Low Microphone volume in 8.10

[Nico_argentina]

I have a Dell XPS M1530, with built-in microphone. It wasn't working till i added "Digital input source" in the preferences, as i did with Ubuntu 8.04, but now the volume of the input is really low, all volumes at maximum...

I've the system up-to-date (13-10-2008)

Here is the output requested here https://wiki.ubuntu.com/DebuggingSoundProblems

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=1d8a1dbdd7a7fd998de2e46a1814bb31bd9833b4

Thanks,
Nico.-

[Majd (majd)]

Hi,

+1.
I have exactly the same problem on the same laptop. I'am using the latest ubuntu 8.10 RC (27/10/2008)
The mic is working, but the volume's very low.

Here is the output from the alsa-info.sh script.
http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=504b0119fa95ca737938b67f696e54bf71fa4118

thanks,
Majd

[Vitaly (vbabiy86)]

I also have a Dell M1530 are you guys able to record any sound using the sound record application. Mine just starts counting minutes like crazies like if I record for 5 seconds it tells me it has recorded 20mins worth of sound.

[Nico_argentina (ferrettinico)]

Yes, my recorder also, bur i don't think it's the same problem, as
with Audacity i am available to record OK (have to open the audio file
in another player because audacity doesn't seem to play it to me), but
anyways, i think that's a different story and the main problem here is
the low volume of the Mic (and also, didn't find the way to make the
external mic to work till this is solved)

On Tue, Oct 28, 2008 at 12:12 AM, Vitaly <email address hidden> wrote:
> I also have a Dell M1530 are you guys able to record any sound using the
> sound record application. Mine just starts counting minutes like crazies
> like if I record for 5 seconds it tells me it has recorded 20mins worth
> of sound.
>
> --
> Low Microphone volume in 8.10 Beta
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/282931
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Nico_argentina (ferrettinico)]

Yes, my recorder also, but i don't think it's the same problem, as
with Audacity i am available to record OK (have to open the audio file
in another player because audacity doesn't seem to play it to me), but
anyways, i think that's a different story and the main problem here is
the low volume of the Mic (and also, didn't find the way to make the
external mic to work till this is solved)

[Jack Deslippe (jdeslip)]

I have a Dell 1420n with builtin mic that also is recording at unbearably low levels when pulseaudio is enabled. This bug is related to Bug 261018 I think: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/261018

[Nico_argentina (ferrettinico)]

Are you sure it's a "Pulseaudio" bug?

when i run pasuspender BEFORE recording, the volume is still low

[Jack Deslippe (jdeslip)]

pasuspender doesn't seem to be doing anything for me (programs still see the pulse device).... but killing the pulseaudio process does fix the problem for me... Recording levels go back up after killing it.

[Tim Black (tim-alwaysreformed)]

I have the same problem on Ubuntu 8.10 (release, not beta) on a Dell Inspiron 1720. The output of alsa-info.sh on my machine is at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=27dc18e6ce0694f440418553bc2d639f5d405739

[RomanIvanov (ivanov-jr)]

I have the same problem Xubuntu 8.10 release on Dell Vostro 1510.

[Nico_argentina (ferrettinico)]

I've killed pulseaudio ("killall pulseaudio") and it doesn't seem to get any better, i've tried with both audacity and skype with the same results as before...

[Jack Deslippe (jdeslip)]

aftering killing pulseaudio did you change the devices in skype back to 'default' - and increase the volumes in the gnome-volume-control?

[Jack Deslippe (jdeslip)]

This bug also seems to be a duplicate of Bug 275998 - if you agree, Nico, we should probably mark it as so.

[Nico_argentina (ferrettinico)]

HI jdeslip,

I did what you say, but with no results unfortunately.

i agree with that, i'll mark it as a duplicate

[mabawsa (mabawsa)]

I had to almost remove pulse audio (and ubuntu desktop) to get the mic back to pre-intrepid volume on my Deru M1330. It used to just work with disabling pulseaudio70 script and unmarking the session startups for pulse. But last week it stopped. One other benefit of using Alsa is that the system has stopped crackling on mute (Bug #220842).
Anyway here is an attachment of what is actually left of pulse audio in my config.

The bug has been a bit of a pain as I use skype and ekiga a lot and I have had to revert to XP for this.

M

[kumar (kumar-physics)]

Hi,
     Some how I managed to increase the mic volume. I have a dual boot, so I loged in to win, and increased the mic volume to max. Then I reboot login to ubuntu. It works. I have dell xps 1530 , recently bought(Just 15days). I struggled a lot, finally I tried this and it worked. I am not a real programmer. I felt this information could help to fix the bug, thats y I am posting here.
kumar.

[Owais Lone (loneowais)]

I don't have windows installed and there are thousands like me. We don't want to install crappy waindows to gain volume.

Please fix this. It's in Jaunty too.

[jkbkot (jkbkot)]

I have a similar problem on Dell Latitude D630, Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty too. The problem is worst when I'm using SkypeOut - calling someone from Skype to their cell phone. When I'm calling with people from Skype to Skype then then hear my voice as quite quiet but it's not as bad as via SkypeOut.

And I'm not using Pulse for the mic. Because when I use Pulse for the microphone then there are big lags... big pauses before the other person hears me.

It is really annoying and would be great if was finally fixed and working. I'll be glad to assist you as much as possible.

[João Miguel Lopes Moreira (jmlm-1970)]

The only solution to make microphone work is to install linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic...

Just go to:

Menu / System / Administration / Synaptic Package Manager

And search and mark for installation:

linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic

tip: if you have multiple versions click on the first and read the description which should inform what name to install...

If after the reboot and mic mute is off, still does not work, just go to terminal and type:

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

and add or change the following:

options snd-hda-intel model=auto enable=yes

Then Ctrl+X, type Y to write and exit, reboot and mic will work.

Bye and have lots of fun with Ubuntu (the best).