help me get audio working

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Hello,
I am a newbie gentoo user. Struggling to get audio working on my laptop.
I've installed ALSA, and tweaked my kernel config a bit, but still I get the message:

fedeliallalinea · Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2022 4:54 am Post subject:

nvaert1986 · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 05 May 2019 Posts: 120

What is the brand and type of the laptop? Have you checked what audio chip the laptop has? Have you verified whether it uses the the PCI Bus, USB bus or I2C bus?

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

This is my computer https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sys/PDF/ThinkPad/ThinkPad_X1_Carbon_Gen_9/ThinkPad_X1_Carbon_Gen_9_Spec.pdf

The audio device is being detected when I run lspci, but not detected by ALSA when I run arecord -l or aplay -l

This is my audio device:

xineg · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 3:29 am Post subject:

I cant see any of your config files. So taking a stab in the dark until you repost them.
Have you built the snd-hda-intel either as a module or into your kernel:

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Thanks for your help.
Sorry! I will repost my configs with a longer expiration date!

dmesg - http://dpaste.com/3ZMFCXSPF
kernel config - http://dpaste.com/FLJFR6HFH
global USE flags - http://dpaste.com/FM8PM9252
lspci - http://dpaste.com/4PCDPKEMG

I did already build that codec support into the kernel

Spanik · l33t Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 943 Location: Belgium

Don't know if it is important to that level, but you are part of the "audio" user group?
_________________
Expert in non-working solutions

xineg · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 11:47 am Post subject:

Looking through your dmesg and your config. This is set in your config

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

I just happened to have an Ubuntu live usb lying around, booted from it and audio works fine.

I wonder, is it possible to just copy my kernel configs from a working Ubuntu install?

xineg · Posted: Fri Aug 05, 2022 5:40 pm Post subject:

Well most likely it would, but your much better to just use something like (say)

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Pasting this here for my own reference, and in case I need further help.

https://dpaste.org/UrnYu

xineg · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 1:43 am Post subject:

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Thank you so much for your advice, and for being so kind.
Indeed, I want to learn how everything works, and not just how to type commands.
This is why I chose to install Gentoo as my main operating system on my brand new laptop.
My life could have been easier had I stuck with Ubuntu or Fedora.
I've been a Gentoo user only for a week or two, and am very impressed and grateful with how friendly the community is and their willingness to help me.

xineg · Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2022 3:35 am Post subject:

I thought gee I hope I didn't type too much, and it wasn't until I looked at this thread on my
phone and nearly died when confronted with my ENORMOUS block of text. I'll try be more
efficient from now on.

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Not at all, your post is exactly the right size. Many thanks for every word!

xineg · Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2022 9:26 pm Post subject:

What's happening with your box, have you got it working, or is there still an issue?

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Still no luck, I've checked that all those modules are installed and modprobe'd them

xineg · Posted: Mon Aug 08, 2022 11:02 pm Post subject:

On Ubuntu See what information you can extract from both the sound drivers
using modinfo. This should show you if they need any firmware etc

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

UPDATE:
Actually I just got it to work
I built snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl as a module instead of building it into the kernel, and that solved it. I have sound now!

Interestingly, those "firmware failed to load" error messages in my dmesg didn't disappear.
This is the most recent dmesg:
http://dpaste.com/HED79FM9L

Do I need to worry about that? It says some power management is being disabled

fedeliallalinea · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 4:45 am Post subject:

xineg · Posted: Tue Aug 09, 2022 11:08 pm Post subject:

Some things won't work unless built as modules and some things only work built into the kernel!
You've learned quite a lot with this experience, both with tools and method. Good work.

Hu · Moderator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 21635

With the right configuration, both a fully monolithic kernel and a fully modular kernel should be functional. Some setups are easier to make work in one style or the other, but none should be impossible.

lf84217 · n00b Joined: 26 Jul 2022 Posts: 31

Hu -- That makes total sense to me, but since I am new and struggled with this issue for about a week, at this point I am just happy to get it working.

Hu · Moderator Joined: 06 Mar 2007 Posts: 21635

I understand. My point was to state that egenx's claim that some things were only possible one way or the other is incorrect. Some things are easier one way or the other, but not impossible when done the difficult way.