Help! with Intel sound card

[alleluia20]

Sorry about the delay in telling that I had solved that. Here I have posted the solution, because another guy had the same problem:

viewtopic.php?p=71729#71729

[Red Knuckles]

I don't think it's the kernel. It is most likely your version of ALSA (ALSA v1.0.12rc1 emulation code) which installs with Debian.

I had some sound issues myself with my laptop ( viewtopic.php?t=14526 ) that were resolved by updating ALSA.
My particular issue ( no sound through headphones ) was resolved with ALSA 1.0.14rc2. I tried a couple of revisions before I arrived at the one that actually worked for me, so you may have to experiment a bit.

Go to www.alsa-project.org, and download and compile newer driver, lib, plugin, and utils.
After compiling all, run alsaconf, and for sanity, reboot your computer.

It would be helpful to know where to install. When I tried this it installed all 4 files to '/home/me' where I'd downloaded to. That was not a permanent fix. I then tried to install all to '/usr/share/alsa' which is not a permanent fix. '/usr/share/alsa' IS where alsaconf resides and is probably wheer these files need to go but how???

[Red Knuckles]

I don't think it's the kernel. It is most likely your version of ALSA (ALSA v1.0.12rc1 emulation code) which installs with Debian.

I had some sound issues myself with my laptop ( viewtopic.php?t=14526 ) that were resolved by updating ALSA.
My particular issue ( no sound through headphones ) was resolved with ALSA 1.0.14rc2. I tried a couple of revisions before I arrived at the one that actually worked for me, so you may have to experiment a bit.

Go to www.alsa-project.org, and download and compile newer driver, lib, plugin, and utils.
After compiling all, run alsaconf, and for sanity, reboot your computer.

It would be helpful to know WHERE to install as 'tar -xjvf' install all 4 packages to home. Huh? Aren't tar balls supposed to know WHERE to install a given app to??? At any rate that isn't a permanent fix nor is installing to '/usr/share/alsa' where 'alsaconf' resides. Man I'm confused.

[Red Knuckles]

Sorry about the delay in telling that I had solved that. Here I have posted the solution, because another guy had the same problem:

viewtopic.php?p=71729#71729

That doesn't result in a permanent fix for me. Something relating to or about 'alsaconf' isn't getting to where it needs to be. That would be like a bug wouldn't it? My theory is based on the fact that on MY system 'alsaconf' can result in sound but it is not permanent.

[System Shock]

I don't think it's the kernel. It is most likely your version of ALSA (ALSA v1.0.12rc1 emulation code) which installs with Debian.

I had some sound issues myself with my laptop ( viewtopic.php?t=14526 ) that were resolved by updating ALSA.
My particular issue ( no sound through headphones ) was resolved with ALSA 1.0.14rc2. I tried a couple of revisions before I arrived at the one that actually worked for me, so you may have to experiment a bit.

Go to www.alsa-project.org, and download and compile newer driver, lib, plugin, and utils.
After compiling all, run alsaconf, and for sanity, reboot your computer.

It would be helpful to know WHERE to install as 'tar -xjvf' install all 4 packages to home. Huh? Aren't tar balls supposed to know WHERE to install a given app to??? At any rate that isn't a permanent fix nor is installing to '/usr/share/alsa' where 'alsaconf' resides. Man I'm confused.

These aren't packages. They are source tarballs. LIke I wrote, You need to compile them. uh?

[alleluia20]

The lastest alsa package from experimental works for me, without doing anything (no need to compile).

Try it and tell us.

[hkoster1]

The lastest alsa package from experimental works for me, without doing anything (no need to compile).

Try it and tell us.

Well, it must be compiled for the kernel he's running... But, as somebody already remarked, downloading the newest alsa *sources* from Experimental, then compiling in /usr/src with the command "m-a a-i alsa" will compile the alsa modules for the current kernel, and install them in an extra subdirectory in /lib/modules/2..../ where they take precedence over the alsa modules installed in the .../kernel/.. hierarchy.
It worked fine for me with the 2.6.21-1 kernel...

[Red Knuckles]

Ok, I had to go rtfm on installing and compiling from source:

http://www.aboutdebian.com/compile.htm

Then downloaded latest packages from 'alsa-project.org' for driver, lib, plugins, and utils version 1.0.14. The driver and lib compiled just fine. When I get to plugin './configure/' I get this error:

checking for pkg-config... no
checking for ALSA... configure: error: The pkg-config script could not be found or is too old. Make sure it
is in your PATH or set the PKG_CONFIG environment variable to the full
path to pkg-config.

Alternatively, you may set the environment variables ALSA_CFLAGS
and ALSA_LIBS to avoid the need to call pkg-config.
See the pkg-config man page for more details.

To get pkg-config, see <http://www.freedesktop.org/software/pkgconfig>.
See `config.log' for more details.

the web site 'http://www.freedesktop.org/software/pkgconfig'

is 'server not found'. So what to do ???

If I try utils './configure'I get this error:

checking for initscr in -lncurses... no
checking for initscr in -lcurses... no
configure: error: this packages requires a curses library
How to fix? I know I have ncurses but what about 'lcurses'? and 'lncurses'?

[Red Knuckles]

The lastest alsa package from experimental works for me, without doing anything (no need to compile).

Try it and tell us.

By 'experimental' do you mean an experimental repo? Like:

deb http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free
deb-src http://ftp.us.debian.org/debian/ experimental main contrib non-free

I HAVE those in my repos but Synaptic is giving latest version a 1.0.13-5 which is what wasn't working. I'm going to remove all things alsa I can find reboot and try to install with experimental repos enabled.

Here's something curious.ifI run 'apt-get update' then:

# apt-cache search alsa-source
alsa-base - ALSA driver configuration files
alsa-source - ALSA driver sources
l# apt-cache search alsa-base
alsa-base - ALSA driver configuration files
setmixer - A commandline mixer

I was expectiing a list of packages and version #'s to select from for install. Do I need some othe repo???

[Red Knuckles]

Whoa Nellie! I got sound now. I removed everything alsa listed in Synaptic and have NO files in '/usr/local/src'. But now I've got sound, rebotted 3 times to be sure! Here's some info:

from 'lspci':

Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_hda_intel 319648 5
snd_pcm 89736 3 snd_hda_intel
snd_timer 28680 3 snd_pcm
snd 69232 9 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 15392 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 15120 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm

$ cat /proc/asound/oss/sndstat
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.14 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux localhost 2.6.18-4-amd64 #1 SMP Fri May 4 00:37:33 UTC 2007 x86_64
Config options: 0

Installed drivers:
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config:
HDA NVidia at 0xfe024000 irq 209

Audio devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Timers:
7: system timer

Mixers: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

# alsaconf
-su: alsaconf: command not found
# alsamixer
-su: alsamixer: command not found

What the heck is driving my sound? K-Mixer seems to work. I use KDE.

[alleluia20]

Well, it must be compiled for the kernel he's running...

No. The binary package alsa-base from experimental works for me. Compiling the source is another possibility, of course.

I HAVE those in my repos but Synaptic is giving latest version a 1.0.13-5 which is what wasn't working. I'm going to remove all things alsa I can find reboot and try to install with experimental repos enabled.

Oh, my God When you do something, you do have to remember it Either you have it disabled (the line on /etc/apt/sources.list starts with a # ) or you have set priorities on the file /etc/apt/preferences .

In the first case, remove the # . On the second case, select the package on Synaptic, go to "package" on the menu, and then select "force version"

Whoa Nellie! I got sound now. I removed everything alsa listed in Synaptic and have NO files in '/usr/local/src'. But now I've got sound, rebotted 3 times to be sure! Here's some info

Looking at the modules you are listing, I bet 20 pounds that they come from alsa (maybe from the time you compiled it from source, so apt is not aware). But you are lacking some tools (the mixer is very important).

By the way, snd_hda_intel is for the intel on-board sound card, so maybe you are hearing the sound from this card, no from nvidia (maybe, I do not know).

(By the way, why are you posting in this thread, about the Intel sound card, if you have an nvidia?)

Try installing alsa from experimental.

Then, running alsamixer (or on the gnome/KDE volume control), maybe you can select the card (nvidia or intel). On gnome: right click and preferences.

Hope it helps.

[Red Knuckles]

KMix says it is mixing nVidia. I do remember what I removed as I wrote it down. I'm not inclined to touch a thing till I know more. And I am admittedly a little confused now.

# whereis alsa
alsa: /usr/include/alsa /usr/share/alsa
l# cd /usr/include/alsa
/usr/include/alsa# ls
alisp.h control.h iatomic.h mixer_ordinary.h pcm_ioplug.h rawmidi.h sound
asoundef.h conv.h input.h output.h pcm_old.h seq_event.h timer.h
asoundlib.h error.h instr.h pcm_external.h pcm_ordinary.h seq.h version.h
conf.h global.h mixer_abst.h pcm_extplug.h pcm_plugin.h seqmid.h
control_external.h hwdep.h mixer.h pcm.h pcm_rate.h seq_midi_event.h
/usr/include/alsa# cd /usr/share/alsa
/usr/share/alsa# ls
alsa.conf alsa-lib-1.0.9rc4 alsa-plugins-1.0.14.tar.bz2 cards sndo-mixer.alisp
alsa-driver-1.0.9rc4a alsa-lib-1.0.9rc4.tar.bz2 alsa-utils-1.0.14 pcm
alsa-driver-1.0.9rc4a.tar.bz2 alsa-plugins-1.0.14 alsa-utils-1.0.14.tar.bz2 smixer.conf

Seems I have a hodge podge of different versions for different files that should be cleand up. Backto work.

[Red Knuckles]

Ok, I deleted [rm -rf] '/usr/include/alsa' and '/usr/share/alsa'. Then I rebooted opened Synaptic and updated and installed 'alsa-source' and then ran alsaconf and kmix to unmute. No sound. So I removed 'alsa-source' [still version 1.0.13-5] and rebooted. Then I again dowmloaded alsa-driver, alsa-lib, alsa-plugins, and alsa-utils version 1.0.14 from:

http://www.alsa-project.org/download.php

Again I was able to install and compile driver and lib as before. Plugins and utils didn't get past './configure' as noted in previous post. Nonetheless I now have sound at least for 'sound test'. I haven't yet found a solution to how to get plugins and utils to compile. Anyone have any help on that? KMix says it is controlling HDA nVidia.

Some current info:

# whereis alsa
alsa: /usr/include/alsa /usr/share/alsa
# cd /usr/include/alsa
localhost:/usr/include/alsa# ls
alisp.h control_external.h global.h instr.h pcm_external.h pcm_old.h seq_event.h sound
asoundef.h control.h hwdep.h mixer_abst.h pcm_extplug.h pcm_plugin.h seq.h timer.h
asoundlib.h conv.h iatomic.h mixer.h pcm.h pcm_rate.h seqmid.h version.h
conf.h error.h input.h output.h pcm_ioplug.h rawmidi.h seq_midi_event.h
/usr/include/alsa# cd /usr/share/alsa
/usr/share/alsa# ls
alsa.conf cards pcm smixer.conf sndo-mixer.alisp
# alsaconf
-su: alsaconf: command not found
# alsamixer
-su: alsamixer: command not found

So no alsaconf or alsamixer. I started sound with >K Control Center>Sound and Multimedia>Sound first disabling then enabling and used KMix to unmute.

[alleluia20]

I do remember what I removed as I wrote it down

When you manage packages with Synaptic or aptitude or apt-get or dpkg or adept (am I forgetting something? ) the system is aware of that. But if you do make and make install from source, those files do not appear on the database. If you want to remove them, you have to do make uninstall.

That is why, although you removed alsa, some files of alsa created with make install are still in the system.

Then I rebooted opened Synaptic and updated and installed 'alsa-source'

I see that you enjoy compiling I you install alsa-source, you have to compile it. But module assistant can do it for you. Run m-a prepare and m-a a-i alsa . Then, when you change the kernel, you will have to do it again.

If you install, instead of alsa-source, alsa-base (it is a binary) you don't need to compile. Sometimes the binary does not work and compiling works, but it shouldn't happen. For me, the latest alsa-base from experimental works.

If you download a source from the upstream (in our case http://www.alsa-project.org/ ) you have to be aware that it is likely that you have to polish the source for compiling without problems. There are slight differences between the different distros (for example, the environmetal variables) so, unless you enjoy playing around or want to have the lastest version, the best is to download the package from debian (you can download the source from Debian too, if you enjoy compiling ).

Finally, if you do not want to make a lot of things with sound, maybe KMix is enough for you and you do not need alsamixer (although I prefer it, KMix and the sound control of gnome want to simplify things and they result into a cryptic thing...).

[Red Knuckles]

I do remember what I removed as I wrote it down

When you manage packages with Synaptic or aptitude or apt-get or dpkg or adept (am I forgetting something? ) the system is aware of that. But if you do make and make install from source, those files do not appear on the database. If you want to remove them, you have to do make uninstall.

That is why, although you removed alsa, some files of alsa created with make install are still in the system.

Then I rebooted opened Synaptic and updated and installed 'alsa-source'

I see that you enjoy compiling I you install alsa-source, you have to compile it. But module assistant can do it for you. Run m-a prepare and m-a a-i alsa . Then, when you change the kernel, you will have to do it again.

If you install, instead of alsa-source, alsa-base (it is a binary) you don't need to compile. Sometimes the binary does not work and compiling works, but it shouldn't happen. For me, the latest alsa-base from experimental works.

If you download a source from the upstream (in our case http://www.alsa-project.org/ ) you have to be aware that it is likely that you have to polish the source for compiling without problems. There are slight differences between the different distros (for example, the environmetal variables) so, unless you enjoy playing around or want to have the lastest version, the best is to download the package from debian (you can download the source from Debian too, if you enjoy compiling ).

Finally, if you do not want to make a lot of things with sound, maybe KMix is enough for you and you do not need alsamixer (although I prefer it, KMix and the sound control of gnome want to simplify things and they result into a cryptic thing...).

First I did do 'make uninstall' of the 2 packages that compiled and did 'rm -rf' for everything else alsa and started over again. After running:

# apt-get install alsa-source
# m-a prepare
# m-a a-i alsa
# apt-get install alsa-oss alsa-utils apmd
# alsaconf

alsaconf recognizes my sound device:

Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP51 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

and says it is setting it up. But 'alsamixer' results in:

# alsamixer
ALSA lib control.c:909:(snd_ctl_open_noupdate) Invalid CTL default

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory

When I run KMix it says it is controlling 'Analog Devices AD1986A' which I don't think I even have. The MCP51 HD device is digital. If I try to start sound from >K Control Center>Sound and Multimedia>Sound System by disabling sound server then enabling I get this error:

Sound server informational message:
Error while initializing the sound driver:
device: default can't be opened for playback (No such file or directory)
The sound server will continue, using the null output device.

And most importantly I have no sound. Therefore I'm inclined to believe 'System Shock' that the 1.0.13-5 version of alsa provided by Debian experimental doesn't support my sound device. The late version of alsa 1.0.14 obviously does support my sound device. BUT by, so far, not being able to compile alsa-utils I won't have alsaconf and alsamixer and other sound utitiles. By not, so far, being able to compile alsa-plugins some things won't have sound such as flash and some embedded media. So I would really like to figure out how to compile them as one never knows how long a package may take to get in Debian repos. I'm going to go check some other OS's and see what version of alsa they have as I've had no other sound issues including in a Debian Lenny 32 bit partition. At least as I recall. Let me check. And if any one can help me with my compile issues let me know though I agree with alleluia20 that I would prefer working sound packages from Debian repos. At any rate one solution, Debian experimental, doesn't work at all and the other, alsa-project.org, only works half fast. [Say it fast]. Unless of course I'm doing something wrong.