[IBM 818946G, AD1981B (AC97), playback] No sound at all

From terminal, open alsamixer (using 'alsamixer' command). Make sure your Master volume is up and/or try toggling the digital/IEC958 switch (using the spacebar).

snd-intel8x0 only support stereo and does not support mono

can you post the pulseaudio log?

1 card(s) available.
    index: 0
 name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.5>
 driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
 owner module: 4
 properties:
  alsa.card = "0"
  alsa.card_name = "Intel ICH5"
  alsa.long_card_name = "Intel ICH5 with AD1981B at irq 17"
  alsa.driver_name = "snd_intel8x0"
  device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.5"
  sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.5/sound/card0"
  device.bus = "pci"
  device.vendor.id = "8086"
  device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
  device.product.name = "82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller"
  device.form_factor = "internal"
  device.string = "0"
  device.description = "Built-in Audio"
  module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
  device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
 profiles:
  output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000)
  output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060)
  output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 5500)
  output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5560)
  input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60)
  off: Off (priority 0)
 active profile: <output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
 sinks:
  alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.5.iec958-stereo/#0: Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)
 sources:
  alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.5.iec958-stereo.monitor/#0: Monitor of Built-in Audio Digital Stereo (IEC958)
  alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.5.analog-stereo/#1: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
 ports:
  analog-output-headphones;output-amplifier-on: Headphones / Amplifier (priority 9010, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-output-headphones;output-amplifier-off: Headphones / No Amplifier (priority 9000, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-output-mono;output-amplifier-on: Analog Mono Output / Amplifier (priority 5010, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-output-mono;output-amplifier-off: Analog Mono Output / No Amplifier (priority 5000, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-output-lfe-on-mono;output-amplifier-on: LFE on Separate Mono Output / Amplifier (priority 4010, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-output-lfe-on-mono;output-amplifier-off: LFE on Separate Mono Output / No Amplifier (priority 4000, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-input-microphone;input-microphone-1: Microphone / Microphone 1 (priority 8720, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-input-microphone;input-microphone-2: Microphone / Microphone 2 (priority 8719, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-input-linein: Line In (priority 8100, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-input: Analog Input (priority 8000, available: unknown)
   properties:

  analog-input-video: Video (priority 7000, available: unknown)
   properties:

  iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, available: unknown)
   properties:

Hi Dave,
Thank you for the response. The Master volume is up. I am not sure how to toggle the digital/IEC958 switch using the space bar. I can use F6 to select sound card, but there is only one choice, namely "Intel ICH5".

Hi Raymond,
I followed the instructions on Ubuntu Wiki to obtain the pulseaudio log which I am attaching below. However, I do not understand the implications of your observation. Can you please explain?

snd-intel8x0 does not support mono (i.e. snd_pcm_hw_param_set_channels(1) failed),.but pa still probing path analog ouput mono

you have to ask the developers at <email address hidden> and <email address hidden>

0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open plug:hw:0
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying plug:hw:0 without SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open plug:hw:0
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.043| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:hw:0: Invalid argument
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Looking at profile output:analog-mono+input:iec958-stereo
( 0.043| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Checking for playback on Analog Mono (analog-mono)
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying hw:0 with SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open hw:0
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying hw:0 without SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open hw:0
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.044| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying plug:hw:0 with SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open plug:hw:0
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying plug:hw:0 without SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open plug:hw:0
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_channels(1) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.045| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Failed to set hardware parameters on plug:hw:0: Invalid argument

( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Looking at profile output:analog-stereo
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Checking for playback on Analog Stereo (analog-stereo)
( 0.045| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying front:0 with SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.048| 0.002) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open front:0
( 0.048| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Maximum hw buffer size is 371 ms
( 0.049| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Set buffer size first (to 3528 samples), period size second (to 441 samples).
( 0.049| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Profile output:analog-stereo supported.

( 0.054| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probing path 'analog-output-mono'
( 0.054| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Hardware Master' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.054| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Mast...

 the analog-output-stereo profile for the line out jack is missing

( 0.056| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Removing path 'analog-output' as it is a subset of 'analog-output-headphones'

Hi Raymond,
I have passed the question from message #9 to pulseaudio and Alsa developers.
What should I do about analog output profile that you mentioned in #9?

Thanks in advance

you have selected iec958-stereo as output

active profile: <output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
 sinks:

is it normal for pa server load the null sink when the server is shutting down?

434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloaded "module-stream-restore" (index: #1).
( 285.434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloading "module-card-restore" (index: #2).
( 285.434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloaded "module-card-restore" (index: #2).
( 285.434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloading "module-augment-properties" (index: #3).
( 285.434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloaded "module-augment-properties" (index: #3).
( 285.434| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Unloading "module-alsa-card" (index: #4).
( 285.434| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] module-always-sink.c: Autoloading null-sink as no other sinks detected.
( 285.435| 0.001) I: [pulseaudio] sink.c: Created sink 1 "auto_null" with sample spec s16le 2ch 44100Hz and channel map front-left,front-right
( 285.435| 0.001) I: [pulseaudio] sink.c: device.description = "Dummy Output"
( 285.435| 0.001) I: [pulseaudio] sink.c: device.class = "abstract"
( 285.435| 0.001) I: [pulseaudio] sink.c: device.icon_name = "audio-card"
( 285.436| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source.c: Created source 2 "auto_null.monitor" with sample spec s16le 2ch 44100Hz and channel map front-left,front-right
( 285.436| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source.c: device.description = "Monitor of Dummy Output"
( 285.436| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source.c: device.class = "monitor"
( 285.436| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source.c: device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
( 285.436| 0.000) D: [null-sink] module-null-sink.c: Thread starting up
( 285.436| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] module-suspend-on-idle.c: Sink auto_null becomes idle, timeout in 5 seconds.
( 285.436| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] module.c: Loaded "module-null-sink" (index: #20; argument: "sink_name=auto_null sink_properties='device.description="Dummy Output"'").
( 285.436| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] module-rescue-streams.c: No sink inputs to move away.
( 285.438| 0.001) D: [pulseaudio] module-rescue-streams.c: No source outputs to move away.
( 285.438| 0.000) D: [alsa-sink] alsa-sink.c: Thread shutting down

Refer to the functional block diagram of ad1981b datasheet

headphone path: PCM + Headphone
lineout path: PCM + Master
internal chassis speaker path: PCM + Master mono

i don't understand why analog output path is a subset of headphones path

Hi Raymond,
I presume that you have found some contradictions in the choice and configuration of the sound driver. What do you suggest that I should do to solve the problem or what further test should I perform to find out more about the origin of the problem?

it seem that the problem only occur on those ac97 codecs with headphone volume control since my three sound cards with stac9704, stac9708 and stac9721 still have analog ouput port in pulseaudio

i.e. removing analog output since it is subset of headphone only occur with those on-board ac97 codec with headphone

you have to ask the author of the following patches

http://cgit.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/commit/src/modules/alsa/alsa-mixer.c?id=91b25005978d343a989c9485e226dc9a18a2fb28

http://git.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/commit/src/modules/alsa/alsa-mixer.c?id=5c832a5b8a2bc2ce7447eab10acaeed30cd3ed78

do you mean you cannot switch to headphone port in sound setting of unity session or gnome session?

the sound setting in unity is different from gnome

please note that ac97-spsa is s/pdif ac-link slot assignment

Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Mono: 3 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback Source',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'AC-Link' 'A/D Converter'
  Item0: 'A/D Converter'

http://<email address hidden>/msg15043.html

Thank you for the input Raymond. I am trying to use your observations to experiment with the sound driver. Unfortunately without success. I have not received any answer from ALSA developers or the patch developers either. However, I followed your instructions and plugged earphones to the computer. It works fine after I change the device in "sound settings" to "Analog Stereo Output". Of course, the same settings do not work on the internal speaker.

how many audio jacks do your thinkcenter m50 have ?

do you mean the mono internal speaker ?

Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-46.50dB] [off]

you have to subscribe to the mailing list before you can send email to the developer mailing list

https://bugs.freedesktop.org/show_bug.cgi?id=42353

there are two ports for ac97 codecs (eg. ad1985) without headphone volume control

  analog-output;output-amplifier-on:

  analog-output;output-amplifier-off:

https://launchpadlibrarian.net/106662599/PulseList.txt

so this is clearly a bug which introduced by colin's patch which remove the analog output as it is a subset of headphone

Hi Raymond,
There is only one audio jack (stereo) on my computer.
Your explanation seems quite logical. This is most probably a bug of the latest patch. How do you suggest that I go ahead with the question? I suppose I should contact the creator of the patch and forward all necessary information. Do you know how I can contact the persons responsible for the patch?

>>>>>> But I still wonder why PulseAudio cares the headphone jack state even
>>>>>> though this has only one output at all?
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> When seeing the system as a whole, there can be other outputs on other
>>>>> cards - HDMI, USB etc. If somebody e g plugs a USB headset in it will
be
>>>>> simpler for the user if PulseAudio does not also show the unplugged
3.5
>>>>> mm jack

phantom port of internal speaker or internal Mic is ok but

how about those jack spdif, CD , Aux which does not have jack detect
circuit

Is it feasible for driver implement a read/ write kcontrol for those port
and allow the user to change the state of those port by using special
application (e.g. qashctl) ?

>
> That said, it's not super difficult to comment out a few lines in
> /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/*.conf, and also, most mixer UIs
(e g pavucontrol) still allows you to route audio to an unavailable port.

For ad1988 which still not support auto mute nor hda jack detect. The user
still able to use the card in gnome but not in unity.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/995169

And ca0132 which does not implement auto mute ?

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/1043621

And the other ad198x which support auto mute but not implement hda jack
detect

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/1051494

The other cases are those on-board ac97 controller (e.g. Intel8x0,
atiixp,...) with ac97 codecs which have the headphone playback volume
control.

What is the usage of those "Headphone Jack Sense" control of AC97 codecs ?
Some of them seem have inverted control

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/1033996