[SOLVED] asoundrc works for HDMI/analog, but need help boosting volume

dimm0k · 06-18-2011, 08:32 AM

I've currently pieced together a ~/.asoundrc that gives me audio via HDMI and analog so I am able to get sound both on my externally connected monitor via HDMI and my notebook's speakers. Problem is, the analog output through the notebook's speakers/headphone jack is much much lower than it can be. In Windows 7 the volume is higher at the same level. I've read http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...laptop-808663/ and http://alien.slackbook.org/blog/addi...-sound-levels/, which both suggest the following bit of code:

Code:

pcm.!default {
      type plug
      slave.pcm "softvol"
  }

  pcm.softvol {
      type softvol
      slave {
          pcm "dmix"
      }
      control {
          name "Pre-Amp"
          card 0
      }
      min_dB -5.0
      max_dB 20.0
      resolution 6
  }

The problem is, I'm not sure where to stick these in my code, which is as follows:

Code:

# ~/.asoundrc or /etc/asound.conf
# ALSA configuration file from http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=513810&postcount=4

##### USAGE #####
# Save this file as "~/.asoundrc" (for user-specific sound configuration) or
# "/etc/asound.conf" (for system-wide sound configuration) and specify ALSA
# device names ad described in the next section.


##### DEVICE NAMES #####
# This configuration file defines four devices for use by the user.  Those
# devices are "analog", "mixed-analog", "digital", and "mixed-digital".  The
# user may also re-define "default" to be identical to one of the above-named
# devices (i.e. to send all sound output to the digital output unless otherwise
# specified).  Use the device names as described below:
#  - "analog" outputs to the analog output directly and (at least on software
#  sound cards) blocks other audio output.  After playback completes, "queued"
#  sounds are output in sequence.
#  - "mixed-analog" mixes audio output from multiple programs into the analog
#  output (so you can hear beeps, alerts, and other noises while playing back
#  an audio stream).
#  - "digital" outputs to the digital output directly.  Since most (all?)
#  digital outputs expect 48kHz PCM audio, this may not work for some playback
#  (i.e. CD's--which are 44.1kHz PCM audio--or 32kHz audio streams from TV
#  recordings, etc.).
#  - "mixed-digital"

# All other devices created within this file are used only by the configuration
# file itself and should /not/ be used directly.  In other words, do not use
# the devices "analog-hw", "dmix-analog", "digital-hw", or "dmix-digital".


##### IMPORTANT #####
# To make this ALSA configuration file work with your sound card, you will need
# to define the appropriate card and device information for the "analog-hw" and
# "digital-hw" devices below.  You can find the card and device information
# using "aplay -l".

# Alias for (converted) analog output on the card
# - This is identical to the device named "default"--which always exists and
# refers to hw:0,0 (unless overridden)
# - Therefore, we can specify "hw:0,0", "default", or "analog" to access analog
# output on the card
# - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
# "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is different from "default" and
# allows playback while blocking other sound sources (until playback
# completes).
pcm.analog {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "analog-hw"

  hint {
    show on
    description "Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for (converted) mixed analog output on the card
# - This will accept audio input--regardless of rate--and convert to the rate
# required for the dmix plugin (in this case 48000Hz)
# - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
# "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is identical to "default" for
# "software" sound cards.
pcm.mixed-analog {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "dmix-analog"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Mixed Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing wit
h system sounds."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.mixed-analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for (converted) digital (HDMI) output on the card
pcm.digital {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "digital-hw"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Alias for mixed (converted) digital (HDMI) output on the card

pcm.mixed-digital {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "dmix-digital"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Mixed Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing w
ith system sounds."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.mixed-digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# The following devices are not useful by themselves.  They require specific
# rates, channels, and formats.  Therefore, you probably do not want to use
# them directly.  Instead use of of the devices defined above.

# Alias for analog output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.analog-hw {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.analog-hw {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for digital (HDMI) output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.digital-hw {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card

ctl.digital-hw {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Direct software mixing plugin for analog output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.dmix-analog {
  type dmix
  ipc_key 1234
  slave {
    pcm "analog-hw"
    period_time 0
    period_size 1024
#    buffer_size 4096
    buffer_size 8192
    rate 48000
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.dmix-analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Direct software mixing plugin for digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.dmix-digital {
  type dmix
  ipc_key 1235
  slave {
    pcm "digital-hw"
    period_time 0
    period_size 1024
#    buffer_size 4096
    buffer_size 8192
    rate 48000
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.dmix-digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Make joint analog/HDMI the default
pcm.!default {
  type plug
  slave {
    pcm multi
    rate 48000
  }
  ttable.0.0 1.0;
  ttable.1.1 1.0;
  ttable.0.2 1.0;  # front left
  ttable.1.3 1.0;  # front right
  hint {
    show on
    description "Default - output using Mixed Analog AND Mixed Digital"
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.!default {
  type hw
  card 0
}

pcm.multi {
  type multi
#  slaves.a.pcm "analog-hw"
  slaves.a.pcm "dmix-analog"
  slaves.a.channels 2
#  slaves.b.pcm "digital-hw"
  slaves.b.pcm "dmix-digital"
  slaves.b.channels 2
  bindings.0.slave a;
  bindings.0.channel 0;
  bindings.1.slave a;
  bindings.1.channel 1;

  bindings.2.slave b;
  bindings.2.channel 0;
  bindings.3.slave b;
  bindings.3.channel 1;
}

ctl.multi {
  type hw
  card 0
}

Suggestions welcome!

onebuck · 06-18-2011, 09:46 AM

Hi,

This post from So you want to be a Slacker! What do I do next? may help.

dimm0k · 06-18-2011, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onebuck

Hi,

This post from So you want to be a Slacker! What do I do next? may help.

Thanks, but I was looking more for where to actually stick those lines in my asoundrc file since I've already defined my analog system and that's the system I want to boost the audio on... just not exactly sure where to stick'em.

EDIT: Ok I believe I found the location of where it should be and while I see Pre-Amp in alsamixer, moving it up and done does not change the volume at all! What am I missing?

dimm0k · 06-19-2011, 12:10 PM

Looks like I figured it out! All it needed was a minor change towards the bottom so pcm.multi uses softvol instead of dmix-analog. softvol then passes the audio down to dmix-analog and voila!

Code:

# ~/.asoundrc or /etc/asound.conf
# ALSA configuration file from http://forum.xbmc.org/showpost.php?p=513810&postcount=4

##### USAGE #####
# Save this file as "~/.asoundrc" (for user-specific sound configuration) or
# "/etc/asound.conf" (for system-wide sound configuration) and specify ALSA
# device names ad described in the next section.


##### DEVICE NAMES #####
# This configuration file defines four devices for use by the user.  Those
# devices are "analog", "mixed-analog", "digital", and "mixed-digital".  The
# user may also re-define "default" to be identical to one of the above-named
# devices (i.e. to send all sound output to the digital output unless otherwise
# specified).  Use the device names as described below:
#  - "analog" outputs to the analog output directly and (at least on software
#  sound cards) blocks other audio output.  After playback completes, "queued"
#  sounds are output in sequence.
#  - "mixed-analog" mixes audio output from multiple programs into the analog
#  output (so you can hear beeps, alerts, and other noises while playing back
#  an audio stream).
#  - "digital" outputs to the digital output directly.  Since most (all?)
#  digital outputs expect 48kHz PCM audio, this may not work for some playback
#  (i.e. CD's--which are 44.1kHz PCM audio--or 32kHz audio streams from TV
#  recordings, etc.).
#  - "mixed-digital"

# All other devices created within this file are used only by the configuration
# file itself and should /not/ be used directly.  In other words, do not use
# the devices "analog-hw", "dmix-analog", "digital-hw", or "dmix-digital".


##### IMPORTANT #####
# To make this ALSA configuration file work with your sound card, you will need
# to define the appropriate card and device information for the "analog-hw" and
# "digital-hw" devices below.  You can find the card and device information
# using "aplay -l".

# Alias for (converted) analog output on the card
# - This is identical to the device named "default"--which always exists and
# refers to hw:0,0 (unless overridden)
# - Therefore, we can specify "hw:0,0", "default", or "analog" to access analog
# output on the card
# - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
# "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is different from "default" and
# allows playback while blocking other sound sources (until playback
# completes).
pcm.analog {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "analog-hw"

  hint {
    show on
    description "Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for (converted) mixed analog output on the card
# - This will accept audio input--regardless of rate--and convert to the rate
# required for the dmix plugin (in this case 48000Hz)
# - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
# "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is identical to "default" for
# "software" sound cards.
pcm.mixed-analog {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "dmix-analog"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Mixed Analog Output - Use analog outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing wit
h system sounds."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.mixed-analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for (converted) digital (HDMI) output on the card
pcm.digital {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "digital-hw"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Alias for mixed (converted) digital (HDMI) output on the card

pcm.mixed-digital {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "dmix-digital"
  hint {
    show on
    description "Mixed Digital Output - Use digital outputs, converting samples, format, and rate as necessary. Allows mixing w
ith system sounds."
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.mixed-digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# The following devices are not useful by themselves.  They require specific
# rates, channels, and formats.  Therefore, you probably do not want to use
# them directly.  Instead use of of the devices defined above.

# Alias for analog output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.analog-hw {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.analog-hw {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Alias for digital (HDMI) output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.digital-hw {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card

ctl.digital-hw {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Direct software mixing plugin for analog output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.dmix-analog {
  type dmix
  ipc_key 1234
  slave {
    pcm "analog-hw"
    period_time 0
    period_size 1024
#    buffer_size 4096
    buffer_size 8192
    rate 48000
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.dmix-analog {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 0
}

# Direct software mixing plugin for digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
# Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
pcm.dmix-digital {
  type dmix
  ipc_key 1235
  slave {
    pcm "digital-hw"
    period_time 0
    period_size 1024
#    buffer_size 4096
    buffer_size 8192
    rate 48000
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.dmix-digital {
  type hw
  card 1
  device 3
}

# Make joint analog/HDMI the default
pcm.!default {
  type plug
  slave {
    pcm multi
    rate 48000
  }
  ttable.0.0 1.0;
  ttable.1.1 1.0;
  ttable.0.2 1.0;  # front left
  ttable.1.3 1.0;  # front right
  hint {
    show on
    description "Default - output using Mixed Analog AND Mixed Digital"
  }
}

# Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
ctl.!default {
  type hw
  card 0
}

pcm.multi {
  type multi
  slaves.a.pcm "softvol"
  slaves.a.channels 2
  slaves.b.pcm "dmix-digital"
  slaves.b.channels 2
  bindings.0.slave a;
  bindings.0.channel 0;
  bindings.1.slave a;
  bindings.1.channel 1;

  bindings.2.slave b;
  bindings.2.channel 0;
  bindings.3.slave b;
  bindings.3.channel 1;
}

ctl.multi {
  type hw
  card 0
}

pcm.softvol { 
  type softvol
  slave {  
    pcm "dmix-analog"
  }
  control {
    name "Pre-Amp"
    card 0
  }
  min_dB -5.0
  max_dB 10.0
  resolution 6
}