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Ubuntu - Sound - alsamixer - alsamixer not working

Error seen when trying to run alsamixer.

alsamixer

returns:

cannot open mixer: No such file or directory

Fix

Determine Sound Cards

cat /proc/asound/modules

returns:

 0 snd_hda_intel
 2 snd_hda_intel

cat /proc/asound/cards

returns:

 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

Set Card To Use

sudo vi ~/.asoundrc

Edit

~/.asoundrc

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}
 
ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}

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.

~/.asoundrc

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}
 
ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}

Check that Alsamixer works

alsamixer

Wiki

Table of Contents

Ubuntu - Sound - alsamixer - alsamixer not working

Fix

Determine Sound Cards

Set Card To Use

Check that Alsamixer works