Ubuntu
alsa-driver package

Ubuntu 10.04 no microphone in Skype

Asked by parduc

I have Advent 7109B laptop. I had tried 3 version of ubuntu (started from 8.04) on this laptom but I never get working microphone automaticly in skype. It's no difference if I have or not have installed pulse-audio but I found something strange. To get working my microphone I open TERMINAL, type "alsamixer" , press "F4 - capcure" and find "input source " and with ARROW UP change from "Mic" to "CD" and with ARROW DOWN change back from "CD" to "Mic". That's it. After this I get working my microphone in Skype until I restart or turn off my laptop.

Is it possible to make this automaticly (any auto script) or I have to do this do always?

May you help me? Thanks.

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mycae
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Best mycae (mycae) said : 		#1

Check to see if the microphone works in other packages, particularly see if you can record yourself in audacity.

If you can, then follow this guide:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SkypeTroubleshooting#Selecting_Microphone_.28input_device.29

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parduc (12add3) said : 		#2

thanks mycae,
I have tried the "pavucontrol package", "Volume Levels", "Another possible solution for software mixing" but not change - I didn't get working my microphone. I still have to manually change (enable) in alsamixer what I described above.

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mycae (mycae) said : 		#3

well, OK, you can always try automatically executing the alsa commands at startup. Its confusing that skype is not able to unmute your mixer however.

I'm not sure about these commands. it could be something like

amixer set Mic unmute
amixer set Mic 80%
amixer set Mic cap

or maybe

amixer set CD unmute
amixer set CD 80%
amixer set CD cap

you can trial the correct sequence of commands to give in the terminal.

If you get the right sequence, (you can learn more with "man amixer"), then you should be able to just paste these commands into the end of your /etc/rc.local script to have them auto-executed on startup, for all users.

ie run

gksudo /etc/rc.local

then paste the correct sequence in and then save.

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parduc (12add3) said : 		#4

Hi mycae,
many thanks for your help.
I read "man amixer" and found this solution (works 4me):

amixer set 'Input Source' CD
amixer set 'Input Source' Mic

2morrow I'll try to write a script. I gona give this laptop to my dad (he's 65) he's using old PC with ubuntu last 3 years. This is why I need to setup everything working 100%.

Thanks

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parduc (12add3) said : 		#5

Thanks mycae, that solved my question.