Z 15.3 core - external sound and headset fine no internal speaker output

Bicyu · 26 January 2022 07:09

Generic AIO, micro ATX mobo, AMD A6 APU, Simple “American Megatrends” BIOS. Only one audio mic jack, basically a tablet nailed to a large screen, originally running Win 7, previously Ubuntu 18, currently Z 15.3.
Recently upgraded to Z16 and back again to 15.3.

Under Win 7 sound from built in front speakers worked.
Failed under Ubuntu but eventually worked around using ASLO unmute setting. That was about 3+ years back so memory is hazy now.

Currently head phone output and mic work under Audacity using appropriate jacks. Audacity settings at both DEFAULT and PULSE work with both input and output. Likewise desktop sound speakers work using output jack.
However built in speakers fail.

Settings > sound show normal screen – ie NOT DUMMY.
Line out = built in Audio // analogue stereo output.
Test speakers: icons turn from black to blue but no sound.

snd_hda_intel / advanced micro devices / fch Azalia controller / Realtek codec / snd_pcm / snd_rawmidi

I know this is a Ubunti issue rather than pure Zorin so have searched forums under FOSS, Ubuntu ( and Forum Zorin)
I have tried usual suspects; adding lines via command terminal,un mooting ALSA.

I have also tried talking sweetly, bribery and swearing at it.
Still no sound.

Following a suggestion from A Zoring to @zabadabadoo I installed pulse audio control, it shows speaker unavailable.
That confuses me.

Several image below for extra clarity

A just in case you were wondering; the built in speakers are clearly better quality than desk top, a few hours on a head set hurts my head. we are on the cusp of a 10 day Chinese New year break, I want to catch up on films.

Any help greatly appreciated - seems you are the expert here Zaba, I’ve read most of your posts!

zabadabadoo · 26 January 2022 08:45

@Bicyu First. You should delete the screenshot of the email message. Remember this is a public forum.

The alsamixer settings for HD-Audio Generic / Realtek ALC662 rev1 is the one you should concentrate on, not the HDMI ones. Set that as default.
Also set [Auto-Mut] to Disabled.

If you have [Loopback] channel listed in alsamixer, try toggling that from Disabled to Enabled.

I am afraid it may involve you in some trial and error investigation.

Maybe you can hit F5 to display All channels, post another screenshot.
I may not be around until later today and maybe outside your timezone.

Bicyu · 26 January 2022 09:36

Quite - good catch, asleep at the wheel

Thx, had already done so, made no difference, sorry, I did not explain that. Auto mute is disabled possibly as their is no line out jack ?( I dunno!) just pink MIC and green OUT.
I did try that with M, didn't work, then D ( for disable ) and then a series of other keys in frustration. Is there a magic combo I missed? I could not find anything re that online.

As above- maybe the BIG picture is more helpful?
Also shown result of F5 - all channels.
The numbers in your post (4 , 7 ) are relevant?
If so, sorry i missed it.

No hurry, I know you have a life outside Zorin forum- I have been at this 3 days, one and off, so another day is neither here nor there.

might be relevant
Rereading your post, looked again at my settings.
Alsamixer had reverted to default - the HDMI settings.
F6 checking the HDA- also reverted to M.
Confused, I reset everything- rebooted, still no sound.
Rechecking alsa mixer- back to default with HDA set back to m.
Changes are not being saved.
Surfing found this command: sudo alsactl store
Activated it, reboot, changes gone - not saved.
Asla saves settings when I ESC and close terminal.
In fact this edit is about an hour on and they were still saved.
But as soon as I reboot- lost.
Will continue to search for a solution or issue as to why alsa is not saving - would PULSE have any -tve impact?
Might rip it out and try again - later.

Cheers
P

zabadabadoo · 26 January 2022 16:34

Scroll across to the [Auto-Mut Mode] channel, then use up/down arrow key to change.
I see you have set to "Line Out+Speaker" in your latest screenshot.

Try setting [Loopback Mix] to "Enabled". Use up/down arrow keys to change.

That command should save your alsamixer changes over a boot. I do not know a reason why that is not happening for you.
Maybe someone else may have more knowledge.
Maybe alsa needs reinstalling or something.

I have no idea where they came from. I have deleted those numbers now.

Bicyu · 27 January 2022 01:32

YAY!
That was the what I had been searching for.
A bit duh though, never thought of arrow keys.

Yes, driven by the SOUND settings - see screen shot.
And just in case it helps anyone else, the second screen cut shows the ultimate settings combo to make it work.

Still won't save across restarts though - have tried re installing / removing / forcing ALSA so many times before, will try again now we have the right key combo.

But later- need to work today, have to write and publish an article in the next 90 mins. For the meantime it is not a huge hassle to TURN ON via terminal and ALSAMIXER command

Cheers a lot and thanks awfully for your time, patience and brilliance.

Wishing you a happy Lunar New Year of the Tiger - In Russian!

carmar · 27 January 2022 02:03

Could you please mark the solution? Just in case you don’t revisit this issue, would be helpful to others.

Bicyu · 27 January 2022 05:42

Hi @carmar - it's been a while.
I understand your request, and agree - in principle.
But I never like to commit until I am certain sure - 100%.

I still have not fixed the reboot issue, so it isn't really a "solution" perse.

Just to complicate things, whatever I did has errr "messed up" the head set sound - I am now down to one channel with a very loud, incessant white noise - or hiss .

So if your don't need headphones, and are willing to repeat the alsamix thing ad nausea, then it is a solution of sorts. But not complete.

Be assured, when I have everything back and running 100% I shall indeed, mark it as a solution.

P

Bicyu · 27 January 2022 08:59

I need to clarify and stress: THIS IS A SOLUTION THAT WORKED FOR ME

But, as @zabadabadoo has pointed out in several posts, sound issues vary a great deal, my solution may not work for you and you may need to invest a bit of time working through various trial and error options.

The setups shown in the images- for people like me who learn best from pictures - activate my internal speakers, external desktop box speakers, headset speakers and mic, according to my sound settings. The white noise came from MIC BOOST which is the default setting- in my case. Switch it off.

If you are just reading this post: a quick recap, this is on an ALL IN ONE machine, using M-ATX mobo so there is only one set of audio in / out jacks.

If your rig has front and rear jacks, -well, you are on your tod.
I still have an issue with saving over reboots, but I suspect this is separate from the actual sound issue.

First image is audio IN - recording / playback via Audacity and headset.
The second is playback via internal speakers - it makes no difference to me in either situation whether LOOPBACK in enabled or not.
Hopefully this either solves, or guides you to success.

P

zabadabadoo · 27 January 2022 10:54

We need to find out why

sudo alsactl store
is not working for you.
The alsactl command syntax is exlained more here:
alsactl: advanced controls for ALSA soundcard driver - Linux Man Pages (1)

I am wondering if your config file is not being picked up or maybe you need to add card # to the command. I have never needed to worry about either of those as the standard command has always kept the config over boot.

PS Thanks for Lunar New Year greeting. Never seen that in Russian before.

Bicyu · 27 January 2022 15:12

Later- right now I am alsamixer maxed out.

Happy Year of the Tiger!

Thnx for putting me on the right track~

I am following the bloke from Portugsal with a sort of reverse issue to me - love to see how that plays out.

But seriously, Ubuntu have had a "sound issue" for at least 6 years - is there really no fix or what ever.
I mean, sound is basic to most average PC users, hardly a good incentive to abandon Win for Linux is it?
p

Bicyu · 3 February 2022 12:41

Hello again, thx for your support - tried the link you sent.
Really interesting but sadly not useful - well in so much as it didn't present a miracle cure.

I used variation of store, restore, nstore etc but each threw back this reply: (bold and italics are mine)

Blockquote
aio@aio:~$ alsamixer
aio@aio:~$ alsactl store
alsactl: state_lock:125: file /var/lib/alsa/asound.state lock error: File exists
aio@aio:~$ alsamixer
aio@aio:~$ alsactl restore
alsactl: state_lock:125: file /var/lib/alsa/asound.state lock error: File exists
alsactl: load_state:1683: Cannot open /var/lib/alsa/asound.state for reading: File exists
Found hardware: "HDA-Intel" "ATI R6xx HDMI" "HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100500" "0x1002" "0x9840"
Hardware is initialized using a generic method
Found hardware: "HDA-Intel" "Realtek ALC662 rev1" "HDA:10ec0662,10ec0662,00100101" "0x1022" "0x780d"
Hardware is initialized using a generic method
aio@aio:~$

So I checked the VAR file but, right now I am standing on tip toes, the water is lapping at my nostrils so if anyone has any insight it is greatly appreciated.
This is the var file output:

Blockquotestate.HDMI {
control.1 {
iface CARD
name 'HDMI/DP,pcm=3 Jack'
value false
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.2 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
value '0fff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access read
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.3 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
value '0f00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access read
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.4 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Default'
value '0400000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access 'read write'
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.5 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Switch'
value true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.6 {
iface PCM
device 3
name ELD
value ''
comment {
access 'read volatile'
type BYTES
count 0
}
}
control.7 {
iface CARD
name 'HDMI/DP,pcm=7 Jack'
value false
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.8 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
index 1
value '0fff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access read
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.9 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
index 1
value '0f00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access read
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.10 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Default'
index 1
value '0400000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000'
comment {
access 'read write'
type IEC958
count 1
}
}
control.11 {
iface MIXER
name 'IEC958 Playback Switch'
index 1
value true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.12 {
iface PCM
device 7
name ELD
value ''
comment {
access 'read volatile'
type BYTES
count 0
}
}
control.13 {
iface PCM
device 3
name 'Playback Channel Map'
value.0 0
value.1 0
value.2 0
value.3 0
value.4 0
value.5 0
value.6 0
value.7 0
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 8
range '0 - 36'
}
}
control.14 {
iface PCM
device 7
name 'Playback Channel Map'
value.0 0
value.1 0
value.2 0
value.3 0
value.4 0
value.5 0
value.6 0
value.7 0
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 8
range '0 - 36'
}
}
}
state.Generic {
control.1 {
iface MIXER
name 'Line Out Playback Volume'
value.0 64
value.1 64
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 64'
dbmin -6400
dbmax 0
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
control.2 {
iface MIXER
name 'Line Out Playback Switch'
value.0 true
value.1 true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.3 {
iface MIXER
name 'Headphone Playback Volume'
value.0 64
value.1 64
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 64'
dbmin -6400
dbmax 0
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
control.4 {
iface MIXER
name 'Headphone Playback Switch'
value.0 true
value.1 true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.5 {
iface MIXER
name 'Speaker Playback Volume'
value.0 64
value.1 64
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 64'
dbmin -6400
dbmax 0
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
control.6 {
iface MIXER
name 'Speaker Playback Switch'
value.0 true
value.1 true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.7 {
iface MIXER
name 'Loopback Mixing'
value Enabled
comment {
access 'read write'
type ENUMERATED
count 1
item.0 Disabled
item.1 Enabled
}
}
control.8 {
iface MIXER
name 'Front Mic Playback Volume'
value.0 0
value.1 0
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 31'
dbmin -3450
dbmax 1200
dbvalue.0 -3450
dbvalue.1 -3450
}
}
control.9 {
iface MIXER
name 'Front Mic Playback Switch'
value.0 false
value.1 false
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.10 {
iface MIXER
name 'Rear Mic Playback Volume'
value.0 3
value.1 3
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 31'
dbmin -3450
dbmax 1200
dbvalue.0 -3000
dbvalue.1 -3000
}
}
control.11 {
iface MIXER
name 'Rear Mic Playback Switch'
value.0 false
value.1 false
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.12 {
iface MIXER
name 'Auto-Mute Mode'
value Disabled
comment {
access 'read write'
type ENUMERATED
count 1
item.0 Disabled
item.1 'Speaker Only'
item.2 'Line Out+Speaker'
}
}
control.13 {
iface MIXER
name 'Capture Volume'
value.0 17
value.1 17
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 31'
dbmin -1350
dbmax 3300
dbvalue.0 1200
dbvalue.1 1200
}
}
control.14 {
iface MIXER
name 'Capture Switch'
value.0 true
value.1 true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 2
}
}
control.15 {
iface MIXER
name 'Front Mic Boost Volume'
value.0 0
value.1 0
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 3'
dbmin 0
dbmax 3000
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
control.16 {
iface MIXER
name 'Rear Mic Boost Volume'
value.0 0
value.1 0
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 3'
dbmin 0
dbmax 3000
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
control.17 {
iface MIXER
name 'Master Playback Volume'
value 44
comment {
access 'read write'
type INTEGER
count 1
range '0 - 64'
dbmin -6400
dbmax 0
dbvalue.0 -2000
}
}
control.18 {
iface MIXER
name 'Master Playback Switch'
value true
comment {
access 'read write'
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.19 {
iface CARD
name 'Front Mic Jack'
value false
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.20 {
iface CARD
name 'Rear Mic Jack'
value true
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.21 {
iface CARD
name 'Line Out Jack'
value true
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.22 {
iface CARD
name 'Front Headphone Jack'
value false
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.23 {
iface CARD
name 'Speaker Phantom Jack'
value true
comment {
access read
type BOOLEAN
count 1
}
}
control.24 {
iface PCM
name 'Playback Channel Map'
value.0 0
value.1 0
comment {
access read
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 36'
}
}
control.25 {
iface PCM
name 'Capture Channel Map'
value.0 0
value.1 0
comment {
access read
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 36'
}
}
control.26 {
iface MIXER
name 'PCM Playback Volume'
value.0 255
value.1 255
comment {
access 'read write user'
type INTEGER
count 2
range '0 - 255'
tlv '0000000100000008ffffec1400000014'
dbmin -5100
dbmax 0
dbvalue.0 0
dbvalue.1 0
}
}
}

Ignorance suggests to me the file is locked so will not accepts mods?
thx
Bic

zabadabadoo · 3 February 2022 13:16

I did websearch and found this:

and this:
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=205759

and this may/may not be worth a read.

Bicyu · 3 February 2022 13:55

Thx, also did a search and also found the Ask Ubuntu post you referenced but sort of dismissed it as I have restarted, rebooted so many times.

Didn't find the second one - found several more including for Fedora and Arch (I think) but..

Will clear everything and start again with a clear head tomorrow, late here now.

Thx again.
P

Bicyu · 4 February 2022 08:44

Hello, just to bore you totally, I set a glass of warm milk and block of chocolate on the table, danced round the computer 3 times anti clockwork chanting, shut down, went to bed.
This morning chocolate and milk were gone, rebooting machine showed nothing had changed. So much for fairies!

So far nothing on line is working, including those you sent me BUT -
I followed the link re blacklisting in the ARCH you sent me which opens up another Pandora box - well, list of possibilities anyway. (specific: No sound with onboard Intel sound card)
If my understanding is correct, it is suggesting that as it appears I have 2 active cards, I should blacklist one - yes?

Problem now is my knowledge. I am well past my comfort zone, reached the point of copying and pasting blindly and hoping - which I have learn from painful experience, is not wise.

Also went back to file / var and looked in locks.
The asla file is there - locked.
Read only.
Owned by root.
Is there a way I can, via terminal, sudo access that file and unlock it?
Is that going to help?

To reiterate, I am well out of my depth here so, as the man said, talk to me as if I were a 2 year old - no, wait, make that a 1 year old!

Cheers
p

zabadabadoo · 4 February 2022 10:20

@Aravisian (or someone knowlegeable) help with that question please?

Aravisian · 4 February 2022 10:37

sudo -i

nautilus

navigate to the file.
Or

sudo nano /var/lock/(FILE-NAME)

Replace FILE-NAME with the actual file name - this will open it in a root elevated editor within the terminal.

Bicyu · 4 February 2022 14:03

Thx - that achieved my primary aim, sort of.
I was hoping for more content, preferably something simple like a key or unlock!
What do I do with this intel please, I'm assuming, probably in error, that 813 is relevant.
Or do I just delete this file?

Sorry if I am overcautious, but the last time i tried flying solo with something like this brought me to this forum to start with and took several banging head on wall days to solve.

"Being a barber does not a brain surgeon make

Or- should I enter the asound library file via nautilus and modify that directly?
In which case, what am i looking for inside there please?

thx
p

Aravisian · 4 February 2022 17:11

My response was based on the above... I figured you had a reason for accessing it.
My own file simply lists "3968292" and nothing else.

Bicyu · 5 February 2022 02:18

Ahhh yes, not your fault, that is what happens when things are taken out of context. Reporters / journalists / media do it all the time. That's how we get our "news."

However it's not necessarily a dead end as one door often opens to another (eventually) and ultimately a solution so I am very grateful for the lead.

We should probably close this now as it seems we have depleted the best brains in the forum. I will box on alone and take my chances.

Take good care out there.
P

zabadabadoo · 5 February 2022 09:11

If you stumble on a magic potion or just need a sounding board, do report back here.
I know how weird sound problems can be to fix.