Checklist for sound problem?

**lob455** · 07-21-2006

I am relatively new to Debian linux -- kind of taking it on as a hobby that is healthier than watching TV with a beer and a bag of Fritos. I probably won't get a TV commercial gig like that dude from Subway restaurants, but that's okay.

My project computer is now set up pretty well -- with the exception of sound. I am able to play music directly from CD (via Gnome's Multimedia CDPlayer application). So I obviously know that the soundcard and speakers are hooked up and working fine. But I cannot play mp3 files (through several applications that I have tried).

I am obviously missing something. If I go to Gnome's Application>Multimedia>MusicPlayer, I can click on a mp3 file and it will act like it is playing... but nothing from the speakers.

Is there some kind of handy-dandy troubleshooting checklist that I can go through to solve this problem? Any reasonable suggestions would be appreciated.

Tnx,
Lob

**Vergil83** · 07-22-2006

try doing

Code:

apt-get install mpg321 gstreamer0.8-mad

that should allow the mp3 to run on most programs.

**lob455** · 07-22-2006

I appreciate the suggestion, but no luck. Still nothing ...

Here are a few more details if they might give a clue:

1) I'm running kernel 2.4.27-2-686 and the "CD Player 2.8.0" on the main Gnome pulldown menu (under Applications>Mulitmedia>CD player) works find to play directly from CD. However, if I boot using kernel 2.6.8-3-686, this same program no longer works correctly. I still can select any song on the CD, but it plays for approximately 1 second and then stops. No error messages -- it just stops.

2) Gnome allows you to add programs into the toolbars (that they call "panels"). When I add the CD player "CD Player 2.8.2" applet (apparently a newer version than the one they point to with the normal pulldown menu) to a panel, I can play CDs just fine using the old kernel. But when I run that same program using 2.6.8-3-686, I get a error message "No Device Found or Illegal Format".

3) I have seen other sites mention to run speaker-test. I can run this, but it also plays absolutely nothing on my speakers (in either kernel). In fact, the only sound that I can get is when I play directly from a CD (and use the 2.4... kernel).

4) The sound card is an Ensoniq ES1370. If I can't get any further with this problem, I'll probably try to find a different sound card to try. But I suspect that isn't my problem....

Thanks,
Lob

**Vergil83** · 07-22-2006

ok, the differences in kernel points me to the thought that it is an oss alsa issue. OSS is the old way to do sound in linux, alsa is is the new way. 2.6 uses alsa, while 2.4 uses oss. Do

Code:

apt-get install alsa-base alsa-utils

for 2.6. For 2.4 you can do

Code:

apt-get install alsa-base alsa-utils alsa-modules-2.4.27-2-686

then run

Code:

alsaconf

to make sure the sound card is being found. Use a mixer to make sure everything is not muted, and try again. Hopefully it will work

**Vergil83** · 07-22-2006

according to alsa's website, that sound card should work

**Zelmo** · 07-22-2006

Originally Posted by Vergil83

Use a mixer to make sure everything is not muted, and try again.

This is often given as the first step to troubleshooting sound problems, but I have to applaud Virgil on taken the preliminary step of making sure the alsa stuff is installed. Once that's done (or if it already happens to be installed and up-to-date), you can run alsamixer from a console or install and run alsamixergui for a nice widget-based version of the same thing. Make sure your PCM levels are turned up, and as mentioned, unmute stuff that you think should be unmuted (like master volume, PCM, etc.). To make the settings stick through reboots, su to root and run

Code:

# alsactl store

As a usability note for alsamixer, the default view gives you the playback and capture (recording) levels side-by-side for each device/channel. You can view them separately by running alsamixer with the -V switch, followed by a view mode (all, capture, or playback IIRC--see the man page to be sure). I think the alsamixergui uses tabs to switch between views.

**lob455** · 07-23-2006

Thanks for the replies, but no success. These are things I tried before, but I tried again as a sanity check. (Originally, absolutely no sound had been working, but the direct-from-CD playing started working after loading the 2.4 kernel alsa modules. And I have used several mixers to make sure it isn't a muting problem.) Still can't play mp3s, and still nothing when I run speaker-test.

I am going to borrow a different sound card and see if that makes any difference. That is the only thing left that I know to try....

Lob

**objuan** · 07-28-2006

Hello
Have you tried to config your media program to use the alsa engine

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