(all varients) fixing scratching/poping noise on ubuntu 9.10

**linuxgeek77** · February 7th, 2010

IMPORTANT- KUBUNTU USERS USE kate INSTEAD OF gedit
XUBUNTU USERS USE mousepad INSTEAD OF gedit

hello guys i posted a post about this a while ago that did not work for some people so today i am going to post both ways where u can actually MAKE your sound work with ubuntu if you have an HDA audio card. the first solution is this: open the terminal and type- (this is for the crackling/poping noise only. not muted sound cards, and you may skip this step if it is not crackling/poping) :

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

then type your password

and then the last two lines where you see power-save option, just delete it. and save it.

FOR ATI/HDA/HDMI DRIVERS this MAY work for you as well: : ( you can try adding backports for your driver with this command - it may work for you) open terminal and type:

Code:

sudo apt-get install linux-backports-modules-alsa-karmic-generic

REBOOT- this will work if your experiencing wither no sound or your audio jacks are not working.
I hope i helped someone out there with my post

please comment back and let me know if it works for you.
this was tested on HP dv6636nr laptop with HDA NVIDIA card.

SECOND STEP - UPDATING ALSA:-

IF THAT DOESNT HELP WHILE PLAYING GAMES/ WATCHING VIDEOS THEN TRY THIS:

here i will show you how to update your alsa drivers for your sound card to teh latest one that support alot more HDA audio cards. follow the steps and report back to me.

To do this, we must begin by determining our version of alsa as follows :

Code:

cat /proc/asound/version

Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.20.

To avoid problems during the upgrade of Alsa-utils, we need to stop it with the following command :

Code:

sudo /etc/init.d/alsa-utils stop

We must then install the necessary tools to compile along with the kernel headers :

Code:

sudo apt-get -y install build-essential ncurses-dev gettext xmlto libasound2-dev

Code:

sudo apt-get -y install linux-headers-`uname -r` libncursesw5-dev

Then, we go in our personal folder and download alsa-driver, alsa-lib and alsa-utils :

Code:

cd ~

Code:

rm -rf ~/alsa* ~/.pulse*

HTML Code:

wget ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/driver/alsa-driver-1.0.23.tar.bz2

HTML Code:

wget ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/lib/alsa-lib-1.0.23.tar.bz2

HTML Code:

wget ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/utils/alsa-utils-1.0.23.tar.bz2

After that, we create a new folder for the compilation and installation of the 3 files. Then, we move the 3 tar files that we just downloaded in this folder :

Code:

sudo rm -rf /usr/src/alsa

Code:

sudo mkdir -p /usr/src/alsa

Code:

cd /usr/src/alsa

Code:

sudo cp ~/alsa* .

Unpack the 3 tar files :

Code:

sudo tar xjf alsa-driver*

Code:

sudo tar xjf alsa-lib*

Code:

sudo tar xjf alsa-utils*

We compile and install alsa-driver :

Code:

cd alsa-driver*

Code:

sudo ./configure

Code:

sudo make

Code:

sudo make install

We compile and install alsa-lib :

Code:

cd ../alsa-lib*

Code:

sudo ./configure

Code:

sudo make

Code:

sudo make install

We compile and install alsa-utils :

Code:

cd ../alsa-utils*

Code:

sudo ./configure

Code:

sudo make

Code:

sudo make install

If like me, you got this error during the last “sudo ./configure” :

Code:

checking form.h presence... yes
checking for form.h... yes
checking for new_panel in -lpanelw... no
configure: error: panelw library not found

You will need to add those symbolics links (only if you got the error) and restart the installation from the last “sudo ./configure” :

Code:

sudo ln -s libpanelw.so.5 /usr/lib/libpanelw.so

Code:

sudo ln -s libformw.so.5 /usr/lib/libformw.so

Code:

sudo ln -s libmenuw.so.5 /usr/lib/libmenuw.so

Code:

sudo ln -s libncursesw.so.5 /lib/libncursesw.so

Then, we remove the 3 tar files in our personal folder that are not anymore necessary :

Code:

rm -f ~/alsa-driver*

Code:

rm -f ~/alsa-lib*

Code:

rm -f ~/alsa-utils*

Then, just restart your computer and your alsa version should be 1.0.22.1!
You can verify that you have now indeed have this version of alsa :

Code:

cat /proc/asound/version

Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.22.1.
Compiled on Dec 29 2009 for kernel 2.6.31-16-generic (SMP).

Just to be sure everything is well configured, execute this command :

Code:

sudo alsaconf

and reboot again!

THIRD STEP POSTED BELOW AS A REPLY

CREDITS: http://monespaceperso.org/blog-en/20...ic-koala-9-10/

**linuxgeek77** · March 2nd, 2010

Okay here is the last solution i can think of that may work for you if all failed:

open teh terminal and type this:

Code:

aplay -l

and look for your sound card driver there/codec then:

Code:

sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base

will get you into the sound setup file

after the last line of code enter the following:

Code:

options snd-hda-intel model="your sound card model"

save it

(replace teh "your card model" with your actual card sound card driver/codec -remove qoutes- if you have more than one add both of them)

Reboot

-FORTH STEP ( IT MAY BE PULSE AUDIO CAUSING THE PROBLEM)

WE will Remove Pulseaudio and use regular asla-mixer instead.

Code:

sudo apt-get purge pulseaudio gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio

Code:

sudo apt-get autoremove

Code:

sudo apt-get install esound esound-clients esound-common libesd-alsa0 gnome-alsamixer

restart your computer!

Notes:
-run gstreamer-properties in terminal to set defaults to alsa (the old system/preferences/sound in jaunty)

This means:

Code:

gstreamer-properties

-remove gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio to get sound in totem.

The above commands should have taken care of that, but it never hurts to be sure when talking about the hydra that is PulseAudio.

-gnome-alsamixer is for changing the volume, not an applet but better that nothing

This means you are left without a panel applet to control volume across the board, thanks to the thoughtful efforts of Canonical to shove PulseAudio down our throats. So you need to have something to control audio with:

Code:

sudo apt-get install gnome-alsamixer

And something to keep gnome-alsamixer within easy reach, provided by AllTray:

Code:

sudo apt-get install alltray

credits goes to: nullrend

**leorolla** · March 7th, 2010

Latest Karmic kernell already comes with ALSA 1.0.22
So no need for re-compiling everything and doing all that ugly job.

For "your sound card model", you know where we can find a list?

**linuxgeek77** · March 7th, 2010

Originally Posted by leorolla

Latest Karmic kernell already comes with ALSA 1.0.22
So no need for re-compiling everything and doing all that ugly job.

For "your sound card model", you know where we can find a list?

yes but on linux mint for some reason it is not updated

aplay -l should so it or you can try this:

Code:

lspci -v | less

see if you card is supported here: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main

**leorolla** · March 8th, 2010

Originally Posted by linuxgeek77

aplay -l should so it or you can try this:

Code:

lspci -v | less

see if you card is supported here: http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Main

I mean a comprehensive list with all possible values.

Edit:
FOUND IT!
http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-...ls.txt;hb=HEAD

**leorolla** · March 8th, 2010

Originally Posted by linuxgeek77

yes but on linux mint for some reason it is not updated

Even with linux-backports-modules-alsa-karmic-generic ?

From Karmic repositories, and without recompiling alsa or rebuilding kernel, I got:

Code:

$ uname -r
2.6.31-20-generic
$ cat /proc/asound/version 
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.22.1.
Compiled on Feb  8 2010 for kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (SMP).
$ apt-cache policy linux-backports-modules-alsa-2.6.31-20-generic
linux-backports-modules-alsa-2.6.31-20-generic:
  Installed: 2.6.31-20.22
  Candidate: 2.6.31-20.22
  Version table:
 *** 2.6.31-20.22 0
        901 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
$

**yorgmeister** · March 14th, 2010

This fix broke mplayer, I now get:

mplayer has finished unexpectedly. exit code 1

Log file:

p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; } mplayer -noquiet -nofs -nomouseinput -afm hwac3 -sub-fuzziness 1 -identify -slave -vo xv -ao alsa:device=hw=0.1 -nokeepaspect -framedrop -autosync 100 -nodr -double -input nodefault-bindings:conf=/dev/null -stop-xscreensaver -wid 62914575 -monitorpixelaspect 1 -subcp ISO-8859-1 -subpos 100 -volume 50 -nocache -osdlevel 0 -vf-add screenshot -slices -channels 6 -softvol -softvol-max 120 /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv
MPlayer SVN-r30886-4.3.4 (C) 2000-2010 MPlayer Team
Terminal type `unknown' is not defined.
Playing /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv.
ID_VIDEO_ID=0
[mkv] Track ID 1: video (V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC), -vid 0
ID_AUDIO_ID=0
ID_AID_0_NAME=MVO
ID_AID_0_LANG=rus
[mkv] Track ID 2: audio (A_AC3) "MVO", -aid 0, -alang rus
ID_AUDIO_ID=1
ID_AID_1_NAME=DUB (Line)
ID_AID_1_LANG=rus
[mkv] Track ID 3: audio (A_MPEG/L3) "DUB (Line)", -aid 1, -alang rus
ID_AUDIO_ID=2
ID_AID_2_LANG=und
[mkv] Track ID 4: audio (A_DTS), -aid 2, -alang und
[mkv] Will play video track 1.
Matroska file format detected.
VIDEO: [avc1] 1920x1080 24bpp 23.976 fps 0.0 kbps ( 0.0 kbyte/s)
ID_FILE_SUB_ID=0
ID_FILE_SUB_FILENAME=/home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.srt
SUB: Added subtitle file (1): /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.srt
ID_FILENAME=/home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv
ID_DEMUXER=mkv
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=avc1
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=0
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=1920
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=1080
ID_VIDEO_FPS=23.976
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=1.7778
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=8192
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=0
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=6
ID_LENGTH=7704.71
ID_SEEKABLE=1
ID_CHAPTERS=0
Opening video filter: [screenshot]
================================================== ========================
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Selected video codec: [ffh264] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg H.264)
================================================== ========================
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffh264
================================================== ========================
Trying to force audio codec driver family hwac3...
Opening audio decoder: [hwac3] AC3/DTS pass-through S/PDIF
hwac3: switched to AC3, 384000 bps, 48000 Hz
AUDIO: 48000 Hz, 2 ch, ac3be, 384.0 kbit/25.00% (ratio: 48000->192000)
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=384000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=2
Selected audio codec: [hwac3] afm: hwac3 (AC3 through S/PDIF)
================================================== ========================
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: conf.c:3843

parse_args) Unknown parameter AES0
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: conf.c:3969

snd_config_expand) Parse arguments error: No such file or directory
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: pcm.c:2211

snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM hw:0,1,AES0=6
[AO_ALSA] Format ac3be is not supported by hardware, trying default.
AO: [alsa] 48000Hz 2ch ac3le (2 bytes per sample)
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=hwac3
[Mixer] No hardware mixing, inserting volume filter.
[format] Sample format big-endian AC3 not yet supported
Starting playback...
MPlayer interrupted by signal 11 in module: decode_audio
ID_SIGNAL=11
- MPlayer crashed by bad usage of CPU/FPU/RAM.
Recompile MPlayer with --enable-debug and make a 'gdb' backtrace and
disassembly. Details in DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports_what.html#bugreports_crash.
- MPlayer crashed. This shouldn't happen.
It can be a bug in the MPlayer code _or_ in your drivers _or_ in your
gcc version. If you think it's MPlayer's fault, please read
DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports.html and follow the instructions there. We can't and
won't help unless you provide this information when reporting a possible bug.

**linuxgeek77** · March 17th, 2010

Originally Posted by yorgmeister

This fix broke mplayer, I now get:

mplayer has finished unexpectedly. exit code 1

Log file:

p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; } mplayer -noquiet -nofs -nomouseinput -afm hwac3 -sub-fuzziness 1 -identify -slave -vo xv -ao alsa:device=hw=0.1 -nokeepaspect -framedrop -autosync 100 -nodr -double -input nodefault-bindings:conf=/dev/null -stop-xscreensaver -wid 62914575 -monitorpixelaspect 1 -subcp ISO-8859-1 -subpos 100 -volume 50 -nocache -osdlevel 0 -vf-add screenshot -slices -channels 6 -softvol -softvol-max 120 /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv
MPlayer SVN-r30886-4.3.4 (C) 2000-2010 MPlayer Team
Terminal type `unknown' is not defined.
Playing /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv.
ID_VIDEO_ID=0
[mkv] Track ID 1: video (V_MPEG4/ISO/AVC), -vid 0
ID_AUDIO_ID=0
ID_AID_0_NAME=MVO
ID_AID_0_LANG=rus
[mkv] Track ID 2: audio (A_AC3) "MVO", -aid 0, -alang rus
ID_AUDIO_ID=1
ID_AID_1_NAME=DUB (Line)
ID_AID_1_LANG=rus
[mkv] Track ID 3: audio (A_MPEG/L3) "DUB (Line)", -aid 1, -alang rus
ID_AUDIO_ID=2
ID_AID_2_LANG=und
[mkv] Track ID 4: audio (A_DTS), -aid 2, -alang und
[mkv] Will play video track 1.
Matroska file format detected.
VIDEO: [avc1] 1920x1080 24bpp 23.976 fps 0.0 kbps ( 0.0 kbyte/s)
ID_FILE_SUB_ID=0
ID_FILE_SUB_FILENAME=/home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.srt
SUB: Added subtitle file (1): /home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.srt
ID_FILENAME=/home/yorgie/Downloads/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD/Sherlok.Holms.2009.x264.BDRip.1080p-kinozal.tv-HD.mkv
ID_DEMUXER=mkv
ID_VIDEO_FORMAT=avc1
ID_VIDEO_BITRATE=0
ID_VIDEO_WIDTH=1920
ID_VIDEO_HEIGHT=1080
ID_VIDEO_FPS=23.976
ID_VIDEO_ASPECT=1.7778
ID_AUDIO_FORMAT=8192
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=0
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=6
ID_LENGTH=7704.71
ID_SEEKABLE=1
ID_CHAPTERS=0
Opening video filter: [screenshot]
================================================== ========================
Opening video decoder: [ffmpeg] FFmpeg's libavcodec codec family
Selected video codec: [ffh264] vfm: ffmpeg (FFmpeg H.264)
================================================== ========================
ID_VIDEO_CODEC=ffh264
================================================== ========================
Trying to force audio codec driver family hwac3...
Opening audio decoder: [hwac3] AC3/DTS pass-through S/PDIF
hwac3: switched to AC3, 384000 bps, 48000 Hz
AUDIO: 48000 Hz, 2 ch, ac3be, 384.0 kbit/25.00% (ratio: 48000->192000)
ID_AUDIO_BITRATE=384000
ID_AUDIO_RATE=48000
ID_AUDIO_NCH=2
Selected audio codec: [hwac3] afm: hwac3 (AC3 through S/PDIF)
================================================== ========================
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: conf.c:3843

parse_args) Unknown parameter AES0
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: conf.c:3969

snd_config_expand) Parse arguments error: No such file or directory
[AO_ALSA] alsa-lib: pcm.c:2211

snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM hw:0,1,AES0=6
[AO_ALSA] Format ac3be is not supported by hardware, trying default.
AO: [alsa] 48000Hz 2ch ac3le (2 bytes per sample)
ID_AUDIO_CODEC=hwac3
[Mixer] No hardware mixing, inserting volume filter.
[format] Sample format big-endian AC3 not yet supported
Starting playback...
MPlayer interrupted by signal 11 in module: decode_audio
ID_SIGNAL=11
- MPlayer crashed by bad usage of CPU/FPU/RAM.
Recompile MPlayer with --enable-debug and make a 'gdb' backtrace and
disassembly. Details in DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports_what.html#bugreports_crash.
- MPlayer crashed. This shouldn't happen.
It can be a bug in the MPlayer code _or_ in your drivers _or_ in your
gcc version. If you think it's MPlayer's fault, please read
DOCS/HTML/en/bugreports.html and follow the instructions there. We can't and
won't help unless you provide this information when reporting a possible bug.

WHich fix did you use? there was 4 different spteps for 4 different things. ANd for Mplayer. just reinstall. Mplayer has nothing to do with this fix here. we simply update your alsa - and remove pulse audio ( in teh last section). I did not mention Mplayer in any of the steps :S. this is weird. but from ur post ur Mplayer is not fuctioning due to errors whithin Mplayer not your sound card or pulse audio

**linuxgeek77** · March 18th, 2010

Originally Posted by leorolla

Even with linux-backports-modules-alsa-karmic-generic ?

From Karmic repositories, and without recompiling alsa or rebuilding kernel, I got:

Code:

$ uname -r
2.6.31-20-generic
$ cat /proc/asound/version 
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.22.1.
Compiled on Feb  8 2010 for kernel 2.6.31-20-generic (SMP).
$ apt-cache policy linux-backports-modules-alsa-2.6.31-20-generic
linux-backports-modules-alsa-2.6.31-20-generic:
  Installed: 2.6.31-20.22
  Candidate: 2.6.31-20.22
  Version table:
 *** 2.6.31-20.22 0
        901 http://archive.ubuntu.com karmic-updates/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
$

Oh if they added them recently to teh backports i didnt have an access to that when karmic / mint 9 came out

**yorgmeister** · March 20th, 2010

Posted by linuxgeek77

WHich fix did you use? there was 4 different spteps for 4 different things. ANd for Mplayer. just reinstall. Mplayer has nothing to do with this fix here. we simply update your alsa - and remove pulse audio ( in teh last section). I did not mention Mplayer in any of the steps :S. this is weird. but from ur post ur Mplayer is not fuctioning due to errors whithin Mplayer not your sound card or pulse audio

I tried you first fix, it did not work, so I tried your second fix. the sound worked great for one mkv file. then after a restart the system seemed to reset itself and I ended up with the same popping and broken up audio, through my hdmi cable. Before I tried you fixes mplayer worked great except my audio through hdmi was all broken up. after your fixes mplayer exits unexpectantly with exit code 1, but all my other players work. I have tried to re-install, same result. please help!

thanks, yorgie

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