Low volume on Acer Extensa 4420 laptop

[vinoman]

I've never been able to turn the volume up on this Acer Extensa 4420 laptop. The volume is at 100 and its still hard to hear. Is this a Pulse audio problem with the sound card on this laptop? Should I use another audio program instead?

I don't like having to use Vista to hears things on this laptop! I'm running Mint 5.

What am I missing?

[slider]

Check for a PCM control or slider and set it to about 1/2 to 3/4 at first. Adjust accordingly while listening, but remember too much PCM can cause distortion if the volumes of the app and main are set too high along with PCM.

You should be able to do this from alsamixer in terminal as well:

Code: Select all

alsamixer

f1 for help menu while in terminal.

[vinoman]

I found a CL program called Rexima. I found another volume control that was low so I moved it up and my volume is a little better than before.

[Carl]

Glad to hear you've partially fixed the problem

the actual command your need is:

Code: Select all

alsamixer -Dhw

and then make sure that the out put looks similar to mine if not just adjust it

Screenshot-Terminal.png

[slider]

Post by Carl on Wed May 20, 2009 4:17 pm
Glad to hear you've partially fixed the problem

the actual command your need is:

Code: Select all
alsamixer -Dhw

Hi Carl

Can you tell me what the "-Dhw" option does when used with the "alsamixer" command as I am unfamiliar with that option being used with alsamixer????

I looked at the alsamixer man page before posting this question:

ALSAMIXER(1)

NAME
alsamixer - soundcard mixer for ALSA soundcard driver, with ncurses interface

SYNOPSIS
alsamixer [options]

DESCRIPTION
alsamixer is an ncurses mixer program for use with the ALSA soundcard drivers. It supports multiple soundcards
with multiple devices.

OPTIONS
-h, -help
Help: show available flags.

-c <card number or identification>
Select the soundcard to use, if you have more than one. Cards are numbered from 0 (the default).

-D <device identification>
Select the mixer device to control.

-g Toggle the using of colors.

-s Minimize the mixer window.

-V <view mode>
Select the starting view mode, either playback, capture or all.


I was unable to find that option listed.

Thanx

[Carl]

Post by Carl on Wed May 20, 2009 4:17 pm
Glad to hear you've partially fixed the problem

the actual command your need is:

Code: Select all
alsamixer -Dhw

Hi Carl

Can you tell me what the "-Dhw" option does when used with the "alsamixer" command as I am unfamiliar with that option being used with alsamixer????

I looked at the alsamixer man page before posting this question:

ALSAMIXER(1)

NAME
alsamixer - soundcard mixer for ALSA soundcard driver, with ncurses interface

SYNOPSIS
alsamixer [options]

DESCRIPTION
alsamixer is an ncurses mixer program for use with the ALSA soundcard drivers. It supports multiple soundcards
with multiple devices.

OPTIONS
-h, -help
Help: show available flags.

-c <card number or identification>
Select the soundcard to use, if you have more than one. Cards are numbered from 0 (the default).

-D <device identification>
Select the mixer device to control.

-g Toggle the using of colors.

-s Minimize the mixer window.

-V <view mode>
Select the starting view mode, either playback, capture or all.


I was unable to find that option listed.

Thanx

to be honest I don't have a clue but it produces the above screenshot and allows you to adjust all the sound options as typing "alsamixer" in anything above Ubuntu 8.4 will only give you one slider

[slider]

to be honest I don't have a clue but it produces the above screenshot and allows you to adjust all the sound options as typing "alsamixer" in anything above Ubuntu 8.4 will only give you one slider

Oh I see. Must be something particular with your type of sound card maybe or Nvidia, but as long as it works for you thats good. In every Linux Ive always just used the command "alsamixer" and I get a full terminal view with all controls. This is mine using the command alsamixer

screenshot127.png

I have seen some PC's with fewer controls, but this is usually caused by the sound card limitations or its lack of support by the OS.

Ok thanx for the reply. I just thought that I might be missing out on a different command option for alsamixer that I didnt know about.

tvgc

[vinoman]

Thank you all!