No Sound: ESS1983S Maestro

Problems and successes with specific brands/models of computer audio hardware
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pjforster
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Joined: Sat 14 Jul 2012, 05:50

No Sound: ESS1983S Maestro

#1 Post by pjforster »

Hi, new to linux and have just installed Slacko but dont have any sound.
Have followed some youtube clips and other suggestions in the forum but to no avail.

I *may* have made things worse by changing (accidently) my audio HW=0 to 1 in the volume icon in taksbar. Now I cant get the retrovol or alsa mixer up in the task bar.
I have run alsaconf, and alsamixer from console and set the volumes up but still nothing. I cant find where to undo what I did but have run Alsa wizard a few times so that may be enough? I've tried to run retrovol from console and get
retrovol: hcontrol.c:573: snd_htcl_load: Assertion `htcl->count == 0` failed.

Any help on what to check / change and how to do it would be really appreciated.

The laptop is a 10yr old dell. Other than sound everything is working great.

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darkcity
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#2 Post by darkcity »

Bonjour,

Welcome to Puppy Kennels 8)

firstly, to get retrovol back you need to edit a hidden config file in /root/ (aka ~/ aka home folder)

click on the 'file' icon on the desktop with take you to root folder, and click on the 'eye' icon to reveal all hidden files-

open the .retrovolrc file

modify the card line to hw:0, ie

Code: Select all

# Which soundcard to use
card=hw:0
----

Slacko works on modern computers, but Wary may work better on older hardware like yours. Have you tested Wary?

----
diagnostics-

what are the contains of /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

and what is the output from aplay -l ?

(more help at-
http://puppylinux.org/wikka/PuppyOnLaptops +
http://www.linlap.com/)

pjforster
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat 14 Jul 2012, 05:50

#3 Post by pjforster »

Thanks for the reply Darkcity. Changed the HW number... I was on the right track - just in the wrong place. I tried to open the file from command line and it didnt work. :shock:
Here is the alsa-base.conf contents:
# BK got this file from Ubuntu, May 2011.
# autoloader aliases
install sound-slot-0 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-0
install sound-slot-1 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-1
install sound-slot-2 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-2
install sound-slot-3 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-3
install sound-slot-4 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-4
install sound-slot-5 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-5
install sound-slot-6 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-6
install sound-slot-7 /sbin/modprobe snd-card-7

# Cause optional modules to be loaded above generic modules
install snd /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-ioctl32 ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }
#
# Workaround at bug #499695 (reverted in Ubuntu see LP #319505)
install snd-pcm /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-pcm $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-pcm-oss ; : ; }
install snd-mixer /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-mixer $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-mixer-oss ; : ; }
install snd-seq /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-seq $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-oss ; : ; }
#
install snd-rawmidi /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-rawmidi $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq-midi ; : ; }
# Cause optional modules to be loaded above sound card driver modules
install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-emu10k1-synth ; }
install snd-via82xx /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-via82xx $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist snd-seq ; }

# Load saa7134-alsa instead of saa7134 (which gets dragged in by it anyway)
install saa7134 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install saa7134 $CMDLINE_OPTS && { /sbin/modprobe --quiet --use-blacklist saa7134-alsa ; : ; }
# Prevent abnormal drivers from grabbing index 0
options bt87x index=-2
options cx88_alsa index=-2
options saa7134-alsa index=-2
options snd-atiixp-modem index=-2
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2
options snd-via82xx-modem index=-2
options snd-usb-audio index=-2
options snd-usb-caiaq index=-2
options snd-usb-ua101 index=-2
options snd-usb-us122l index=-2
options snd-usb-usx2y index=-2
# Ubuntu #62691, enable MPU for snd-cmipci
options snd-cmipci mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
# Keep snd-pcsp from being loaded as first soundcard
options snd-pcsp index=-2
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=-2

Output from aplay -l:
card: 0 PCi (ESS Maestro3 PCI), devicec 0:Maestro3 [maestro3]
subdevicecs 2/2
subdevice #0: subdevice #0
subdevice #1: subdevice #1

This has retruned my volume control but still no sound.
I am downloading Wary as you suggest and hopefully it works with the sound.

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darkcity
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#4 Post by darkcity »

could be a firmware problem-
http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=29335

are these two files present?
/lib/firmware/ess/maestro3_assp_kernel.fw
/lib/firmware/ess/maestro3_assp_minisrc.fw

what is the exact model of computer, and which version of Puppy?

pjforster
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat 14 Jul 2012, 05:50

#5 Post by pjforster »

The laptop is an old DELL INSPIRON 8000.

Both those files are present.
I have now installed the Wary version of puppy and find it much quicker, thanks for the heads up.
I will try what is sugested in the firmware link but I have read it a couple of times and still not too sure what to do, I have unzipped and tried what is said but didnt find the make file.

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darkcity
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#6 Post by darkcity »

I think if those files are present you should be only, the Debian post was suggesting recompiling part of ALSA.

The closest Dell I can find on linlap is 8600
http://www.linlap.com/wiki/dell+inspiron+8600

it says use the snd-intel8x0

which will be loaded in

/etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf

with lines something like-

alias snd-card-1 snd-intel8x0
alias sound-slot-1 snd-intel8x0


could you post your /etc/modprobe.d/alsa.conf ?

pjforster
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat 14 Jul 2012, 05:50

#7 Post by pjforster »

My alsa.conf contents are:
alias char-major-14-* soundcore
alias char-major-116-* snd
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss
options sb io=0x220 irq=7 dma=1 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x330

# --- BEGIN: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---
# --- ALSACONF version 1.0.21 ---
alias snd-card-0 snd-maestro3
alias sound-slot-0 snd-maestro3
# --- END: Generated by ALSACONF, do not edit. ---

Now after doing some reading myself and playing around I lost and fixed the retrovol again but tried headphones after reading somewhere about the external amp causing problems.

The headphones work!! Just not the sound from the speakers on the laptop. So maybe we are barking up the wrong tree - no pun intended. Yes they worked before the instal to Puppy. Win ME was installed.

*edit* PC speaker is selected in retrovol and levels are up.

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darkcity
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#8 Post by darkcity »

woof woof ; -)

the dell manual is available here
http://www.book-lab.ru/dell_manual.html

maybe you need to press <fn> + <end>, or look in BIOS?
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pjforster
Posts: 5
Joined: Sat 14 Jul 2012, 05:50

#9 Post by pjforster »

Thanks for the manual, I tried to search but never found that. Maybe it was a location thing.

I dont think it was an issue with my sound being turned off by the function key, as I can change the screen brightness. One issue I have is the Fn button was removed by my daughter so it doesnt always work..

I am happy to just use a small set of speakers, thanks for the help. I really appreciate it. It's been fun and challenging to use linux, Just need to keep leaning the commands I think.

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darkcity
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#10 Post by darkcity »

yep, linux is very flexible once you have a little knowledge ; -)

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