Dear alsa-devs I'm trying to have CX20561 in working order on my laptop; I'll be glad to send a patch once I figure out what is going on there, and for this I need your help.

There are a number of issues, mostly regarding the internal mic, as I'm sure you know considering the bugs volume on the subject :)

1a) There are three capture sources listed in alsamixer (Digital excluded): Docking External Internal; the only one that has any influence in recording (both from internal and external mics) is "External"

1b) Why does Node 0x14 shows two volume controls? the first one doesn't seem to have any effect.

2) The input from the internal mic device has very low volume and is very noisy; I tried to optimize fiddling around with hda_verb and the values in alsa-info; the output of codec#0 below shows the optimal ones. (the only relevant ones were gains on node 0x17). I managed, however, to saturate it by blowing directly into it, which shows that it is not really an amplification issue. Rather the real issue here is noise; Audacity shows ~-24dB and in 16bits the noise background gets up to ~+/-500 versus +/-50 with an external mic. The internal mic is indeed a stereo mic; the left channel only produces noise, the right channel seems to work, with the caveats above. (this could be very well that my mic is broken, even if I remember that at some point during my fiddling with hda_verb it started to work properly :) in any case I noticed that the noise background is very much correlated between R and L; would it be possible to write an alsa-plugin to mix the two channels with an inversion to mix away the noise? It sounds fairly simple, but I couldn't find any documentation on how to make a plugin

I'm willing to invest some time on fixing this, so maybe I can get some help here to start with. Judging from the patch_conexant code it should be at least possible to fix #1. I'd like to hear your thoughts about #2; especially about fiddling around with hda_verb or making the described alsa-plugin. Thanks a lot Jacopo De Simoi

!!################################ !!ALSA Information Script v 0.4.58 !!################################

!!Script ran on: Wed Jan 20 08:49:43 UTC 2010

!!Linux Distribution !!------------------

Gentoo Base System release 2.0.0

!!DMI Information !!---------------

Manufacturer: Hewlett-Packard Product Name: HP Pavilion dv2700 Notebook PC

!!Kernel Information !!------------------

Kernel release: 2.6.30-tuxonice-r9 Operating System: GNU/Linux Architecture: x86_64 Processor: AMD Turion(tm) 64 X2 TL-62 SMP Enabled: Yes

!!ALSA Version !!------------

Driver version: 1.0.22.1 Library version: 1.0.22 Utilities version: 1.0.22

!!Loaded ALSA modules !!-------------------

snd_hda_intel

!!Sound Servers on this system !!----------------------------

No sound servers found.

!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA !!-----------------------------

0 [NVidia ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia HDA NVidia at 0xfc480000 irq 20

!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system !!--------------------------------------

00:07.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP67 High Definition Audio (rev a1)

!!Advanced information - PCI Vendor/Device/Susbsystem ID's !!--------------------------------------------------------

00:07.0 0403: 10de:055c (rev a1) Subsystem: 103c:30d6

!!Modprobe options (Sound related) !!--------------------------------

snd-hda-intel: model=laptop snd-hda-intel: model=auto

!!Loaded sound module options !!--------------------------

!!Module: snd_hda_intel bdl_pos_adj : 32,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1 beep_mode : 1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1 enable : Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y,Y enable_msi : -1 id : <NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL> index : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1 model : laptop,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL> patch : <NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL>,<NULL> position_fix : 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0 power_save : 0 power_save_controller : Y probe_mask : -1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1,-1 probe_only : N,N,N,N,N,N,N,N single_cmd : N

!!HDA-Intel Codec information !!--------------------------- --startcollapse--

Codec: Conexant CX20561 (Hermosa) Address: 0 Function Id: 0x2 Vendor Id: 0x14f15051 Subsystem Id: 0x103c30d6 Revision Id: 0x100000 Modem Function Group: 0x2 Default PCM: rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Default Amp-In caps: N/A Default Amp-Out caps: N/A GPIO: io=4, o=0, i=0, unsolicited=1, wake=0 IO[0]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0 IO[1]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0 IO[2]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0 IO[3]: enable=0, dir=0, wake=0, sticky=0, data=0, unsol=0 Node 0x10 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xc1d: Stereo Amp-Out R/L Control: name="Master Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0 Device: name="CONEXANT Analog", type="Audio", device=0 Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x4a, stepsize=0x03, mute=0 Amp-Out vals: [0x3b 0x3b] Converter: stream=0, channel=0 PCM: rates [0x560]: 44100 48000 96000 192000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x11 [Audio Output] wcaps 0xc1d: Stereo Amp-Out R/L Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x4a, stepsize=0x03, mute=0 Amp-Out vals: [0x4a 0x4a] Converter: stream=0, channel=0 PCM: rates [0x560]: 44100 48000 96000 192000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x12 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x211: Stereo Digital Converter: stream=0, channel=0 Digital: Digital category: 0x0 PCM: rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x5]: PCM AC3 Node 0x13 [Beep Generator Widget] wcaps 0x70000c: Mono Amp-Out Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x03, nsteps=0x03, stepsize=0x17, mute=0 Amp-Out vals: [0x00] Node 0x14 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x100d1b: Stereo Amp-In R/L Control: name="Internal Mic Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0 Control: name="Internal Mic Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0 Control: name="External Mic Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=1, ofs=0 Control: name="External Mic Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=1, ofs=0 Device: name="CONEXANT Analog", type="Audio", device=0 Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x50, stepsize=0x03, mute=0 Amp-In vals: [0x00 0x00] [0x50 0x50] Converter: stream=0, channel=0 SDI-Select: 0 PCM: rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 2 0x1d 0x17* Node 0x15 [Audio Input] wcaps 0x100d1b: Stereo Amp-In R/L Control: name="Docking Mic Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0 Control: name="Docking Mic Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=0, ofs=0 Amp-In caps: ofs=0x4a, nsteps=0x50, stepsize=0x03, mute=0 Amp-In vals: [0x00 0x00] Converter: stream=0, channel=0 SDI-Select: 0 PCM: rates [0x160]: 44100 48000 96000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 1 0x18 Node 0x16 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo Pincap 0x0000001c: OUT HP Detect Pin Default 0x01214030: [Jack] HP Out at Ext Rear Conn = 1/8, Color = Green DefAssociation = 0x3, Sequence = 0x0 Pin-ctls: 0xc0: OUT HP Unsolicited: tag=37, enabled=1 Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 2 0x10* 0x11 Node 0x17 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x40048b: Stereo Amp-In Amp-In caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0 Amp-In vals: [0x04 0x04] Pincap 0x00001224: IN Detect Vref caps: 50 80 Pin Default 0x01a19020: [Jack] Mic at Ext Rear Conn = 1/8, Color = Pink DefAssociation = 0x2, Sequence = 0x0 Pin-ctls: 0x24: IN VREF_80 Unsolicited: tag=38, enabled=1 Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x18 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x40048b: Stereo Amp-In Amp-In caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0 Amp-In vals: [0x00 0x00] Pincap 0x00001224: IN Detect Vref caps: 50 80 Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x00: VREF_HIZ Unsolicited: tag=39, enabled=1 Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x19 [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400581: Stereo Pincap 0x00000014: OUT Detect Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x00: Unsolicited: tag=00, enabled=0 Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 2 0x10 0x11* Node 0x1a [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400501: Stereo Pincap 0x00010010: OUT EAPD EAPD 0x0: Pin Default 0x92170110: [Fixed] Speaker at Int Front Conn = Analog, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0x1, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x00: Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 2 0x10* 0x11 Node 0x1b [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400500: Mono Pincap 0x00010010: OUT EAPD EAPD 0x0: Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x40: OUT Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 2 0x10* 0x11 Node 0x1c [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x400701: Stereo Digital Control: name="IEC958 Playback Con Mask", index=0, device=0 Control: name="IEC958 Playback Pro Mask", index=0, device=0 Control: name="IEC958 Playback Default", index=0, device=0 Control: name="IEC958 Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 Control: name="IEC958 Default PCM Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 Device: name="Conexant Digital", type="SPDIF", device=1 Pincap 0x00000010: OUT Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x00: Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 1 0x12 Node 0x1d [Pin Complex] wcaps 0x40040b: Stereo Amp-In Amp-In caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x04, stepsize=0x27, mute=0 Amp-In vals: [0x04 0x04] Pincap 0x00000020: IN Pin Default 0x400001f0: [N/A] Line Out at Ext N/A Conn = Unknown, Color = Unknown DefAssociation = 0xf, Sequence = 0x0 Misc = NO_PRESENCE Pin-ctls: 0x00: Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x1e [Vendor Defined Widget] wcaps 0xf00000: Mono --endcollapse--

!!ALSA Device nodes !!-----------------

crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 0 Jan 19 20:26 /dev/snd/controlC0 crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 4 Jan 19 20:26 /dev/snd/hwC0D0 crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 24 Jan 20 09:31 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 16 Jan 20 09:34 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 17 Jan 19 20:26 /dev/snd/pcmC0D1p crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 1 Jan 19 20:26 /dev/snd/seq crw-rw---- 1 root audio 116, 33 Jan 19 20:26 /dev/snd/timer

!!Aplay/Arecord output !!------------

APLAY

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices **** card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0 card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 1: Conexant Digital [Conexant Digital] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

ARECORD

**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices **** card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: CONEXANT Analog [CONEXANT Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

!!Amixer output !!-------------

!!-------Mixer controls for card 0 [NVidia]

Card hw:0 'NVidia'/'HDA NVidia at 0xfc480000 irq 20' Mixer name : 'Conexant CX20561 (Hermosa)' Components : 'HDA:14f15051,103c30d6,00100000' Controls : 15 Simple ctrls : 8 Simple mixer control 'Master',0 Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined penum Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 74 Mono: Front Left: Playback 59 [80%] [-15.00dB] [off] Front Right: Playback 59 [80%] [-15.00dB] [off] Simple mixer control 'PCM',0 Capabilities: pvolume penum Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Playback 0 - 255 Mono: Front Left: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB] Front Right: Playback 255 [100%] [0.00dB] Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0 Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined penum Playback channels: Mono Mono: Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'Digital',0 Capabilities: cvolume penum Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: Capture 0 - 120 Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [-30.00dB] Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [-30.00dB] Simple mixer control 'Docking Mic',0 Capabilities: volume pswitch penum Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: 0 - 80 Front Left: 0 [0%] [-74.00dB] Playback [on] Front Right: 0 [0%] [-74.00dB] Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'External Mic',0 Capabilities: volume pswitch penum Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: 0 - 80 Front Left: 80 [100%] [6.00dB] Playback [on] Front Right: 80 [100%] [6.00dB] Playback [on] Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic',0 Capabilities: volume pswitch penum Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right Limits: 0 - 80 Front Left: 0 [0%] [-74.00dB] Playback [on] Front Right: 0 [0%] [-74.00dB] Playback [on]

!!Alsactl output !!-------------

--startcollapse-- state.NVidia { control.1 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 80' comment.dbmin -7400 comment.dbmax 600 iface MIXER name 'Internal Mic Volume' value.0 0 value.1 0 } control.2 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 2 iface MIXER name 'Internal Mic Switch' value.0 true value.1 true } control.3 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 80' comment.dbmin -7400 comment.dbmax 600 iface MIXER name 'External Mic Volume' value.0 80 value.1 80 } control.4 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 2 iface MIXER name 'External Mic Switch' value.0 true value.1 true } control.5 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 80' comment.dbmin -7400 comment.dbmax 600 iface MIXER name 'Docking Mic Volume' value.0 0 value.1 0 } control.6 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 2 iface MIXER name 'Docking Mic Switch' value.0 true value.1 true } control.7 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 74' comment.dbmin -7400 comment.dbmax 0 iface MIXER name 'Master Playback Volume' value.0 59 value.1 59 } control.8 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'Master Playback Switch' value false } control.9 { comment.access read comment.type IEC958 comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'IEC958 Playback Con Mask' value '0fff000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000' } control.10 { comment.access read comment.type IEC958 comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'IEC958 Playback Pro Mask' value '0f00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000' } control.11 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type IEC958 comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'IEC958 Playback Default' value '0400000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000' } control.12 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'IEC958 Playback Switch' value true } control.13 { comment.access 'read write' comment.type BOOLEAN comment.count 1 iface MIXER name 'IEC958 Default PCM Playback Switch' value true } control.14 { comment.access 'read write user' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 255' comment.tlv '0000000100000008ffffec1400000014' comment.dbmin -5100 comment.dbmax 0 iface MIXER name 'PCM Playback Volume' value.0 255 value.1 255 } control.15 { comment.access 'read write user' comment.type INTEGER comment.count 2 comment.range '0 - 120' comment.tlv '0000000100000008fffff44800000032' comment.dbmin -3000 comment.dbmax 3000 iface MIXER name 'Digital Capture Volume' value.0 0 value.1 0 } } --endcollapse--

!!All Loaded Modules !!------------------

Module ndiswrapper bnep sco rfcomm l2cap snd_seq snd_seq_device snd_hda_codec_conexant uvcvideo videodev snd_hda_intel snd_hda_codec snd_hwdep snd_pcm snd_timer sdhci_pci sdhci mmc_core v4l1_compat nvidia forcedeth snd btusb bluetooth v4l2_compat_ioctl32 led_class snd_page_alloc

!!Sysfs Files !!-----------

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/init_pin_configs: 0x16 0x01214030 0x17 0x01a19020 0x18 0x400001f0 0x19 0x400001f0 0x1a 0x92170110 0x1b 0x400001f0 0x1c 0x400001f0 0x1d 0x400001f0

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/driver_pin_configs:

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/user_pin_configs:

/sys/class/sound/hwC0D0/init_verbs:

!!ALSA/HDA dmesg !!------------------

[ 8.457898] ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [LAZA] enabled at IRQ 20 [ 8.457916] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: PCI INT A -> Link[LAZA] -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20 [ 8.457970] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: setting latency timer to 64 [ 8.499562] Linux video capture interface: v2.00 -- [ 8.548267] USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0) [ 9.660207] input: HDA NVidia Mic as /class/input/input10 [ 9.660575] input: HDA NVidia Mic as /class/input/input11 [ 9.660798] input: HDA NVidia Headphone as /class/input/input12 [ 10.842906] kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds -- [18156.018398] forcedeth 0000:00:0a.0: PCI INT A disabled [18156.400042] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: PCI INT A disabled [18156.440030] ehci_hcd 0000:00:04.1: PCI INT B disabled -- [18157.038988] ehci_hcd 0000:00:04.1: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0xb00006, writing 0xb00002) [18157.039014] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: restoring config space at offset 0xf (was 0x5020100, writing 0x502010a) [18157.039022] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: restoring config space at offset 0x4 (was 0x0, writing 0xfc480000) [18157.039027] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0xb00000, writing 0xb00002) [18157.039057] ahci 0000:00:09.0: restoring config space at offset 0x1 (was 0xb00007, writing 0xb00407) -- [18157.150089] amd74xx 0000:00:06.0: BIOS didn't set cable bits correctly. Enabling workaround. [18157.150111] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: PCI INT A -> Link[LAZA] -> GSI 20 (level, low) -> IRQ 20 [18157.150115] HDA Intel 0000:00:07.0: setting latency timer to 64 [18157.850034] pci 0000:00:08.0: setting latency timer to 64