29 Aug
2009
29 Aug
'09
4:37 p.m.
My mic recording level in Ubuntu+Gnome is frustratingly low. I have
(I think) wound up all the levels to maximum in the mixer, but I still
get only -20dB even with shouting into the mic. It's the same for all
hardware (2 internal and 2 USB soundcards, different mics), 2
different computers, 2 different versions of Ubuntu (Heron on my
desktop and Ibex on my laptop) and whatever recording software I use
(arecord, audacity, kwave, ecasound). Also the same with Jack and if
I kill pulseaudio.
This started a few months ago (originally, when everything was first
installed, it was fine) so I'm pretty confident it's an ALSA-related
software issue.
Seems like ALSA (or something) is being told to attenuate the signal
somewhere. Any clues where to look?
Peter Clarke
29 Aug
29 Aug
10:30 p.m.
On Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 08:37:17PM +0200, peter clarke wrote:
I have
(I think) wound up all the levels to maximum in the mixer, but I still
get only -20dB even with shouting into the mic.
Where are you measuring this -20 dB? At headphones, or using software?
It's the same for all hardware (2 internal and 2
USB soundcards,
different mics), 2 different computers, 2 different versions of Ubuntu
(Heron on my desktop and Ibex on my laptop) ...
Heron 8.04 is somewhat old. Try with a Jaunty 9.04 or Karmic alpha 9.10
CD without installing. Boot from the CD and use arecord or whatever is
available. Why? There is a possibility that this problem has been
detected and fixed in a later version. Also, when these CD images boot
they will use default ALSA levels rather than the levels saved on your
system.
This started a few months ago (originally, when
everything was first
installed, it was fine) so I'm pretty confident it's an ALSA-related
software issue.
That's interesting. I suggest you hide the /var/lib/alsa/asound.state
file and ask ALSA to reset the levels to default.
sudo mv /var/lib/alsa/asound.state /var/lib/alsa/asound.state.orig
sudo alsactl restore
sudo alsactl store
The expected output will vary according to the sound devices you have,
but on a test machine here I get this from the "restore" subcommand:
alsactl: load_state:1579: Cannot open /var/lib/alsa/asound.state for reading: No such file
or directory
Unknown hardware: "ICH" "Analog Devices AD1885"
"AC97a:41445360" "" ""
Hardware is initialized using a guess method
After you have done this, check your microphone level again.
If you find it fixes the symptom, compare /var/lib/alsa/asound.state
with /var/lib/alsa/asound.state.orig to see where the differences are.
--
James Cameron
http://quozl.linux.org.au/
11:20 p.m.
On 08/30/2009 04:37 AM, peter clarke wrote:
My mic recording level in Ubuntu+Gnome is
frustratingly low. I have
(I think) wound up all the levels to maximum in the mixer, but I still
get only -20dB even with shouting into the mic. It's the same for all
hardware (2 internal and 2 USB soundcards, different mics), 2
different computers, 2 different versions of Ubuntu (Heron on my
desktop and Ibex on my laptop) and whatever recording software I use
(arecord, audacity, kwave, ecasound). Also the same with Jack and if
I kill pulseaudio.
This started a few months ago (originally, when everything was first
installed, it was fine) so I'm pretty confident it's an ALSA-related
software issue.
Seems like ALSA (or something) is being told to attenuate the signal
somewhere. Any clues where to look?
Have you looked at alsamixer from the terminal? I
t may show more available level controls than you are seeing with your
mixer app.
Cheers.
Patrick Shirkey
Boost Hardware Ltd
Peter Clarke
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30 Aug
30 Aug
5:54 p.m.
If your interfaces are not proper ones with mic preamps, you have to use the
"mic boost" thing. See alsamixer.
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3 comments
4 participants
participants (4)
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James Cameron -
Patrick Shirkey -
peter clarke -
Ray Rashif