Karmic [9.10] issues with volume control, Master/PCM/LFE, and volume threshold

[dkisl]

Just upgraded to Ubuntu 9.10 (Karmic Koala) and am having sound issues like many others.

Symptoms:
Changing the system tray volume control doesn't affect the speaker volume at all, until I set it to 30% or below, at which point the speakers completely stop producing any sound
Using gnome-alsamixer, watched what happens when I lower volume: until the threshold, Master is dropping, then at that 30% point (when Master hits 0), PCM and LFE begin to drop. At volume control 0, all three of them are at 0.
Checked ALSA drivers (up to date), deleted and reinstalled PulseAudio (no change at any point in the process)
Curiously, the minimum volume threshold is still there when I plug in headphones (through the headphone jack), but the volume control changes the sound output; gnome-alsamixer continues to do the exact same things as described above.

I will be happy to provide specs or run diagnostics if needed. My soundcard is a Sigmatel STAC9200 and I'm running Karmic on a Dell Inspiron notebook.

Thanks.

[Jixop]

Same problem here. Same result in gnome-alsamixer.
Only for me, I would say the minimum threshold is more around 10%.

I'm on Dell 9400 laptop. Sound trough the speakers are always to loud. With headphones it's normal (with 10% treshold, but it isn't too loud at 15%).

The problem would be solved for me if I could change the volume buttons to only control the PCM channel instead of Masterchannel. (In 9.04: Master also lowered LFE wich is my subwoofer and should always be full volume) I did change it in 9.04, but can't find the option in 9.10.

Thanks in advance.

[LJComServ]

I've got an identical problem.

Looks like the Master and PCM controls are flipped. Master controls the treble and the PCM controls the volume level.

I'm on a Inspiron E1705 and a Sigmatel STAC9200.

Thanks to all!

[geopteryx]

Hi!
I too have a DELL Inspiron 9400/E1705 with the STAC9200. I've solved this problem by making some changes in the file "/usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common". Try this:

sudo gedit /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common

You will find those lines near the bottom of the file:

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

So, add theses lines BEFORE:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

and these lines AFTER:

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

You should finally have:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

Save and quit. Then restart (restarting Pulseaudio isn't enough).

Using Fn + PageUp / PageDown or the media buttons now only modifies the "PCM" channel (have a look on alsamixer).

[LJComServ]

Thanks geopteryx!

That did it!

Got to love the Ubuntu community!

[Jixop]

Thanks! Solved it for me too. (also DELL Inspiron 9400/E1705 with the STAC9200)
Sound looks not as loud as in 9.04 though.

[Dr. Falken]

Hi!
I too have a DELL Inspiron 9400/E1705 with the STAC9200. I've solved this problem by making some changes in the file "/usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common". Try this:

sudo gedit /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common

You will find those lines near the bottom of the file:

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

So, add theses lines BEFORE:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

and these lines AFTER:

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

You should finally have:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

Save and quit. Then restart (restarting Pulseaudio isn't enough).

Using Fn + PageUp / PageDown or the media buttons now only modifies the "PCM" channel (have a look on alsamixer).

These solutions worked for me in a Dell Precision 690.

Also in other Precision 690, one of my team mates at work downgraded the ALSA modules to the Jaunty ones and also worked fine about this issue. I don't know the details how he did it.

[erlendoos]

What does LFE mean?

I use Ubuntu 9.10 on a dell inspiron 9400 and when i use the proposed configuration, the pc-speakers don't work, but the headphones do.
When I use the configuration below, the pc-speakers work, but the headphones produce little sound.

[Element Master]
switch = on
volume = ignore
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge

[mikesmithv]

Hi!
I too have a DELL Inspiron 9400/E1705 with the STAC9200. I've solved this problem by making some changes in the file "/usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common". Try this:

sudo gedit /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/analog-output.conf.common

You will find those lines near the bottom of the file:

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

So, add theses lines BEFORE:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

and these lines AFTER:

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

You should finally have:

[Element Master]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

[Element PCM]
switch = mute
volume = merge
override-map.1 = all
override-map.2 = all-left,all-right

[Element LFE]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

Save and quit. Then restart (restarting Pulseaudio isn't enough).

Using Fn + PageUp / PageDown or the media buttons now only modifies the "PCM" channel (have a look on alsamixer).

This fix also worked for me on my Dell E1705. The volume is smooth now but it sounded "different". I rebooted into Windows (Vista) and listened closely and discovered that in Windows the sound comes out the left and right speakers on the front of the laptop but in Ubuntu 9.10 with this fix it only comes out the "sub-woofer" on the bottom (nothing out of the left and right speakers). So then I checked Ubuntu 9.04 (live CD) and the sound is out of the front speakers. Do you think it might be possible to fix this by changing "volume = ignore" to something else?

[patsy4078]

geopteryx's hack fixed my Dell XPS m1017. Thank you!

mikesmithv: Sounds like the trebble is too low. run alsamixer and increase your Master (trebble on a Dell) or decrease your LFE (bass) until your mid and low ranges sound right.