slmodemd process hogging access to /dev/snd devices -> Sound Preferences -> Output tab -> "Dummy Output: Stereo" - Codec + Mixer: Realtek ALC883 - ALC883 Analog [ALC883 Analog] Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 02) - no sound on Acer Aspire 3680 in Ubuntu 9.10 - using ALSA driver 1.0.21

kpajie@kpajie-laptop:~$ wget -O alsa-info.sh http://212.20.107.51/alsa-info.sh
--2009-12-01 23:29:01-- http://212.20.107.51/alsa-info.sh
Connecting to 212.20.107.51:80... connected.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 302 Found
Location: http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-driver.git;a=blob_plain;f=utils/alsa-info.sh [following]
--2009-12-01 23:29:01-- http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-driver.git;a=blob_plain;f=utils/alsa-info.sh
Resolving git.alsa-project.org... 212.20.107.51
Reusing existing connection to 212.20.107.51:80.
HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK
Length: unspecified [text/plain]
Saving to: `alsa-info.sh'

    [ <=> ] 26,584 30.3K/s in 0.9s

2009-12-01 23:29:03 (30.3 KB/s) - `alsa-info.sh' saved [26584]

kpajie@kpajie-laptop:~$ bash alsa-info.sh --pastebin
ALSA Information Script v 0.4.58
--------------------------------

This script visits the following commands/files to collect diagnostic
information about your ALSA installation and sound related hardware.

  dmesg
  lspci
  lsmod
  aplay
  amixer
  alsactl
  /proc/asound/
  /sys/class/sound/
  ~/.asoundrc (etc.)

See 'alsa-info.sh --help' for command line options.

Automatically upload ALSA information to pastebin? [y/N] : y
Uploading information to www.pastebin.ca ... Done!

Your ALSA information is located at http://pastebin.ca/1697402

Please inform the person helping you.

kpajie@kpajie-laptop:~$ cat /proc/asound/cards; sudo aptitude install paman gnome-alsamixer alsa-utils flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound; aplay -l; sudo lshw -C sound; ls -lart /dev/snd; cat /dev/sndstat; lspci -nn; sudo which alsactl; sudo fuser -v /dev/dsp /dev/snd/* ; dpkg -S bin/slmodemd; lsmod | grep snd
 0 [Intel ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel
                      HDA Intel at 0xd0340000 irq 28
[sudo] password for kpajie:
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound libgconfmm-2.6-1c2{a}
  libglademm-2.4-1c2a{a} padevchooser{a} paman paprefs{a} pavucontrol{a}
  pavumeter{a} pulseaudio-module-zeroconf{a}
0 packages upgraded, 9 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 454kB of archives. After unpacking 2,896kB will be used.
Do you want to continue? [Y/n/?] y
Writing extended state information... Done
Get:1 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/multiverse flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound 0.0.svn2431-3 [8,160B]
Get:2 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libgconfmm-2.6-1c2 2.24.0-2 [31.4kB]
Get:3 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main libglademm-2.4-1c2a 2.6.7-2 [21.7kB]
Get:4 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe pavumeter 0.9.3-1ubuntu1 [29.2kB]
Get:5 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe pavucontrol 0.9.8+git20090701-0ubuntu2 [120kB]
Get:6 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe paman 0.9.4-1ubuntu2 [92.2kB]
Get:7 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/main pulseaudio-module-zeroconf 1:0.9.19-0ubuntu4 [20.2kB]
Get:8 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe paprefs 0.9.8+git20090825-0ubuntu2 [111kB]
Get:9 http://gb.archive.ubuntu.com karmic/universe padevchooser 0.9.3-2ubuntu4 [20.2kB]
Fetched 454kB in 5s (76.4kB/s)
Selecting previously deselected package flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound.
(Reading database ... 147029 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound (from .../flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound_0.0.svn2431-3_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libgconfmm-2.6-1c2.
Unpacking libgconfmm-2.6-1c2 (from .../libgconfmm-2.6-1c2_2.24.0-2_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package libglademm-2.4-1c2a.
Unpacking libglademm-2.4-1c2a (from .../libglademm-2.4-1c2a_2.6.7-2_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package pavumeter.
Unpacking pavumeter (from .../pavumeter_0.9.3-1ubuntu1_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package pavucontrol.
Unpacking pavucontrol (from .../pavucontrol_0.9.8+git20090701-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package paman.
Unpacking paman (from .../paman_0.9.4-1ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package pulseaudio-module-zeroconf.
Unpacking pulseaudio-module-zeroconf (from .../pulseaudio-module-zeroconf_1%3a0.9.19-0ubuntu4_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package paprefs.
Unpacking paprefs (from .../paprefs_0.9.8+git20090825-0ubuntu2_i386.deb) ...
Selecting previously deselected package padevchooser.
Unpacking padevchooser (from .../padevchooser_0.9.3-2ubuntu4_i386.deb) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils ...
Processing triggers for man-db ...
Setting up flashplugin-nonfree-extrasound (0.0.svn2431-3) ...
Setting up libgconfmm-2.6-1c2 (2.24.0-2) ...

Setting up libglademm-2.4-1c2a (2.6.7-2) ...

Setting up pavumeter (0.9.3-1ubuntu1) ...

Setting up pavucontrol (0.9.8+git20090701-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up paman (0.9.4-1ubuntu2) ...

Setting up pulseaudio-module-zeroconf (1:0.9.19-0ubuntu4) ...
Setting up paprefs (0.9.8+git20090825-0ubuntu2) ...

Setting up padevchooser (0.9.3-2ubuntu4) ...

Processing triggers for libc-bin ...
ldconfig deferred processing now taking place
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
Reading extended state information
Initialising package states... Done
Writing extended state information... Done

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC883 Analog [ALC883 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC883 Digital [ALC883 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 6: Si3054 Modem [Si3054 Modem]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
  *-multimedia
       description: Audio device
       product: 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller
       vendor: Intel Corporation
       physical id: 1b
       bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
       version: 02
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
       configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0
       resources: irq:28 memory:d0340000-d0343fff
total 0
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 33 2009-12-01 22:49 timer
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 1 2009-12-01 22:49 seq
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 26 2009-12-01 22:49 pcmC0D2c
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 17 2009-12-01 22:49 pcmC0D1p
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 16 2009-12-01 22:49 pcmC0D0p
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 24 2009-12-01 22:49 pcmC0D0c
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 5 2009-12-01 22:49 hwC0D1
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 4 2009-12-01 22:49 hwC0D0
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 0 2009-12-01 22:49 controlC0
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 60 2009-12-01 22:49 by-path
drwxr-xr-x 3 root root 280 2009-12-01 22:49 .
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 22 2009-12-01 22:50 pcmC0D6p
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 30 2009-12-01 22:50 pcmC0D6c
drwxr-xr-x 17 root root 3820 2009-12-01 23:36 ..
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.21 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux kpajie-laptop 2.6.31-15-generic #50-Ubuntu SMP Tue Nov 10 14:54:29 UTC 2009 i686
Config options: 0

Installed drivers:
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config:
HDA Intel at 0xd0340000 irq 28

Audio devices:
0: ALC883 Analog (DUPLEX)

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Timers:
7: system timer

Mixers:
0: Realtek ALC883
00:00.0 Host bridge [0600]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/PM/GMS, 943/940GML and 945GT Express Memory Controller Hub [8086:27a0] (rev 03)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a2] (rev 03)
00:02.1 Display controller [0380]: Intel Corporation Mobile 945GM/GMS/GME, 943/940GML Express Integrated Graphics Controller [8086:27a6] (rev 03)
00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) High Definition Audio Controller [8086:27d8] (rev 02)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 1 [8086:27d0] (rev 02)
00:1c.1 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 2 [8086:27d2] (rev 02)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) PCI Express Port 3 [8086:27d4] (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1 [8086:27c8] (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2 [8086:27c9] (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3 [8086:27ca] (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4 [8086:27cb] (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller [0c03]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller [8086:27cc] (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 82801 Mobile PCI Bridge [8086:2448] (rev e2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge [0601]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM (ICH7-M) LPC Interface Bridge [8086:27b9] (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface [0101]: Intel Corporation 82801GBM/GHM (ICH7 Family) SATA IDE Controller [8086:27c4] (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation 82801G (ICH7 Family) SMBus Controller [8086:27da] (rev 02)
02:00.0 Ethernet controller [0200]: Marvell Technology Group Ltd. 88E8038 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller [11ab:4352] (rev 14)
0a:03.0 Network controller [0280]: Broadcom Corporation BCM4318 [AirForce One 54g] 802.11g Wireless LAN Controller [14e4:4318] (rev 02)
0a:09.0 CardBus bridge [0607]: Texas Instruments PCIxx12 Cardbus Controller [104c:8039]
0a:09.2 Mass storage controller [0180]: Texas Instruments 5-in-1 Multimedia Card Reader (SD/MMC/MS/MS PRO/xD) [104c:803b]
/sbin/alsactl
                     USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: Slmodemd 926 F.... slmodemd
/dev/snd/pcmC0D6c: Slmodemd 926 F...m slmodemd
/dev/snd/pcmC0D6p: Slmodemd 926 F...m slmodemd
sl-modem-daemon: /usr/sbin/slmodemd
snd_hda_codec_si3054 4828 1
snd_hda_codec_realtek 202336 1
snd_hda_intel 26560 3
snd_hda_codec 78300 3 snd_hda_codec_si3054,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 7392 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm_oss 37312 0
snd_mixer_oss 16188 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 74976 6 snd_hda_codec_si3054,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_dummy 2752 0
snd_seq_oss 29280 0
snd_seq_midi 6624 0
snd_rawmidi 22208 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 6940 2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 51088 6 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 21540 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 7208 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd 60900 19 snd_hda_codec_si3054,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec,snd_hwdep,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore 7264 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 9060 2 snd_hda_intel,snd_pcm

Acer Aspire 3680

Your output from step 4 shows the issue your pc is having:

/dev/snd/controlC0: Slmodemd 926 F.... slmodemd

Your Si3054 Modem is hogging the /dev/snd devices, which is preventing your soundcard from working correctly.

Please try this solution:

https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/87927

which mentions this bug:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/394500/comments/40

So you need to disable the Si3054 Modem (56k modem)

I have disabled the SmartLink modem daemon via System>Admin>Hardware drivers. I have rebooted and still no sound! What do I do next?

kpajie@kpajie-laptop:~$ sudo fuser -v /dev/dsp /dev/snd/*
[sudo] password for kpajie:
                     USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: kpajie 1546 F.... pulseaudio
kpajie@kpajie-laptop:~$

Thank you Mark! I just found out it was on 'Mute'. I un-muted it and the sound is back! Cheers!