====== Ubuntu - Sound - alsamixer - alsamixer not working ======

Error seen when trying to run **alsamixer**.

<code bash>
alsamixer
</code>

returns:

<code bash>
cannot open mixer: No such file or directory
</code>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  This error is usually because alsa is trying to open up settings against a sound card which does not exist in the system.

Try to run this, and if it fails change the number to 2 and retry.  This should most likely work.

<code bash>
alsamixer -c 1
</code>

</WRAP>


----

===== Fix =====

==== Determine Sound Cards ====

<code bash>
cat /proc/asound/modules
</code>

returns:

<code bash>
 0 snd_hda_intel
 2 snd_hda_intel
</code>

----

<code bash>
cat /proc/asound/cards
</code>

returns:

<code bash>
 0 [NVidia         ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xfb080000 irq 124
 2 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc200000 irq 126
</code>


----

==== Set Card To Use ====

<code bash>
sudo vi ~/.asoundrc
</code>

Edit

<file bash ~/.asoundrc>
pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}

ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}
</file>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  The reason **alsamixer** was not working in the first place is that the card in this file was wrong.

In this case, there is no card 1.  Changing it to 0 or 2 which the above commands returned as the card numbers will make alsamixer work.

<file bash ~/.asoundrc>
pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}

ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}
</file>

</WRAP>

----

==== Check that Alsamixer works ====

<code bash>
alsamixer
</code>

{{:ubuntu:sound:alsamixer:alsamixer.png?800|}}

----

===== Alternative Fix =====

Edit **/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf**.

At the very end of the file change or insert:

<file bash /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf>
...
# Keep snd-usb-audio from beeing loaded as first soundcard
options snd-usb-audio index=0
options snd-hda-intel index=-2
</file>

<WRAP info>
**NOTE:**  This modifies the index value for the snd-usb-audio module to zero and adds a line for the snd-hda-intel module.

Adjust these depending on the output returned by:

<code bash>
cat /proc/asound/modules
</code>

</WRAP>

----

==== Reload alsa ====

<code bash>
sudo alsa force-reload
</code>

----

===== References =====

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshootingProcedure