Ubuntu

Problem with Sound Recorder and Preferences->Sound Preferences-> Audio Conferencing -> Sound Capture

Asked by maylightsys

Hello.

Good day to you.

I have a problem with Sound Recorder not being able to record any sound.

Going to System->Preferences->Sound Preferences -> Devices Tab -> Audio Conferencing -> Sound Capture

All the options (ie. VIA 8235, ALSA, OSS, etc) generate the error message below:
Failed to construct test pipeline for 'gconfaudiosrc ! audioconvert ! audioresample ! gconfaudiosink profile=chat'

My sound card is VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC97 Audio Controller by VIA Technologies, Inc.

I can listed to Audio CDs and streams from youtube.com. But I cannot do anything with Sound Recorder.

Any help will be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Regards,

Nate V.

Question information

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Status:
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Solved by:
Cesare Tirabassi
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Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#1

You simply need to enable sound capture/microphone in mixer.

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#2

Hello Cesare,

Thank you for your immediate reply.

I did turn on the sound capture/microphone using alsamixer on the terminal.

The error message still remains.

I've read the "Comprehensive Sound Problems Solutions Guide" on the Ubuntu forum but I don't know if Feisty Fawn is included in it. I believe the scope of the solution guide is for Dapper Drake and Edgy Eft.

I'd appreciate any clarification or reply to my query.

Thanks again.

Regards,

Nate V.

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#3

Can you paste here the output of this command, as given in a terminal:

amixer

Thanks.

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#4

Thank you for your quick reply.

Here's the output from amixer:

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 30 [97%] [-1.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 30 [97%] [-1.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 22 [71%] [-13.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 22 [71%] [-13.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 22 [71%] [-13.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround Jack Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Shared' 'Independent'
  Item0: 'Shared'
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 22 [71%] [-13.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 22 [71%] [-13.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [on] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 26 [84%] [4.50dB] [on]
  Front Left: Capture [on]
  Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
  Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 22 [71%] [-1.50dB] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off] Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Output',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Mono: 2 [67%]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback Source',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'PCM' 'Analog In' 'IEC958 In'
  Item0: 'PCM'
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono: Playback 10 [67%] [-15.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 20 [65%] [-4.50dB] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 20 [65%] [-4.50dB] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mix' 'Mic'
  Item0: 'Mix'
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 12 [80%] [18.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 12 [80%] [18.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Channel Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '2ch' '4ch' '6ch'
  Item0: '2ch'
Simple mixer control 'Duplicate Front',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Input1' 'Input2'
  Item0: 'Input2'
Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',1
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Input1' 'Input2'
  Item0: 'Input2'
Simple mixer control 'VIA DXS',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
  Front Right: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
Simple mixer control 'VIA DXS',1
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
  Front Right: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
Simple mixer control 'VIA DXS',2
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
  Front Right: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
Simple mixer control 'VIA DXS',3
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]
  Front Right: Playback 20 [65%] [-64.50dB]

Revision history for this message
Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#5

I see few things to try:

mic boost: try to switch it ON
mic select: it is mic1, is this correct? try also mic2
spdif input: try to switch it OFF
mono output select: try to set it to Mic
mix and mix mono: switch capture ON

Revision history for this message
[euchrid] (euchrid) said : 		#6

Same problem. The above didn't work for me. How do I get the output of alsamixer?

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#7

To Euchrid:

Hello.

Please type this on the Terminal i.e. Applications ->Accessories ->Terminal

alsamixer

To get the output I generated last June 4, type this on the Terminal

amixer

For Cesare:

Thank you for the recommendations last June 4.

I don't get the error message anymore on System->Preferences->Sound Preferences -> Devices Tab -> Audio Conferencing -> Sound Capture

How ever I still cannot record using the microphone on Sound Recorder.

I click record, the slider moves but when I stop I can see a length of 3 seconds. When I click Play, nothing happens.

I move "Record from input" from Capture to Microphone.

Same thing. I can see a length of 3 seconds. But when I click play still nothing happens

It baffles me.

Any reply will be much appreciated.

Thanks again.

Nate V.

Revision history for this message
Best Cesare Tirabassi (norsetto) said : 		#8

Thats because you have to save the file first. After, load it and play.

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#9

Thanks Cesare Tirabassi, that solved my question.

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#10

Thanks for your help and understanding.

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#11

Amazing! Now even Skype works! Thanks Cesare

Revision history for this message
[euchrid] (euchrid) said : 		#12

Thanks for the help and quick reply maylightsys and Cesare.

My output is:

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 86 [86%] [-5.60dB]
Simple mixer control 'Tone',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [on]
  Front Right: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Bass',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Front Left: 30 [75%]
  Front Right: 30 [75%]
Simple mixer control 'Treble',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Front Left: 30 [75%]
  Front Right: 30 [75%]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB] Capture 97 [97%] [-1.20dB]
  Front Right: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB] Capture 97 [97%] [-1.20dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Synth',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 97 [97%] [-1.20dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 97 [97%] [-1.20dB]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line2',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB] Capture 93 [93%] [-2.80dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB] Capture 93 [93%] [-2.80dB]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB] Capture 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB] Capture 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 23 [74%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Optical',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Optical Raw',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [on]
  Front Right: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono: Playback 12 [80%] [-9.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Aux2',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Analog Mix',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 86 [86%] [-5.60dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
  Front Right: Playback 86 [86%] [-5.60dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
Simple mixer control 'Audigy Analog/Digital Output Jack',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Audigy CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
  Front Right: Playback 74 [74%] [-10.40dB] Capture 76 [76%] [-9.60dB]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]

I have seen some other advice that suggests turning 'capture' on, but I do not have anything just labelled 'capture'. Could this be part of the problem?

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#13

Hello Euchrid,

Good day to you.

What needs to be done is to go to volume control (upper right icon on top panel), once visible go to the menu bar Edit->Preferences. A list of tracks will be seen, click on the check box for Capture and Microphone Capture.

Revision history for this message
[euchrid] (euchrid) said : 		#14

Thanks again for your help, maylightsys.

Sadly, I had already done the Edit>Preferences thing in volume control, but I do not have 'capture' listed. I was having the problem with an on-board mic and an external mic plugged in through an Audigy. None of the advice about using alsamixer worked for me.

HOWEVER: I found the SOLUTION (in case anyone else has come here with the same problem and found the above steps do not work):
from https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/88570/comments/19, I got the latest Alsa driver, using the following commands:

wget ftp://ftp.alsa-project.org/pub/driver/alsa-driver-1.0.14.tar.bz2
tar -xjf alsa-driver-1.0.14.tar.bz2
cd alsa-driver-1.0.14
./configure
sudo make
sudo make install

Rebooted the system, and everything worked fine.

I have posted more information here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=2798055#post2798055 in case anyone else is as lost as I was.

I am absolutely convinced that there is either a problem with the Alsa driver that comes with Ubuntu Feisty or a problem with Feisty's handling of it. Hopefully, someone can look into this issue in order to stop it happening in the next release!

Revision history for this message
Mark Rabideau (manyroads) said : 		#15

In the stupid solutions realm, I had the same problem and here's how I fixed it....

I reinstalled GDM from scratch and voila... everything worked perfectly! Hopefully this will help someone.

...m ark

Revision history for this message
piresrosse (piresrosse) said : 		#16

Hello,

does anyone know if the "Alesis MultiMix12 FireWire" audio interface works on the Ubuntu Studio?
And how?

Revision history for this message
maylightsys (maylight) said : 		#17

Hello piresrosse,

Good day to you.

Unfortunately I have no answer for you on this one.

However, I suggest to open a new message thread regarding your question.

Best of luck with you.

Revision history for this message
piresrosse (piresrosse) said : 		#18

Thank you maylightsys, I will keep searching.
Good day also.

Revision history for this message
Grant Bowman (grantbow) said : 		#19

euchrid, downloading and installing the software is great. If this works for me I'll spend some time finding out why this works as a solution so the package maintainer can solve this problem for everyone. If you have further ideas about this, please post them here. Thanks.

Revision history for this message
Yige (yigeyinfu-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#20

Open up the Synaptic Package Manager and install ubuntustudio-audio and ubuntustudio-audio plugins. Next, open up QAMix, go to Capture TAB and set it to MIC.

I am still working on the USB items. See if you can help me figure out how to compile USB items in Ubuntu.

If you find out, then press alt + F2, type usbview to see all the USB item.

I have a toothache, so I really can't work on anything right now.