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

[psrivats]

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).

Thank you for this!

Works on my thinkpad T60 running karmic... but in the opposite way. The hardware buttons change only the "master". The PCM stays fixed.

Can someone explain the difference between these two controls (Master and PCM)? Am I supposed to keep the PCM all the way up and say 40% on the Master? Or vice versa? Or should I set both to say 50% and adjust volume on my speakers to my preferred level? Are equivalent to the first two windows XP controls below?

[SR_ELPIRATA]

Far as I know yes, PCM and Wave are the same thing. Depending on your configuration you might prefer to control the master or the PCM/Wave. For example, IIRC there was a time when the Master was also the front speakers and changing that volume only would not change the center/lfe/surrounds for me, so controlling the PCM in that case would be preferred.

[michelux]

Works great for me. Thanks.

[biomann]

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).

Hi,

This worked fine for Karmic, but it seems that it does not work with Lucid. The way lidex described doesnt work either

[lidex]

I guess OP got his working correctly.
biomann: Can you post the output of these terminal commands for me please:

uname -a
aplay -l
cat /proc/asound/version
head -n 1 /proc/asound/card*/codec#*

Terminal="Applications->Accessories->Terminal"
Please post text output using code tags. Also helpful is the make/model of your PC/Laptop.

[Arless]

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).

Works perfect in Lucid Lynx !!, i always had pcm 100% and noise, now i can control individualy pcm center lfe etc.. with alsamixer, Thanks!

ECS gf8200a
Logitech Z5500

[cometdog]

Hi!
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

Something similar worked for me on Lucid.

I used

[Element Master Front]
switch = mute
volume = ignore

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

on an ASUS M4A785TD-V EVO

It has the AMD 785G+SB710 chipset.

Anyway, the above works fine for me using the analog outputs with the hardware set to Analog Surround 4.0 Output, which is how I'm using it.

[pawhtiobo]

THKX

It works in Thinkpad T41 .

[[]]