Distorted Alsa sound

Message

rpmohn · Post by **rpmohn** » Fri Jun 09, 2006 1:22 pm

I get very distorted sound when running "aplay test.wav" and Amarok, but sound works great in XMMS. Is this an Alsa v. OSS issue? It's driving me crazy!

Here are some of the relevant facts:

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# lspci -v
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Dell Unknown device 0151
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 20
        I/O ports at ee00 [size=256]
        I/O ports at edc0 [size=64]
        Memory at feb7fa00 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
        Memory at feb7f900 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2

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# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
fuse                   36088  - 
9p2000                 65060  - 
nfs                   100976  - 
lockd                  58664  - 
sunrpc                134172  - 
pcspkr                  2380  - 
snd_intel8x0           29252  - 
snd_ac97_codec         91208  - 
snd_ac97_bus            1640  - 
e1000                 107484  -

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# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [ICH5           ]: ICH4 - Intel ICH5
                      Intel ICH5 with AD1981B at 0xfeb7fa00, irq 20

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# cat /proc/asound/oss/sndstat
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.11rc2 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux fisher 2.6.16-gentoo-r9 #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Jun 8 17:17:55 EDT 2006 i686
Config options: 0

Installed drivers: 
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config: 
Intel ICH5 with AD1981B at 0xfeb7fa00, irq 20

Audio devices:
0: Intel ICH5 (DUPLEX)

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Timers:
7: system timer

Mixers:
0: Analog Devices AD1981B

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# amixer info
Card default 'ICH5'/'Intel ICH5 with AD1981B at 0xfeb7fa00, irq 20'
  Mixer name    : 'Analog Devices AD1981B'
  Components    : 'AC97a:41445374'
  Controls      : 26
  Simple ctrls  : 19

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# amixer scontents
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 24 [77%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 24 [77%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 24 [77%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone Jack Sense',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 24 [77%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 24 [77%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line Jack Sense',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [on]
  Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
  Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mix' 'Mic'
  Item0: 'Mix'
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Stereo Mic',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

Oh, and it's a Dell GX270. I'm sure others have this working? Please help!
Thanks! -RPM

trondert · Post by **trondert** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:31 pm

BUMP!

Same problem here, fresh install. Just finished the how- to on alsa. no errors there.

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# lspci -v 
00:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: nVidia Corporation nForce3 Audio (rev a2)
        Subsystem: Holco Enterprise Co, Ltd/Shuttle Computer Unknown device a550
        Flags: bus master, 66MHz, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 3
        I/O ports at b800 [size=256]
        I/O ports at bc00 [size=128]
        Memory at e5001000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
        Capabilities: [44] Power Management version 2

Code: Select all

# lsmod
Module                  Size  Used by
snd_seq                56320  0
snd_seq_device         10000  1 snd_seq
snd_pcm_oss            55072  0
snd_mixer_oss          18944  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_intel8x0           36136  4
snd_ac97_codec        107608  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_ac97_bus            3072  1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm                96780  4 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer              25352  3 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd                    62440  14 snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
snd_page_alloc         12176  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
forcedeth              25220  0
i2c_nforce2             8064  0
nls_utf8                2688  2
ntfs                   94760  2
ata_piix               12420  0
sata_vsc                9860  0
sata_sis                9476  0
sata_sx4               15108  0
sata_nv                11140  0
sata_via               10116  0
sata_svw                9348  0
sata_sil               12296  2
sata_promise           13572  0
libata                 65048  9 ata_piix,sata_vsc,sata_sis,sata_sx4,sata_nv,sata_via,sata_svw,sata_sil,sata_promise
sbp2                   23940  0
ohci1394               34248  0
ieee1394              105720  2 sbp2,ohci1394
ohci_hcd               21124  0
uhci_hcd               33184  0
usb_storage            70720  0
usbhid                 40864  0
ehci_hcd               33160  0

Code: Select all

# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [nForce3        ]: NFORCE - NVidia nForce3
                      NVidia nForce3 with ALC650F at 0xe5001000, irq 3

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# cat /proc/asound/oss/sndstat
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.11rc2 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux shuttle 2.6.16-gentoo-r9 #1 Tue Jun 27 12:31:05 CEST 2006 x86_64
Config options: 0

Installed drivers:
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config:
NVidia nForce3 with ALC650F at 0xe5001000, irq 3

Audio devices:
0: NVidia nForce3 (DUPLEX)

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Timers:
7: system timer

Mixers:
0: Realtek ALC650F

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# amixer info
Card default 'nForce3'/'NVidia nForce3 with ALC650F at 0xe5001000, irq 3'
  Mixer name    : 'Realtek ALC650F'
  Components    : 'AC97a:414c4723'
  Controls      : 50
  Simple ctrls  : 33

Code: Select all

# amixer scontents
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 23 [74%] [on]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 28 [90%] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 28 [90%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround Down Mix',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround Jack Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Shared' 'Independent'
  Item0: 'Shared'
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 31 [100%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Center/LFE Down Mix',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [on]
  Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
  Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Mono: 2 [67%]
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Mix' 'Mic'
  Item0: 'Mix'
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 15
  Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Front Left: Capture [off]
  Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Analog to IEC958 Output',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Channel Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '2ch' '4ch' '6ch'
  Item0: '2ch'
Simple mixer control 'Duplicate Front',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Exchange Center/LFE',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Swap Surround Slot',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]

This is not the same system, but sounds like the same problem. Sound is jumpy/slow/crappy in Amarok, and sweet as apple pai in XMMS.

System is Shuttle XPC Athlon64, NvidiaMB and soundcard.

nephros · Post by **nephros** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 7:53 pm

Many alsa drivers produce distorted sound when both master and PCM volumes are at 100%.

Does it sound the same if you play PCM at 70-80% volume?

trondert · Post by **trondert** » Tue Jun 27, 2006 8:46 pm

Thx for the tips, but no luck.... Tried setting all bars under 50% but the same jibberisijumpy sound.

rpmohn · Post by **rpmohn** » Wed Jun 28, 2006 2:14 am

nephros wrote:Many alsa drivers produce distorted sound when both master and PCM volumes are at 100%.

Does it sound the same if you play PCM at 70-80% volume?

No, I keep the volume at 75 or less. I've gotten Amarok to sound good (by upgrading to v1.4.0a-r1), so I'm reasonably happy now, but I'm still disturbed that I'm able to consistently crash the aplay application by playing the same test file over and over:

Code: Select all

# aplay 1.wav
Playing WAVE '1.wav' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 8000 Hz, Mono
# aplay 1.wav
Playing WAVE '1.wav' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 8000 Hz, Mono
# aplay 1.wav
Playing WAVE '1.wav' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 8000 Hz, Mono
*** glibc detected *** double free or corruption (out): 0x0807e960 ***
Aborted by signal Aborted...

But this could just be a problem with the aplay app.

Cheers -RPM