missing sound channels, and i can't compile alsa

superlisa · 04-03-2006, 04:38 PM

I've been running Linux for a year and a half now, and have so far managed to survive it without posting for help here. I even got through some hardcore X and network issues all by myself over the last couple of days... but I'm totally stumped on this one!

In short, I have really, bad sound. It comes out mono. I've been using XMMS and mpg123 to test it. When I run alsamixer, I am shown four sliders (Front, Front Mic, Line, Mic) but only Front works. I'm on a new computer, and I don't know if this is chip-specific or anything, but shouldn't I have a Master and a PCM, at least? It's a 5.1 card (as far as I can tell) and I'm using a 2.1 system (which I'll be upgrading within the next month).

I'm running Slackware 10.2. I compiled this kernel, which is 2.6.16.1. All the relevant alsa and oss drivers (including snd-hda-intel), are compiled as modules, as instructed.

Code:

root@linty:/# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
snd_pcm_oss            46368  - 
snd_mixer_oss          16264  - 
snd_hda_intel          14360  - 
snd_hda_codec         124360  - 
snd_pcm                78668  - 
snd_timer              20268  - 
snd                    44612  - 
snd_page_alloc          8400  -

What's with the above output?? Shouldn't those modules be used by something?

My suspsicion is that all my problems because I'm using alsa packages which I got from slapt-get, which are compiled for 2.4. But the following happens when I try to compile alsa myself (sources from alsa-project.org):

Code:

make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.16.1'
  CC [M]  /home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/acore/hwdep.o
In file included from /home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/include/adriver.h:677,
                 from /home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/include/sound/driver.h:42,
                 from /home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/acore/hwdep.c:22:
include/linux/pci.h:460: error: syntax error before numeric constant
make[4]: *** [/home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/acore/hwdep.o] Error 1
make[3]: *** [/home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b/acore] Error 2
make[2]: *** [_module_/home/lisa/alsa-driver-1.0.9b] Error 2
make[1]: *** [modules] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.16.1'
make: *** [compile] Error 2

Have I unearthed a bug in something?
Is there any way of getting around all of this?

Here's some more information for your enjoyment;

Code:

root@linty:/# amixer info
Card default 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0x301c0000 irq 17'
  Mixer name    : 'Realtek ALC880'
  Components    : 'HDA:10ec0880'
  Controls      : 17
  Simple ctrls  : 10

root@linty:/# amixer scontrols
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic',0
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
Simple mixer control 'Capture',2
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',1
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',2

root@linty:/# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Intel          ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0x301c0000 irq 17

root@linty:/# cat /proc/asound/oss/sndstat 
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.11rc2 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux linty 2.6.16.1 #9 SMP PREEMPT Mon Apr 3 19:56:44 GMT+1 2006 i686
Config options: 0

Installed drivers: 
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config: 
HDA Intel at 0x301c0000 irq 17

Audio devices:
0: ALC880 Analog (DUPLEX)

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Timers:
7: system timer

Mixers:
0: Realtek ALC880

I'd like my nice music back, please!

Thanks guys.

chrisortiz · 04-03-2006, 04:43 PM

after you build the 2.6 kernel you need to re-run alsaconf as root

superlisa · 04-03-2006, 04:44 PM

I forgot to mention that I'd done that. Makes no difference at all.

superlisa · 04-03-2006, 05:01 PM

Oh. I fixed it.

I had the bass dial on my speakers turned all the way down.

Maybe I should go outside once in a while and cultivate some common sense.