Sound still comes out of speakers when PCM volume is set to 0.

[Navreet]

if the PCM volume is set to 0 (but not muted), you can still hear sound playing. If you have good speakers or headphones you can hear sound even if Master and PCM are set to 0. Once Master or PCM is muted, you can't hear anything.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Play a sound file using an audio player
2. Open up alsa-mixer
3. Lower the PCM volume
4. Observe that even when the PCM volume is 0 (but not muted) you can hear sound.
5. Lower the Master volume
6. Observe that even when the Master volume is very low (but not muted) you can hear sound.
7. Mute either Master or PCM
8. Observe that all sound stops playing.

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

Please include the output from ,,cat /proc/asound/cards'' and ,,amixer''.

[Jon Dufresne (dufresnj)]

I am having the same problem but for me this occurs when when "Master" is set to
zero. This occurs on powerbook (tibook series) so this seems like this isn't
related to the hardware. This is with breezy updated on 9/23

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [Screamer ]: PMac Screamer - PowerMac Screamer
                     PowerMac Screamer Rev 0

$ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono: Capture [off]
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone Detection',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 2
  Mono: 2 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Front Left: Playback 4 [27%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 4 [27%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 15 [100%]
  Front Right: Capture 15 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'Auto Mute',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Beep',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 15 [15%]

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

(In reply to comment #2)
> I am having the same problem but for me this occurs when when "Master" is set to
> zero.

This is NOT the same problem. The original report was that "sound still comes out
of speakers when PCM volume is set to 0".

Please file a separate bug report describing your (different) symptoms.

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

The original submitter was asked for more information four months ago. In the
absence of additional information...

[Navreet (ngill-imsa)]

Sorry, I guess I missed the original response (I opened the bug request), here's
the output..and the issue still exists..

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [CS46xx ]: CS46xx - Sound Fusion CS46xx
                     Sound Fusion CS46xx at 0xf7e00000/0xf7d00000, irq 19
$ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 63
  Front Left: Playback 55 [87%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 55 [87%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Master',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 63
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',1
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',1
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',1
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 17 [55%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 17 [55%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Out Path & Mute',1
  Capabilities:
  Mono:
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 63
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Center',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 63
  Mono: Playback 63 [100%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',1
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 63
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-ex
clusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback ch...

[Thomas Hood (jdthood)]

*** Bug 22829 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

*** Bug 25513 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

*** Bug 25515 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

In mi case it occurs with any of Master or PCM, if one of them is not zero, then
there is sound.

manu@~ $ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [ICH5 ]: ICH4 - Intel ICH5
                     Intel ICH5 with AD1985 at 0xfebff800, irq 17

$ amixer ## Normal (there is sound)
manu@~ $ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 15 [48%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 15 [48%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Master Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 14 [45%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 14 [45%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround Jack Mode',0
  Capabilities:
  Mono:
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 31 [100%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Capture [on]
  Front Right: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch
cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities:
  Mono:
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple ...

[Ben Collins (ben-collins)]

This bug has been flagged because it is old and possibly inactive. It may or may
not be fixed in the latest release (Breezy Badger 5.10). It is being marked as
"NEEDSINFO". In two weeks time, if the bug is not updated back to "NEW" and
validated against Breezy, it will be closed.

This is needed in order to help manage the current bug list for the kernel. We
would like to fix all bugs, but need users to test and help with debugging.

If this change was in error for this bug, please respond and make the
appropriate change (or email <email address hidden> if you cannot make the
change).

Thanks for your help.

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

This bug is present in Breezy. There are recent reports Bug 22829, Bug 25513 and
Bug 25515.
The current status is NEW (and not NEEDSINFO).

So, how can I prevent it to be closed?

[Ben Collins (ben-collins)]

If possible, please upgrade to Dapper's 2.6.15-7 kernel. If you do not want to
upgrade to Dapper, then you can also wait for the Dapper Flight 2 CD's, which
are due out within the next few days.

Let me know if this bug still exists with this kernel.

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

*** Bug 24090 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

Bug 24090 seems to be similar to bug 16454, so I will mark bug 24090 as a
duplicate of bug 16454. If you consider that this decision is wrong, please let
me know.

You can also help the maintainers to fix the bug. Could you please answer the
questions which are in the bug 16454 report?

[Julien Olivier (julo)]

Same problem for me: whem Master is at 0 but not muted, I still hear sound.

julien@lifebook ~ $ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [I82801DBICH4 ]: ICH4 - Intel 82801DB-ICH4
                     Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with STAC9766,67 at 0xd0100c00, irq 11

julien@lifebook ~ $ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 2 [6%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 2 [6%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 26 [84%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 26 [84%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Out Path & Mute',0
  Capabilities:
  Mono:
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 26 [84%] [on] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 26 [84%] [on] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch
cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 26 [84%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [on]
  Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities:
  Mono:
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch
cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mon...

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Happens on Dapper 2.6.15-21-k7
It mutes it if it is actually 'off' but if it is just at 0 but on then you still hear it;
note one confusion is that the Gnome Volume Applet shows its mute symbol and ticks its 'mute' menu item when you drag the volume down to 0, but in this case still leaves the output 'on'.

dg@gallifrey:~$ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [AudioPCI ]: ENS1371 - Ensoniq AudioPCI
                     Ensoniq AudioPCI ENS1371 at 0x1080, irq 177

dg@gallifrey:~$ amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 16 [52%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 16 [52%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 16 [52%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Out Path & Mute',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'pre 3D' 'post 3D'
  Item0: 'pre 3D'
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-ex
clusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line In->Rear Out',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-ex
clusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 25 [81%] [on] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 25 [81%] [on] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-jo
ined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [on]
  Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
  Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-ex
clusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch...

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

(Please do not inline your amixer output; doing so makes the output virtually illegible using this Web interface.)

For those of you using gnome's volume control to control the Master/PCM sliders, you should either manually untick the (un)mute icon at the bottom of each slider, or file a bug against the gnome-media source package.

Additionally, there are quite a few amixer outputs above that show that both Master and PCM are _not_ muted. This is intentional. Muting PCM does not automatically imply that _all_ output should be muted.

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

@Daniel T Chen

I urge you to reconsider your decision. The user case is clear:

I am listening to music (not to a CD, not to sound from the input line, it is PCM output). The volume is controlled by the PCM slide. Moving the slide to 0 does not turn the volume off.

I know how to unmute and mute, thanks. That is not the point. Setting the volume slide to 0 should do precisely that: set the volume level to zero. Otherwise there is something odd with the relation between the volume slide value and the actual volume.

All this applies to amixer, so it is an issue with ALSA, not gnome.

Finally, although I have already explained why muting/unmuting is not the point here, it is worth metioning the following: Yes, you are right "Muting PCM does not automatically imply that _all_ output should be muted". However, muting PCM DOES imply that all output THROUGH PCM should be muted. Or are you saying that muting the CD output does not imply that all the output from the CD should be muted?

Therefore, please, revert the status back to Confirmed.

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

Actually, no. I am not going to wait until you revert it back. Sorry, this bug is assigned to Ben Collins. And if he decides to reject it, I will also argue with him but I will never change the status back.

However, as far as I know you have rejected it without asking Ben. So please, next time check with the assignee first.

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

Daniel; you suggest that for those of using the gnome mixer stuff that we should file a bug against that; I did (24090) - it got closed because it is similar to this one - I can't win hey?

I suggest there really are two separate bugs:

  1) Somewhere in the mixer hardware/driver a setting of '0' on the 'master' mixer does not cause the output to be muted; it is possible that this is what the hardware expects; but it's also possible its just a driver bug; either way it either needs fixing in the driver or actually definining that '0' is just quieter than '1'; and needs to be consistant accross different cards.

  2) The gnome-applet expects '0' to be equivalent to mute and thus displays its mute symbol (and doesn't let you set the real mute). Hence why I filed 24090.

I suggest reopening 24090 to attack the gnome bug; I'm not sure what the right answer to (1) is - if the hardware really doesn't mute on 0 volume then I guess it's ok to define it like that; but it is probably confusing as hell but I guess it isn't consistant accross the different cards.

(The text of the reject in 24090 seems odd - it seems to ref bug 10155 which is completely different)

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

@Dave Gilbert

Volume 0 is the same as mute. If it is not now, then it should be. Clearly, gnome people understand this: if the volume is zero they show the muted icon.

That said, feel free to reopen bug 24090. You may also ask directly to GNOME people (http://bugs.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=319139) whether they think this is a bug in gnome or in alsa.

(10155 was the bug number of bug 16454 when Ubuntu was using bugzilla)

[Ben Collins (ben-collins)]

I have to agree with Daniel about this not being a kernel bug. This has to be a mixer problem. If putting both Master and PCM at zero mutes, it, but leaving one on zero and the other not, doesn't mute it, then that's a mixer logic error.

Also, if gnome "assumes zero is mute", then maybe gnome should actually mute it when it's put on zero (sort of an indirect mute).

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

@Ben Collins

For me, it happens also when using "alsamixer", not only when using gnome-mixer.

[Dave Gilbert (ubuntu-treblig)]

For me, it seems to be the master volume that is the problem, not the PCM volume.
I can't hear anything with PCM at 0, but with PCM up and Master at 0 then I can hear
it.
(ENS1371 - Ensoniq AudioPCI)

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

not a GNOME bug, reassigning to alsa

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

This is still valid in Dapper.

I am using Kubuntu now and by setting either Master or PCM to zero and the other to a high value, I still hear sound coming throught PCM.

If Master is zero I shouldn't hear anything, no matter what level PCM is.
If PCM is zero I shouldn't hear any PCM sound, no matter what level Master is.

[kko (kko)]

Hello.

I've been wondering at the same issue on Kubuntu Dapper. Sound output is functional when PCM _or_ master volume is set to 0. Only when _either_ one of these gets muted (from e.g. kmix), does sound output stop.

I'll attach the requested files (with the prefix "1."). "PCM_0" and "master_0" indicate the volume is set to 0 on the indicated channel. Here's the relevant output from 'diff':

$ diff 1.amixer.PCM_0 1.amixer.PCM_0.muted
52,53c52,53
< Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
< Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
---
> Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
> Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]

diff 1.amixer.master_0 1.amixer.master_0.muted
6,7c6,7
< Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
< Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
---
> Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
> Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]

PS. The volume control in alsa acts somewhat strangely. With PCM volume at reasonable levels, the master volume slider doesn't affect the audible volume for roughly half the way from zero upwards. Only when above this threshold, does the audible volume change. Is there a technical (hardware) reason for why this happens? Or is this an issue that would warrant a separate bug report?

[yosefrow (yosefrow)]

This bug is still present in Feisty. This bug is almost 2 years old! I know that if its an alsa bug there is only so much we can do. But even if you have to pay them this bug needs to be fixed. It is somewhat of a show-stopper. If someone gets a phone call or enters an official are with their laptop and they lower their volume all the way down and it doesnt work it will be very frustrating.

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

Yosef Harrow wrote:
> This bug is still present in Feisty. This bug is almost 2 years old! I
> know that if its an alsa bug there is only so much we can do. But even
> if you have to pay them this bug needs to be fixed.

Nobody stops you from paying a developer to fix it. Actually, that is
the beauty of free software: you can always find a way to fix a bug, if
it is truly important to you. I am sure you can contact knowledgeable
developers at http://www.alsa-project.org/mailing-lists.php. Also, if
you find more people interested, you can split the cost.

 From the age of the bug the only thing that can be concluded is that
the importance of the bug divided by the amount of work required to fix
it is not high enough for anyone to step up and fix it or pay someone to
fix it. Yet. Be my hero. ;-)

[Antonio Pérez-Aranda Alcaide (ant30)]

I have the same problem. ¿Will it be fix at gutsy?

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

This bug is still present in Kubuntu Feisty. If either master or PCM is not zero, there is still volume.

[Scott Ritchie (scottritchie)]

This is still present in Gutsy. It seems clear that ALSA isn't going to be fixed, so it's time we think about hacking around it.

The Gnome volume control app should manually set the device to muted when turned all the way down, rather than just setting the volume to 0.

What's very curious about this is you can get some weird behavior. Open up a movie in totem, then turn your system volume to 0. You'll still hear sound. But, strangely, that sound will then get quieter when you lower the totem volume, even though in theory everything should be "muted."

[Manuel López-Ibáñez (manuellopezibanez)]

> What's very curious about this is you can get some weird behavior.
> Open up a movie in totem, then turn your system volume to 0. You'll
> still hear sound. But, strangely, that sound will then get quieter
> when you lower the totem volume, even though in theory everything
> should be "muted."

What is so strange? Two cases that may explain that behaviour:

* Alsamixer does not have a clue what is the maximum/minimum volume of the device. So setting volume ~0 does not actually sets the device to the minimum volume.

* Alsamixer defines incorrectly the relation between the master and PCM. That is, huge changes in the master may result in small changes in PCM volume: you change master from 50% to 0% (mixer) volume, but the PCM goes from 50% to 25% (real) volume.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

there is discussing about volume 0 and muting in other bugs no need of a gnome-applets task there

[Victor Osadci (victor-os)]

For me this seems to be dependent on audio card.
I have seen this behaviour with two on-board audio cards. Puting an Creative Live PCI card fixed it on both machines.

[tsg1zzn (tsg1zzn)]

This bug is still present in Gutsy.

> This is still present in Gutsy. It seems clear that ALSA isn't going to be fixed, so it's time we think
> about hacking around it.
Since this happens only with Ubuntu and not with Zenwalk I somehow doubt it's ALSA who's at fault. I don't remember it happening with Xubuntu either, but I don't remember it not happening either.

> For me this seems to be dependent on audio card.
If that is the case, why does this happen only with Ubuntu and not with Zenwalk?

[tsg1zzn (tsg1zzn)]

This bug is still present in Hardy.

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

Given the ongoing udev/dB work in upstream git, we can lower the importance of this issue.

[teresa (teresadd1-0)]

please stop e-mailing me I know nothing about our computer!!!!!

----- Original Message ----
From: Harald Sitter <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Monday, September 22, 2008 9:16:30 PM
Subject: [Bug 16454] Re: Sound still comes out of speakers when PCM volume is set to 0.

** Changed in: kdemultimedia (Ubuntu)
      Status: New => Invalid

--
Sound still comes out of speakers when PCM volume is set to 0.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/16454
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu
Audio Team, which is a direct subscriber.

[KernelPanic (jfrusciante)]

Same bug for me on Jaunty. I have an integrated audio card (it's a laptop).

[Jerome (jerome-jolimont)]

Same here. Setting Master level to 0% does not mute the sound.

According to alsamixer,
PCM is set to max : PCM [dB gain=12.00, 12.00]
Master is set to min : Master [dB gain=-46.50, -46.50]

And sound still comes out of the soundcard at a pretty good level.

Same with PCM at min and Master at max.

However, the muting button does work.

I'm using Xfce and the sound mixer applet does not allow muting anymore (need to open the mixer application) so I was used to lower level to 0% to mute it. I can't anymore.

[Jeremy Foshee (jeremyfoshee)]

Folks,
      I need someone who is experiencing this to reproduce in the latest build of Lucid and provide me with apport data to this bug.

Please also test with the latest mainline build of the kernel and provide the apport information from that.

Thanks!

~JFo

[Jerome (jerome-jolimont)]

Using Xubuntu Lucid. Bug still present with same description :
If either PCM or Master volume is set to 0, I can still hear sound.
(If both are at 0 I can't but I suppose it is not muted, just too low for my Hi-Fi and ears.)

What is "apport information" ? Is it "cat /proc/asound/cards'' and "amixer'' ?

[Jerome (jerome-jolimont)]

FWIIW

gnome-volume-control appeared today in my notification area. (I don't really know how...)

When using the mousewheel on the icon, I can lower or raise the sound level. Besides
- it acts upon both PCM and general volume
- it mutes both when scrolling completely down

More precisely. It has the following steps
General PCM
100% 100% -> gnome-volume-control calls that 100%
100% 74% -> gnome-volume-control calls that unamplified

From that unamplified state, when scrollong down, it first acts upon general volume until this one is at 0%. Then upon PCM until 0%. And afer that, it mutes both.

[Braiam Peguero (braiampe)]

Marking as Invalid as the latest update of Ubuntu doesn't have the issue as Jerome report.