11.2 and sound on an IMAC

Hi

I’ve been baning my head against this problem for some days now. I have a new IMAC and I am running 11.2 on it. I just can’t get the sound to work.

Here are some specs.
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio (rev 06)
01:00.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc HD48x0 audio

Codec: Cirrus Logic CS4206

Any thoughts?
Thanks in advance for your help.

Regards
Norbert

In a terminal do this and post the part relating to your audio:

/sbin/lspci -nnk

First though, do you have any linux experience? If not, take a look at this to remove some of the mystery out of the magic users will be throwing at you:
Concepts - openSUSE

There is an openSUSE audio troubleshooting guide here:
SDB:AudioTroubleshooting - openSUSE
Note its suggestion for users to try installing alsa-firmware.

Please do NOT use the startup system sound as your criteria for stating sound does not work. Also be certain to check your mixer. Its not uncommon for a mixer setting (master, pcm or speaker) to be muted upon boot. In KDE your mixer is “kmix” (the small speaker in right hand corner). In Gnome your mixer is “alsamixer”.

Note, when testing if you have sound, please copy and paste the following speaker-test into a Gnome terminal or a kde konsole:

speaker-test -Dplug:front -c2 -l5 -twav
Note Linux is case sensitive, and “D” is not the same as “d”. To stop the above test, while the konsole/xterm has the mouse focus, press <CTRL><C> on the keyboard. Note you should check your mixer settings (kmix if using KDE, and alsamixer if using Gnome) to ensure that PCM and Master Volume are set around 95%. Once you have basic sound established you can back off to lower volume levels. Note the test for surround sound is different.

If that test yields errors (and its not uncommon to get errors there), try instead this more simple test: speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twavYou should hear a female voice saying ‘FRONT LEFT’, ‘FRONT RIGHT’ five times. Its quite common that one of those speaker tests will work and one will NOT work, so don’t be distressed if that is the case. IF that test gives sound, stop now, post that the sound test gives sound, and we will look at other possible causes for your applications not giving you the sound you want (such as missing codecs, using the wrong packaged version … etc … ).

Or alternatively, for testing the simple playback, use aplay program. Prepare a WAV file and simply run like:

aplay -vv somefile.wav

With the option -vv, aplay shows the verbose information of the PCM device, and a VU-peak meter during playing the file.

Try those speaker-tests as both a regular user, and also with root permissions. If you have a headset, try with your headset plugged in, and also with your headset not plugged in (for speakers).

Assuming no sound, can you provide more very detailed information so a good recommendation can be given? For openSUSE-11.1, you can do that, with your PC connected to the internet, by opening a gnome-terminal or a kde konsole and twice copy and paste the following into that terminal/konsole

/usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh

Run it the 1st time with root permissions. It will ask if you wish to do an update of the script. Select YES.

Then run it again (as either a regular user or as root). This time it will diagnose your PC’s hardware and software configuration for audio, and it will ask you if you wish to share the information (select YES) and it will post its output on the Internet/web. And when finished it will give you the URL of the web site where the information is posted. Please post that URL here. JUST the URL.

Also, please copy and paste the following commands one line at a time into a gnome-terminal or a konsole and post here the output: rpm -qa ‘alsa
rpm -qa ‘pulse
rpm -q libasound2
uname -a
cat /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf… with that information I may be able to make a detailed recommendation. (but try the alsa-firmware installation/reboot first)

Also, do NOT waste too much time on this. Simply post on our forum if you get stumped, and continue to look for help that way.

Hi

Many thanks for your replies.
I’ve been using SuSE since 7.3, so I am not completely new. But this 11.2 has me banging my head against the wall with a view problems. Sound is one.

I have been trying to go through the trouble shoot process but no luck. The alsa firmware is installed. Running the sound tests, produces not sound. DEAD.

theblob@theblob7:~> uname -a
Linux theblob7 2.6.31.5-0.1-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT 2009-10-26 15:49:03 +0100 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux
theblob@theblob7:~> rpm -qa ‘alsa
alsa-tools-devel-1.0.21-2.5.i586
alsa-utils-1.0.21-3.1.i586
alsa-firmware-1.0.20-3.2.noarch
alsa-plugins-maemo-1.0.21-3.3.i586
alsa-tools-gui-1.0.21-2.5.i586
alsa-oss-1.0.17-25.2.i586
alsa-1.0.21-3.2.i586
alsa-devel-1.0.21-3.2.i586
alsa-tools-1.0.21-2.5.i586
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.21-3.3.i586
alsa-plugins-speex-1.0.21-3.3.i586
alsamixergui-0.9.0rc1-743.1.i586
alsa-docs-1.0.21-3.2.noarch
kalsatools-1.5.0-598.1.i586
alsa-plugins-jack-1.0.21-3.3.i586
alsa-plugins-1.0.21-3.3.i586
alsa-plugins-samplerate-1.0.21-3.3.i586
theblob@theblob7:~> rpm -qa ‘pulse
pulseaudio-0.9.19-2.3.i586
alsa-plugins-pulse-1.0.21-3.3.i586
libpulse0-0.9.19-2.3.i586
vlc-aout-pulse-1.0.3-2.2.i586
libxine1-pulse-1.1.16.1-7.6.i586
theblob@theblob7:~> rpm -q libasound2
libasound2-1.0.21-3.2.i586
theblob@theblob7:~> cat /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf

options snd slots=snd-hda-intel,snd-hda-intel

u1Nb.uw_XaTd+Mj4:5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio

alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel

NXNs.C2DYOy2py33:HD48x0 audio

alias snd-card-1 snd-hda-intel
theblob@theblob7:~>

Here is the /usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh output.

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=047c7fdfe16a7fbc9b3f13e4b22e9a0ea9b0a5f0

Thanks, I note iMac11,1 with a 32-bit openSUSE-11.2 with the 2.6.31.5-0.1-desktop kernel.

You know, you have way too many alsa apps installed. Installing “more” does not mean it will get better. :slight_smile: … and who knows the effect of so many ? I definitely do not.

For example, on my 64-bit openSUSE-11.2, all I have is:

alsa-oss-1.0.17-25.2.x86_64
alsa-utils-1.0.21-3.1.x86_64
alsa-plugins-1.0.21-3.3.x86_64
alsa-oss-32bit-1.0.17-25.2.x86_64
alsa-plugins-32bit-1.0.21-3.3.x86_64
alsa-devel-1.0.21-3.2.x86_64
alsa-1.0.21-3.2.x86_64

anyway, reference your mixer, your master level is low, at 50%
Simple mixer control ‘Master’,0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 115
Mono: Playback 57 [50%] -29.00dB] [on]
why not move that up higher.

I also note your front speaker is a 0% volume, your surround speaker is muted, with its volume at 0%. Is that what you intend?
**Simple mixer control ‘Front Speaker’,0
** Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 115
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] -57.50dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] -57.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control ‘Surround Speaker’,0
Capabilities: pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Mono:
Front Left: Playback [off]
Front Right: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control ‘Surround Speaker Playback Volum’,0
Capabilities: volume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: 0 - 115
Front Left: 0 [0%]
Front Right: 0 [0%]
Also, when testing for sound, please use the 3 sound tests here (ie try ALL 3): SDB:AudioTroubleshooting - openSUSE - how to test your sound those are the same as the one’s in my above post. Be certain to try with and with out headphones and as a regular user and also with root permissions.

Assuming no sound, I also note your IMAC has a Cirrus Logic CS4206 where the 1.0.21 alsa hd-audio-models.txt file has these options for that hardware:

Cirrus Logic CS4206/4207
========================
  mbp55		MacBook Pro 5,5
  auto		BIOS setup (default)

Lets check out a hypothesis that alsa sound driver auto probe of your hardware failed upon boot to properly configure your hardware. So lets try forcing a different configuration upon start of alsa sound driver.

Lets try ‘auto’, and if that fails, try ‘mbp55’.

To do that open /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf with root permissions in an editor. You can do that by typing:

  • in gnome: gnomesu gedit /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf
  • in KDE: kdesu ‘kwrite /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf’
    and enter root password when prompted. Then add a line to the start of the 50-sound.conf file so that it looks like:
options snd-hda-intel model=auto
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel,snd-hda-intel
# u1Nb.uw_XaTd+Mj4:5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel
# NXNs.C2DYOy2py33:HD48x0 audio
alias snd-card-1 snd-hda-intel

then restart your alsasound driver by typing **su -c ‘rcalsasound restart’ ** and enter root password when prompted, restart your mixer (kmix in KDE and alsamixer in gnome) and then test your sound as noted above.

If “auto” does not work, then edit that same file again, this time replace the word “auto” for “mbp55” and then restart your alsasound driver by typing **su -c ‘rcalsasound restart’ ** and enter root password when prompted, restart your mixer (kmix in KDE and alsamixer in gnome) and then test your sound as noted above.

Good luck !

Ah…, thank you, thank you, thank you. We have a winner.

Actually it was very simple. The following was the solution. Often in kmix after an update everything is muted. I unticked these.But…

You pointed out that there are speakers with volume 0. As it turns out, there were a whole bunch of channels which were not ticked in kmix - hence no sound. Why, no idea and certainly not intended. Sometimes one needs just a notch in the right direction.

Thank you so much for your quick and helpful support. It certainly is very much appreciated.

Cheers
Norbert

I also note your front speaker is a 0% volume, your surround speaker is muted, with its volume at 0%. Is that what you intend?
Simple mixer control ‘Front Speaker’,0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 115
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] -57.50dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] -57.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control ‘Surround Speaker’,0
Capabilities: pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Mono:
Front Left: Playback [off]
Front Right: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control ‘Surround Speaker Playback Volum’,0
Capabilities: volume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: 0 - 115
Front Left: 0 [0%]
Front Right: 0 [0%]

Excellent ! Glad to read its working.

I’m not certain how new you are to openSUSE, but if new, please read our multimedia stickie: Multi-media and Restricted Format Installation Guide - openSUSE Forums

Please also read the following two stickies:

and if new to Linux and to openSUSE, here is a top level basic concepts guide: Concepts - openSUSE