Microphone does not work

[Georgi Kourtev]

Emanoil Kotsev wrote:
> 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
>
>
>
>
>   
It might sound rather stupid, but being new to Linux couldn't get the 
right command to switch the microphone on.  I have tried all options in 
kmixer unsuccessfully...

Can you guide me through?  I spent one week trying...  Many thanks.
gk