Sound problems in Squeeze

[Giles Orr]

On 14 December 2011 15:14, Neil Watson <tlug-neil-8agRmHhQ+n2CxnSzwYWP7Q at public.gmane.org> wrote:
> My Debian Squeeze host stopped issuing sound through the sound card. This is
> not the first time. Sometimes fiddling around seems to start it again. This
> time nothing. Sound is one of those mysterious places in Linux that a rarely
> venture to.
>
> Sound card is seen:
> lspci
> 01:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies Inc. ICE1712 [Envy24]
>   PCI Multi-Channel I/O Controller (rev 02)
>
> aplay -l
> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
> card 0: M2496 [M Audio Audiophile 24/96], device 0: ICE1712 multi [ICE1712
> multi]
>  Subdevices: 1/1
>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>
>
> Alsamixer shows all volumes are up. No channels are muted. However even
> simple
> tests produce not sound:
>
> ettin:/usr/share/alsa/cards# aplay /usr/share/bzflag/shock.wav
> Playing WAVE '/usr/share/bzflag/shock.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian,
> Rate 22050 Hz, Stereo
>
> This hangs indefinitely as does this:
>
> ettin:/usr/share/alsa/cards# speaker-test
>
> speaker-test 1.0.23
>
> Playback device is default
> Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
> Using 16 octaves of pink noise
> Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
> Buffer size range from 2048 to 6144
> Period size range from 1024 to 1024
> Using max buffer size 6144
> Periods = 4
> was set period_size = 1024
> was set buffer_size = 6144
> 0 - Front Left
>
> Modules all appear to be loaded.
> Code:
> lsmod|grep snd
> snd_ice1712            50553  0
> snd_ice17xx_ak4xxx      2108  1 snd_ice1712
> snd_ak4xxx_adda         6063  2 snd_ice1712,snd_ice17xx_ak4xxx
> snd_cs8427              5649  1 snd_ice1712
> snd_ac97_codec         99186  1 snd_ice1712
> snd_pcm_oss            32607  0
> snd_mixer_oss          12606  1 snd_pcm_oss
> snd_pcm                60487  3 snd_ice1712,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
> snd_page_alloc          6249  1 snd_pcm
> ac97_bus                1086  1 snd_ac97_codec
> snd_i2c                 3362  2 snd_ice1712,snd_cs8427
> snd_mpu401_uart         4995  1 snd_ice1712
> snd_seq_midi            4400  0
> snd_rawmidi            15515  2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
> snd_seq_midi_event      4628  1 snd_seq_midi
> snd_seq                42881  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
> snd_timer              15598  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
> snd_seq_device          4493  3 snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
> snd                    46526  13
> snd_ice1712,snd_ak4xxx_adda,snd_cs8427,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,
>
> snd_pcm,snd_i2c,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
> soundcore               4598  1 snd
>
> I tried alsactl init but still no sound. Now I'm out of ideas.

I'd suggest booting Knoppix (or something similar) and testing sound
there.  My guess is that your hardware is fine - I've had enough
issues like the one you're seeing to feel your pain.  Debugging sound
problems has always been one of the least satisfactory and least
consistent problem behaviours I've ever encountered in Linux.  But if
sound works in Knoppix at least you'll know that it _can_ be fixed and
isn't a hardware problem.

You haven't upgraded to a different kernel recently have you?

-- 
Giles
http://www.gilesorr.com/
gilesorr-Re5JQEeQqe8AvxtiuMwx3w at public.gmane.org
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