ALSA - Revision history

Phobos: Cleaned up tone somewhat, however this page likely could do with a cleanup and reformating

2026-03-27T17:32:55Z

Cleaned up tone somewhat, however this page likely could do with a cleanup and reformating

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:32, 27 March 2026
Line 7:		Line 7:
	In order to save the sound card state on shutdown sound must be enabled in <code>configuration.nix</code>		In order to save the sound card state on shutdown sound must be enabled in <code>configuration.nix</code>

	<~~syntaxHighlight~~ lang=nix>		<syntaxhighlight lang="nix">
	~~sound~~.~~enable~~ = true;		hardware.alsa.enablePersistence = true;
	</~~syntaxHighlight~~>		</syntaxhighlight>


	==Troubleshooting ALSA==		==Troubleshooting ALSA==

	* on a console ~~fire up~~ alsamixer		* on a console launch [[wikipedia:Alsamixer\|alsamixer]].

	alsamixer		alsamixer

	* you see plenty of vertical bars?		* If you see plenty of vertical bars:
	** ~~you~~ should be okay		** You should be okay

	* you see very few vertical bars and the sound card (top-left) is ~~something like~~ "PC Speaker"?		* If you see very few vertical bars and the sound card (top-left) is "PC Speaker" or similar:
	** ~~hit~~ the 'S' key, you should be able to switch to the "real" audio card (if not your audio card is likely to not being supported yet).		** Hit the 'S' key, you should be able to switch to the "real" audio card (if not your audio card is likely to not being supported yet).
	** ~~when~~ the real audio card is selected you should be viewing the "plenty vertical bars" thing.		** When the real audio card is selected you should be viewing the "plenty vertical bars" thing.
	*** ~~first~~ thing to do is to disable pc speaker (kernel module "snd-pcsp", see below.		*** First thing to do is to disable PC speaker (kernel module "snd-pcsp", see below.

	=== Make your audio card the default ALSA card ===		=== Make your audio card the default ALSA card ===

	~~Sometimes~~ the pc-speaker is the default audio card for ALSA. You can make your real sound card default instead. For example, if your sound card is "hda-intel" then add		Occasionally the PC-speaker is the default audio card for ALSA. You can make your real sound card default instead. For example, if your sound card is "hda-intel" then you would add the following to your configuration.
	<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">		<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
	boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''		boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''
	options snd slots=snd-hda-intel		options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
	'';		'';
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>At times, you may wish to disable one of multiple Intel cards. Here is how to disable the first card, but enable a second one.
	~~to your <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code>.~~

	~~Sometimes~~, we may ~~want~~ to disable one of ~~intel~~ cards. Here is how to disable first card, but enable ~~the~~ second one.
	<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">		<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
	boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''		boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''
Line 42:		Line 38:
	'';		'';
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

	~~Alternatively you can ...~~

	=== Disable PC Speaker "audio card" ===		=== Disable PC Speaker "audio card" ===

	~~edit <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code> and add~~ "snd_pcsp" to <code>boot.blacklistedKernelModules</code> option:		Add "snd_pcsp" to the <code>boot.blacklistedKernelModules</code> option:

	<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">		<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
Line 57:		Line 51:
	=== Other hardware specific problems ===		=== Other hardware specific problems ===

	Some hardware specific problems can be resolved by adjusting the options for the sound module. For example, the microphone may be stuck on ~~an unusably~~ low volume. First you should be sure that you have already checked the settings in alsamixer to make sure nothing is muted, and also any physical buttons on your computer ~~(I have twice overlooked the mute button on laptops!)~~.		Some hardware specific problems can be resolved by adjusting the options for the sound module. For example, the microphone may be stuck on a very low volume. First you should be sure that you have already checked the settings in alsamixer to make sure nothing is muted, and also any physical buttons on your computer.

	You should be able to look up the available options for ''model'' in [https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/hd-audio/models.rst models.rst]. You can try them out interactively as follows:		You should be able to look up the available options for model in [https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/hd-audio/models.rst models.rst]. You can try them out interactively as follows:

	# Close any applications using the sound card		# Close any applications using the sound card
	## See if any applications are using the sound card		## See if any applications are using the sound card
	##: $ lsof /dev/snd/*		##: {{Code\|$ lsof /dev/snd/*
	~~##:~~ COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
	~~##:~~ pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 30u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0		COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
	~~##:~~ pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 37u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0		pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 30u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0
	## Kill ~~them~~		pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 37u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0\|lang=console\|line=no}}
			## Kill any processes
	##: for any process apart from pulseaudio you could just do:		##: for any process apart from pulseaudio you could just do:
	##: $ kill -9 14080		##: $ kill -9 14080
Line 92:		Line 87:
	'';		'';
	</syntaxHighlight>		</syntaxHighlight>

	~~Much of this is taken from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HdaIntelSoundHowto which also has additional tips.~~

	[[Category:Audio]]		[[Category:Audio]]

DoggoBit at 16:23, 5 June 2025

2025-06-05T16:23:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:23, 5 June 2025
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{~~Outdated\|Needs cleanup~~}}		{{Cleanup}}

	ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like [[PulseAudio]].		ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like [[PulseAudio]].

Klinger: Category:Audio

2024-04-19T21:11:32Z

Category:Audio

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:11, 19 April 2024
Line 94:		Line 94:
	Much of this is taken from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HdaIntelSoundHowto which also has additional tips.		Much of this is taken from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HdaIntelSoundHowto which also has additional tips.

	~~[[Category:Installation]]~~ [[Category:Audio]]		[[Category:Audio]]

imported>Cillianderoiste: Update the steps to disable autospawning for PA

2019-03-21T18:56:27Z

Update the steps to disable autospawning for PA

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:56, 21 March 2019
Line 70:		Line 70:
	##: $ kill -9 14080		##: $ kill -9 14080
	##: but in the case of pulseaudio you have to prevent it from respawning itself automatically		##: but in the case of pulseaudio you have to prevent it from respawning itself automatically
	##: $ ~~mkdir~~ -~~P ~/~~.~~config/pulse~~ && ~~echo "autospawn=no" >> ~/.config/pulse/client.conf~~		##: $ systemctl --user mask pulseaudio.socket && systemctl --user stop pulseaudio
	##: you can then stop pulseaudio with:		##: you can then stop pulseaudio with:
	##: $ pulseaudio -k # or kill it by process id		##: $ pulseaudio -k # or kill it by process id
Line 83:		Line 83:
	# Repeat until you have exhausted all the options or have fixed your problem		# Repeat until you have exhausted all the options or have fixed your problem
	# TIDY UP!		# TIDY UP!
	#: Don't forget to re-enable pulse autospawning ~~by changing "autospawn=no" to "autospawn=yes" in ~/~~.~~config/pulse/client.conf~~		#: Don't forget to re-enable pulse autospawning: systemctl --user unmask pulseaudio.socket

	Once you have found a setting that works, you can add it to your configuration file:		Once you have found a setting that works, you can add it to your configuration file:

imported>Mic92: fix markup

2018-04-14T18:04:22Z

fix markup

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:04, 14 April 2018
Line 6:		Line 6:
	In order to save the sound card state on shutdown sound must be enabled in <code>configuration.nix</code>		In order to save the sound card state on shutdown sound must be enabled in <code>configuration.nix</code>

	<~~syntaxHightlight~~ lang=nix>		<syntaxHighlight lang=nix>
	sound.enable = true;		sound.enable = true;
	</~~syntaxHightlight~~>		</syntaxHighlight>

imported>Mic92 at 18:03, 14 April 2018

2018-04-14T18:03:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:03, 14 April 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{Outdated\|Needs cleanup}}		{{Outdated\|Needs cleanup}}
	ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like [[PulseAudio]].		ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like [[PulseAudio]].

			== Save volume state on shutdown ==

			In order to save the sound card state on shutdown sound must be enabled in <code>configuration.nix</code>

			<syntaxHightlight lang=nix>
			sound.enable = true;
			</syntaxHightlight>


	==Troubleshooting ALSA==		==Troubleshooting ALSA==

imported>HLandau: Created page with "{{Outdated|Needs cleanup}} ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like PulseAudio. ==Troubleshooting ALSA=..."

2017-10-24T16:43:51Z

Created page with "{{Outdated|Needs cleanup}} ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like PulseAudio. ==Troubleshooting ALSA=..."

New page

{{Outdated|Needs cleanup}}
ALSA is the kernel-level sound API for Linux. On modern systems, it is usually used via a sound server like [[PulseAudio]].

==Troubleshooting ALSA==

* on a console fire up alsamixer

alsamixer

* you see plenty of vertical bars?
** you should be okay

* you see very few vertical bars and the sound card (top-left) is something like "PC Speaker"?
** hit the 'S' key, you should be able to switch to the "real" audio card (if not your audio card is likely to not being supported yet).
** when the real audio card is selected you should be viewing the "plenty vertical bars" thing.
*** first thing to do is to disable pc speaker (kernel module "snd-pcsp", see below.

=== Make your audio card the default ALSA card ===

Sometimes the pc-speaker is the default audio card for ALSA. You can make your real sound card default instead. For example, if your sound card is "hda-intel" then add
<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''
options snd slots=snd-hda-intel
'';
</syntaxHighlight>
to your <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code>.

Sometimes, we may want to disable one of intel cards. Here is how to disable first card, but enable the second one.
<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''
options snd_hda_intel enable=0,1
'';
</syntaxHighlight>

Alternatively you can ...

=== Disable PC Speaker "audio card" ===

edit <code>/etc/nixos/configuration.nix</code> and add "snd_pcsp" to <code>boot.blacklistedKernelModules</code> option:

<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
boot.blacklistedKernelModules = [ "snd_pcsp" ];
</syntaxHighlight>

Now reboot and retry from the beginning (i.e. check that your real card is shown by alsamixer without using the 'S' key).

=== Other hardware specific problems ===

Some hardware specific problems can be resolved by adjusting the options for the sound module. For example, the microphone may be stuck on an unusably low volume. First you should be sure that you have already checked the settings in alsamixer to make sure nothing is muted, and also any physical buttons on your computer (I have twice overlooked the mute button on laptops!).

You should be able to look up the available options for ''model'' in [https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/hd-audio/models.rst models.rst]. You can try them out interactively as follows:

# Close any applications using the sound card
## See if any applications are using the sound card
##: $ lsof /dev/snd/*
##: COMMAND PID USER FD TYPE DEVICE SIZE/OFF NODE NAME
##: pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 30u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0
##: pulseaudi 14080 goibhniu 37u CHR 116,7 0t0 5169 /dev/snd/controlC0
## Kill them
##: for any process apart from pulseaudio you could just do:
##: $ kill -9 14080
##: but in the case of pulseaudio you have to prevent it from respawning itself automatically
##: $ mkdir -P ~/.config/pulse && echo "autospawn=no" >> ~/.config/pulse/client.conf
##: you can then stop pulseaudio with:
##: $ pulseaudio -k # or kill it by process id
# Unload the snd-hda-intel module
#: rmmod snd-hda-intel
# Find your model
#: grep Codec /proc/asound/card0/codec*
# [https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/hd-audio/models.rst Look up the model options for your card]
# Try each one
#: modprobe snd-hda-intel model=3stack-6ch
# Test if this has fixed your problem (tip: aplay and arecord are alsa based command line tools you can use to quickly check)
# Repeat until you have exhausted all the options or have fixed your problem
# TIDY UP!
#: Don't forget to re-enable pulse autospawning by changing "autospawn=no" to "autospawn=yes" in ~/.config/pulse/client.conf

Once you have found a setting that works, you can add it to your configuration file:
<syntaxHighlight lang="nix">
boot.extraModprobeConfig = ''
options snd-hda-intel model=YOUR_MODEL
'';
</syntaxHighlight>

Much of this is taken from https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HdaIntelSoundHowto which also has additional tips.

[[Category:Installation]] [[Category:Audio]]