[ SOLVED ] Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

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lemmingNO3

[ SOLVED ] Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by lemmingNO3 »

Basic Info on my machine:

Code: Select all

[justme@ispy] ~$ inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: ispy Kernel: 4.15.0-30-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
           Desktop: Cinnamon 3.4.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3) Distro: Linux Mint 18.2 Sonya
Machine:   Mobo: Gigabyte model: GA-78LMT-USB3 6.0 v: SEx Bios: Award v: F2 date: 11/25/2014
CPU:       Octa core AMD FX-8350 Eight-Core (-MCP-) cache: 16384 KB
           flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm) bmips: 64000
           clock speeds: max: 4000 MHz 1: 1399 MHz 2: 1409 MHz 3: 1398 MHz 4: 1398 MHz 5: 1397 MHz 6: 1546 MHz
           7: 1399 MHz 8: 1398 MHz
Graphics:  Card: NVIDIA GF114 [GeForce GTX 560 Ti] bus-ID: 01:00.0
           Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: fbdev,vesa) Resolution: 1680x1050@59.97hz
           GLX Renderer: Gallium 0.4 on NVCE GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 12.0.6 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio:     Card-1 NVIDIA GF114 HDMI Audio Controller driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 01:00.1
           Card-2 Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:14.2
           Card-3 Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 driver: USB Audio usb-ID: 001-003
           Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.15.0-30-generic
Network:   Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
           driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: ce00 bus-ID: 03:00.0
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives:    HDD Total Size: 4000.8GB (43.9% used) ID-1: /dev/sda model: ST2000DM001 size: 2000.4GB
           ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST2000DM001 size: 2000.4GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 37G used: 8.8G (26%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda1
           ID-2: /home size: 1.8T used: 1.6T (95%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sda3
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 33.99GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sda5
           ID-4: swap-2 size: 4.00GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb5
RAID:      No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 26.2C mobo: N/A gpu: 41.0
           Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info:      Processes: 231 Uptime: 1:06 Memory: 2169.9/16022.7MB Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
           Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35 
[justme@ispy] ~$ 
It's been years since I have had a sound problem on a Linux Mint machine. About a week ago, I was running my desktop when the power went off at my house for a little while. While waiting for power to be restored, I remembered I needed to vacuum my computers out to eliminate the build up of dust in them. (It's a dusty environment.) So, when the power came back on, I first vacuumed all my desktops, opening them up, and sucking out any dust inside them. When I later powered up my main computer, the sound is messed up. It shows the sound at 150%, but in reality the sound is fairly low, and the background music almost completely hides the voices of youtube videos, movies, and streaming. Also, it sounds kind of squeaky and hisses. Things sound strange and subdued. Also, and this is weird, I have a video I downloaded from YouTube a while back which I have never been able to hear any sound on at all, except for the beginning banner music which is perfect, then dead silence thereafter as the guy on the video begins to talk. It is a MP4. But as of now, it is the only video that is suddenly playing perfectly and I can finally listen to the lecture! Whereas the sound is messed up on all my other videos. It doesn't matter what video player I try to use, although my favorite is VLC.

I've been trying to fix this, although I really have no idea how. Before I realized how widespread the impact of the problem was, I started by deleting the VLC file in .config, which didn't work. Since then, I have tried quite a few things, but maybe not the right things. Anyway, the other night I decided to just re-install Linux Mint from my DVD copy, while preserving my /home partition. No change. I tried installing Linux Mint 19. Same problem. So, reinstalled Linux Mint 18.2 because I am not ready to jump to 19. My sound is foobarred, except for the one .MP4 video that I mentioned and my sound effects of my machine.

Does any of this ring any bells for anyone as to what is wrong? -Or what to do to figure this out? It seems to me that the problem has to either be burried in some kind of .config file in my /home directory or the vacuum cleaner maybe knocked something loose inside the machine....BUT if that were at all true, WHY DOES THAT VIDEO PLAY PERFECTLY??? -The one I mentioned that would never play sound at all before....

Here's some more data from my machine, and thanks for your kind help:

Code: Select all

[justme@ispy] ~$ pactl set-sink-mute 0 0 ;  pactl list sinks ; lspci -v | grep -A7 -i "audio" ; lsmod
Sink #0
	State: IDLE
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo
	Description: GF114 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 6
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo.monitor
	Latency: 39951 usec, configured 40000 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "HDMI 0"
		alsa.id = "HDMI 0"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "3"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xfbffc000 irq 19"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/0000:01:00.1/sound/card2"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "10de"
		device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
		device.product.id = "0e0c"
		device.product.name = "GF114 HDMI Audio Controller"
		device.string = "hdmi:2"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "65536"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "32768"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "hdmi-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (HDMI)"
		device.description = "GF114 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Nvidia GPU 16 HDMI/DP"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10de0016,10de0101,00100100"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	Ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority: 5900, not available)
	Active Port: hdmi-output-0
	Formats:
		pcm

Sink #1
	State: RUNNING
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo
	Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 8
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 99382 / 152% / 10.85 dB,   front-right: 99382 / 152% / 10.85 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.monitor
	Latency: 29942 usec, configured 40000 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "ALC892 Analog"
		alsa.id = "ALC892 Analog"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI SB"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI SB at 0xfe024000 irq 16"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "1002"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
		device.product.id = "4383"
		device.product.name = "SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "front:0"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "65536"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "32768"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC892"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0892,1458a182,00100302"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	Ports:
		analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority: 9900, available)
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority: 9000, not available)
	Active Port: analog-output-lineout
	Formats:
		pcm
00:14.2 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
	Subsystem: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
	Flags: bus master, slow devsel, latency 32, IRQ 16
	Memory at fe024000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

--
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GF114 HDMI Audio Controller (rev a1)
	Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
	Memory at fbffc000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
	Capabilities: <access denied>
	Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

02:00.0 USB controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VL805 USB 3.0 Host Controller (rev 01) (prog-if 30 [XHCI])
Module                  Size  Used by
usblp                  20480  0
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     49152  4
binfmt_misc            20480  1
uvcvideo               86016  0
videobuf2_vmalloc      16384  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_memops       16384  1 videobuf2_vmalloc
snd_hda_codec_realtek    98304  1
snd_hda_codec_generic    73728  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_hda_intel          40960  10
snd_usb_audio         196608  2
snd_usbmidi_lib        32768  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hda_codec         126976  4 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_hda_core           81920  5 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_realtek
snd_seq_midi           16384  0
videobuf2_v4l2         24576  1 uvcvideo
videobuf2_core         40960  2 uvcvideo,videobuf2_v4l2
videodev              180224  3 uvcvideo,videobuf2_core,videobuf2_v4l2
media                  40960  2 uvcvideo,videodev
joydev                 24576  0
snd_hwdep              20480  2 snd_hda_codec,snd_usb_audio
ip6t_REJECT            16384  1
snd_pcm                98304  9 snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_core,snd_hda_codec_hdmi
nf_reject_ipv6         16384  1 ip6t_REJECT
input_leds             16384  0
snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            32768  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_usbmidi_lib
snd_seq                65536  2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
nf_log_ipv6            16384  5
xt_hl                  16384  22
serio_raw              16384  0
ip6t_rt                16384  3
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
i2c_piix4              24576  0
edac_mce_amd           28672  0
kvm_amd                86016  0
kvm                   598016  1 kvm_amd
irqbypass              16384  1 kvm
crct10dif_pclmul       16384  0
crc32_pclmul           16384  0
k10temp                16384  0
ghash_clmulni_intel    16384  0
pcbc                   16384  0
fam15h_power           16384  0
aesni_intel           188416  0
wmi_bmof               16384  0
aes_x86_64             20480  1 aesni_intel
crypto_simd            16384  1 aesni_intel
glue_helper            16384  1 aesni_intel
cryptd                 24576  3 crypto_simd,ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel
snd_timer              32768  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd                    81920  33 snd_hda_intel,snd_hwdep,snd_seq,snd_hda_codec,snd_usb_audio,snd_timer,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_pcm
soundcore              16384  1 snd
shpchp                 36864  0
mac_hid                16384  0
nf_conntrack_ipv6      20480  8
nf_defrag_ipv6         36864  1 nf_conntrack_ipv6
ipt_REJECT             16384  1
nf_reject_ipv4         16384  1 ipt_REJECT
nf_log_ipv4            16384  5
nf_log_common          16384  2 nf_log_ipv6,nf_log_ipv4
xt_LOG                 16384  10
xt_limit               16384  13
xt_tcpudp              16384  19
xt_addrtype            16384  4
nf_conntrack_ipv4      16384  8
nf_defrag_ipv4         16384  1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
xt_conntrack           16384  16
parport_pc             36864  1
ip6table_filter        16384  1
ppdev                  20480  0
ip6_tables             28672  1 ip6table_filter
nf_conntrack_netbios_ns    16384  0
nf_conntrack_broadcast    16384  1 nf_conntrack_netbios_ns
nf_nat_ftp             16384  0
nf_nat                 32768  1 nf_nat_ftp
lp                     20480  0
nf_conntrack_ftp       20480  1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack          131072  8 nf_conntrack_ipv6,nf_conntrack_ftp,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_broadcast,nf_nat_ftp,nf_conntrack_netbios_ns,xt_conntrack,nf_nat
libcrc32c              16384  2 nf_conntrack,nf_nat
parport                49152  3 lp,parport_pc,ppdev
iptable_filter         16384  1
ip_tables              28672  1 iptable_filter
x_tables               40960  13 xt_LOG,ipt_REJECT,ip_tables,iptable_filter,xt_tcpudp,xt_limit,ip6t_REJECT,ip6table_filter,xt_addrtype,ip6t_rt,xt_conntrack,ip6_tables,xt_hl
autofs4                40960  2
btrfs                1126400  0
xor                    24576  1 btrfs
zstd_compress         163840  1 btrfs
raid6_pq              114688  1 btrfs
dm_mirror              24576  0
dm_region_hash         20480  1 dm_mirror
dm_log                 20480  2 dm_mirror,dm_region_hash
hid_generic            16384  0
hid_microsoft          16384  0
usbhid                 49152  0
hid                   118784  3 hid_generic,usbhid,hid_microsoft
uas                    24576  0
nouveau              1724416  5
usb_storage            69632  1 uas
mxm_wmi                16384  1 nouveau
video                  45056  1 nouveau
i2c_algo_bit           16384  1 nouveau
ttm                   106496  1 nouveau
drm_kms_helper        172032  1 nouveau
syscopyarea            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
pata_acpi              16384  0
sysfillrect            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
sysimgblt              16384  1 drm_kms_helper
fb_sys_fops            16384  1 drm_kms_helper
pata_atiixp            16384  0
drm                   401408  8 nouveau,ttm,drm_kms_helper
r8169                  86016  0
ahci                   36864  4
libahci                32768  1 ahci
mii                    16384  1 r8169
wmi                    24576  3 wmi_bmof,mxm_wmi,nouveau
[justme@ispy] ~$ 
Thanks for any thoughts or help you can provide... :D
Last edited by LockBot on Wed Dec 28, 2022 7:16 am, edited 3 times in total.
Reason: Topic automatically closed 6 months after creation. New replies are no longer allowed.
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MrEen
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Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by MrEen »

Hi lemmingNO3.

I have an idea what may be wrong, but first I want you to delete the files in ~/.config/pulse then issue pulseaudio -k in the terminal.

If that fixes it (meaning it puts things back to the way they were) run pactl list sinks again and post the results back here.

If it doesn't work, I'll have an answer shortly.
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MrEen
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Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by MrEen »

I should have mentioned in the first post that you should never use a vacuum to clean out sensitive electronics. The vacuum nozzle builds up a static charge quickly and it can discharge and fry something on your motherboard. Use compressed air instead.

On to the problem. I'm thinking your default sample rate has changed (from 44100Hz to 48000Hz) but not sure how. You can test this with cat /etc/pulse/daemon.conf | grep default-sample-rate and if that still shows 44100, I have more work to do.
rene
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Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by rene »

lemmingNO3 wrote: Sun Aug 12, 2018 12:53 am Does any of this ring any bells for anyone as to what is wrong?
It does, and it is very likely a hardware rather than software problem: I'm fairly certain you are experiencing the effects of a loose/broken ground connection. This could be as easily fixable as through cleaning and/or pushing in further the 3.5" jack to your speakers...

I.e., you describe "but in reality the sound is fairly low, and the background music almost completely hides the voices of youtube videos, movies, and streaming"; cancelling out of vocals is the symptom you expect for this issue: if the left and right channels of a stereo plug/connector are still connected but the ground contact is broken you (may, depending on wiring) end up listening to the difference between left and right channels. With voice/vocals normally mixed (mostly) in the center said difference is (near) zero hence cancels out; the rest will also sound low, muffled, reverby, but the voice/vocals issue is most definite.

External confirmation of the issue: https://electronics.stackexchange.com/q ... tially-unp.

That other video which vice versa gained vocals seems to not fit but is too neatly opposite to for now consider to not be this same issue.

First thing to try, then, is to replug and/or clean the jack to your speakers; possibly with a bit of alcohol. I have experienced the issue myself as a result of dislodged dust getting in the (female) 3.5" receptacle connector. As such, also repeatedly twirl the jack, plug/replug, again possibly with some alcohol.

It might of course not be all that simple; you may have actually damaged something. But for now concentrate on a dust bunny breaking a ground contact somewhere...
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MrEen
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Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by MrEen »

Very informative post rene, thanks!

That one suddenly working video had me thinking the OP had been forcing one sample rate (44100 or 48000), and is now forcing the other (most likely through an asound.conf file) and that one video is the only one the OP has that was created at that new rate. I still don't know much about the inner workings of sound on computers but this seemed like a possible scenario.

I now think you're more likely correct and the reason for the one working video was simply it was just mixed opposite of the way most poeple do it (i.e. vocals not mixed into both channels equally in this case,)
lemmingNO3

Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by lemmingNO3 »

[justme@ispy] ~$ cat /etc/pulse/daemon.conf | grep default-sample-rate
; default-sample-rate = 44100
[justme@ispy] ~$

BUT! The suggestion about the sockets being dirty inside, made me think I hadn't checked to verify my headphones were actually working. So, I removed the headphones, dug my old speakers out of storage and hooked them up, and audio is working correctly now!

I'm going to try and check if my stereo socket is in fact dirty or has some moveable particle of something inside it. And I'm going to test my headphones on something else yet, also. But the problem is gone!

Why that one .mp4 had no sound months ago, and now does, is still a mystery, but maybe some upgrade solved that problem, and I've not returned to test it to know it actually works now.

So, I am going to call this solved!

I want to thank you guys for jumping on this and all your great ideas! And I will certainly remember about not vacuuming things! That was a new one for me.
rene
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Re: Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by rene »

Sounds like it is/was your headphone jack which is dirty or, as mentioned, simply was not fully-completely plugged in.

That video that experienced restored voice: seems to make sense if voice was placed in either left or right channel only -- although it not being audible before the problem started then doesn't really. So, strange one that, but good to hear you have things functional at the moment.
lemmingNO3

Re: [ SOLVED ] Power Failure - Vacuumed Computer - Sound Messed Up

Post by lemmingNO3 »

Yeah. That single .mp4 thing is going to haunt my mind for some time to come. :D
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