Acer Aspire 8920G has inaudible audio by default

[Bob Wya]

Binary package hint: alsa-base

The chipset is in an Acer Aspire 8920G laptop. But please note that this appears to be a generic chipset with a lot of users experiencing the same problems (and possibly the same solution??)

This bug applies to Ubuntu 8.04 (final), 8.10 (final) and 9.04 (beta release). In each case all available updates were applied to the Ubuntu OS release.

I am currently using ALSA 1.0.18 (fully updated from Jaunty repositories).

Output of lspci -v -v is attached.

I tried following the Ubuntu audio faqs (e.g. switching to Pulse Audio) to no effect...

Basically I cannot switch on the digital optical SPDIF output or get any analogue sound output!!

NB I know the "snd-hda-intel" kernel driver module supports the audio device... It still needs a simple work around however and doesn't work out of the box!!

WORKAROUND: Add:
"options snd-hda-intel model=6stack-dig probe_mask=1"

to the end of the file:

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

[Bob Wya (robert-mt-walker)]

Hi

I found I solution to a similar problem but for a Asus P5QL-EM motherboard using (X)ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid:
http://members.chello.hu/balla.gyorgy/balla-it/html/articles/20081230-asus-onboard-soundcard-configuration-on-xubuntu.html

The solution is simply to add:
"options snd-hda-intel model=6stack-dig probe_mask=1"

to the end of the file:

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

I tried this deceptively simply solution on my Acer Aspire 8920G laptop (a very different beast from the ASUS desktop MB in the link).

Also note that I am using Ubuntu 9.04 the latest Ubuntu release (which is not yet fully locked down). This bug could be fixed in time for the final release.

After a reboot I had the Ubnutu sound configuration options for an both an ALSA Analogue and an ALSA Digital audio support on Realtek ALC889 chipset audio devices!!

Yes just with that one line added!!

I now am one happy customer with Dolby Pro Logic (Stereo) output over optical SPDIF or Analogue sound via the laptop speakers. Would like to get full DD 5.1 over SPDIF but getting this far is enough for now!!

This solution needs to be more widely distributed... Could it be included in the final release of Jaunty Jackalope?? This problem has persisted for long enough!!

Bob

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

We need your http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-info.sh output

[Bob Wya (robert-mt-walker)]

Daniel

Thanks for getting back to me. I think this issue is really important to sort out as Intel Core 2 (+chipsets) are currently ruling in the laptop market. This sound problem could potentially affect a large number of (potential soon to be ex-!!) Ubuntu users.

Not sure if you wanted the ALSA script output before or after I added that magic line to my alsa-base.conf file!!

Here's the link with the sound working (well stereo Pro-Logic II at least):
http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=c95dc9906b11b2bec5db09a1d0065b88755a62e9

Do you want the output without the magic fix? Does that make a difference??

Bob

[Tom (tom6)]

This problem also appears in stable releases such as 8.04 and 8.10?

[Tom (tom6)]

Ooops, i've just re-read the opening statement and see 8.04 and 8.10 in there as well as Jaunty beta. Sorry Bob, good luck and regards from
Tom :)

[Tom (tom6)]

This is ridiculous. Both bug-reports now point to the other as being the main one. This is the report with most informaton and the other one is nearly empty. Please remove 'duplicate' status from this one
Regards from
Tom :)

PS Sorry, i know you're busy and J-day is exciting ;) Good luck

[Luke Yelavich (themuso)]

 duplicate no

[Tom (tom6)]

Great! Thanks Luke :))

[pedja_portugalac (123pedja)]

Hi

I have added the line, Bob Wya mentioned, on my Acer Aspire 8920G and still no sound at all. It appears that alsamixer now have more functions but that's all, still no sound and headphones switch on alsamixer does,t move. Can you please, Bob, explain step by step process to get "happy customer with Dolby Pro Logic (Stereo) output over optical SPDIF or Analogue sound via the Acer Aspire 8920G laptop speakers"?

Thanks in advance

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

pedja_.., can you use probe_mask=1 instead [of probe_mask=1 model=6stack-dig]? To be sure, we'll need your alsa-info.sh output, too.

[Bob Wya (robert-mt-walker)]

Do you have the option of digital or analogue sound, on an HD Intel (Realtek) ALC889, using ALSA in your sound preferences (SYSTEM-PREFERENCES menu)??

What version of Ubuntu are you using? What kernel? What version of ALSA?

I am using 9.04 beta (64-bit) with:
pulseaudio 1.09.14
alsa-base 1.0.18
libasound2 1.0.18-1
lib32sound2 1.0.18-1
kernel 2.6.28.11.14

Personally I did very little to my installation of Ubuntu 9.04 beta. Installed a few packages and all updates. Then I added that magic line to the alsa-base.conf file. I presume your sound isn't muted or anything stupid like that?? (NB It appears the controls beside the keyboard can get "out of sync with reality" - the mute symbol is the reverse of the actual sound settings)

If you've messed about with system other configuration files to try to get the sound working you may have actually broken it!!

Bob

[pedja_portugalac (123pedja)]

The only way for me to get sound on Acer Aspire 8920G is to add this lines to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

# Added by myself
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel
options snd-hda-intel model=auto

And then maximise everything in alsamixer and gnome volume manager.

This method I use for almost a year on this laptop but this is not the definitive solution because even if it looks like every speaker is working on some files when I check them with system sound test there's only two that really work.

@Daniel T Chen

I'll check it right now.

[pedja_portugalac (123pedja)]

Nothing

The only way to get some sound I already mention above.

I use Ubuntu 9.04 "final" i386 and this is my recognised sound card

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC889 Analog [ALC889 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC889 Digital [ALC889 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

[Gangadharan (gangakz)]

The problem is almost universal. Not every one of us would have gone so wildly off the mark.

I use Compaq Presario with Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03). And so far unsuccessful in getting audio of any kind.

I had similar problem with 8.10 too, but overcame it by editing /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base by adding the following lines:

options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig
options snd-hda-intel enable_msi=1
options snd-hda-intel single_cmd=1

I tried the same stunt here by failed.

----- Original Message ----
From: Bob Wya <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Tuesday, 28 April, 2009 4:08:08 AM
Subject: [Bug 354398] Re: Acer Aspire 8920G has inaudible audio by default

Do you have the option of digital or analogue sound, on an HD Intel (Realtek) ALC889, using ALSA in your sound preferences (SYSTEM-PREFERENCES menu)??

What version of Ubuntu are you using? What kernel? What version of ALSA?

I am using 9.04 beta (64-bit) with:
pulseaudio 1.09.14
alsa-base 1.0.18
libasound2 1.0.18-1
lib32sound2 1.0.18-1
kernel 2.6.28.11.14

Personally I did very little to my installation of Ubuntu 9.04 beta.
Installed a few packages and all updates. Then I added that magic line
to the alsa-base.conf file. I presume your sound isn't muted or anything
stupid like that?? (NB It appears the controls beside the keyboard can
get "out of sync with reality" - the mute symbol is the reverse of the
actual sound settings)

If you've messed about with system other configuration files to try to
get the sound working you may have actually broken it!!

Bob

--
Acer Aspire 8920G has inaudible audio by default
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/354398
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of a duplicate bug.

Status in “alsa-driver” source package in Ubuntu: New
Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Confirmed

Bug description:
Binary package hint: alsa-base

The chipset is in an Acer Aspire 8920G laptop. But please note that this appears to be a generic chipset with a lot of users experiencing the same problems (and possibly the same solution??)

This bug applies to Ubuntu 8.04 (final), 8.10 (final) and 9.04 (beta release). In each case all available updates were applied to the Ubuntu OS release.

I am currently using ALSA 1.0.18 (fully updated from Jaunty repositories).

Output of lspci -v -v is attached.

I tried following the Ubuntu audio faqs (e.g. switching to Pulse Audio) to no effect...

Basically I cannot switch on the digital optical SPDIF output or get any analogue sound output!!

THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS JAUNTY IS STILL BROKEN AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED!!

NB I know the "snd-hda-intel" kernel driver module supports the audio device... It still needs a simple work around however and doesn't work out of the box!!

Bob

      Now surf faster and smarter ! Check out the new Firefox 3 - Yahoo! Edition http://downloads.yahoo.com/in/firefox/?fr=om_email_firefox

[Daniel T Chen (crimsun)]

pedja_.., we're still missing your alsa-info.sh output.

[pedja_portugalac (123pedja)]

Here it is

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=7b7f63cd75794dd53687efef64e23af03467a7bb

[Bob Wya (robert-mt-walker)]

pedja I have:
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on] Capture [off]

you have:
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

So your digital output switch is turned off (in the ALSA mixer) - didn't you say you were trying to get the digital output to work?

Also can you see a laser light coming down the Fibre Optic Cable? (NB don't look into it directly!!) That's a good check for digital output being enabled!!

Bob

[pedja_portugalac (123pedja)]

There's no way I can put more things on in alsamixer when I use my =auto configuration. When I tried your configuration there was more possibilities and channels in alsamixer but then no sound at all. Can you please write a step by step how to from the begining to the end with everything one must configure after adding "the magic line" to the conf file?

Thanks

[Tom (tom6)]

This bug-report seems to have been hi-jacked by a couple of people with individual problems about this. It seems that the original question has become slightly buried by these and doubtless we can expect a lot more people to jump on this as it seems likely to affect a lot of people.

It is, of course, quite legitimate for people to seek help about this issue here - certainly it's better than separate questions and separate bug-reports springing up all over the place. I just hope people can find a work-around!

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

[Gangadharan (gangakz)]

I use a compaq Presario CQ 40 note book.

while I was on 8.10, I experienced illegibel sound output.... The welcome drum roll was longer than usual and unclear. I resolved this by just cd to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base as root and adding:

options snd-hda-intel model=3stack-dig
options snd-hda-intel enable_msi=1
options snd-hda-intel single_cmd=1

On rebooting, the sound became perfectly alright.

When I upgraded to 9.04, I noticed there was no sound at all. I tried the same thing as above but it didn't work.

Hoever, I keep getting some garbled sound in the head phone, even when no sound is playing.

The lspci -v -v out put is as under. Can some one help me with this?

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)
    Subsystem: Hewlett-Packard Company Device 3607
    Control: I/O- Mem+ BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
    Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=fast >TAbort- <TAbort- <MAbort- >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
    Latency: 0, Cache Line Size: 64 bytes
    Interrupt: pin B routed to IRQ 22
    Region 0: Memory at 9c800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
    Capabilities: <access denied>
    Kernel driver in use: HDA Intel
    Kernel modules: snd-hda-intel

----- Original Message ----
From: Tom <email address hidden>
To: <email address hidden>
Sent: Saturday, 2 May, 2009 1:04:05 PM
Subject: [Bug 354398] Re: Acer Aspire 8920G has inaudible audio by default

This bug-report seems to have been hi-jacked by a couple of people with
individual problems about this. It seems that the original question has
become slightly buried by these and doubtless we can expect a lot more
people to jump on this as it seems likely to affect a lot of people.

It is, of course, quite legitimate for people to seek help about this
issue here - certainly it's better than separate questions and separate
bug-reports springing up all over the place. I just hope people can
find a work-around!

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

--
Acer Aspire 8920G has inaudible audio by default
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/354398
You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
of a duplicate bug.

Status in “alsa-driver” source package in Ubuntu: Won't Fix
Status in “linux” source package in Ubuntu: Confirmed

Bug description:
Binary package hint: alsa-base

The chipset is in an Acer Aspire 8920G laptop. But please note that this appears to be a generic chipset with a lot of users experiencing the same problems (and possibly the same solution??)

This bug applies to Ubuntu 8.04 (final), 8.10 (final) and 9.04 (beta release). In each case all available updates were applied to the Ubuntu OS release.

I am currently using ALSA 1.0.18 (fully updated from Jaunty repositories).

Output of lspci -v -v is attached.

I tried following the Ubuntu audio faqs (e.g. switching to Pulse Audio) to no effect...

Basically I cannot switch on the digital optical SPDIF output or get any analogue sound output!!

THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AS JAUNTY IS STILL BROKEN AND SO MANY PEOPLE ARE AFFECTED!!

NB I know the "snd-hda-intel" kernel driver module supports the audio device...

[Russ Pridemore (russ-pridemore)]

I have a similar problem with a new HP Pavilion dv6 - no sound whatsoever, even after trying all the "fixes" documented elsewhere: "noacpi", "irqpoll", "enable_msi", trying different models, even updating to the latest ALSA release. I'm running Ubuntu 9.04. Output of alsa-info.sh is at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=870f2db83aebc599725474c65bb63d55f95c0d26

[Tom (tom6)]

@ Russ
I assume you have tried
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting
&
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingSoundProblems
already? Hopefully you haven't and one of these helps, otherwise good luck
Regards from
Tom

[Russ Pridemore (russ-pridemore)]

Thanks for the reply. I have sound sorta working with the following:
options snd-hda-intel enable_msi=1 model=hp-m4 enable=1 index=0

This is an HP Pavilion dv6 laptop. I say sorta because I'm still experiencing problems like Rhythmbox playing an mp3 at a super-fast speed, occasional screeches when a desktop sound should play, and no headphone output. I don't know exactly what is configured by "model" - its close, but not quite right.

[Gangadharan (gangakz)]

http://keskinnisanci.com/teddy.html

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[penalvch (penalvch)]

Bob Wya, thank you for reporting this and helping make Ubuntu better. Hardy desktop reached EOL on May 12, 2011.
Please see this document for currently supported Ubuntu releases:
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

We were wondering if this is still an issue on a supported release? If so, can you try with the latest development release of Ubuntu? ISO CD images are available from http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/releases/ .

If it remains an issue, could you run the following command in a supported release from a Terminal (Applications->Accessories->Terminal). It will automatically gather and attach updated debug information to this report.

apport-collect -p linux <replace-with-bug-number>

Also, if you could test the latest upstream kernel available that would be great. It will allow additional upstream developers to examine the issue. Refer to https://wiki.ubuntu.com/KernelMainlineBuilds . Once you've tested the upstream kernel, please remove the 'needs-upstream-testing' tag. This can be done by clicking on the yellow pencil icon next to the tag located at the bottom of the bug description and deleting the 'needs-upstream-testing' text. Please let us know your results.

Thanks in advance.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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