Headphone microphone doesn't work - ALC255

[Julien S]

Hello,
The headphone microphone is not working : I cannot register any sound from it.
Driver is alc255 and the laptop is an Acer SF314-42.
I am not sure what else I should post :S
Best
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ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu50.5
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-03-08 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.10 "Groovy Gorilla" - Release amd64 (20201022)
MachineType: Acer Swift SF314-42
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=fr_FR.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 amdgpudrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.8.0-44-generic root=UUID=cffa8cec-df4e-4dca-94ba-c08d71257664 ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.8.0-44.50-generic 5.8.18
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.8.0-44-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.8.0-44-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.190.3
Tags: groovy
Uname: Linux 5.8.0-44-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 08/26/2020
dmi.bios.release: 1.7
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: V1.07
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Kona_RN
dmi.board.vendor: RO
dmi.board.version: V1.07
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.07
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 1.5
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrV1.07:bd08/26/2020:br1.7:efr1.5:svnAcer:pnSwiftSF314-42:pvrV1.07:rvnRO:rnKona_RN:rvrV1.07:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.07:
dmi.product.family: Swift 3
dmi.product.name: Swift SF314-42
dmi.product.sku: 0000000000000000
dmi.product.version: V1.07
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Julien S (julianosag)]

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[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This change was made by a bot.

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Hello, I have Acer Aspire A515-56-57XR with alc255 and have similar issue, managed to solve it for now with at a cost of losing functionality of internal microphone.

My issue was the headphones/micophone always appeared plugged in and even after actually plugging it in had to manually switch it, also the earphone microphone didn't work at all.

After months someone sent me a fix on acer community forums. I will send that fix here and hope it works for you. This fix will cause internal digital microphone to stop showing completely.

Add these to end of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
# Headset mic fix
options snd-hda-intel dmic_detect=0
options snd-hda-intel model=alc255-acer

After, reboot when you plug in the earphone/headphone a pop up will show choose anything, now your external microphone should start working. Also, when you unplug earphone/headphone it should automatically switch to internal and hide external ones as well. The pop up will show up every time you plug in to fix this use gnome extension called Remove Audio Device Selection Dialog.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Please test latest mainline kernel:
https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.13-rc2/amd64/

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Hello,

I tested the latest mainline kernel 5.13.0-rc2 using mainline kernel installer. There was a dependency issue of libc6 on kernel-headers but kernel installed and booted fine after disabling secure boot. (hope dependency issue won't affect tests, this is my first time trying a new kernel so not sure about it)

I disabled all of the alsa-base.conf changes I did before booting up this kernel.
Nothing seems to be fixed yet. Headphones in both input and output are always plugged in. After actually plugging in headset/earphone it does not auto switch need to switch manually and like before the headset/earphones microphone still isn't working at all.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Since your laptop is different to the this bug, can you please file a new bug? Thanks.

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Since it's the same codec alc255 I assume the issue is shared? I already have a temp fix which is working fine at the moment and there are already too many similar threads with 0 progress for many years.

So, doubt a new bug report will do any good. I just shared my results here, will wait patiently for OP to respond or this thread gets closed due to inactivity.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

What's your temp fix?

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Please check comment #24. I have explained there.

Not really a real fix as it disables internal microphone completely but if anyone is desperate like me to get external microphone working at any cost then it may help.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Julien, please test this kernel:
https://people.canonical.com/~khfeng/lp1918142/

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Bijay, can you please attach output of `alsa-info` here?

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Here it is, this is alsa-info output as of using temp fix. I am also using module-echo-cancel at the moment if it makes any difference. Hope it helps.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Bijay, please test the kernel here:
https://people.canonical.com/~khfeng/lp1918142-2/

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

I disabled all of my temp fixes, installed this using dpkg -i and booted into it after disabling secure boot.

I think the headset/earphone microphone is working fine now, the sensitivity was really low at first then I found two headset entries in alsamixer(previously there were no headset entries without the temp fix), headset mic one was muted by default headset mic boost was at 0 volume I boosted it all the way to 100 and the sensitivity was on par with temp fix one.

The headphones and microphones are still always plugged in by default and it does not auto switch to headphones from speakers when plugged in and vice versa. Also, both internal and external microphone keep working all the time switching to one does not mute another. In, case of speakers/headphones output manually switching to one mutes another.

Finally, some progress for this chipset, now all that needs to be fixed is the always plugged in issue and enable auto switch like the one temp fix gives. Thank you for this.

[Kai-Heng Feng (kaihengfeng)]

Thanks for the testing. Can you please file a new bug so we can work out other issues?

[Bijay Shah (bijay135)]

Hello, I have filed a new bug with relevant details and added you to notification. Thanks you once again for support, hope discussion above helps OP as well.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for linux (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]