Microphone does not work

[Emanoil Kotsev]

Georgi Kourtev wrote:

> Emanoil Kotsev wrote:
>> Georgi Kourtev wrote:
>>
>>   
>>>  cat /proc/asound/cards*/codec#*
>>>     
>>
>> sorry, the last command I posted was not correct
>>
>> use this:
>> cat /proc/asound/card*/codec#* | grep Codec
>>
>> Example from my dell:
>> cat /proc/asound/card*/codec#* | grep Codec
>> Codec: SigmaTel STAC9200
>>
>>
>> this way we'll know which chipset you have inside
>>
>> regards
>>
>>
>>
>>   
> This is the output from cat:
> 
> Codec: Conexant ID 2c06
> Codec: Generic 1095 SI HDMI
> Codec: SigmaTel STAC9228
> 
> ...and from amixer:
> 
> Simple mixer control 'Master',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 127
>   Mono: Playback 123 [97%] [-3.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Headphone as Line Out',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [off]
> Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 255
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
>   Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Front',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 127
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 121 [95%] [-4.50dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Playback 121 [95%] [-4.50dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 127
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 103 [81%] [-18.00dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Playback 103 [81%] [-18.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Center',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 127
>   Mono: Playback 108 [85%] [-14.25dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 127
>   Mono: Playback 120 [94%] [-5.25dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
>   Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 14
>   Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
>   Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB] [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Capture',1
>   Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 14
>   Front Left: Capture 14 [100%] [21.00dB] [off]
>   Front Right: Capture 14 [100%] [21.00dB] [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Capture',2
>   Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 14
>   Front Left: Capture 13 [93%] [19.50dB] [off]
>   Front Right: Capture 13 [93%] [19.50dB] [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Analog Loopback',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Digital',0
>   Capabilities: cvolume
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 120
>   Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [-30.00dB]
>   Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [-30.00dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Digital Input Source',0
>   Capabilities: enum
>   Items: 'Analog Inputs' 'Digital Mic 1'
>   Item0: 'Analog Inputs'
> Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
>   Capabilities: cenum
>   Items: 'Mic' 'Front Mic'
>   Item0: 'Mic'
> Simple mixer control 'Input Source',1
>   Capabilities: cenum
>   Items: 'Mic' 'Front Mic'
>   Item0: 'Mic'
> Simple mixer control 'Input Source',2
>   Capabilities: cenum
>   Items: 'Mic' 'Front Mic'
>   Item0: 'Front Mic'
> Simple mixer control 'Mux',0
>   Capabilities: cvolume
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 4
>   Front Left: Capture 3 [75%] [30.00dB]
>   Front Right: Capture 3 [75%] [30.00dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Mux',1
>   Capabilities: cvolume
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 4
>   Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
>   Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Mux',2
>   Capabilities: cvolume
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 4
>   Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
>   Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Swap Center/LFE',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]

Well, we see here that your capture sources are muted 'off'

you have to unmute them - did you follow the instructions from the link
posted by Nigel. the screenshots are pretty nice.

it has to look like this (pay attention to 'on')

Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 2 [13%] [3.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 2 [13%] [3.00dB] [on]


Further more from the alsa (advanced linux sound architecture) documentation
i.e.
http://www.mjmwired.net/kernel/Documentation/sound/alsa/ALSA-Configuration.txt

1015            STAC9227/9228/9229/927x
1016              ref           Reference board
1017              3stack        D965 3stack
1018              5stack        D965 5stack + SPDIF
1019              dell-3stack   Dell Dimension E520

you have to pass the module option model to the snd-hda-intel driver

first check if there is something already configured

grep -r 'options snd-hda-intel' /etc/modprobe.d/

if there is no model then create a file 
        kdesudo kedit /etc/modprobe.d/sound-custom
and put this inside
        options snd-hda-intel model=ref
or if it does not work one of the other options

But your problem is definitely due to the muted capture sources

regards