Linux No System sounds with XBMCbuntu Desktop or Menu sounds in XBMC: Solved

I do not have any system sounds with the xbmcbuntu desktop or menu sounds within xbmc but I have managed to get the sound for my media to work properly.

I executed cat /proc/version and recieved the following information:

Linux version 3.0.0-19-generic (buildd@vernadsky) (gcc version 4.6.1 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.1-9ubuntu3) ) #33-Ubuntu SMP Thu Apr 19 19:05:57 UTC 2012

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/version
NVRM version: NVIDIA UNIX x86 Kernel Module 280.13 Wed Jul 27 16:55:43 PDT 2011
GCC version: gcc version 4.6.1 (Ubuntu/Linaro 4.6.1-9ubuntu3)

and aply -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: ALC662 rev1 Analog [ALC662 rev1 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

aplay -L
xbmc@XBMCHUB:~$ aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
default:CARD=NVidia
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Front speakers
surround40:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
HDMI Audio Output
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
HDA NVidia, ALC662 rev1 Analog
Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
Hardware device with all software conversions

I have done some looking around and can not really find anything, looking for guidance to get this sorted out. Thanks for the help.





Update: Issue Solved see post 15

same problem here

glad to know I am not the only one

In Debian you need to install a package like http://packages.debian.org/sid/libsdl1.2debian-alsa in order to get the menu sounds working. Do a search for libsdl in Synaptic and install the appropriate package. Note that if you're using Pulseaudio the package should have pulse in it's name, not ALSA.

For ALSA those steps have worked on every system I have ever installed:

- run alsamixer and check if sound device in unmuted
- asound.conf (or asoundrc)
pcm.!default plug:hdmi:NVidia (case sensitive, check output of aplay -L)
(one of my systems required plug:hdmi:NVidia_1, another plug:hdmi:NVidia,DEV=0)
- run gstreamer-properties (same user who starts xbmc)
set to ALSA and default
if you hear no sound a probemask for snd_hda_intel might be required (if this is the case aplay -l would show more hdmi devices)
- XBMC sound device: Defaults (ALSA)
passthrough: hdmi:NVidia (same as in asound conf but without prefix plug)

To get sound in xbmc i have to put in this: hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1

Does that mean my .asoundrc should look like this?:
pcm.!default plug:hdmi:NVidia,DEV=1

gtreamer-properties is not installed in xbmcbuntu.

Quote:Does that mean my .asoundrc should look like this?:
pcm.!default plug:hdmi:NVidia,DEV=1

Not necessarily but it's probably the most simple form it can look like and this way it has always worked for me.

I think I need to clarify I have sound in xbmc with my media, but no menu sounds or when on the "buntu" side.

I have an acer aspire revo ar-1600 if that helps at all.

(2012-05-18 14:51)Hudson_Hawk04 Wrote:  I think I need to clarify I have sound in xbmc with my media, but no menu sounds or when on the "buntu" side.

Yes I have the same problem.

I'm wondering if someone could provide an explanation as to why this problem occurs, as I think this is one of the top issues that I see on this forum. It strikes me as strange, because no other software that I've ever used has had a problem where some sounds work and others don't.

I've installed XBMCbuntu from the same disc onto two different machines, menu sounds worked on one (Zotac MAG, hdmi output) but not on the other (Asus M2N-SLI mb with onboard sound, analog output).

I can live without menu sounds, but I would really like to understand this phenomenon.

Tobor