No ALSA sound/wrong sound card after update [SOLVED]

[paul]

Hey, I have a problem. Since a few days (I guess after the latest updates) I can't play any audio in any browser. It's not a Flash problem, even mp3 and ogg files come with no sound. I was thinking of a sound card selection issue (vlc and the other programs can play audio normally).
So I opened alsamixer from a terminal, and I get:

Code: Select all

 This sound device does not have any controls.

No sound card is selected, while I remember that when I installed my OS (14.04) it opened by default the sound card 1 (HDA Intel).

Do you have any idea what the problem might be?

Thanks!

[paul]

see if you have a /etc/asound.conf file in your system, and if yes remove it.

I do not have that file.
What could be wrong? I have no idea what "I" use to set up jack, I just installed KXS 14.04 from live and didn't tweak anything (I'm just a noob). So, I really have no clue...

[paul]

If it can be of any help, this is my ~/.asoundrc file.

Code: Select all

# ------------------------------------------------------
# Custom asoundrc file for use with snd-aloop and JACK
#
# use it like this:
# env JACK_SAMPLE_RATE=44100 JACK_PERIOD_SIZE=1024 alsa_in (...)
#

# ------------------------------------------------------
# playback device
pcm.aloopPlayback {
  type dmix
  ipc_key 1
  ipc_key_add_uid true
  slave {
    pcm "hw:Loopback,0,0"
    format S32_LE
    rate {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_SAMPLE_RATE ]
      default 44100
    }
    period_size {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_PERIOD_SIZE ]
      default 1024
    }
    buffer_size 4096
  }
}

# capture device
pcm.aloopCapture {
  type dsnoop
  ipc_key 2
  ipc_key_add_uid true
  slave {
    pcm "hw:Loopback,0,1"
    format S32_LE
    rate {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_SAMPLE_RATE ]
      default 44100
    }
    period_size {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_PERIOD_SIZE ]
      default 1024
    }
    buffer_size 4096
  }
}

# duplex device
pcm.aloopDuplex {
  type asym
  playback.pcm "aloopPlayback"
  capture.pcm "aloopCapture"
}

# ------------------------------------------------------
# default device
pcm.!default {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "aloopDuplex"
}

# ------------------------------------------------------
# alsa_in -j alsa_in -dcloop -q 1
pcm.cloop {
  type dsnoop
  ipc_key 3
  ipc_key_add_uid true
  slave {
    pcm "hw:Loopback,1,0"
    format S32_LE
    rate {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_SAMPLE_RATE ]
      default 44100
    }
    period_size {
      @func igetenv
      vars [ JACK_PERIOD_SIZE ]
      default 1024
    }
    buffer_size 32768
  }
}

# ------------------------------------------------------
# alsa_out -j alsa_out -dploop -q 1
pcm.ploop {
  type plug
  slave.pcm "hw:Loopback,1,1"
}

Any suggestions anyone?

[danboid]

Hi Paul!

Click 'Configure' under Cadence and then set the output device under the driver tab. After changing it you need to hit 'Switch Master' or you fully Stop/Start JACK. You won't hear any sound under Flash unless the ALSA audio bridge is running too so make sure that is started.

You can change the audio device to control by hitting F6 under alsamixer or just use kmix.

All this and much more (but only the really important, relevant stuff) is explained in the very concise, spankingly informative KXStudio manual linked in my sig. Please read it (that goes for ALL newbs)!

[paul]

The problem is deeper than I thought. It's not only browsers, but all application which output to ALSA! (Skype, Audacity when set to ALSA, etc).

The Alsa-Jack bridge is up and running, and the output device is set correctly (I can hear Jack audio).

What could have happened? Is there any information I should provide?

Thanks.

[danboid]

The ALSA bridge should usually be set to its default of ALSA -> Loop -> JACK

When JACK is running and the ALSA bridge started, open Catia or Claudia and make sure the alsa2jack capture ports are connected to the system playback ports.

Make sure your Master, PCM (if you have it) and speaker or headphone volume levels are turned up in kmix or ALSAmixer.

[paul]

Thanks. All this is already set correctly though.
Could it be a sound card selection problem at the application-Alsa level? I have no idea, just saying.

[paul]

I figured out the problem. For some reason, in the Cadence configuration, there were 0 input and output channels.
Stupid me for not having noticed before. Though I wonder why it changed.

Thanks to everyone for the support.