volume control doesn't work (it's just on/off) on Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th gen

[Jonathan Kamens]

[Impact]
There are 2 physical speakers on the X1 7th, and one is Bass speaker
and connect to a DAC which doesn't have volume control on it.

[Fix]
adjust that speaker to connect to a DAC which has volume control
capability.

[Test Case]
adjust the output volume from UI and play sound from speaker.

[Regression Risk]
Low, these change is specific to 2 lenovo machines.

On my Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th generation using the built-in speakers, the volume is either off or on, there's no gradation in volume when I move the slider up or down.

If I enable Over-Amplification than there's gradation in volume when I turn the volume up past 100%, but not for 0-100%.

This problem does not occur with a headset plugged into the 3.5mm jack.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
Package: linux-image-5.3.0-12-generic 5.3.0-12.13
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-12.13-generic 5.3.0
Uname: Linux 5.3.0-12-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jik 3746 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: jik 3746 F...m pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Fri Sep 27 11:07:44 2019
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-09-12 (14 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.04 "Disco Dingo" - Release amd64 (20190416)
MachineType: LENOVO 20QD001VUS
ProcFB: 0 i915drmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/vmlinuz-5.3.0-12-generic root=/dev/mapper/ubuntu--vg-root ro quiet splash vt.handoff=7
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-5.3.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-5.3.0-12-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.182
SourcePackage: linux
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to eoan on 2019-09-20 (7 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 07/04/2019
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: N2HET30W (1.13 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20QD001VUS
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: SDK0J40697 WIN
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: None
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrN2HET30W(1.13):bd07/04/2019:svnLENOVO:pn20QD001VUS:pvrThinkPadX1Carbon7th:rvnLENOVO:rn20QD001VUS:rvrSDK0J40697WIN:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNone:
dmi.product.family: ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th
dmi.product.name: 20QD001VUS
dmi.product.sku: LENOVO_MT_20QD_BU_Think_FM_ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X1 Carbon 7th
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

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

This change was made by a bot.

[Sylvain (spouilly)]

I also have the same symptoms running Ubuntu 19.04 on that same hardware.

[M (mutas)]

Same here (19.10). A workaround could be to use software volume control by placing the following in /etc/pulse/default.pa:

load-module module-alsa-sink control=PCM

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

This issue is going to be fixed on 19.10 (Eoan) together with internal mic issue (dmic issue).

Please wait for the 5.3.0-20-generic kernel or later ones, then install an package:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:xueshengyao/dmic
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install oem-dmic-sof-lp1825294
reboot

Then the speaker's output volume will be adjustable and the dmic can work.

[Jonathan Kamens (jik)]

Can you clarify: are you saying that installing that oem-dmic-sof-lp1825294 package is going to be the permanent solution to this problem, or that you're asking us to test if that package solves the problem before the change is incorporated into the official Ubuntu kernel?

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

I already tested it.

And I guess this is not a permanent solution, let Shengyao clarify it.

[Shengyao Xue (xueshengyao)]

the package oem-dmic-sof-lp1825294 contains the UCM config files for this audio device, right now, this PPA is the best and easy way to use it. In future, we may add this UCM to a package in the official Ubuntu archive, but no clear plan yet.

[M (mutas)]

Thanks @Hui, @Shengyao

Using 5.3.0-21-generic from proposed, the ucm config files (via ppa:xueshengyao/dmic), and blacklisting snd_hda_intel and snd_soc_skl, both speaker and HDMI audio out work. (related: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1848490)

Apologies if this is off topic for this bug report, but after the installation of oem-dmic-sof-lp1825294, it seems that audio HDMI / DisplayPort audio sinks (such as those connected to a dock) are no longer discovered. I'm not familiar with how everything is in play here, so if more information is necessary, please just let me know if gathering more information would be helpful.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

About the hdmi audio on the dock, with the current kernel, it can't work. And Intel is working on it, kernel patches are ready, but they need to modify the ucm. After they finish them, we will integrate them into the ubuntu linux.

Please wait for 1 month or about 2 months.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Is this the same as bug 1860697?

[Vamshee Paduru (vpaduru1)]

@Shengyao how about 18.04 and kernel 5.0.0.1044-oem-osp1 ?...Can we apply the fix in #5 ?...If I do that then the volume reduces but the mic starts to work.And a HDMI1/2/3 Output -sof-skl_hda_card show up...Our goal is to have the Mic functional on CMT Lake X1 Carbon 7th. Please let us know.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@Vamshee,

We are doing that, and almost done. please refer to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-lib/+bug/1859754/comments/66

[Martin Seener (martinseener)]

Hi,
may i ask if the bass speaker will also sometimes be supported in Focal? Currently iam using Mint 19.3 (18.04 with 5.3.0-40 kernel and sof firmware) from a script i found on github to enable it (https://gist.github.com/hamidzr/dd81e429dc86f4327ded7a2030e7d7d9).
With that all 4 speakers (under screen and both at bottom of laptop) + the bass speaker are working. I compared that with the daily focal build as of "today". In Focal all 4 speakers and mic are working, but the bass speaker is missing. i compared that with the exact same youtube video and quality and can hear the difference that bass is missing.

I was unable to find anything regarding that in launchpad for my X1 Carbon 7th yet, so do i need to open another bug for that?

Thanks 4 help!

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

Please open a new bug to track it. The solution in the github is for ucm1, now 20.04 uses ucm2, we need to wait for the ucm2 solution from upstream, to make the bass speaker work is easy, but to make it work under alsa-lib, pulseaudio and gnome is not easy, so upstream is still working on it.

[ash (ash0)]

Hi Hui and Martin, I created a bug to track the bass speaker issue here https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1872108

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@ash,

OK, got it, will track this issue with that bug.

thx.

[Martin Seener (martinseener)]

I tried updating libasound2(-data), pulseaudio and kernel to 5.3.0-46 (not oem!) in my Mint 19.3 Box (Bionic). Also removed manual changes like blacklist snd_hda_intel and snd_soc_skl and also removed the "ucm" added by the script i found on github (posted above) from /usr/share/alsa/ucm/sof-skl_hda_card.
After that, I rebooted and sound and mic came up grad - except bass speaker whereas the sound is 1. mostly treble and 2. sound in general was quieter as before.

My BIOS starts with N2H, so i checked the new ucm conf and tried to play around with the bass settings there and diff'ed with my HiFi.conf i had before but no luck. No base. What i'am doing wrong?

[Brian Murray (brian-murray)]

The Eoan Ermine has reached end of life, so this bug will not be fixed for that release