Author Topic: [SOLVED] Sound in 2010  (Read 993 times)

Offline Was_Just19

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[SOLVED] Sound in 2010
« on: April 25, 2010, 06:36:03 AM »
I am having serious difficulties with 2010 and sound.

Alsaplayer when launched does nothing at all except give "segmentation fault"

I used to be able to use this app to direct the sound being played to a specific device.
I have not found anything to help with that, in the absence of a working Alsaplayer.

I used to be able to use gnome-volume-control but now it just hangs - "waiting for the sound system to respond". The terminal gives "Connection failed, reconnecting ......" repeated forever apparently.

I have in the past used gstreamer-properties to determine which sound device is to be used.
Now when I try to change from the "default" on board sound card to my USB headset, it seems to function ........  in that I can hear a test sound when expected, and I can confirm the Mic is working as during the test I can hear myself in my headphones.
Great!  but the apps seem to ignore this setting!

OK, all of this worked in 2007/2009  KDE3

So what should I now be using to get similar functionality in KDE4?

The apps I previously used are still there and some are functioning apparently.

Are there new apps/utilities I should be using instead?

regards.
« Last Edit: April 25, 2010, 11:30:22 AM by JohnBoy »

Offline macuira

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #1 on: April 25, 2010, 08:03:48 AM »
Give a try to pulseaudio, it's working on my system, haven't had any issues so far, though I only have tested it with amarok and skype, my bluetooth headset is also working

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #2 on: April 25, 2010, 08:29:15 AM »
Give a try to pulseaudio, it's working on my system, haven't had any issues so far, though I only have tested it with amarok and skype, my bluetooth headset is also working

What utility is available with pulse audio that allows selecting the output device 'on the fly' for temporary use?

Presently the wireless headset recognition is very odd. It (most of the time) does not get enabled for some minutes AFTER reaching the Desktop.
After it kicks into life it is usable in Skype and other apps that have the facility to select the device they output to.

I have found no method to have this facility for the main audio output .... able to select the speakers or headset for sound to be routed to.

So you reckon that I will have this facility if I install pulse audio?

regards.

Offline macuira

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #3 on: April 25, 2010, 09:00:32 AM »
I've installed Pavucontrol which is the pulseaudio volume control, this app let me choose where to route the audio, when the headset is paired (which is done automatically now) I have two options the internal audio and the BT headset

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #4 on: April 25, 2010, 09:27:34 AM »
OK, installed everything to do with pulse .......  the sledgehammer approach!

When I did this I had the wireless headset functioning and when I opened the pulse volume control I was able to hear the beep when I clicked on the volume sliders.
The Mic also showed on the volume level when I adjusted the slider.

I was unable to play any sounds either through the speakers or the headset, from any app.
So I rebooted .......  headset no enabled.
Tried again several times, but still no headset.

Still no sounds from anything unfortunately.

Not looking promising ..........  now no sounds at all  :(

Offline macuira

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #5 on: April 25, 2010, 10:17:07 AM »
What do you have under multimedia settings in Configure your desktop, in my system there's only the pulseaudio option, all other options are disappeared. almost forgot I've installed also pulseaudio-module-bluetooth which is needed for the headest service

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: Sound in 2010
« Reply #6 on: April 25, 2010, 11:02:02 AM »
What do you have under multimedia settings in Configure your desktop, in my system there's only the pulseaudio option, all other options are disappeared. almost forgot I've installed also pulseaudio-module-bluetooth which is needed for the headest service

Yep,  pulse audio is now the only available option for all audio sections.

I don't need bluetooth ....  the headset is wireless and not bluetooth.

I just had a look at the test PC on which I am doing the above .......  and the headset is now recognised after being left for an hour or so.
It is just weird how sometimes it gets recognised almost immediately after a boot/reboot and other times it takes ages to spring to life!

I can play again with it now to see if I can get any good of pulse.
It does show in the pulse volume control now that it is recognised and its light is on.

So back to trying to get sound passed through to it ........

regards.

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: [SOLVED] Sound in 2010
« Reply #7 on: April 25, 2010, 11:39:56 AM »
Well the good news is that it WORKS!!!!!!!!!

I am typing this on my main PC while listening to The Paul Butterfield Blues Band being played by VLC and piped to the wireless headset as output device in the Pulse Audio Volume Control.

Also checked it in Skype and it works there also.

I can change the output to the speakers simply by making the selection in the volume control.

This seems to do all I need ......  if only the wireless dongle was more consistent about being recognised ......  and recognised early in the boot rather than about an hour after I reach the desktop ---  but that is another issue.

Thank you macuira .......  I would not have thought of using Pulse except for your pointer.

I guess I can dispense with Kmix now as it seems to be disabled with Pulse operational.

This experience with Pulse .....  even though I had some hic-coughs has been a good experience.
BTW ....  was reading this blog earlier today - you may be interested
http://colin.guthr.ie/tag/pulseaudio/

Thanks again

regards.

Offline macuira

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Re: [SOLVED] Sound in 2010
« Reply #8 on: April 25, 2010, 02:02:34 PM »
I'm glad finally I could help someone  ;D

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: [SOLVED] Sound in 2010
« Reply #9 on: April 25, 2010, 03:06:11 PM »
I'm glad finally I could help someone  ;D

I am pleased and so should you   :D