Where to ask about another distro, same ubuntu based (20.04.4) as Zorin?. I have sound issues

General Help
1

And as soon as I ask this I dare to pop my question hopping if I am wrong, you would kindly correct me. I have Zorin 16.1 in one of my computers. However on daily bases I use Linux Mint 20, which happens to be same based as Zorin on Ubuntu 20.04.4.
Under LM 20 Sound have a bug or something wrong, sound came out cut, it repeats it self (like broken record), and also gets stuck like if the system had a lack of memory. It happens at random. On any music player and even in the web browser. Speakers are fine and attached by cord.
I ask about this in the proper LM forum , but couldn't fix it.
I have run Zorin 16.1 in the same computer from USB live, and I don't have that issue...
I would like to provide my specs , so if this is a bug on the distro I will turn this computer in a Zorin PC for sure. I don't know much about programming , but I think this is something in "pulseaudio" or "pavucontrol".
Right now I have discovered the volume slider next to the clock has dissapear though the volume icon is shown. This is a clean install of LM with the latest updates applied. 8 Gb Ram. I Haven't created the swap file yet (beacuse I don't know how to do it , yet).

inxi -Fxxxrz
System:
  Kernel: 5.4.0-125-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.4.0 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 tk: Gtk 3.24.13 info: xfce4-panel wm: xfwm4 
  dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20 Ulyana base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: BANGHO product: MOV v: MODEL_EQUIP serial: <filter> 
  Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter> 
  Mobo: BANGHO model: MOV v: D02A serial: <filter> BIOS: American Megatrends 
  v: 1.01.15RPCD1 date: 07/11/2012 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 46.9 Wh condition: 46.9/48.8 Wh (96%) volts: 14.8/11.1 
  model: NOTEBOOK BAT type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full 
CPU:
  Topology: Dual Core model: Intel Core i5-2450M bits: 64 type: MT MCP 
  arch: Sandy Bridge rev: 7 L2 cache: 3072 KiB 
  flags: avx lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 19954 
  Speed: 843 MHz min/max: 800/3100 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1052 2: 1058 
  3: 1088 4: 1073 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 2nd Generation Core Processor Family Integrated Graphics 
  vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
  chip ID: 8086:0126 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1360x768~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 3000 (SNB GT2) 
  v: 3.3 Mesa 21.2.6 compat-v: 3.0 direct render: Yes 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 6 Series/C200 Series Family High Definition Audio 
  vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1b.0 
  chip ID: 8086:1c20 
  Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-125-generic 
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8188CE 802.11b/g/n WiFi Adapter driver: rtl8192ce 
  v: kernel port: e000 bus ID: 02:00.0 chip ID: 10ec:8176 
  IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
  Device-2: JMicron JMC250 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK 
  driver: jme v: 1.0.8 port: d000 bus ID: 03:00.0 chip ID: 197b:0250 
  IF: enp3s0f0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 342.35 GiB (73.5%) 
  ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Crucial model: CT500MX500SSD1 size: 465.76 GiB 
  speed: 6.0 Gb/s serial: <filter> rev: 023 scheme: GPT 
Partition:
  ID-1: / size: 27.39 GiB used: 18.91 GiB (69.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda2 
  ID-2: /home size: 430.32 GiB used: 323.44 GiB (75.2%) fs: ext4 
  dev: /dev/sda4 
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 50.0 C mobo: N/A 
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:
  No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/megasync.list 
  1: deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/meganz-archive-keyring.gpg] https://mega.nz/linux/repo/xUbuntu_20.04/ ./
  Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
  1: deb http://packages.linuxmint.com ulyana main upstream import backport #id:linuxmint_main
  2: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
  3: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
  4: deb http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
  5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
  6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
Info:
  Processes: 220 Uptime: 2h 56m Memory: 7.68 GiB used: 5.81 GiB (75.7%) 
  Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.4.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash 
  v: 5.0.17 running in: xfce4-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 


pulseaudio --version
pulseaudio 13.99.1


amixer -c 0
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono: Playback 60 [69%] [-20.25dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [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 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Beep',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 31
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [-16.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [-16.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Auto-Mute Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Enabled'
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Loopback Mixing',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'

pavucontrol

2

You mean the Mint Forum? (Which would be the answer to the Thread title question...)

Pulseaudio is so much amazing fun, that sorting out sound issues is truly trying, tedious and in my own opinion, nightmarish.
I do try the be helpful on this site.
But even I shirk at the sound-related threads. They make any person wish to push their own head through a brick wall at exceptional velocities.
@zabadabadoo may even begun to wonder how he wronged me in some past life for the fervor at which I push these threads onto him.

What kernel are you on on Mint?

uname -a

1 Like
3

Sorry, I edited that line while you were answering. I asked about this on LM forum.

:laughing: :rofl:

uname -a
Linux sil-MOV 5.4.0-125-generic #141-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 10 13:42:03 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
4

Mint is still on the 5.4 kernel, which is a Good and stable version.
However, much has been added in later LTS kernel versions, including the 5.8 and 5.11.
This would be my first thing to try...
Have you tried upping the kernel on Mint using the TuxInvader repository, the Liquorix repository or the mainline branch?

2 Likes
5

I haven't tried that. Thank you for the tip!. I would follow your tutorial, because I don't have any clue how to do that. I am not an advanced user.

2 Likes
6

Each guide above should easily walk through step-by-step.

I highly recommend reserving the Liqourix kernel as the Last Resort.

2 Likes
7

I know an easy way to update kerner from the software updater here..

imagen
imagen806×527 23.3 KB

I think I can choose one of them starting with 5.8 maybe?

8

oh well... do that...

Wow, that is a really nice inclusion in Linux Mint.

Where to start depends on your machine specs... But if this is a reasonably new machine, you could start on 5.13 and above.
If this is a quite old machine, then yes, start at 5.8

2 Likes
9

This computer is from 2009. I upgrade the RAM to 8 GB and set an SDD.
Thank you for your tips!

10

5.8 . Anything above that, is unlikely to have anything new for that machine.

1 Like
11

regarding this utility kernel mannager, it says everything from 5.8 to 5.13 has reached its end life. The only available option is 5.15...
I would check your tutorial just in case

2 Likes
12

You can. But if the Manager on Mint will only allow you to use the 5.15 kernel, it is reasonably safe to just try that first.
While starting at 5.8 is the fine choice... and it is possible that the higher kernel may contain regressions that can negatively impact your machine... It is still easy enough to roll the kernel back and statistically safe enough that I would just go ahead and try that Mint supplied 5.15 first.
If that doesn't work, you can try the guide I linked for the Mainline LTS.
The TuxInvader kernel is on 5.19 now...

1 Like
13

Well , I got the kernel 5.15 and the updater manager also offered me to update it. (then I rebooted).
The issue is much better now!!. Though it isn't quite solved. (at least on the app called "celluloid". On "VLC" plays fine. But "youtube" on mozilla firefox, presents some sound problems.

Here I show you the kernel update .

kernelupdate
kernelupdate788×312 21.7 KB 

 uname -a
Linux sil-MOV 5.15.0-46-generic #49~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Thu Aug 4 19:15:44 UTC 2022 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

What Kernel version has Zorin 16.1 ?

14

This may be due to codecs.
Can you try:

sudo apt install ubuntu-restricted-extras

Reboot and test...

The last I checked, it is 5.13.0-44

1 Like
15

Rebooted and tested. Much much better now, though if I open a program such as synaptic or another browser tab I can clearly hear a "jump" in the sound.

Will continue testing.

16

You could look at removing pulse audio from the equation but not before creating a Timeshift snapshot of your system.

First, update your system then install all available ALSA packages using Synaptic, including the package for pulse.
Be sure to include all QAS named packages.

Edit /etc as root, create a new folder and name it 'pulse off' now move the pulse folder into the pulse off folder.

Update system again and reboot.

Thankfully for me on Devuan 3.1.1 I was able to remove pulse without breaking my system, try it on Zorin and the whole system breaks!

1 Like
17

Do you mean if you have media playing and you open a tab or Synaptic?
Or you hear an audible noise any time you open the above, regardless of media?

18

I will have a read through this thread later and advise where I can.
In the meantime can the OP @Zfan please open terminal and run alsamixer
hit F5 to show All channels and then post a screenshot here.
Lets see what's in there. Sound issues are not fun.

Edit: OK from me re-reading the thread, I see it is LM (not ZorinOS) with 5.4.0-125 kernel you are having trouble with. I have ZorinOS 15.3 Core with the 5.4.0-125 kernel on a machine similar age to yours. So we have something in common, except that kernel update did not wreck my sound.

Lets see what happens with later kernels. Then maybe do the alsamixer thing I mentioned above.

19

I have also issues problem with any microphone on Discord. I get good sound from websides on my speakers but on discord it is catastrophy like people saying slow saw hearing.

20

I hear a noise (like a jump in the song, as a broken record) while playing and also inmediately after opening a browser tab or another program, regardless of the media or program used to play it. (it can be an mp3, a Flac or a video on youtube).