Ubuntu
alsa-driver package

Suddenly no sound on Mythbuntu 10.10 HDMI HTPC

Asked by keepitsimpleengr

This is a "production" HTPC, dedicated to entertainment. After the update from Ubuntu on 28-JUN-11, no sound from computer. Before update sound has been working well―since NOV-10

Setup: htpc<⋯HDMI⋯>HDTV(1920x1080p)<⋯optical⋯>5.1 Receiver

Verified sound from HDTV & 5.1 receiver all work.

Video from HDMI on HDTV is ok.

No sound from Unbuntu system sounds or Firefox/Chrome browsers.

Verified Mythtv(fixes/024.1) sound working from remote client.

Checked Sound settings, not muted, correct audio hardware. Speaker test failed, no sound.

Ran System Testing, no joy. (no mic or headphones for nVidia HDMI)

Reinstalled alsa, pulse and nvidia propietary software, no joy

Tried to run alsamixer but failed, "cannot open mixer: No such file or directory". Strange because alsa-utils 1.0.23-2ubuntu3.4 is installed (and reinstalled).

Important to get this running because domestic tranquility is at stake.

Ran the ALSA Information result, posted at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=a95c239ee9fef50657302072efc727b6c43db989

System: Athlon II X3 445, nvidia GeForce GT 240, Ubuntu 10.10, Linux 2.6.35-30-generic (x86_64), motherboard Audio/video disabled, Linux htpc 2.6.35-30-generic #54-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jun 7 18:41:54 UTC 2011 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Drivers: propietary nVidia-current (260.19.06-0ubuntu1), nVidia Corporation High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)(HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia)

Linux htpc 2.6.35-30-generic #54-Ubuntu SMP Tue Jun 7 18:41:54 UTC 2011 x86_64 GNU/Linux

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keepitsimpleengr
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Revision history for this message
Bilal Shahid (s9iper1) said : 		#1

are you talking about the sound indicator the has vanished from top pannel ??

Revision history for this message
keepitsimpleengr (keepitsimpleengineer) said : 		#2

The sound Indicator in the Indicator Applet (0.4.6) is present and will open "Sound Preferences". It shows a volume slider and menu item Mute/Unmute.

Revision history for this message
keepitsimpleengr (keepitsimpleengineer) said : 		#3

Alsa mixer now operational, removed an unneeded "/etc/asound.conf" file. bug (https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-utils/+bug/803988) and David Henningsson kindly pointed out the presence of the spurious file. Bug is now invalid!

However, there is still no sound from the system.

Ran a new ALSA Information result, posted at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=7031bcded684d29b0da7857595dde4a2bdf30942

Domestic tranquility in peril.

Revision history for this message
keepitsimpleengr (keepitsimpleengineer) said : 		#4

Method to solve: blundering around trying stuff out.....

Went trough the ALSA troubleshooting page, see http://alsa.opensrc.org/Main_Page

Much outdated stuff.

Found alsamixer wiki page http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alsamixer trying to figure out why alsamixer samples were not showing anything like what my alsamixer n curses display looked like. Found out about help on alsamixer (H key) and then figured out that the four boxes labeled s/pdif 0,1,2,3 which had OO or MM in them (which meant OO unmuted or MM muted). These could be selected by the < or > arrow key and the mute changed by toggling the M key.

Tried each until success S/PDIF 1 for me. Nearly fell out of my chair!

Have no clue as to how these were changed. Obviously obscurity rules in Linux Sound game.