Gnome Volume Control change device function has no effect

[RkyRaccoon55]

The Audigy 2 zs Notebook card cannot be enabled yet it is detected (therefore it cannot be played through). Instead the default laptop sound card is used.

[Cristian Aravena Romero (caravena)]

Thanks for taking the time to report this bug. Unfortunately we can't fix it, because your description didn't include enough information.

Please include the information requested from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/DebuggingSoundProblems as separate attachments.

[Collin Doering (rekahsoft)]

I also have the Sound Blaster Augidy 2 zs notebook card and it does not work. It is detected but i cannot play through it, instead it plays through my laptop speakers. Here is the small debug information. I am going to attach the larger debug information in log files attachments after this post.

tail -2 /proc/asound/oss/sndstat
1: Conexant id 30
2: SB Audigy

asoundconf list
Names of available sound cards:
IXP
Modem
Audigy2

I hate not modified any runtime configuration files so when i do the following it reports that i there is not such file or directory:
cat /etc/asound.conf ~/.asoundrc*

The kernel module (part of ALSA) is named snd-emu10k1 and acording to modinfo it is available and according to modprobe -l | grep snd-emu10k1 it is running.

[Collin Doering (rekahsoft)]

I added the needed debug information

[Collin Doering (rekahsoft)]

I have found a hack to fix this issue...install asoundconf-gtk and run it selecting the Audigy 2 zs as the default sound card...therefore using my amazing deduction skills i have determined that the sound program (Preferences>Sound) does not properly switch sound cards :S

[Gautam (gautam-cox)]

Please look into this. I have the same issue and prepared another bug report

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.20/+bug/105382

[Gautam (gautam-cox)]

Colin, Thanks. That workaround works well! You are a hero!

[Eugene (yapsuper)]

Hi,

Thanks for the workaround. Helps a lot!

[Collin Doering (rekahsoft)]

np :P...i just hope the bug gets fixed so no work around is necessary :D

[Eugene (yapsuper)]

Is there anyway I could get the sound utility at the top of the linux desktop to actually control the sound volume? Thanks.

[Eugene (yapsuper)]

Just kidding ... figured it out.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Could somebody please update the bug description so it is more clear what the problem is? Something like:
Gnome Volume Control change device function has no effect. I have an onboard Intel laptop sound card which works fine and a Audigy 2 ZS Notebook which is connected through PCMCIA. If I start with the PCMCIA inserted ALSA uses normally the Intel card for output but both are shown under Gnome Volume Control\File\Change Device. If I choose the Audigy nothing changes except the volume control tracks but they have no effect. The same happens with Sound Preferences device. Sound control of device has no effect on the default alsa card. If I install a asoundconf-gtk the Intel card is still selected as the default one. If I change the default card with asoundconf-gtk the Audigy works as expected so Volume Control Change Device has no effect on Alsa.

[unggnu (unggnu)]

This problem has nothing to do with Audigy 2 I guess it is a general Gnome sound problem that sound device change has no effect on Alsa. Could please somebody update the title and description?

[unggnu (unggnu)]

It is a shame that asoundconf setting, Sound Preferences (for keyboard volume change), Gnome Volume Control and Gnome Volume Applet (for mouse volume change) aren't connected and doesn't change automatically to active sound card.
Another point is that it is best to use mixer PCM with integrated Intel sound card and Master with my Audigy2 for volume change but Gnome sound preferences doesn't save this per card so it have to be changed on every start with or without the external card by hand.
I don't know but if it happens only on my system but if Audigy2 was the last active card after start without it sound works but Alsa doesn't so only one program can access sound card (through oss emulation I guess). This could be fixed through activating integrated sound card with asoundconf.
I have made a userspace script for this issue. With it the correct sound card is activated, it is possible to change according mixer volume with keyboard and with Gnome volume applet.
Of course everyone has to change settings according to his hardware configuration.

Wishlist:
Asoundconf (Alsa), Gnome Sound Preferences, Gnome Volume Control and Gnome Volume Applet should be connected so that one activation with asoundconf is enough and used default mixer (for volume change through keyboard and with applet) should be saved per card. The best way gnome volume manager applet uses the same settings like gnome sound preferences so there is no unneeded double configuration and the preference got it from Alsa or something like that.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Does using alsamixer work correctly? The issue is not likely specific to the GNOME mixer. Are you sure you selected the right device there?

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Alsamixer works correctly and changing volume with Gnome apps too but they aren't connected and some settings are reseted every time I change my soundcard configuration.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

what is the issue exactly then? could you describe some easy steps to trigger the bug?

[unggnu (unggnu)]

Ok, system needs two recognized sound cards. I assume that in all options the external is the default.
Under System - Preferences - Sound it is possible to choose a Device. I choose the internal one and mixer PCM (for keyboard volume change). A standard user would think that's it, now internal sound card is the default one but if I double click on the volume applet in systray my external is still the default one under Gnome Volume Control. So I change it under File - Change Device - to internal. Now it should be OK but if I want to change volume through left click on the systray volume applet symbol it is still the external mixer so I have to click on the volume applet symbol with the right mouse button and choose Preferences to set the sound card and mixer.
Now it should be Ok but if I play a sound file it is still routed through the external since all these changes has no influence to asoundconf so I have to run "asoundconf set-default-card Intel".
Now it is working after changing settings at four positions. And most of the settings have to be changed again after switching sound card.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

that's not really a bug, nor a gnome-control-center issue,closing

[unggnu (unggnu)]

It is not a bug that one gui isn't able to manage two sound cards without scripting or at least four settings changes?
Could you please make it at least Wishlist?

[unggnu (unggnu)]

It is still at least a bug the Gnome Volume Control change device has no effect on alsa. It has still to be done with asoundconf set-default-card so the GUI-Option has no real effect.

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

don't reopen a closed bug if you have an issue which is not exactly the same, better to open a new bug with a clear description

[unggnu (unggnu)]

This bug/wish still exists and I have created a bug report at Gnome since it is more an upstream issue. I hope that this gets fixed in future since it is very confusing.