Sound Problems - Video Conferences whirring noise

[darjeeling]

Hi all,

I would need your support! This weekend I have new installed Mint 20.1 on my Laptop. When having conferences via Skype and Teams the participants can hear a random noise and whirring on the background. This sound specially appears when there is silence on my side.

Occasionally this problem has already happened with Mint 19.3. However, I did not pay attention.
Would there be a solution with the audio codec?

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-70-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.8.6 wm: muffin 4.8.1 
           dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.1 Ulyssa base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Laptop System: Notebook product: N141CU v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 10 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Notebook model: N141CU serial: <filter> UEFI: INSYDE v: 1.07.06 date: 10/14/2019 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 29.6 Wh condition: 33.0/35.3 Wh (94%) volts: 11.8/11.4 model: Notebook BAT 
           type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Discharging 
CPU:       Topology: Quad Core model: Intel Core i5-10210U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: C 
           L2 cache: 6144 KiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 33599 
           Speed: 800 MHz min/max: 400/4200 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 800 2: 800 3: 800 4: 800 5: 800 6: 800 7: 800 
           8: 800 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel UHD Graphics vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           chip ID: 8086:9b41 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (CML GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 20.2.6 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:02c8 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-70-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: CLEVO/KAPOK driver: r8169 
           v: kernel port: 5000 bus ID: 3b:00.1 chip ID: 10ec:8168 
           IF: enp59s0f1 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 6 AX200 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 5000 bus ID: 40:00.0 chip ID: 8086:2723 
           IF: wlp64s0 state: up mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 13.56 GiB (2.9%) 
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO Plus 500GB size: 465.76 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s 
           lanes: 4 serial: <filter> rev: 2B2QEXM7 scheme: GPT 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 91.17 GiB used: 10.34 GiB (11.3%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 
           ID-2: /home size: 319.85 GiB used: 3.21 GiB (1.0%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 
           ID-3: swap-1 size: 14.90 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 40.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb http://ftp.fau.de/mint/packages ulyssa main upstream import backport
           2: deb http://ftp.uni-mainz.de/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http://ftp.uni-mainz.de/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http://ftp.uni-mainz.de/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/opera-stable.list 
           1: deb https://deb.opera.com/opera-stable/ stable non-free #Opera Browser (final releases)
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/skype-stable.list 
           1: deb [arch=amd64] https://repo.skype.com/deb stable main
Info:      Processes: 366 Uptime: 1d 2h 33m Memory: 15.34 GiB used: 4.41 GiB (28.7%) Init: systemd v: 245 
           runlevel: 5 Compilers: gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.0.38 

Thanks in advance and kindest Regards, Darjeeling

[MrEen]

Hi darjeeling,

Sound to me like too much Boost is applied.

Let's see the output of amixer please.

[darjeeling]

Hi MrEen,

thanks for your answer. Following my answer:

Code: Select all

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-65.25dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 87
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 87 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Capture [off]
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Front Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',3
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',4
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Beep',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 63
  Front Left: Capture 63 [100%] [30.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 63 [100%] [30.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Auto-Mute Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Enabled'
Simple mixer control 'Headset Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Capture [off]
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Headset Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
  Front Right: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Loopback Mixing',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'

[TI58C]

Maybe I'm thinking too simple....but are you using the internal mic ?
If so, it may pick up the sound / vibrations of the fan(s) inside your computer.
Easy to check by using an external mic that is situated farther away.

[darjeeling]

Maybe I'm thinking too simple....but are you using the internal mic ?
If so, it may pick up the sound / vibrations of the fan(s) inside your computer.
Easy to check by using an external mic that is situated farther away.

Thanks for your advice. However, on 19.3 this issue did not happen! Anyway I will make a test with microphone.

[MrEen]

Yup, way too much boost applied:

Code: Select all

Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]
  Front Right: 3 [100%] [30.00dB]

Run this in the terminal then test the mic:

Code: Select all

amixer set 'Internal Mic Boost' 1

[darjeeling]

Thanks

following the answer:

Code: Select all

$ amixer set 'Internal Mic Boost' 1
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 1 [33%] [10.00dB]
  Front Right: 1 [33%] [10.00dB]

I will try some days and come back if there still should be any issues.