ok thanks. I see a 64-bit openSUSE-11.3 with the 2.6.34.8-0.2-desktop on a Dell Inspiron 1520 with alsa driver 1.0.22.1 and libary/utilities 1.0.23. The hardware audio codec is a STAC-9205.There are no model options applied.
I note this from the diagnostic script arecord section:
ARECORD
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
**card 0:** Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: STAC92xx Analog [STAC92xx Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
which suggests your hardware for recording is known as hw:0,0
I note this for the PC’s mixer:
!!Amixer output
!!-------------
!!-------Mixer controls for card 0 [Intel]
Card **hw:0** 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xfebfc000 irq 29'
** Mixer name : 'SigmaTel STAC9205'**
**Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0**
Front Left: Playback 48 [75%] -12.00dB] [on]
Front Right: Playback 48 [75%] -12.00dB] [on]
**Simple mixer control 'Mic Jack Mode',0**
Items: 'Mic In' 'Line In'
Item0: **'Mic In'**
**Simple mixer control 'Capture',0**
Front Left: Capture 8 **[53%]** [12.00dB] [on]
Front Right: Capture 8 **[53%]** [12.00dB] [on]
**Simple mixer control 'Digital',0**
Front Left: Capture 0 **[0%]** -30.00dB]
Front Right: Capture 0 **[0%]** -30.00dB]
**Simple mixer control 'Mux',0**
Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
There are less controls than I expected. The capture at 53% is a bit low. I myself would try higher, then once capture successfully established back off on the level in order to reduce noise. I see both Digital and Mux are at 0%. If it were me, not having experience with your hardware, I would move UP the digital capture levels.
ie FIRST - try tuning your mixer better
see below for the arecord command I recommend.
NEXT (if that fails), I did a search on the Dell Inspiron 1520 and on one of the websites I noted a user claimed that for them to obtain proper sound functionality they had to apply the model option “dell-laptop”.
I note from the alsa documentation HD-Audio-Models.txt file for version 1.0.22 of alsa the following model options are allowed (one at a time):
**STAC9205/9254**
=============
ref Reference board
dell-m42 Dell (unknown)
dell-m43 Dell Precision
**dell-m44** Dell Inspiron
eapd Keep EAPD on (e.g. Gateway T1616)
auto BIOS setup (default)
None of those options are ‘dell-laptop’ and further I note ‘dell-laptop’ is intended for PC’s with a Conexant 5066 hardware audio codec which your Inspiron does not have. Hence my assessment is that user applied the wrong setting.
What you can do, thou, is apply each of those settings in the STAC9205/9254 list I quoted, one at a time, restarting the alsa driver after each application, to see if one improves your mixer settings and hence your mic controlability.
To do that, say you wish to try the setting ‘dell-m44’ (which is purportedly optimal for a Dell Inspiron), then add this line to the FRONT of your /etc/modprobe.d/50-sound.conf file:
options snd-hda-intel model=dell-m44
and save the change. Then with root permissions run:
rcalsasound restart
and do NOT keep any old KDE settings if asked, and as a REGULAR user restart kmix (if a KDE user) or alsamixer (if gnome) and then try to tune your mic.
Note for tuning your mic, I recommend you try one at a time these commands:
arecord -vv -f cd test.wav
and press < ctrl > < c> to stop the recording and then replay ‘test.wav’ with a media application.
You can also try:
arecord -D hw:0,0 -vv -f cd test.wav
but that may need to change based on a successful application of a model option.
Good luck.