Clemens Ladisch wrote:

Jeremy Nickurak wrote:

...

The mixer doesn't work at all w/linux kernel 2.6.22, everything is locked at 100% volume, which is pretty unhelpful, as it's the only way to adjust the volume. (no analog controls).

Are there any messages in the system log when you try to change them?

Nothing in syslog or dmesg.

Please show the output of "lsusb -v" for this device.

Bus 004 Device 002: ID 04d2:5051 Altec Lansing Technologies Device Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 1 bcdUSB 1.00 bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level) bDeviceSubClass 0 bDeviceProtocol 0 bMaxPacketSize0 16 idVendor 0x04d2 Altec Lansing Technologies idProduct 0x5051 bcdDevice 1.12 iManufacturer 1 Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. iProduct 2 Altec Lansing - FX5051 iSerial 0 bNumConfigurations 1 Configuration Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 2 wTotalLength 139 bNumInterfaces 3 bConfigurationValue 1 iConfiguration 0 bmAttributes 0x40 (Missing must-be-set bit!) Self Powered MaxPower 0mA Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 0 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 1 Control Device bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (HEADER) bcdADC 1.00 wTotalLength 44 bInCollection 1 baInterfaceNr( 0) 1 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 12 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (INPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 1 wTerminalType 0x0101 USB Streaming bAssocTerminal 0 bNrChannels 6 wChannelConfig 0x003f Left Front (L) Right Front (R) Center Front (C) Low Freqency Enhancement (LFE) Left Surround (LS) Right Surround (RS) iChannelNames 0 iTerminal 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 14 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 6 (FEATURE_UNIT) bUnitID 2 bSourceID 1 bControlSize 1 bmaControls( 0) 0x15 Mute Bass Treble bmaControls( 1) 0x02 Volume bmaControls( 2) 0x02 Volume bmaControls( 3) 0x00 bmaControls( 4) 0x00 bmaControls( 5) 0x00 bmaControls( 6) 0x00 iFeature 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 3 wTerminalType 0x0301 Speaker bAssocTerminal 0 bSourceID 2 iTerminal 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 1 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (AS_GENERAL) bTerminalLink 1 bDelay 1 frames wFormatTag 1 PCM AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 11 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (FORMAT_TYPE) bFormatType 1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I) bNrChannels 6 bSubframeSize 2 bBitResolution 16 bSamFreqType 1 Discrete tSamFreq[ 0] 48000 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT bmAttributes 9 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Adaptive Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0240 1x 576 bytes bInterval 1 bRefresh 0 bSynchAddress 0 AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 37 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (EP_GENERAL) bmAttributes 0x01 Sampling Frequency bLockDelayUnits 0 Undefined wLockDelay 0 Undefined Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 2 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Devices bInterfaceSubClass 0 No Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 0 None iInterface 0 HID Device Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 33 bcdHID 1.00 bCountryCode 0 Not supported bNumDescriptors 1 bDescriptorType 34 Report wDescriptorLength 172 Report Descriptor: (length is 172) Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Consumer Control Item(Main ): Collection, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Application Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe2 ] 226 Mute Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe9 ] 233 Volume Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xea ] 234 Volume Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x52 0x01 ] 338 Bass Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x53 0x01 ] 339 Bass Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x54 0x01 ] 340 Treble Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x55 0x01 ] 341 Treble Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Unassigned Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Input, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x00 0xff ] 65280 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3a ] 58 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x2e ] 46 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x09 ] 9 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x0a ] 10 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3d ] 61 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3e ] 62 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xff ] 255 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Input, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe2 ] 226 Mute Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe9 ] 233 Volume Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xea ] 234 Volume Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x52 0x01 ] 338 Bass Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x53 0x01 ] 339 Bass Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x54 0x01 ] 340 Treble Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x55 0x01 ] 341 Treble Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Unassigned Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x00 0xff ] 65280 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3a ] 58 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x09 ] 9 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x0a ] 10 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3d ] 61 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3e ] 62 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xfe ] 254 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf0 ] 240 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff ] 65535 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x10 ] 16 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf1 ] 241 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff 0xff 0xff ] -1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x20 ] 32 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf2 ] 242 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff 0xff 0xff ] -1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x20 ] 32 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Main ): End Collection, data=none Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0002 1x 2 bytes bInterval 1 Device Status: 0x0001 Self Powered

...

Also, the digital control panel

The remote control?

There is an IR remote which is also locked, but that's not what I'm referring to. The volume (and also surround/treble/bass balance) can be set by selecting a mode, and spinning a dial, which adjusts the corresponding volume setting. There's an LED "meter" which lights up from 0 to 100 on the panel, just like alsamixer. The LED's switch to a low-power brightness when not used.

Volume always seems to show 100%, just like the PCM setting in alsamixer.

Bass and Treble always show approximately 50%, which is also what alsamixer appears to be locked too. Holding "up" or "down" on these settings in alsamixer will occasionally get it to move a hair off their otherwise locked states, but will immediatly revert to 100% for PCM, 50% for bass/treble. Interestingly, the control panel's LED meter reflects this, dropping a step or increasing a step, but only 1 step.

...

locks up when the speakers power up, further preventing any access to the volume controls.

What does "lock up" mean? Nothing happens when you press buttons?

On closer inspection, it seems to show precisely the same behavior as alsamixer (with one minor exception). The volume, bass, and treble settings cannot be adjusted up or down more than hair, locked at 100%, 50%, and 50% respectively. The power button works, except that the device turns back on after a couple seconds. This sequence does not cause any usb disconnect/connect events. Instead, it seems to function more like a mute, shutting down the speakers without shutting down the usb device.

- Jeremy Nickurak

This is a follow-up on an exchange that dates back to October of 2007:

I own a set of Altec Lansing FX5051 USB 5.1 speakers--they have a built-in sound card that allows for 5.1 surround sound from a system that lacks a 5.1 card. This system works out of the box in Windows XP with no need for extra drivers, and I can get sound to play through them in Linux (Currently using Ubuntu 8.04 Beta), however the sound is at an unchangeable (and generally unbearable) 100%. ALSA Mixer will simply not allow me to lower the volume.

The system includes a hub for controlling bass, treble, and volume manually (All digital--there are no analog controls), but it reflects the same information ALSA Mixer provides, and the volume is not adjustable via this interface either.

"lsusb -v" yields the following, though I apologize for any excess information I included here--I'm a bit new to this:

Bus 001 Device 004: ID 04d2:5051 Altec Lansing Technologies Device Descriptor: bLength 18 bDescriptorType 1 bcdUSB 1.00 bDeviceClass 0 (Defined at Interface level) bDeviceSubClass 0 bDeviceProtocol 0 bMaxPacketSize0 16 idVendor 0x04d2 Altec Lansing Technologies idProduct 0x5051 bcdDevice 1.12 iManufacturer 1 Altec Lansing Technologies, Inc. iProduct 2 Altec Lansing - FX5051 iSerial 0 bNumConfigurations 1 Configuration Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 2 wTotalLength 139 bNumInterfaces 3 bConfigurationValue 1 iConfiguration 0 bmAttributes 0x40 (Missing must-be-set bit!) Self Powered MaxPower 0mA Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 0 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 1 Control Device bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (HEADER) bcdADC 1.00 wTotalLength 44 bInCollection 1 baInterfaceNr( 0) 1 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 12 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (INPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 1 wTerminalType 0x0101 USB Streaming bAssocTerminal 0 bNrChannels 6 wChannelConfig 0x003f Left Front (L) Right Front (R) Center Front (C) Low Freqency Enhancement (LFE) Left Surround (LS) Right Surround (RS) iChannelNames 0 iTerminal 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 14 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 6 (FEATURE_UNIT) bUnitID 2 bSourceID 1 bControlSize 1 bmaControls( 0) 0x15 Mute Bass Treble bmaControls( 1) 0x02 Volume bmaControls( 2) 0x02 Volume bmaControls( 3) 0x00 bmaControls( 4) 0x00 bmaControls( 5) 0x00 bmaControls( 6) 0x00 iFeature 0 AudioControl Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL) bTerminalID 3 wTerminalType 0x0301 Speaker bAssocTerminal 0 bSourceID 2 iTerminal 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 0 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 1 bAlternateSetting 1 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 1 Audio bInterfaceSubClass 2 Streaming bInterfaceProtocol 0 iInterface 0 AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (AS_GENERAL) bTerminalLink 1 bDelay 1 frames wFormatTag 1 PCM AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor: bLength 11 bDescriptorType 36 bDescriptorSubtype 2 (FORMAT_TYPE) bFormatType 1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I) bNrChannels 6 bSubframeSize 2 bBitResolution 16 bSamFreqType 1 Discrete tSamFreq[ 0] 48000 Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x01 EP 1 OUT bmAttributes 9 Transfer Type Isochronous Synch Type Adaptive Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0240 1x 576 bytes bInterval 1 bRefresh 0 bSynchAddress 0 AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 37 bDescriptorSubtype 1 (EP_GENERAL) bmAttributes 0x01 Sampling Frequency bLockDelayUnits 0 Undefined wLockDelay 0 Undefined Interface Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 4 bInterfaceNumber 2 bAlternateSetting 0 bNumEndpoints 1 bInterfaceClass 3 Human Interface Device bInterfaceSubClass 0 No Subclass bInterfaceProtocol 0 None iInterface 0 HID Device Descriptor: bLength 9 bDescriptorType 33 bcdHID 1.00 bCountryCode 0 Not supported bNumDescriptors 1 bDescriptorType 34 Report wDescriptorLength 172 Report Descriptor: (length is 172) Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Consumer Control Item(Main ): Collection, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Application Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe2 ] 226 Mute Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe9 ] 233 Volume Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xea ] 234 Volume Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x52 0x01 ] 338 Bass Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x53 0x01 ] 339 Bass Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x54 0x01 ] 340 Treble Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x55 0x01 ] 341 Treble Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Unassigned Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Input, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x00 0xff ] 65280 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3a ] 58 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x2e ] 46 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x09 ] 9 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x0a ] 10 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3d ] 61 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3e ] 62 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xff ] 255 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Input, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x0c ] 12 Consumer Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe2 ] 226 Mute Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xe9 ] 233 Volume Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xea ] 234 Volume Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x52 0x01 ] 338 Bass Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x53 0x01 ] 339 Bass Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x54 0x01 ] 340 Treble Increment Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x55 0x01 ] 341 Treble Decrement Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Unassigned Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Global): Usage Page, data= [ 0x00 0xff ] 65280 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3a ] 58 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x09 ] 9 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x0a ] 10 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3d ] 61 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x3e ] 62 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xfe ] 254 (null) Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x08 ] 8 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf0 ] 240 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff ] 65535 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x10 ] 16 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf1 ] 241 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff 0xff 0xff ] -1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x20 ] 32 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Local ): Usage, data= [ 0xf2 ] 242 (null) Item(Global): Logical Minimum, data= [ 0x00 ] 0 Item(Global): Logical Maximum, data= [ 0xff 0xff 0xff 0xff ] -1 Item(Global): Report Size, data= [ 0x20 ] 32 Item(Global): Report Count, data= [ 0x01 ] 1 Item(Main ): Output, data= [ 0x82 ] 130 Data Variable Absolute No_Wrap Linear Preferred_State No_Null_Position Volatile Bitfield Item(Main ): End Collection, data=none Endpoint Descriptor: bLength 7 bDescriptorType 5 bEndpointAddress 0x83 EP 3 IN bmAttributes 3 Transfer Type Interrupt Synch Type None Usage Type Data wMaxPacketSize 0x0002 1x 2 bytes bInterval 1 Device Status: 0x0001 Self Powered

_________________________________________

Thanks so much in advance, Vince Blake