I recently updated and install OS 11.1 on two systems. One is running Gnome and the new install is KDE. Now I can’t get streaming audio through Firefox to work on either system. Amarok is also a problem on both systems. Is there some kind of a how to around that in the first instance indicates how to set up the sound card and in the second instance indicates how to set up mplayer for streaming audio.
Do you have any sound at all under Gnome and KDE ? I recommend you use the following sound test as a “sound/speaker test”: speaker-test -c2 -l5 -twavYou should hear a ladies voice saying ‘FRONT LEFT’, ‘FRONT RIGHT’ five times.
If that works, then it is likely a simple matter for amarok to update to packman provided apps. If you are using a 64-bit openSUSE it could be more complex, as you could have run across a 64-bit hiccup (and I can’t help with that as I do not have a 64-bit PC/openSUSE install).
Anyway, wrt Amarok, the very first thing I recommend you do (and the very first thing I aways do after establishing an internet connection on my Linux PC) is to setup my software package manager repositories (where the repositories are basically file servers on the internet that provide openSUSE applications packaged as rpms for users). In the case of openSUSE I recommend you add the following 4 repositories (repos) and ONLY the following 4: OSS, Non-OSS, Update and Packman. Just those 4. No others. None. You can add more than those 4 only when you understand the risks and problems that can arise, and how to solve them. So, there is guidance for adding those 4 here: Repositories/11.1 - openSUSE-Community Again, only OSS, Non-OSS, Update, and Packman. Remove any others if you have selected them.
Once you have those 4 added, go to YaST > Software > Software management and select filter ‘search’ and replace the Novell/SuSE-GmbH packaged amarok with the Packman packaged amarok. Also install the Packman packaged libxine1, xine-ui, xine-skins, amarok-xine, libmad, libffmpeg0, and w32codec-all.
Then start amarok, and select the “xine” sound engine under the preference/settings.
On my 32-bit PC, to play most streaming media, I have installed the packman packaged mplayerplug-in together with the smplayer/MPlayer. I also installed flash-player.
If the speaker test did not work, let me know, and I’ll try help you configure your sound.
Let’s deal with the Gnome system.This was an update from OS 11.0.
I just rebooted the system and the first thing that I did was to run Amarok and it worked.I shut Amarok down and started it again and it didn’t work. The error message said “xine was unable to initalize any audio drivers.”
I ran your speaker check with the following result:
speaker-test 1.0.18
Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
WAV file(s)
E: socket-client.c: socket(): Address family not supported by protocol
ALSA lib pulse.c:272:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection refused
Playback open error: -111,Connection refused
E: socket-client.c: socket(): Address family not supported by protocol
ALSA lib pulse.c:272:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection refused
Playback open error: -111,Connection refused
E: socket-client.c: socket(): Address family not supported by protocol
ALSA lib pulse.c:272:(pulse_connect) PulseAudio: Unable to connect: Connection refused
The test continued on, but I stopped it.
Both PC’s are 32 bit.
Now I am going to do the thing with the repositories that you suggest.
This is not usual and it suggests either amarok did not shut down correctly, or you some other operation was conducted between your shutting down amarok and attempting to restart amarok. Did you by chance log out and change users in between successful attempts?
Note, I am not a Gnome user, and I have not encountered that error before, so all I can do is provide suggestions and let you do the investigating.
IMHO this is likely the same problem that happened wrt Amarok. Some application has the sound driver and is refusing to let Amarok (nor the speaker-test) access alsa.
To see what device is using one’s audio driver, I typically copy and paste this into a gnome terminal or a kde konsole:lsof /dev/dsp* /dev/audio* /dev/mixer* /dev/snd/*I find it useful to run that when everything is working (keeping a record of the output in a text file), and then run it again when things are not working, and compare the two results
You could investigate your pulse audio a bit more. Here are some pulse audio applications:
- padevchooser - PulseAudio Device Chooser 0.9.3
- pavucontrol - PulseAudio Volume Control 0.9.7 ,
- pavumeter - PulseAudio Volume Meter 0.9.3 ,
- paman - PulseAudio Manager 0.9.4 ,
- paprefs - PulseAudio Preferences 0.9.7
As to their precise function, the web sites I linked provide some information. Other than that, I was hoping you would teach me.
…
One way to kill a fly with a sludgehammer (which works sometimes, when one hits the fly), when one’s sound locks up like that, is to restart alsa with: su -c ‘rcalsasound restart’ and then manually restart one’s mixer.
Good luck.
I have same issue but using a 64bit system. Previously with 11.0 it was frequent not to have any sound (like soundsystem get stucked), only getting it back it a “alsasound restart”.
Can anyone explay what you mean with “you could have run across a 64-bit hiccup” ?
Next time that happens, try the lsof command (with the arguments I noted) above, to see what app has seized your sound. ie
lsof /dev/dsp* /dev/audio* /dev/mixer* /dev/snd/*you should run that when your sound functions normally, and when it does not, so you can tell the difference.
The context in which that was stated was a problem with firefox playing multimedia. Many 64-bit users struggle with trying to get their Firefox working, because 64-bit support for the flash-player has been questionable for a long time.
I am going on vacation for 2.5 weeks, so my replies may become very sporadic on this and other threads.
Thanks.
Will next time i’ve a issue. In OpenSuSE 11.1 i should use xine + pulseaudio ? or xine + alsa ?
Good vacation
Sorry, no golden ideas here. IMHO use which ever works best for you.
pulse audio is gradually seeping its way into all distributions, as it will eventually provide features which are perceived as being needed to compete with OS such as Vista. However its currently buggy (although it has come a long ways), and that has upset some users.
The easiest way for me to fixed it with GNoME is to open a terminal and execute (as normal user)
alsamixer -c 0 ## for soundcard 1 or "-c 1" for soundcard 2 or just
alsamixer ## if you have only one sound card
Check that all sound channels are enabled (or at least those you currently use). If they have an “MM” that means they are “muted” so press the “M” key on your keyboard to toggle between enabled/disabled (as desired)
Good luck and Happy New Year
Luis
I just upgraded from 11.0 to 11.1 and now I don’t have sound in Amarok or Firefox, but I do in several other apps (Skype, KDE, Games etc.). The speaker test lady works fine as well.
There is a good chance you are experiencing a codec problem. Novell/SuSE-GmbH do not package proprietary codec decode/encoders with openSUSE, and the vast majority of codec’s available are proprietary. Hence you will need to install 3rd party codec’s to sort your problems.
To make such installation easier, I recommend you set up your openSUSE software package manager with 4 repositories (repos) and only 4 repos. Specifically, I recommend OSS, Non-OSS, Update and Packman. Just those 4. No others. None. Once you learn how to sort dependencies on your own, and sort the problems that can happen with multiple conflicting repos, you can consider adding more. Until then, only OSS, Non-Oss, Update and Packman. You can find guidance for doing that here: Repositories - openSUSE-Community Select on the 11.1 link and then add those 4 repos. In particular do NOT add videolan as apps / codecs from that site often conflict with Packman media players.
Once they are added, go to YaST > Software > Software Management, and change the filter to “search” and select and install the applications that you wish to install. In this case I recommend you install, from Packman (replacing any Novell/SuSE-GmbH packaged versions) amarok, libxine1, xine-ui, amarok-xine, smplayer, mplayerplug-in. When running amarok (after this update) switch it to the xine engine.
To learn what sort of applications are available from Packman, look here:
PackMan :: Startseite
Note the search tab in Packman works great:
PackMan :: Suche nach Paketen
I would normally agree especially regarding Amarok. I will try these suggestions ASAP. However, just to add interest to issue. The test sounds in YAST sound tool do not work either. It seems strange that a codec issue would be in effect with Firefox as well. Since I check it with flash websites and the flash plays fine sans audio.
In any event I’ll post my results tonight after some Packman codec additions.
jrolio said
I would normally agree especially regarding Amarok. I will try these suggestions ASAP. However, just to add interest to issue. The test sounds in YAST sound tool do not work either. It seems strange that a codec issue would be in effect with Firefox as well. Since I check it with flash websites and the flash plays fine sans audio.
In any event I’ll post my results tonight after some Packman codec additions.
It may not be a codec issue. Are you running amarok 1.4? If so, try manually choosing the oss plugin in Settings -> Configure Amarok -> Engine -> select oss in the Output plugin. Keep the Sound System xine and not yauap while you do this.
I don’t know the equivalent approach for Amarok 2.
There could be multiple reasons for the sound not functioning. It may not be confined to codecs. For firefox, I prefer the mplayerplug-in. Do not install multiple multimedia plug ins as they can interfer with each other.
In particular don’t forget libffmpeg0 and w32codec-all, libquicktime and xvidcore/xvidcore4 from Packman.
OFFTOPIC:
Do you have any information if SLED XI is comming with propietary codecs? (Case not, do you know where could I digg?)
Thanks in advance.
Luis
You may have better luck getting information on this by starting a thread on Linux, Mac OS X, & Co - Doom9’s Forum or Linux - VideoHelp.com and asking the question there.
This was good tip…
There is only one engine avail in Amarok: Gstreamer and YAUAP.
Any idea on how to get Amarok (and maybe the other apps) to see other sound engines?
Yes, please follow my recommendation in post#14:
openSUSE 11.1 – No Sound - openSUSE Forums
ie Do NOT install videolan packaged apps. Do install Packman packaged apps. Setup the 4 repos I mentioned in that link (OSS, non-OSS, Update, packman) and install the packman packaged amarok, amarok-xine, amarok-packman, libxine1, xine-ui.
Do NOT use the Novell/SuSE GmbH versions, as they are not as good as the Packman packaged versions.
Hmmm… who needs to ask? having these kind of resources (which I’ve never seen in my entire life)…
Thanks a lot oldcpu. Those were great links
Luis
Ok, the plot thickens, but I think I’ve resolved it with your help. As you hinted, the non-packman codecs suck and did not show Amarok any love. Using the packman codecs fixed that and firefox. Then I noticed the microphone would not record. I need to add “5jack” to the config for my ALC880. Wackily, yast’s “test sounds” do not work and neither does the speaking lady from the above command line test. But the apps do. I realize this is a probably a mixer setting.
Since there are no less than alsa, oss, pulse, esd and a few more a I can’t remember, I think it’s insanity to go through each mixer and find the muted channel. Perhaps the out of the box install should just have 1 or 2sound systems?
Can I remove everything but alsa & oss and not suffer?