No Sound since latest updates

[Nigel Henry]

On Monday 19 January 2009 03:30, Roger Benham wrote:
> Thanks Nigel. Here is what I got (hoping that it all means much more to you
> than to me!) Quoting you:
> "Hi Roger.
>
> "I don't see any problems with the output you've posted above, and sound
> should be working.
>
> "Try running speaker-test as user, and post the output."
>
> roger at roger-desktop:~$ speaker-test
>
> speaker-test 1.0.17
>
> Playback device is default
> Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
> Using 16 octaves of pink noise
> Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
> Buffer size range from 192 to 2097152
> Period size range from 64 to 699051
> Using max buffer size 2097152
> Periods = 4
> was set period_size = 524288
> was set buffer_size = 2097152
>  0 - Front Left
> Time per period = 10.972497
>  0 - Front Left
> Time per period = 10.955161
>  0 - Front Left
> Time per period = 10.952952
>  0 - Front Left
> etc. etc.
<Nigel, he says>
That's ok, and speaker-test isn't complaining. It's playing the pink noise, 
but you arn't hearing it.
>
>
> ====================================================
>
> "Also run the following commands to see what may be grabbing the soundcard,
> and preventing you hearing sounds. I ask because of this line from your
> lsmod output.
> snd_intel8x0?????????? 37532? 4  (the 4 may be a problem)
>
> lsof -n | grep /dev/dsp
> lsof | grep /dev/snd"
>
> roger at roger-desktop:~$ lsof -n | grep /dev/dsp
> roger at roger-desktop:~$ lsof | grep /dev/snd
> mixer_app  6032      roger   22u      CHR      116,8               13425
> /dev/snd/controlC0
>

No problems with the output from the above 2 commands. Nothing has 
grabbed /dev/dsp, and stopped other sound apps from playing, and it's normal 
for the mixer to show in /dev/snd.

it may be worth looking at /etc/group, and make sure you are, or still are a 
member of the audio group. I did see a problem where the original user had 
sounds, but wasn't a member of the audio group, then he added more users, 
which were not added to /etc/group's audio group, and also lost sound output 
for his original user, which as I've said earlier, was never listed 
in /etc/group, although he was able to use sounds as user with no problem.

I hope you're following me here, as it may sound a bit weird, but when I 
suggested he add his user name to the audio group his sounds worked again as 
user. If for some reason you see the same problem, with a missing user on the 
audio group, you can simply add your user name to the audio group directly, 
as root, using gedit. Mine looks like this. See below.

audio: x: 29: djmons

It's worth a look.

Meanwhile, back to alsamixer. Open it again as, alsamixer -D hw:0, and check 
for muted controls. There may be switches, without sliders, that may need to 
be toggled.

Download this script from the link below, save it as alsa-info.sh, make it 
executable, and run it as, ./alsa-info.sh --no-upload. Attach the file which 
has been saved in your /tmp directory when replying to the list.

This script gathers a lot of info, specifically about the sounds, and may help 
me, or others on the list to help you resolve this sound problem.

http://hg.alsa-project.org/alsa/raw-file/tip/alsa-info.sh


Sorry. I can't think of any more suggestions at this point in time.

Best wishes.

Nigel.