Sound and DVD burn glitches

[greenstar]

Hi, me again! I am again working my way through Mint glitches. Unfortunately I am a beginner, so need to bother you lot, and believe me, your help is appreciated. I am dimly understanding that some of these issues are due to me running an older pc. It is an Acer Aspire with 2 Pentium dual core 2.6GHz, 2 Gig ram. On this I have Sylvia 18.3. Before anyone says otherwise, Sylvia runs very happily on this machine and I like it. It is fast and generally satisfactory. I have tried other releases and this appears to work better. It's been on my machine for a couple of years.
Here are my current difficulties.
1/ No sound. I spent half an afternoon googling and found that many people have this, and like them, my sound worked well for a long while until it suddenly stopped working. I tried every solution I found, to no avail.
2/ No DVD burning. I tried the installed burner, can't remember it's name, and then tried Brasero. Both did the same thing, ie, all set up, recognised the media, all ready, hit 'burn', it crashed and vanished from the screen.
I am not keen on the idea of upgrading as I don't want a later, slower version (I tried Tara and it was slow) or to introduce other glitches which seems to happen each time. I do not want another release as my machine is nicely set up and I have tried a few and like this one. I did try various ones as a possible work around to run from the dvd (Lubuntu, Knoppix, Zorin, Lite, all of which did not load from the ebay supplied, various sellers, dvd. Puppy did, but is rather primitive and does not have the software I use).
All help appreciated.
Thanks.

[MrEen]

Hi greenstar.

I cannot help with the DVD burning issue (was it xfburn possibly?) but we can probably figure out your sound issue. Please past the outputs of the following terminal commands: inxi -Fxz, aplay -l, pacmd list-sinks and pacmd list-cards.

Also, how you are primarily trying to hear sound? Browser, music player, video player or other? And which one? Firefox, Chrome, XPlayer, Skype, etc.

[ZakGordon]

I'm running an old Acer Travelmate (Centrino CPU!) under XFCE 18.1 and all sound works fine on that old system (as it has done since it went from Vista to Cinnamon 17.1).

As for the DVD issue, could it be an actual hardware fault? I had syptoms like you described (but on a windows PC) years ago on an old PC and it turned out the DVD was simply getting too old. So i bought an external one and that worked fine, so that could be an option if it turns out to be a developing hardware fault?

[greenstar]

Hi, thanks for the responses. If I knew for sure of a dvd r/w that would definitely work with Mint I would consider getting one - I would just swap the drive. Preferably without having to reinstall Mint or spending much. With the sound, I have an amp connected to the card (vol max, i can hear faint sound, as I say, this worked before) and headphones to the phone output, completely dead. I listen to Youtube mostly, with Firefox and also download Youtube vids to keep, listen to on other players (hence need the burner as usb unreliable) and listen to off line. I am not sure what mp4 player is used as it's not identified when it starts up.
Terminal
tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ inxi -Fxz
System: Host: tony-G31M-ES2L Kernel: 4.10.0-38-generic x86_64 (64 bit gcc: 5.4.0)
Desktop: Cinnamon 3.6.6 (Gtk 3.18.9-1ubuntu3.3)
Distro: Linux Mint 18.3 Sylvia
Machine: System: Gigabyte product: G31M-ES2L
Mobo: Gigabyte model: G31M-S2L Bios: Award v: F8 date: 02/05/2009
CPU: Dual core Pentium E5300 (-MCP-) cache: 2048 KB
flags: (lm nx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 vmx) bmips: 10400
clock speeds: max: 1800 MHz 1: 1200 MHz 2: 1800 MHz
Graphics: Card: NVIDIA G98 [GeForce 8400 GS Rev. 2] bus-ID: 01:00.0
Display Server: X.Org 1.18.4 drivers: nouveau (unloaded: fbdev,vesa)
Resolution: 1680x1050@59.95hz
GLX Renderer: NV98
GLX Version: 3.0 Mesa 17.2.8 Direct Rendering: Yes
Audio: Card Intel NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller
driver: snd_hda_intel bus-ID: 00:1b.0
Sound: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture v: k4.10.0-38-generic
Network: Card: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
driver: r8169 v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: c000 bus-ID: 03:00.0
IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 100 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
Drives: HDD Total Size: 450.1GB (35.9% used)
ID-1: /dev/sda model: WDC_WD2500AAKX size: 250.1GB
ID-2: /dev/sdb model: ST340810A size: 40.0GB
ID-3: /dev/sdc model: WDC_WD1600AAJB size: 160.0GB
Partition: ID-1: / size: 35G used: 13G (39%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/sdb1
ID-2: swap-1 size: 2.68GB used: 0.00GB (0%) fs: swap dev: /dev/sdb5
RAID: No RAID devices: /proc/mdstat, md_mod kernel module present
Sensors: System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0C mobo: N/A gpu: 38.0
Fan Speeds (in rpm): cpu: N/A
Info: Processes: 194 Uptime: 11 min Memory: 1180.3/2501.0MB
Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Gcc sys: 5.4.0
Client: Shell (bash 4.3.481) inxi: 2.2.35

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC883 Analog [ALC883 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC883 Digital [ALC883 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
* index: 0
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: SUSPENDED
suspend cause: IDLE
priority: 9959
volume: front-left: 85196 / 130% / 6.84 dB, front-right: 85196 / 130% / 6.84 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 0.00 ms
max request: 0 KiB
max rewind: 0 KiB
monitor source: 0
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 0
linked by: 0
configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 371.52 ms
card: 0 <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
module: 6
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "ALC883 Analog"
alsa.id = "ALC883 Analog"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel at 0xe7100000 irq 29"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "27d8"
device.product.name = "NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (GA-D525TUD (Realtek ALC887))"
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 = "Analogue Stereo"
device.description = "Built-in Audio Analogue Stereo"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC883"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0883,1458c603,00100002"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
ports:
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: unknown)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
active port: <analog-output-lineout>

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ pacmd list-cards
1 card(s) available.
index: 0
name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1b.0>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 6
properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel at 0xe7100000 irq 29"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1b.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "27d8"
device.product.name = "NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (GA-D525TUD (Realtek ALC887))"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
profiles:
input:analog-stereo: Analogue Stereo Input (priority 60, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo: Analogue Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analogue Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 5500, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analogue 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/#0: Built-in Audio Analogue Stereo
sources:
alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo.monitor/#0: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analogue Stereo
alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1b.0.analog-stereo/#1: Built-in Audio Analogue 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: unknown)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:

[MrEen]

I assume the the machine is connected to the amp via Line Out? If so, your outputs look good. Maybe some program is interfering with your output.

Let's see the output of sudo fuser -v /dev/snd/*

[greenstar]

Yes, the amp is connected to the pci card at the back. Headphone to headphone socket on the front panel.

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ sudo fuser -v /dev/snd/*
[sudo] password for tony:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: tony 1644 F.... pulseaudio

[MrEen]

Ahh, I somewhat misunderstood your issue. I'm hoping this solves the Line Out part of it.

Run alsamixer in the terminal and arrow over to the Auto-Mute Mode column. Press the down arrow until it says Disabled. Now test the sound.

That may fix everything. Or the headphones may still be an issue. While in alsamixer, make sure the columns for Line and Headphones don't have MM at the bottom. If they do, arrow over to them then press the m key. May need to raise the levels as well with the up arrow.

If none of that works, I have some other ideas.

Good luck.

[greenstar]

Hi Mr Een, I ran alsamixer. I had done so before. The columns I have are, Master,Headphone,PCM, Front, FrontMi, FrontMi, Surround, Center. No auto mute visible! Mysteriously, Headphone was on MM (since my last vist a week ago) so returned to 00 and turned it up. Alas, still no sound.

[MrEen]

I was hoping to figure this out with as little requests for info as possible, but I think I need the big dog. Run this in the terminal and paste back the URL it will spit out when done:

Code: Select all

curl https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/raw/master/src/utils/pa-info?inline=false | bash | nc termbin.com 9999

[MrEen]

Oops, important question. Are you running Firejail?

[greenstar]

Hi, thanks for your patience with this. No, I have no idea what Firejail is.

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ curl https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/pulseaud ... line=false | bash | nc termbin.com 9999
% Total % Received % Xferd Average Speed Time Time Time Current
Dload Upload Total Spent Left Speed
100 2039 100 2039 0 0 2092 0 --:--:-- --:--:-- --:--:-- 2091
https://termbin.com/e9ea

[MrEen]

I'm looking through the output now and just realized I never had you try this to see if the sound is decent or not: aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav

[MrEen]

Well, this is odd. When you ran the script the Headphones and Line Out were both muted and had no volume. Go back into alsamixer and unmute both and raise the volume of both.

In case this is a permissions issue not saving the state properly, first run sudo chown -Rc $USER:$USER $HOME in the terminal.

After making the changes in alsamixer, run sudo alsactl store in the terminal, then if it happens again, sudo alsactl restore should revert it back to normal.

Test the sound with aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav first. If that sounds normal, then try the various apps.

I have another thread I've been trying to help with that also uses the ALC883 codec, where 2 different users have had no sound since a kernel upgrade. Reverting to the previous kernel fixes the issue, so that may be worth trying in your case as well. Does the grub menu appear on screen when you boot up the computer? If so, going to advanced options can get you booted into a previous kernel.

[greenstar]

tony@tony-G31M-ES2L ~ $ aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav
Playing WAVE '/usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 48000 Hz, Mono

with alsamixer headphone is again muted, returned to 00.(I am having some difficulty changing the setting here- I make one change and others then go to Mute.
Will come back to this later).

[MrEen]

That's quite odd. That's exactly what should happen with Auto-Mute Mode that you don't have. I'll study the output some more and see if I can think of other things to try.

[MrEen]

And yet more weirdness. You have an audio card with Analog Stereo Duplex set. There is no Analog Surround x.x available yet you have Front, Center, Surround and LFE options in alsamixer.

If you mute the Center, Surround and LFE columns in alsamixer, can you gain proper control of Headphones and Line Out?

[MrEen]

Another idea. No idea if this will help.

In alsamixer, move to the Channel Mode column. Use the up/down arrows to change from 2ch to 6ch. Then look in your Sound Settings and see if Analog Surround 5.1 is available. If so, select it, then test the sound.

[greenstar]

Apologies, will get back to this soon ... my car won't start, need to fix it asap!

[greenstar]

Hi, so ... alsamixer ... Centre is already muted (MM) (as of now, as found when I start alsamixer). So is Surround. I do not have a column marked LFE.
I have, Master, Headphone, PCM, Front, Front Mi, Front Mi (a second column), Surround, Center. As of now, headphone is back to mute, Master is 00. Headphone is resisting being changed. Hitting < or > moves the cursor to Master and mutes it! I am however able to change Master back to 00.
There is no 'Channel Mode' column.
No sound whatsoever.

This is driving me crackers.

[MrEen]

I'm sure the columns are there. The may be off the right side side of the screen. Keep hitting the right arrow key to make them visible. When you side a line of small arrows on the side of the window, that means there's more to see over that way.

I'll try to think what's causing the mute changes.