Re: [gentoo-user] Can't hear anything. :-(

[Roger Mason]

Hello Alan,

Alan Mackenzie <acm@×××.de> writes:

>> Did you get this worked out yet?
>
> Not yet, no.
>
>> VERY strange that you don't see pcm as a mixer control...
>
> I've got alsamixer 1.0.21.  Could it be that it choses its controls
> according to the capabilities of the sound card?
>
>> It's a bit hard to say much with so little info but I'll offer a
>> couple of things:
>
>> 1) IMO Alsa has never run so well when drivers are compiled into the
>> kernel. I do a lot of audio in Linux and have always had the best
>> results using modules. I would strongly suggest you give it a try...
>
> Oh deity!  I was hoping not to have to do this.  I've never used modules
> before, since they are (or were) an unnecessary complication, and might
> introduce security risks.  Maybe I'll have to read up on this.
>
>> 2) Under /proc/asound/card0 (or whatever card you are using if you
>> have more than 1) do you see any pcm directories?
>
>     # ls /proc/asound/card0
>       codec#0  id  oss_mixer  pcm0c  pcm0p pcm1p  pcm2c
>
> , so yes, I can see some pcm directories.
>
>> 3) Post back a little more info?
>
>> cat /proc/asound/cards
>
>    0 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
>                         HDA ATI SB at 0xfbcf8000 irq 16
>    1 [HDMI           ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI HDMI
>                         HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfbffc000 irq 19
>
>
>> aplay -l
>
>    **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
>    card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC1200 Analog [ALC1200 Analog]
>      Subdevices: 1/1
>      Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>    card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC1200 Digital [ALC1200 Digital]
>      Subdevices: 1/1
>      Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>    card 1: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 3: ATI HDMI [ATI HDMI]
>      Subdevices: 1/1
>      Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>
>> aplay -L
>
>    default:CARD=SB
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        Default Audio Device
>    front:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        Front speakers
>    surround40:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
>    surround41:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
>    surround50:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
>    surround51:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
>    surround71:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Analog
>        7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
>    iec958:CARD=SB,DEV=0
>        HDA ATI SB, ALC1200 Digital
>        IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
>    null
>        Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
>    hdmi:CARD=HDMI
>        HDA ATI HDMI, ATI HDMI
>        HDMI Audio Output
>
>
>> lsmod
>
>    Opening /proc/modules: No such file or directory
>

I have Intel HDA and load the necessary drivers as modules.  I had to
add some "stuff" to the module configuration to get sound from my card,
which is:

pyrope ~ $ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Headset [Logitech USB Headset], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC885 Analog [ALC885 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC885 Digital [ALC885 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

It was the ALC885 that was troublesome to get going.  Have a look in
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/sound/alsa/ at the HD*.txt for information.

Good luck,
Roger