Patrick Shirkey wrote: > Unless you are using a preamp for your mic you will not have any gain > so the only way you can get sound in is to shout very loudly into it > while it is touching your mouth. > > Even then the mic will only pick up a very quiet noise. > > > Patrick and Daniel, Thanks for your replies. My sound card has a microphone input so I had assumed a normal unpowered microphone would be ok. But what you say above does describe the symptons. I know for a fact the microphone is not muted. So is there a way to increase the micropnones gain? with aumix settings on full and shouting only pruduces a tiny amount of sound. Chris Welsh here are some details mandrake 9.0 Microphone 30 -16,000hz 2.2K Ohm 0db=1 V/Pa at 1Khz-58dB Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with VIA8233 (AC97 controller) /etc/modules.conf # ALSA native device support #alias char-major-116 snd #alias snd-card-0 snd-card-via8233 alias sound-slot-0 snd-via82xx above snd-via82xx snd-pcm-oss alias eth0 8139too alias ieee1394-controller ohci1394 options agpgart agp_try_unsupported=1 # # OSS/Free setup alias char-major-14 soundcore alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0 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 lsmod: [root@homematrix etc]# lsmod Module Size Used by Tainted: PF lp 6720 0 (unused) parport_pc 21672 1 parport 23936 1 [lp parport_pc] ipt_TOS 984 12 (autoclean) ipt_MASQUERADE 1272 1 (autoclean) ipt_LOG 3384 4 (autoclean) ipt_REJECT 2744 4 (autoclean) ipt_state 568 52 (autoclean) iptable_mangle 2072 1 (autoclean) ip_nat_irc 2384 0 (unused) ip_nat_ftp 2992 0 (unused) iptable_nat 15224 3 [ipt_MASQUERADE ip_nat_irc ip_nat_ftp] ip_conntrack_irc 3056 1 ip_conntrack_ftp 3952 1 ip_conntrack 18400 4 [ipt_MASQUERADE ipt_state ip_nat_irc ip_nat_ftp iptable_nat ip_conntrack_irc ip_conntrack_ftp] iptable_filter 1644 1 (autoclean) ip_tables 11672 10 [ipt_TOS ipt_MASQUERADE ipt_LOG ipt_REJECT ipt_state iptable_mangle iptable_nat iptable_filter] ppp_deflate 41024 1 (autoclean) bsd_comp 4344 0 (autoclean) floppy 49340 0 (autoclean) binfmt_misc 5696 1 vmnet 21632 6 vmmon 20692 0 (unused) nfsd 66576 8 (autoclean) lockd 46480 1 (autoclean) [nfsd] sunrpc 60188 1 (autoclean) [nfsd lockd] ipsec 242688 2 snd-pcm-oss 36420 1 snd-mixer-oss 11800 0 [snd-pcm-oss] snd-via82xx 10348 1 snd-pcm 55264 0 [snd-pcm-oss snd-via82xx] snd-timer 9932 0 [snd-pcm] snd-ac97-codec 29896 0 [snd-via82xx] snd-mpu401-uart 2736 0 [snd-via82xx] snd-rawmidi 12832 0 [snd-mpu401-uart] snd-seq-device 3904 0 [snd-rawmidi] snd 29516 0 [snd-pcm-oss snd-mixer-oss snd-via82xx snd-pcm snd-timer snd-ac97-codec snd-mpu401-uart snd-rawmidi snd-seq-device] soundcore 3780 0 [snd] ppp_async 7456 1 ppp_generic 20064 3 [ppp_deflate bsd_comp ppp_async] slhc 5072 1 [ppp_generic] af_packet 13000 1 (autoclean) 8139too 14472 1 (autoclean) mii 1152 0 (autoclean) [8139too] supermount 14340 2 (autoclean) ide-scsi 8212 0 scsi_mod 90372 1 [ide-scsi] ide-cd 28712 0 cdrom 26848 0 [ide-cd] usb-uhci 21676 0 (unused) usbcore 58304 1 [usb-uhci] rtc 6560 0 (autoclean) ext3 74004 3 jbd 38452 3 [ext3] /etc/.aumixrc vol:100:100:P pcm:100:100:P speaker:100:0:P line:100:100:P mic:100:100:R cd:100:100:P igain:99:99:P line1:100:100:P phin:100:0:R phout:99:0:P video:100:100:P settings: [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer Simple mixer control 'Master',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Front Left: Playback 16 [52%] [on] Front Right: Playback 16 [52%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: 0 - 15 Mono: 0 [0%] Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback 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 Front Left: Playback 21 [68%] [on] Front Right: Playback 21 [68%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Surround',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 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 [on] 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-joined 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 5 [16%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 5 [16%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Line-In As Surround',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'CD',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 12 [39%] [on] Capture [on] Front Right: Playback 12 [39%] [on] Capture [on] Simple mixer control 'Mic',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive Capture exclusive group: 0 Playback channels: Mono Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Front Left: Capture [off] Front Right: Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic As Center/LFE',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Video',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 31 [100%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Phone',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive Capture exclusive group: 0 Playback channels: Mono Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 11 [35%] [on] 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 [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Input Monitor',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Output',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: 0 - 3 Mono: 3 [100%] Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: Playback 0 - 15 Mono: Playback 8 [53%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Aux',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 11 [35%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 11 [35%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Capture',0 Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Capture 0 - 15 Front Left: Capture 4 [27%] [on] Front Right: Capture 4 [27%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Mix',0 Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined 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-joined 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 'Duplicate Front',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'Exchange Center/LFE',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier Power Down',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',1 Capabilities: Mono: [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer | grep MIC [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer | grep mute [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer | grep MUTE [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer Simple mixer control 'Master',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Front Left: Playback 16 [52%] [on] Front Right: Playback 16 [52%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: 0 - 15 Mono: 0 [0%] Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback 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 Front Left: Playback 21 [68%] [on] Front Right: Playback 21 [68%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Surround',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 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 [on] 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-joined 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 5 [16%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 5 [16%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Line-In As Surround',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'CD',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 12 [39%] [on] Capture [on] Front Right: Playback 12 [39%] [on] Capture [on] Simple mixer control 'Mic',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive Capture exclusive group: 0 Playback channels: Mono Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Front Left: Capture [off] Front Right: Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic As Center/LFE',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Video',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 31 [100%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 31 [100%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Phone',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive Capture exclusive group: 0 Playback channels: Mono Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 31 Mono: Playback 11 [35%] [on] 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 [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Input Monitor',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Output',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0 Capabilities: volume volume-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: 0 - 3 Mono: 3 [100%] Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0 Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Limits: Playback 0 - 15 Mono: Playback 8 [53%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Aux',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined 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 11 [35%] [on] Capture [off] Front Right: Playback 11 [35%] [on] Capture [off] Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Capture',0 Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Capture 0 - 15 Front Left: Capture 4 [27%] [on] Front Right: Capture 4 [27%] [on] Simple mixer control 'Mix',0 Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined 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-joined 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 'Duplicate Front',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'Exchange Center/LFE',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier Power Down',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [off] Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',0 Capabilities: Mono: Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',1 Capabilities: Mono: [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer scontrols Simple mixer control 'Master',0 Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0 Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0 Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0 Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0 Simple mixer control 'PCM',0 Simple mixer control 'Surround',0 Simple mixer control 'Surround Down Mix',0 Simple mixer control 'Center',0 Simple mixer control 'Center/LFE Down Mix',0 Simple mixer control 'LFE',0 Simple mixer control 'Line',0 Simple mixer control 'Line-In As Surround',0 Simple mixer control 'CD',0 Simple mixer control 'Mic',0 Simple mixer control 'Mic As Center/LFE',0 Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0 Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0 Simple mixer control 'Video',0 Simple mixer control 'Phone',0 Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0 Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Input Monitor',0 Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Output',0 Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA',0 Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0 Simple mixer control 'Aux',0 Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0 Simple mixer control 'Capture',0 Simple mixer control 'Mix',0 Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0 Simple mixer control 'Analog to IEC958 Output',0 Simple mixer control 'Duplicate Front',0 Simple mixer control 'Exchange Center/LFE',0 Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier Power Down',0 Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',0 Simple mixer control 'Input Source Select',1 [cris@homematrix cris]$ amixer controls numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Switch' numid=10,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Volume' numid=1,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Switch' numid=2,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Volume' numid=34,iface=MIXER,name='3D Control - Center' numid=35,iface=MIXER,name='3D Control - Depth' numid=31,iface=MIXER,name='3D Control - Switch' numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch' numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume' numid=42,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Down Mix' numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Switch' numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Volume' numid=43,iface=MIXER,name='Center/LFE Down Mix' numid=3,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Switch' numid=4,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Volume' numid=5,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Switch' numid=6,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Volume' numid=45,iface=MIXER,name='Line-In As Surround' numid=18,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Switch' numid=19,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Volume' numid=20,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Switch' numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Volume' numid=46,iface=MIXER,name='Mic As Center/LFE' numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Boost (+20dB)' numid=33,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Select' numid=15,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Switch' numid=16,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Volume' numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Switch' numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Volume' numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Switch' numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Volume' numid=11,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Switch' numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Volume' numid=24,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Switch' numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Volume' numid=32,iface=MIXER,name='Mono Output Select' numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Source' numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch' numid=30,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume' numid=49,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Input Monitor' numid=36,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Con Mask' numid=37,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Pro Mask' numid=40,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA' numid=38,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Default' numid=39,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Switch' numid=47,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Switch' numid=53,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Output Switch' numid=48,iface=MIXER,name='Analog to IEC958 Output' numid=41,iface=MIXER,name='Duplicate Front' numid=44,iface=MIXER,name='Exchange Center/LFE' numid=50,iface=MIXER,name='External Amplifier Power Down' numid=51,iface=MIXER,name='Input Source Select' numid=52,iface=MIXER,name='Input Source Select',index=1
