Microphone could be faulty [solved]

[satelliteuser083]

I cannot get any app to read from the mic-input on my laptop; I have not previously used the mic, so it could be faulty :unsure: . Is it possible to connect the mic DIRECTLY to the speakers (the latter DO work), to test it?

Also, I've just read in a Skype-thread that it is necessary to open port 9443 IRC in the firewall; how do I do that? (and what does IRC mean?)

Thanks

[pindakoe]

IRC = Internet Relay chat.

 

I had a similar issue. It turned out that the mic was working, but my mixer wasn't setup well and alsamixer (which I used to check) confused me thoroughly. Both the MIC and the capture level should be on a non-zero value (set them at 75% or so for a test). I have also enabled Mic Boost (+20 dB).

 

As to Skype and port 9443: I have not opened this port and skype works (I think: only tested outgoing; not test incoming).

[satelliteuser083]

IRC = Internet Relay chat.

 

I had a similar issue. It turned out that the mic was working, but my mixer wasn't setup well and alsamixer (which I used to check) confused me thoroughly. Both the MIC and the capture level should be on a non-zero value (set them at 75% or so for a test). I have also enabled Mic Boost (+20 dB).

 

As to Skype and port 9443: I have not opened this port and skype works (I think: only tested outgoing; not test incoming).

 

Thanks. I've checked in MCC/system/services: ALSA is stopped, 'on boot' box is selected, when I click 'Start', the message "Alsa driver isn't running" appears. Presumeably this is why I can't find mention of ALSA in any menu, although it IS installed (according to MCC/Software-Management, anyway :unsure: ). Any ideas on how to get ALSA running? Thanks again.

 

Afterthought: I've tried modinfo snd and modinfo sound; the results are below

 

[root@localhost ~]# modinfo snd

filename: /lib/modules/2.6.11-6mdk/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko.gz

author: Jaroslav Kysela <perex@suse.cz>

description: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture driver for soundcards.

license: GPL

parmtype: major:int

parm: major:Major # for sound driver.

parmtype: cards_limit:int

parm: cards_limit:Count of auto-loadable soundcards.

parmtype: device_mode:int

parm: device_mode:Device file permission mask for devfs.

alias: char-major-116-*

vermagic: 2.6.11-6mdk 686 gcc-3.4

depends: soundcore

 

[root@localhost ~]# modinfo sound

filename: /lib/modules/2.6.11-6mdk/kernel/sound/oss/sound.ko.gz

parmtype: dmabuf:int

parmtype: dmabug:int

license: GPL

description: OSS Sound subsystem

author: Hannu Savolainen, et al.

vermagic: 2.6.11-6mdk 686 gcc-3.4

depends: soundcore

 

This implies that both alsa AND oss are loaded, although alsa is not running. Is this suspicious/normal?

Edited December 27, 2006 by satelliteuser083

[pindakoe]

There will not be sound if alsa/sound are not running. Can you 9as root) try from the command-line a 'service alsa start' and 'service sound start' to see if this gives more extensive output on why it doesn't start. Also check /var/log/messages for any messages for alsa/sound.

[satelliteuser083]

There will not be sound if alsa/sound are not running. Can you 9as root) try from the command-line a 'service alsa start' and 'service sound start' to see if this gives more extensive output on why it doesn't start. Also check /var/log/messages for any messages for alsa/sound.

 

I ran the two suggested commands, below is the konsole output; it would appear that alsa cannot be started:

[root@localhost ~]# service alsa start

[root@localhost ~]# service sound start

Loading sound module (i810_audio) [ OK ]

Loading mixer settings [ OK ]

[root@localhost ~]#

 

I then checked in /var/log/messages for 'alsa' (which returned nothing) and 'sound', which returned the following:

 

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: i810_audio: Audio Controller supports 6 channels.

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: i810_audio: Defaulting to base 2 channel mode.

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: i810_audio: Resetting connection 0

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: ac97_codec: AC97 Audio codec, id: YMH0 (Unknown)

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: i810_audio: only 48Khz playback available.

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott kernel: i810_audio: AC'97 codec 0 supports AMAP, total channels = 2

Dec 28 10:36:24 nott sound: Loading sound module (i810_audio) succeeded

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott kernel: Shorewall:net2all:DROP:IN=eth0 OUT= MAC= SRC=192.168.1.100 DST=192.168.1.255 LEN=144 TOS=0x00

PREC=0x00 TTL=64 ID=1 DF PROTO=UDP SPT=631 DPT=631 LEN=124

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: vol set to 64, 64

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: pcm set to 100, 100

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: speaker set to 67, 67

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: line set to 70, 70, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: mic set to 100, 0, R

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: cd set to 67, 67, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: igain set to 67, 67, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: line1 set to 67, 67, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: phin set to 67, 67, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: phout set to 67, 67

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott aumix: video set to 67, 67, P

Dec 28 10:36:25 nott sound: Loading mixer settings succeeded

 

I also noticed, after I had coincidentally reloaded /var/log/messages, the following; perhaps this is also significant? :unsure:

Dec 28 11:15:31 nott kernel: i810_audio: drain_dac, dma timeout?

Dec 28 11:21:06 nott kernel: i810_audio: drain_dac, dma timeout?

 

Sorry to bombard you with all this data, but perhaps it is of some use. Thanks for your help.

 

Later:

 

Well, I'm not quite sure how I did it (apart, perhaps, from changing the sound-driver - see my post 'sndconfig RPM for LE2005') :unsure: , but the mic is now working. Erstaunlich. Many thanks for all help.

Edited December 31, 2006 by satelliteuser083