Bug 45369 – Alsa/sound mixer level reset to very low when starting KDE

• Product: Gentoo Linux
• Status: RESOLVED INVALID

[Description Clampinus 2004-03-22 02:51:13 UTC]

I have freshly installed Gentoo 2004.0/kernel 2.6.3/alsa-utils, set mixer levels and got sound to play. Then after installing/running KDE I get no apparent sound. Pumping the sound output very high on my amplifier I can hear that low sound is produced.
Using KMix to move up one slider (4th one from the right), I could get the sound output to regular level again. But this setting gets reset everytime I start up KDE.
Note that the mixer level "reset" affects the tools used on the command line even when KDE is exited, as it probably affects the mixer levels on the system, not just while in KDE.


Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
1.run mp3blaster from command-line, sound output is correct
2.start X/KDE
3.Switch back to the text console (CTRL+Alt+F2), run mp3blaster, very low sound output level
4. switch back to KDE (F9), run KMix, tune up the 4th slider from the right
5. switch back to command-line, run mp3blaster, get correct sound output level


Actual Results:  
See above


Expected Results:  
Sound output level should never have been low after starting KDE


My card is a VIA82xx

It seems that a couple threads on the forums have discussed this. I made one 
reply, then came it to register the problem, founding no bug reported.

I enter the severity as normal, although there is a work-around, because it is 
annoying, and because it will leave most people doing a new Gentoo/KDE install 
clueless about the sound not working.

[Comment 1 Paul de Vrieze (RETIRED) 2004-03-23 07:39:52 UTC]

kde can remember the volume for you. It is somewhere in the control panel. It will depending on the settings not automatically store the level for you on closing. You probably want to set the volume to a decent level and store it, or not use the kde volume setting feature at all.

[Comment 2 Clampinus 2004-03-23 08:40:34 UTC]

After receiving your mail I started KDE again (I had been using Gnome lately). The "problem" got fixed by itself, though I really don't know why. I have been emerging tons of software in the last couple days, may be something "fixed" my problem. Anyway, when I start KDE now the volume (and my little volume slider) is not reset to zero, so I am a happy man.

Sorry to have bothered you with that, and thank you very much for your reply. I guess the case should be marked as resolved/INVALID. I will let you confirm this setting, and close the case if you don't mind. This is my first "bug" report in Bugzilla, so I am not sure of the proceedings :)

[Comment 3 Paul de Vrieze (RETIRED) 2004-03-23 14:47:04 UTC]

Great when bugs fix themselves ;-) btw. you were completely right about closing it. So with this I do it.