Alsa - Master Volume / PCM

replica9000 · 05-10-2009, 10:25 PM

I use KMix to control the volume on my desktop. I like the fact that I can hover over the tray icon and adjust the volume with my mouse wheel. Only problem is that the Master Volume control doesn't seem as masterful as it could be. I usually have to adjust both Master and PCM to get desired volume levels. I could have the Master set to the lowest and still play music pretty loud turning up the PCM volume.

Shouldn't the Master Volume switch override all other switches? Shouldn't I be able to have PCM at 100% and have no sound when Master is set to 0%? I'd like to only have to adjust the Master level when adjusting my audio levels. Is there a way to accomplish this?

Code:

cat /proc/asound/version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.16.

cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Live           ]: EMU10K1 - SBLive 5.1 [SB0060]
                      SBLive 5.1 [SB0060] (rev.7, serial:0x80611102) at 0xe800, irq 20

cat /proc/asound/devices
  0: [ 0]   : control
  1:        : sequencer
  4: [ 0- 0]: hardware dependent
  6: [ 0- 2]: hardware dependent
  8: [ 0- 0]: raw midi
  9: [ 0- 1]: raw midi
 10: [ 0- 2]: raw midi
 16: [ 0- 0]: digital audio playback
 18: [ 0- 2]: digital audio playback
 19: [ 0- 3]: digital audio playback
 24: [ 0- 0]: digital audio capture
 25: [ 0- 1]: digital audio capture
 26: [ 0- 2]: digital audio capture
 33:        : timer

cat /proc/asound/pcm
00-03: emu10k1 : Multichannel Playback : playback 1
00-02: emu10k1 efx : Multichannel Capture/PT Playback : playback 8 : capture 1
00-01: emu10k1 mic : Mic Capture : capture 1
00-00: emu10k1 : ADC Capture/Standard PCM Playback : playback 32 : capture 1

jdkaye · 05-11-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by replica9000

I use KMix to control the volume on my desktop. I like the fact that I can hover over the tray icon and adjust the volume with my mouse wheel. Only problem is that the Master Volume control doesn't seem as masterful as it could be. I usually have to adjust both Master and PCM to get desired volume levels. I could have the Master set to the lowest and still play music pretty loud turning up the PCM volume.

Shouldn't the Master Volume switch override all other switches? Shouldn't I be able to have PCM at 100% and have no sound when Master is set to 0%? I'd like to only have to adjust the Master level when adjusting my audio levels. Is there a way to accomplish this?

I have a similar setup and my "solution" was to place my cursor over the kmix icon, right-click and select "Select Master Channel" and then click on the PCM item. It doesn't do exactly what you want but I've never had to use anything else to adjust my volume.
Cheers,
jdk

replica9000 · 05-11-2009, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdkaye

I have a similar setup and my "solution" was to place my cursor over the kmix icon, right-click and select "Select Master Channel" and then click on the PCM item. It doesn't do exactly what you want but I've never had to use anything else to adjust my volume.
Cheers,
jdk

I've tried that already, with PCM at 0% I can get the music loud by playing with the Master channel. It would be nice if I could link them to be able to adjust both at the same time.