-09-2023, 04:25 PM

Make sure alsa-mixer channels are not muted! (good starting point when there's no sound)

Quote:

... pipewire should replace pulse-audio.
I have wireplumber and pipewire installed, no active pulse-servers...

But pulse is there incase an application only knows pulse-audio.

Wireplumber acts as an audio server, and replaces Pulse.

From your inxi output, I would install wireplumber and pipewire.

That should drag in any deps and change the system audio server.

You'll need to restart (the services or the system) after install to stop pulse and allow pipewire/wireplumber to act as required.

aus9 · 11-12-2023, 03:27 AM

Hi

Please UNDO any config you have already made for this to work please

in both reports of your friends....device product id 15B3 is being detected as first device.

I suggest ignore pulseaudio and pipewire and create a file using root powers with contents
/etc/modprobe.d/sound.conf

Quote:

options snd-hda-intel enable=0

full reboot

what it does is say detect first sound device but disable it (hdmi)
alsa then detects second device and grants it index=0 for (analog) the wired device
on reboot

Code:

aplay -l

should reveal only one sound device, analog

lvm_ · 11-12-2023, 04:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axolinx

She has some standard wired earbuds with a microphone

Actually there is no such thing, there are two different ways of wiring a microphone to a 4-pole 3.5 jack. They may be just incompatible. Or it could be a bad contact.

axolinx · 03-12-2024, 04:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

Hi

Please UNDO any config you have already made for this to work please

in both reports of your friends....device product id 15B3 is being detected as first device.

I suggest ignore pulseaudio and pipewire and create a file using root powers with contents
/etc/modprobe.d/sound.conf

full reboot

what it does is say detect first sound device but disable it (hdmi)
alsa then detects second device and grants it index=0 for (analog) the wired device
on reboot

Code:

aplay -l

should reveal only one sound device, analog

Thank you aus9 and the rest of the guys here from my friend and me. Disabling the HDMI worked, it took long time to meet again with my friend and try to fix her laptop, but today she was happy this solution worked.