ALSA and nForce4; Installs fine, no sound

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

I've purchased a new AMD X2 4400. Its got a GA-K8NMF-9 motherboard by Gigabyte. I'm having trouble getting any sound via ALSA. I installed the drivers into the kernel, restarted and various messages appear stating the device had been found:

alistair · Retired Dev Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 869

I believe you would get better support using alsa-driver.

Folllow this guide doing the external method

add use flags "alsa oss" + the sound system, if any, that u want. eg mine is "arts alsa oss"

emerge -N world //This will update your system to enable alsa support. U might find a lot of the dm packages will need to be recompiled.
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Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

Ok I removed all instances of ALSA from the kernel, followed the Gentoo ALSA guide. Emerged alsa-driver etc, everything again seems to have worked fine. Used alsaconf it found the card, changed the settings. But still no audio out. Below is the output of amixer in case it helps:

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

From what I can tell and have been reading the ALSA installation is not the problem. I haven't see one error message using either the kernel or alsa-drivers. Maybe its something to do with the alsamixer settings. I've seen many posts with people using headphone etc to get a sound level. Can somebody post their amixer readout? The card details displayed in alsamixer are as follows:

HackingM2 · Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2006 8:15 pm Post subject:

For some reason I have to mute the IEX958 Playback AC97-SPSA channels before I get any output. Don't ask me why. :roll:

I only discovered it by accident.

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

Thanks for the suggestion. I gave it a try, but its not made any difference

loftwyr · Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 12:28 am Post subject:

Turn your speakers down and try the following

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

No I don't get any audio output from either. I tried as a normal user and root. There's no error messages either.

alistair · Retired Dev Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 869

emerge xmms xmms-alsa xmms-oss

then start playing with the options for the sound output's.

Sadly my output of amixer looks very similar to yours.

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

I've emerged xmms, it looks as though its playing fine, but theres no audio output. I've tried under the ALSA, ARTS and OSS audio plugins. Nothing from any of them. I'm using KDE3.4 - I've tried logging in with ARTS turned off and running, no difference.

I can plug my speakers into my iBook and they work straight away, I've also tried with a couple of pairs of headphones, again no difference.

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

At a lost end now. I've tried some many variations of channels muted/unmuted. Nothing. Thinking or purchasing a cheap PCI sound card. Any recommendations for working sound cards? I don't need anything special ie SPDIF, 5.1 etc.

smity · n00b Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 13

I have exactly the same Probleme !!!!

I listening music during the nigtht while processing "emerge --update --deep --newuse world"
so in the emerging program :

1138053118: *** emerge --update --deep --newuse world
1138053126: >>> emerge (1 of 32) net-www/apache-2.0.55-r1 to /
1138053690: >>> emerge (2 of 32) media-video/nvidia-kernel-1.0.8178-r3 to /
1138053738: >>> emerge (3 of 32) net-libs/libsoup-2.2.7 to /
1138053831: >>> emerge (4 of 32) gnome-extra/evolution-data-server-1.4.2.1 to /
1138055505: >>> emerge (5 of 32) app-portage/gentoolkit-0.2.1 to /
1138055528: >>> emerge (6 of 32) net-libs/libpcap-0.9.3 to /
1138055589: >>> emerge (7 of 32) net-analyzer/ethereal-0.10.14 to /
1138057449: >>> emerge (8 of 32) app-office/openoffice-bin-2.0.1 to /
1138058004: >>> emerge (9 of 32) dev-perl/Net-Netmask-1.9012 to /
1138058039: >>> emerge (10 of 32) perl-core/Time-HiRes-1.82 to /
1138058083: >>> emerge (10 of 32) perl-core/Time-HiRes-1.82 to /
1138058083: >>> emerge (11 of 32) app-admin/logrotate-3.7.1-r2 to /
1138058128: >>> emerge (12 of 32) kde-base/kdelibs-3.4.3-r1 to /
1138066463: >>> emerge (13 of 32) x11-libs/libwnck-2.12.2 to /
1138066614: >>> emerge (14 of 32) dev-python/pycairo-1.0.2 to /
1138066675: >>> emerge (15 of 32) dev-python/pygtk-2.8.2 to /
1138066956: >>> emerge (16 of 32) gnome-base/gnome-menus-2.12.0-r1 to /
1138067079: >>> emerge (17 of 32) gnome-base/gnome-panel-2.12.2 to /
1138067558: >>> emerge (18 of 32) media-libs/gstreamer-0.8.11 to /
1138068189: >>> emerge (19 of 32) dev-libs/liboil-0.3.6 to /
1138068433: >>> emerge (20 of 32) media-libs/gst-plugins-0.8.11 to /
1138069978: >>> emerge (21 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-flac-0.8.11 to /
1138070730: >>> emerge (22 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-alsa-0.8.11 to /
1138071392: >>> emerge (23 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-oss-0.8.11 to /
1138072041: >>> emerge (24 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-esd-0.8.11 to /
1138072630: >>> emerge (25 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-vorbis-0.8.11 to /
1138073333: >>> emerge (26 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-ogg-0.8.11 to /
1138073963: >>> emerge (27 of 32) media-plugins/gst-plugins-mad-0.8.11 to /
1138074545: >>> emerge (28 of 32) gnome-base/libgnomeprint-2.12.1 to /
1138074911: >>> emerge (29 of 32) gnome-base/libgnomeprintui-2.12.1 to /
1138075087: >>> emerge (30 of 32) gnome-base/gail-1.8.8 to /
1138075465: >>> emerge (31 of 32) gnome-extra/gtkhtml-3.8.2 to /
1138076282: >>> emerge (32 of 32) dev-python/gnome-python-2.12.1 to /
1138076500: *** Finished. Cleaning up...
1138076500: *** exiting successfully.
1138076503: *** terminating.

and some minutes or hours after the emerging, the sound stop to play. Without any error message !!!!

I don't think it's a hardware Probleme.

smity · n00b Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 13

Anything else, when I unmuted the MIC, I can hear me over the speakers. But No sound via xmms or `cat /dev/random > /dev/dsp`

When I unload the module, I have some error message, but when I load them, they is no error... and no sound :cry:

Any suggestion please ?!

alistair · Retired Dev Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 869

Wish I could help more. But I remember getting my sound was a pain and a half, yet if i could so can u.

While you might not like this advice I would suggest that you remove alsa-* read the alsa-driver manual ~5 times backwards forwards upside down and using a mirror then start it alll again. Missing nothing.

Then pray to the linux sound gods (a human sacrifice, perhaps a younger sister would also go a long way.

As for replacing your card I wouldnt bother unless you get a really good one (good hardware mixing etc etc etc). Just remember that your goal is achievable.
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smity · n00b Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 13

for me The Problème resolved by :
new kernel : 2.6-15-gentoo-r1
But between, I have done a multiple re-emerge.

Thank a lot !
:arrow:

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

I just upgraded to that kernel version, installed ALSA into the kernel, no difference. I unmerged alsa-driver beforehand. Did you take any other steps to get it working? What ALSA installation type are you running?

On another note, what do I delete to get the default alsamixer settings back? I've changed so many channels, I can't remember the original settings used.

thagame · Posted: Thu Jan 26, 2006 6:38 pm Post subject:

unmute everything lol. sounds stupid but works.

i have

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

I've unmuted all my channels and every volume limit is at 100%. Still nothing. Can you post a screenshot just to be sure. I have settings like Surround - Independent and IEC958 - PCM. Just want to check there values in case they are affecting anything.

HackingM2 · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 12:54 am Post subject:

I use a similar setup so here goes... Hope this helps...

Mixer title : NVidia CK804 (Alsa Mixer)

PLAYBACK

Master: 100% u
Master Mono: 100% u
PCM: 100% u
Surround: 100% u
Center: 0% u
LFE: 0% u
IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA (1): 0% m
IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA (2): 0% m
PC Speaker: 100% u

CAPTURE

Line-in: 100% um
CD: 100% um
Microphone: 100% um
Phone: 0% uu
AUX: 0% mm
Capture: 100% uu

SWITCHES

Mic Boost (+20dB): y
Mic Front Input: y
Duplicate Front: n
External Amplifier: n

OPTIONS

Surround Jack Mode: Shared
Mic Select: Mic1
IEC958: PCM
Mono Output Select: Mix
Channel Mode: 6ch

m - muted
u - un-muted
y - selected
n - not selected

kabage · Guru Joined: 31 Jan 2005 Posts: 340

Is cranking xmms full power and select different switches (for capture ), in whatever mixer you use.

Another Hint: Don't take the alsa mixer labels as the final word on functionality of each switch.

What I do know,
My current switch settings are different than my previous install, implying the switch settings are meaningless for capture.

What I dont know,
Which switches to set. Since it seems to be random for me.
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thagame · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 1:56 am Post subject:

heres my settings

[IMG]http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/9259/alsamixer4ny.th.png[/IMG]

Bobaldo · n00b Joined: 04 Jul 2003 Posts: 25 Location: London

Ok some partial success! I used the settings you provided, then tried to watch something via mplayer. If I turn my speakers up to the maximum setting, I can just about here the audio. I have to hold the speaker to my ear to hear it though. How can I increase the levels further? Also what kernel version are you currently using? I'm using 2.6.15-gentoo-r1.

thagame · Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 11:54 pm Post subject:

im using same kernel. and i have everything turned up all the way, even gnome volume control and i then adjust sound by my speakers, everything is loud for me.