Author Topic: Right way of fixing my sound?!  (Read 833 times)

Offline fishfillet

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Right way of fixing my sound?!
« on: June 08, 2010, 06:19:35 AM »
I have HDA Intel sound card, one on an Acer Aspire 4736z and on an Acer eMachines EL1850.

When I test skype with this using a headset, the mic seems not to work at all as the guy from the other end can't hear me.

So here's what I do, I install pavucontrol (which of course will install pulseaudio) and then reboot.  After that, I will have to open pavucontrol to configure my mic.  I then test Skype and now its working.

After that, I will uninstall pulseaudio and its minions, do a reboot and voila!  Skype is still working with only ALSA on.

I need to uninstall pulseaudio because its not working good with Gizmo, which I also use.

Now, can anyone teach me how to fix this issue the right way?

Offline everge48

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #1 on: June 18, 2010, 07:58:00 PM »
I have HDA Intel sound card, one on an Acer Aspire 4736z and on an Acer eMachines EL1850.
When I test skype with this using a headset, the mic seems not to work at all as the guy from the other end can't hear me.
So here's what I do, I install pavucontrol (which of course will install pulseaudio) and then reboot.  After that, I will have to open pavucontrol to configure my mic.  I then test Skype and now its working.
After that, I will uninstall pulseaudio and its minions, do a reboot and voila!  Skype is still working with only ALSA on.
I need to uninstall pulseaudio because its not working good with Gizmo, which I also use.
Now, can anyone teach me how to fix this issue the right way?

It sounds like you already fixed it yourself.
Anyway, there's been lot of stuff posted about Skype and sound problems in the forum recently. Just do a search.
But for the most part they usually end the same way... uninstall Pulse and use ALSA. Reset all your media players to use ALSA again after uninstalling Pulse (which takes over without asking).
« Last Edit: June 18, 2010, 08:07:32 PM by 4evergr8ful »
Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Offline fishfillet

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #2 on: June 18, 2010, 10:57:31 PM »
Yes, I was able to fix it myself but I was wondering if there was any elegant way to do it.

Something that I can explain. :)

But thank you, your reply give me some useful insights on what I just did.

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2010, 01:07:18 AM »
Maybe a better solution would be to fully install Pulse and the Pulse plugins for the various apps and leave it installed.
Gizmo is not an app I have used much .....  but it does seem to function with Pulse here ......
EDIT:  did some testing ...  it needs a Pulse plugin to be fully compatible ...  but it does work with the default speakers, although there is no option to change that like other compatible apps.

It really is a great audio control system when properly installed, and gives the user much greater control over audio devices and what sounds they produce.

The only rider being -----  it must be fully installed and on!
« Last Edit: June 19, 2010, 02:22:12 AM by JohnBoy »

Offline GoustiFruit

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2010, 01:24:53 AM »
I don't remember the name but I seem to remember that there is a very old Alsa mixer application that gives access to all channels that you may need to set up !?

Offline fishfillet

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #5 on: June 20, 2010, 01:08:54 AM »
Maybe a better solution would be to fully install Pulse and the Pulse plugins for the various apps and leave it installed.
Gizmo is not an app I have used much .....  but it does seem to function with Pulse here ......
EDIT:  did some testing ...  it needs a Pulse plugin to be fully compatible ...  but it does work with the default speakers, although there is no option to change that like other compatible apps.

It really is a great audio control system when properly installed, and gives the user much greater control over audio devices and what sounds they produce.

The only rider being -----  it must be fully installed and on!

May I know what's that Pulse plugin that will make it work with Gizmo?

Honestly, the reason why I don't use Pulse is that using Pulse makes me feel like I am not using PCLinuxOS anymore.

Until such time that Tex will make it default, they I may consider it.

Offline Was_Just19

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Re: Right way of fixing my sound?!
« Reply #6 on: June 20, 2010, 01:48:38 AM »

May I know what's that Pulse plugin that will make it work with Gizmo?

Honestly, the reason why I don't use Pulse is that using Pulse makes me feel like I am not using PCLinuxOS anymore.

Until such time that Tex will make it default, they I may consider it.

There is no plugin for Gizmo5 to facilitate it working with PulseAudio .......  unlike most other apps -- in fact all others that I have tried to date.
Maybe the reason is because Gizmo5 is rather in limbo presently since being taken over by Google.

There seems to be some misconceptions out there about PulseAudio. I regard it like this.

PA is a user interface ----  a very nice and configurable user interface ---  which allows the users to determine how the sound source is treated and routed.
The same hardware is there.
The same Alsa drivers are used.
Pulse makes all of the hardware components of the sound system visible to the user, and allows the user to determine which is to be used for what sound source.

In its simplest form, it will allow me to play three different songs in three separate instances of VLC player, and have those three separate sound sources routed to three different 'sinks' .....  for instance to
1. Speakers
2. Wireless headset
3. USB speakers
or any other sound 'sink' that may be attached to the PC.
Same thing applies to Microphones .....  they also can be directed to wherever the user chooses.

While controlling all those sources of sound, the user can record any one of them ....  again using the PA controls, or any combination of them with a little preparation.
The sources do not even have to be sent to a hardware sink to be recorded! They can be sent to a virtual sink and recorded from there.

It is THE most useful sound utility I have ever seen in Linux or Windows ....  bar none!
It gives the user control of all the hardware attached to the PC.
I have attached a pic which illustrates how all the hardware functions of my sound card are exposed for me to make a choice which to use. That is the real power of PA IMO.

« Last Edit: June 20, 2010, 01:55:33 AM by JohnBoy »