Input USB device sound

[RogerA]

Hi all,
I'm new on this forum, so please just let me know if I'm doing something I shouldn't.
I have a problem with my USB Audio interface U-PHORIA UM2, looks like system detects it correctly

Code: Select all

aplay --list-devices
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
...
card 1: CODEC [USB Audio CODEC], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
....

Sound settings properties presents this input device as Analog and digital PCM2902 Audio codec with the volume to 100%.

Problem is the input level the sound is captured, is extremely low (-48 db top). Same hardware works fine in Windows, so looks a linux problem?

I'm using Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa with kernel 4.18.0-15 (also have tried with 4.15)

Any help would be appreciated! I don't want to work in Windows if Linux is an alternative... problem is that I cannot make this USB interface working...

Thanks in advance,
Roger

Code: Select all

inxi -Fxz
System:    Host: Semilla Kernel: 4.18.0-15-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.0.9 
           Distro: Linux Mint 19.1 Tessa base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: Gigabyte product: Z87M-D3H v: N/A serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Gigabyte model: Z87M-D3H v: x.x serial: <filter> BIOS: American Megatrends v: F4 date: 04/16/2013 
Battery:   Device-1: hidpp_battery_0 model: Logitech MK700 charge: 55% status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i7-4770 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Haswell rev: 3 L2 cache: 8192 KiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 54275 
           Speed: 2266 MHz min/max: 800/3900 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 1497 2: 1497 3: 1497 4: 1497 5: 1497 6: 1497 7: 1497 
           8: 1497 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics vendor: Gigabyte driver: i915 v: kernel 
           bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Device-2: NVIDIA GK106 [GeForce GTX 660] vendor: Gigabyte driver: nvidia v: 390.77 bus ID: 01:00.0 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: modesetting,nvidia unloaded: fbdev,nouveau,vesa 
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: GeForce GTX 660/PCIe/SSE2 v: 4.6.0 NVIDIA 390.77 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:03.0 
           Device-2: Intel 8 Series/C220 Series High Definition Audio vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel 
           bus ID: 00:1b.0 
           Device-3: NVIDIA GK106 HDMI Audio vendor: Gigabyte driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.1 
           Device-4: Texas Instruments PCM2902 Audio Codec type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus ID: 1-1.6:8 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.18.0-15-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Gigabyte driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI 
           port: d000 bus ID: 03:00.0 
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 10.23 TiB used: 6.24 TiB (61.0%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Western Digital model: WD20EZRX-00DC0B0 size: 1.82 TiB 
           ID-2: /dev/sdb vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 EVO 250GB size: 232.89 GiB 
           ID-3: /dev/sdc vendor: Western Digital model: WD30EZRX-00DC0B0 size: 2.73 TiB 
           ID-4: /dev/sdd vendor: Western Digital model: WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 size: 5.46 TiB 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 211.87 GiB used: 85.22 GiB (40.2%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/dm-1 
           ID-2: /boot size: 703.5 MiB used: 502.0 MiB (71.4%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1 
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 15.89 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/dm-2 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 29.8 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: nvidia temp: 35 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A gpu: nvidia fan: 35% 
Info:      Processes: 274 Uptime: 38m Memory: 15.56 GiB used: 1.86 GiB (11.9%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 7.3.0 
           Shell: bash v: 4.4.19 inxi: 3.0.27

[MrEen]

Hi RogerA, and welcome to the forum.

Install PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol.)

Check it's config on the Configuration tab, and the input levels on the Input Devices tab.

Hope that helps.

[Hoser Rob]

Also, open the terminal, run alsamixer, and check the input level.

[RogerA]

Unfortunately that do not works for me.... To mention that the AlsaMixer is quite difficult to manage, not sure how to filter "input" devices.

Using the Volume Control I have the same problem as with the sound settings interface, PCM2902 Audio codec seems to be the correct USB interface, (also the unique with the build in Audio), volume to 150% but again almost do not detect signal....
To get a fairly decent minimum level I have to use all the gain in the amplifier so the sound is completely distorted and saturated...

[MrEen]

So that we can see what options are available, paste back the output of running pacmd list-cards in the terminal.

Regarding alsamixer: once it opens, press F6 and choose something similar to Texas Instruments PCM2902 Audio Codec

The page that open will have some options, with more available by pressing F4. Use the left and right arrow keys to select columns, the up and down arrows to increase and decrease volume levels, and the m key to toggle mute. Muted columns will have MM at the bottom.

[RogerA]

This is the output, looks this device starts on index 6:

Code: Select all

pacmd list-cards
4 card(s) available.
    index: 0
	name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 7
	properties:
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xdb080000 irq 17"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.1/sound/card2"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "10de"
		device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
		device.product.id = "0e0b"
		device.product.name = "GK106 HDMI Audio Controller"
		device.string = "2"
		device.description = "GK106 HDMI Audio Controller"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	profiles:
		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5400, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5200, available: unknown)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <output:hdmi-stereo-extra1>
	sinks:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1/#17: GK106 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI 2)
	sources:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1.monitor/#49: Monitor of GK106 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI 2)
	ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				device.product.name = "ASUS VE278
  "
		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    index: 1
	name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_03.0>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 8
	properties:
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel HDMI at 0xdb904000 irq 31"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:03.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.0/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "0c0c"
		device.product.name = "Xeon E3-1200 v3/4th Gen Core Processor HD Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "0"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	profiles:
		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5400, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra4: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra4: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra4: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <off>
	ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-4: HDMI / DisplayPort 5 (priority 5500, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    index: 3
	name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 10
	properties:
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xdb900000 irq 30"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card1"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "8c20"
		device.product.name = "8 Series/C220 Series Chipset High Definition Audio Controller"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "1"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	profiles:
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: no)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-21: Analog Surround 2.1 Output (priority 800, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 860, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (priority 700, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 760, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-41: Analog Surround 4.1 Output (priority 800, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 860, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-50: Analog Surround 5.0 Output (priority 700, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 760, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-51: Analog Surround 5.1 Output (priority 800, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 860, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-71: Analog Surround 7.1 Output (priority 700, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-71+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 7.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 760, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 5500, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5560, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
	sinks:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo/#20: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	sources:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor/#52: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
		alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo/#56: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	ports:
		analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (priority 8500, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (priority 8200, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-linein: Line In (priority 8100, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				
		analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9000, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
    index: 6
	name: <alsa_card.usb-Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC-00>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 28
	properties:
		alsa.card = "3"
		alsa.card_name = "USB Audio CODEC"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Burr-Brown from TI USB Audio CODEC at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.5, full speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1a.0-usb-0:1.5:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.5/1-1.5:1.0/sound/card3"
		udev.id = "usb-Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "08bb"
		device.vendor.name = "Texas Instruments"
		device.product.id = "2902"
		device.product.name = "PCM2902 Audio Codec"
		device.serial = "Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC"
		device.string = "3"
		device.description = "PCM2902 Audio Codec"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	profiles:
		input:analog-mono: Analog Mono Input (priority 2, available: unknown)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: unknown)
		input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 55, available: unknown)
		output:analog-mono: Analog Mono Output (priority 200, available: unknown)
		output:analog-mono+input:analog-mono: Analog Mono Duplex (priority 202, available: unknown)
		output:analog-mono+input:analog-stereo: Analog Mono Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 260, available: unknown)
		output:analog-mono+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Mono Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 255, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-mono: Analog Stereo Output + Analog Mono Input (priority 6002, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 6055, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 5500, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-mono: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Mono Input (priority 5502, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5560, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (priority 5555, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <input:iec958-stereo>
	sources:
		alsa_input.usb-Burr-Brown_from_TI_USB_Audio_CODEC-00.iec958-stereo/#59: PCM2902 Audio Codec Digital Stereo (IEC958)
	ports:
		analog-input: Analog Input (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset -30000 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		analog-output: Analog Output (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:

[MrEen]

I actually have the same device but haven't hooked it up yet.

Try this. On the Configuration tab of pavucontrol, right now you have Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input selected. Try changing it to Analog Stereo Input then test. If that doesn't help, try Analog Mono Input then test.

Sorry I haven't familiarized myself with it yet. Not sure what the correct settings should be.

[RogerA]

No joy , changing this setting to Analog Input stereo/Mono same result.
I have prepared with Kazam a video file where you can see the sound resulting when the mic is just in front the speaker, (playing a background song), but not sure if you can upload video in this forum.

Any idea?

[MrEen]

See if this helps. On the Input Devices tab of pavucontrol, if you only see one volume slider, click on the lock icon. Now lower the left volume all the way then test the sound.

EDIT: Also see if deleting the files in ~/.config/pulse then running pulseaudio -k in the terminal helps any. That will reset the pulseaudio config files to default, which may be the problem.

[RogerA]

files in ~/.config/pulse re-established using command pulseaudio -k. Control Channels right and left lowered .... No joy

Still same issue, almost no signal detect, I need to totally saturate the gain of the amplifier to get a slightly decent input level, but then the captured is completely saturated and distorted.

It is quite frustrating... looks like I'll have to work in windows...

[MrEen]

A silly question maybe, but have you tried different USB ports? Especially if you're presently plugged into a USB3 port. And not using a hub, correct?

[RogerA]

To be hones I just tried before with the "front" USB they happen to be 2.0 in my computer, Now I just tried with the rear ones 3.0, but got same lame result...

[MrEen]

I'm still trying RogerA. Another silly question or 2, have you checked the Gains and Output knobs on the UM2? Is the 48V switch turned on if the mic requires phantom power?

[RogerA]

There is no silly questions, I'm confident the problem is something silly I'm doing, so its good you making me this questions.
Yes, the MIC is powered and the gain is at "normal levels", by that I mean that the UM2 shows that detects signal and is just when I push all the gain to the top (then I get a slightly decent signal at the computer) that I get the sound completely distorted because its saturating, (even the LED at the front indicates saturation).
So the hardware detects good signal, (basically the same hardware settings I use in Windows 7 that do works).

[MrEen]

Well, I'm stumped at the moment.

Your kernel is good, you've tried other ports, you've played with the knobs, you've tried different input methods.

The only thing left I can think of is alsamixer. I'd suggest setting the device in pavucontrol as Analog Stereo Input, then run alsamixer in the terminal, press F6 to choose the UM2, then slowly go through each setting. Some will have volume levels, some will have enabled/disabled, some probably won't be changeable.

Be aware that there are probably more options off the right of the screen that you can't see. Keep hitting the right arrow key until you run out of columns to look at.

There might be something disabled that should be enabled. Or something muted that shouldn't be. Or something with near zero volume.

Maybe if you took screenshots of the options and upload them to a site like imgur you could paste the links here and maybe we'll spot something?

I'll set up my UM2 this weekend, but I only have a guitar to plug into it. Maybe I'll spot something that will help your situation.

[RogerA]

I followed your instructions, in Alsamixer there is only one control (PCM) that pops up when selecting by F6 the "USB Audio Codec" (I guess its the correct device because when I disconnect the UM2 is the only to disappear).
This unique control that pops up is set to max.

I was expecting to see several because you said some could be hidden on the right ... Perhaps Mint do not detect correctly this device?

I just have attached a pic on this thread.

[MrEen]

After you get to that page, hit F4 and see if there are more options there. Sorry I wasn't thinking that this will be a capture only device, so essentially no Playback options.

[RogerA]

after hitting F4:
" This sound device does not have any capture controls."

[MrEen]

after hitting F4:
" This sound device does not have any capture controls."

CRAP!

Like I said, I'll get mine hooked up, probably tomorrow, and will let you know how it goes, and if I spot anything I think will help.

It's possible you might need to set up JACK audio on your system to get this working properly, but that is not a fun thing to do the first time.

I'll be in touch.

[MrEen]

Maybe one thing I should have asked before now. What software are you using the mic with? It's marginally possible it's the software to blame (settings change maybe could fix it.)