Fresh install. Sound only in left channel.

[SvennK]

Hi.
I just installed Mint 14 on my pc and I'm really starting to like it. But I'm having a problem with the sound. I can only get sound from the left channel. I have checked the channel slider and it is correctly set up, and when I move it to just right channel I can barely hear the output.

When I boot into Win 7 I it all works perfectly.
Can anyone help me with this?

[igor83]

Hi.
I just installed Mint 14 on my pc and I'm really starting to like it. But I'm having a problem with the sound. I can only get sound from the left channel. I have checked the channel slider and it is correctly set up, and when I move it to just right channel I can barely hear the output.

When I boot into Win 7 I it all works perfectly.
Can anyone help me with this?

That's a bit unusual. Might help if you indicate the hardware involved. I haven't had any problems with sound on my desktops and my laptop, but I'm using modern boards purchased the last couple of years, and half of them are Intel-powered. Intel is better where Linux is concerned. I had problems with sound trying a motherboard with a Via cpu and SiS sound. Your best bet is to google "linux " or "ubuntu " (note the space), followed by the precise motherboard model, for instance mine is an asus E35M1-1 (*not that I recommend it), followed by " sound problem" or " left speaker". That's the sort of thing I do when I had the occasional hardware difficulty, but honestly with my new Intel-powered H67H2-M2 board I ain't had a single problem and am enjoying 5.1 surround sound via S/PDIF using Linux Mint Nadia Xfce. I also had a problem-free install on my Intel-powered Lenovo Thinkpad R61, although some people on this forum have reported the odd one-of problem.

Maybe somebody on here knows a thing or two about Alsa configuration and can help you work some magic with the config files. I tend to expect hardware to work right the first time with Linux, and if it does not, then my preference is to sell it on Ebay and buy something that does work right the first time with Linux. But some people are more patient and know more about how to delve into the inner workings, even kernel modifications and so on.

[SvennK]

I'm pretty happy with this little laptop so selling it is not an option

Update:
If I use a headset through the mini jack output I have perfect audio. But using the speakers the right channel is very, very low. Again this is not a problem in Windows.

Hardware:
Asus U31SD. (http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_ ... ifications)
Chipset: Intel® HM65 Express Chipset

[igor83]

I'm pretty happy with this little laptop so selling it is not an option

Update:
If I use a headset through the mini jack output I have perfect audio. But using the speakers the right channel is very, very low. Again this is not a problem in Windows.

Hardware:
Asus U31SD. (http://www.asus.com/Notebooks/Superior_ ... ifications)
Chipset: Intel® HM65 Express Chipset

I'm far from an ALSA expert, more of a novice really. All I understand about ALSA is it helps sound.
I think that you need to hear from somebody that knows Linux sound configuration. Whether you will find such an animal here, i don't know.

I had to modify an alsa config file in order to get S/PDIF output from my E35M1-M, ages ago, when I was still trying to get that motherboard to work right. I believe there are numerous guides to ALSA config and for that matter Pulseaudio. ArchLinux wiki documentation tends to be good and often applicable in part to our *buntu world.

[rafaelbdb]

Same here with mint 14.

Solved installing gnome-alsamixer with the program manager, than open it, choose USB mixer (your audio is probably usb, right?), than just push the horizontal bar to left and right, then get it back to the center.

That's it! I recommend to try this with something playing, to fill it working instantly.