Fedora15 iMac HDA Intel, ALSA 1.0.24. Cannot get sound.

LikinLinux · 09-30-2011, 02:04 PM

I have tried to find an answer for this on LinuxQuestions and Google. I believe I have tried all other applicable posted suggestions. Perhaps someone has a further suggestion.

Running my first personnel Fedora 15 installation: 2.6.40.4-5.fc15.x86_64. I've installed it in dual-boot fashion on my iMac:Intel Core2 Duo - 2.66GHz. I'm using rEFIt as the boot manager. I am quite pleased, the setup is working very smoothly (except for this audio issue).

My Konqueror sysinfo:/ is showing mem info:
Total memory 2.9GB
Free Memory 656.0MB (+ 1.4 GB Caches)
Free swap: 4.9 GB

Software updates have all installed nicely, and I believe I am completely up to date.

I tried to play an MP3 file with the Amarock player, and although the player seemed to process the song file there was no sound through the speakers or through the headphones.

Trouble shooting... I've tried to use my alsa utilities tools to play a simple test .wav file, and I'm not getting sound under this test either. I figure if I can get aplay to give me sound, this will probably solve the problem, and I'll be able to listen to music with Amarok.

I know PulseAudio is loaded and the daemon is running (as per output from "ps") and rtkit service is running (as per output from "systemctl show rtkit-daemon.service").

However, I believe I have been able to use my alsa utilities with, and without pulseaudio. What I have done is to either rename (or not) the /etc/asound.conf file. Including the text of this file here:

Code:

#
# Place your global alsa-lib configuration here...
#

@hooks [
        {
                func load
                files [
                        "/etc/alsa/pulse-default.conf"
                ]
                errors false
        }
]

Without renaming the file, I see this:

Code:

$ amixer info
Card default 'pulse'/'PulseAudio'
  Mixer name    : 'PulseAudio'
  Components    : ''
  Controls      : 4
  Simple ctrls  : 2

When I rename the /etc/asound.conf file, I get this:

Code:

$ amixer info
Card default 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xd0600000 irq 47'
  Mixer name    : 'Realtek ALC889A'
  Components    : 'HDA:10ec0885,106b3c00,00100103'
  Controls      : 33
  Simple ctrls  : 18

So, assuming I've renamed the asound.conf file, I can now use "amixer" and I see volumes that are high and not muted. The ncurses alsamixer tool also shows consistently "on" volumes (I will forward the "amixer" listing later if needed - it is a bit long to include here).

Finally, when I attempt to play the sample .WAV file I get this
(excuse the long listing here, I hope the levels info is helpful)...
but still... no sound from speakers...
(BTW), Please read past this output, there is more to my explanation...

Code:

$ aplay -vvv Roland-GR-1-Pick-Bass-2-C4.wav 
Playing WAVE 'Roland-GR-1-Pick-Bass-2-C4.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Plug PCM: Rate conversion PCM (48000, sformat=S32_LE)
Converter: linear-interpolation
Protocol version: 10002
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : RW_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S16_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 44100
  exact rate   : 44100 (44100/1)
  msbits       : 16
  buffer_size  : 15052
  period_size  : 940
  period_time  : 21333
  tstamp_mode  : NONE
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 940
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 15052
  stop_threshold   : 15052
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 0
  boundary     : 4236761349448794112
Slave: Soft volume PCM
Control: PCM Playback Volume
min_dB: -51
max_dB: 0
resolution: 256
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : MMAP_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S32_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 48000
  exact rate   : 48000 (48000/1)
  msbits       : 32
  buffer_size  : 16384
  period_size  : 1024
  period_time  : 21333
  tstamp_mode  : NONE
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 1024
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 16384
  stop_threshold   : 16384
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 0
  boundary     : 4611686018427387904
Slave: Direct Stream Mixing PCM
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : MMAP_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S32_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 48000
  exact rate   : 48000 (48000/1)
  msbits       : 32
  buffer_size  : 16384
  period_size  : 1024
  period_time  : 21333
  tstamp_mode  : NONE
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 1024
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 16384
  stop_threshold   : 16384
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 0
  boundary     : 4611686018427387904
Hardware PCM card 0 'HDA Intel' device 0 subdevice 0
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : MMAP_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S32_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 48000
  exact rate   : 48000 (48000/1)
  msbits       : 32
  buffer_size  : 16384
  period_size  : 1024
  period_time  : 21333
  tstamp_mode  : ENABLE
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 1024
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 1
  stop_threshold   : 4611686018427387904
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 4611686018427387904
  boundary     : 4611686018427387904
  appl_ptr     : 0
  hw_ptr       : 0
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002f7e ########             37%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006d08 ##################   85%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000073fa ###################  90%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006f46 ##################   86%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006d73 ##################   85%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006c2e #################    84%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006df4 ##################   85%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006b4a #################    83%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007582 ###################  91%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007787 ###################  93%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000078b4 ###################  94%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000079b5 #################### 95%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007209 ##################   89%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007d31 #################### 97%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007e3a #################### 98%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007fc8 #################### 99%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007ffb #################### 99%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000731a ##################   89%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007fd3 #################### 99%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007fce #################### 99%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007eff #################### 99%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007e56 #################### 98%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006eb7 ##################   86%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007d34 #################### 97%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007d31 #################### 97%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007dd3 #################### 98%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007e26 #################### 98%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000070fc ##################   88%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007ce5 #################### 97%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007be0 #################### 96%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000798c ###################  94%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007858 ###################  94%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006a9d #################    83%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007469 ###################  90%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000730b ##################   89%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00007037 ##################   87%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006ec3 ##################   86%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006104 ################     75%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006a5b #################    83%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000068dd #################    81%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000065cd ################     79%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00006438 ################     78%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000055ab ##############       66%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005f5e ###############      74%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005dbc ###############      73%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005ab1 ###############      70%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005a9a ###############      70%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004e2a #############        61%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005a27 ###############      70%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000059f0 ###############      70%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000538f ##############       65%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005916 ##############       69%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004fc3 #############        62%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000057f1 ##############       68%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000577e ##############       68%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004de8 #############        60%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000055f0 ##############       67%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000054ea ##############       66%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005412 ##############       65%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005368 ##############       65%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004a80 ############         58%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005143 #############        63%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00005080 #############        62%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004ee6 #############        61%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004e14 #############        60%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004532 ###########          54%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004b7c ############         58%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004a93 ############         58%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000048b2 ############         56%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000047ba ############         56%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003e58 ##########           48%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000044b3 ###########          53%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000043a8 ###########          52%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003ee7 ##########           49%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00004067 ###########          50%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000373a #########            43%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003d14 ##########           47%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003bf4 ##########           46%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000318b ########             38%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000388e #########            44%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000036f6 #########            42%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003513 #########            41%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000033e9 #########            40%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002936 #######              32%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00003066 ########             37%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002f3d ########             36%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002cee ########             35%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002bc7 #######              34%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000021be ######               26%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002844 #######              31%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002717 #######              30%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000024bd ######               28%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002398 ######               27%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00002003 ######               25%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00001a13 #####                20%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000010f0 ###                  13%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000007b1 ##                   6%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000379 #                    2%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000002b8 #                    2%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000023a #                    1%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000220 #                    1%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000001f7 #                    1%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000017e #                    1%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000014d #                    1%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000011c #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000012c #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000000fc #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x000000a5 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000006d #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000055 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000005c #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000005d #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000004a #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000044 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000002a #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000002f #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000024 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000014 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x0000000e #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000005 #                    0%
Max peak (1880 samples): 0x00000002 #                    0%

To try another experiment, I put the /etc/asound.conf file back. "amixer" now shows this output:

Code:

$ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 65536
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 44994 [69%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 44994 [69%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined penum
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 65536
  Front Left: Capture 65536 [100%] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 65536 [100%] [on]

and my attempt to play the wav file...

Code:

$ aplay -vvv Roland-GR-1-Pick-Bass-2-C4.wav 
Playing WAVE 'Roland-GR-1-Pick-Bass-2-C4.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
ALSA <-> PulseAudio PCM I/O Plugin
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : RW_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S16_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 44100
  exact rate   : 44100 (44100/1)
  msbits       : 16
  buffer_size  : 22050
  period_size  : 5512
  period_time  : 125000
  tstamp_mode  : NONE
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 5512
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 22050
  stop_threshold   : 22050
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 0
  boundary     : 6206523236469964800
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x000076e8 ###################  92%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007582 ###################  91%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007e3a #################### 98%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007fd3 #################### 99%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007e26 #################### 98%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007ab8 #################### 95%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00007037 ##################   87%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00006438 ################     78%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00005a7c ###############      70%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x000057f1 ##############       68%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00005368 ##############       65%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00004d3b #############        60%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x000045ba ###########          54%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00003d14 ##########           47%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x000033e9 #########            40%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x0000296d #######              32%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00001f85 #####                24%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00000220 #                    1%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00000122 #                    0%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00000056 #                    0%
Max peak (11024 samples): 0x00000014 #                    0%

One more BTW... I did attempt to play WITHOUT the "-vvvv" option just in case the debug processing is getting in the way.

Still... no sound.

OK. I hope this is enough information. I hope it is not too much information. This is my first LinuxQuestions post, and after reading all the guidelines, I'm under the impression that more information is better than less.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

KL

PS... One more abbreviated output from "alsa-info.sh". Full output is very long, and is available if needed.

Code:

!!ALSA Version
!!------------

Driver version:     1.0.24
Library version:    
Utilities version:  1.0.24.1


!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------

snd_hda_intel


!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------

Pulseaudio:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/pulseaudio)
      Running - Yes

aRts:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/artsd)
      Running - No


!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------

 0 [Intel          ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0xd0600000 irq 47


!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 04)