Bug 155063 - Adjusting Balance does not work and sets Volume to zero
Summary: Adjusting Balance does not work and sets Volume to zero
Status: RESOLVED INTENTIONAL
Alias: None
Product: kmix
Classification: Applications
Component: general (show other bugs)
Version: unspecified
Platform: unspecified Linux
: NOR normal
Target Milestone: ---
Assignee: Christian Esken
URL:
Keywords:
Depends on:
Blocks:
 
Reported: 2008-01-04 04:13 UTC by Dorian Vasco
Modified: 2008-01-12 11:05 UTC (History)
0 users

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Description Dorian Vasco 2008-01-04 04:13:45 UTC 
Version:           2.6.1 (using KDE 3.5.8 "release 22.3" , openSUSE )
Compiler:          Target: i586-suse-linux
OS:                Linux (i686) release 2.6.22.13-0.3-default

Well, if I change the balance bar in the right direction, the volume of master sets itself to zero.
Balance doesn't work.

I have a Creative Audigy 2 ZS.
Comment 1 Christian Esken 2008-01-05 12:53:20 UTC 
Balance is changing the master device only. On some cards this doesn't work well. The usual workaround is to set the master device to "PCM" (using the contect menu on the KMix Systray Icon). This works on nearly all soundcards properly. Could you please try this.
Comment 2 Dorian Vasco 2008-01-05 13:37:52 UTC 
Setting master to PCM works but not so good.
I can adjust balance, but when I decrease volume (PCM) and increase again, the balance is set back.
Comment 3 Christian Esken 2008-01-05 14:12:09 UTC 
I have no real idea what could be the reason for the behaviour described in comment 2. For furhter please post the ouput of "amixer" (or "amixer -c 1" or any other number that corresponds to the affected soundcard).

In  general, Audigy support of KMix in KDE3.x is not optimal. KMix in KDE4 should be much better in that respect.

By the way: Your original bug report issue  is reproducable, when a master control with only one cahnnel (Mono) is seleceted.

So what now?
a) As long as I don't own an Audidigy card, I see no chance to fix this.
b) It is a "non-issue" for KDE4, as KMix in KDE4 doesn't support a balance slider currently [1]. If you want to change the balance in KDE4 you can "split" the corresponding control instead. Balance will be re-introduced again later.


[1] Rationale: A lot of issues have been seen for balance in KDE3, like:
  - saving/restoring balance (including rounding issues)
  - mono controls
  - multi-channel controls (multi = more than two).
Comment 4 Dorian Vasco 2008-01-06 02:17:51 UTC 
dorian@kaffeetrinken:~> amixer
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 40 [40%] [-24.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-46.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-46.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Tone',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [on]
  Front Right: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Bass',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Front Left: 27 [68%]
  Front Right: 27 [68%]
Simple mixer control 'Treble',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 40
  Front Left: 26 [65%]
  Front Right: 26 [65%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 0 - 15
  Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 75 [75%] [-10.00dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Side',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'PCM Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Side',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Synth',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 80 [80%] [-8.00dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 80 [80%] [-8.00dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line2',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 24 [77%] [1.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Optical',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Optical Raw',0
  Capabilities: pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback [off]
  Front Right: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 15
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [-45.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Aux2',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Analog Mix',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'Audigy Analog/Digital Output Jack',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Audigy CD',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB] Capture 0 [0%] [-99999.99dB]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Center/LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Rear',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Side',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Center/LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Rear',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Side',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 207 [81%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'HD channel Capture',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '0' '1' '2' '3'
  Item0: '0'
Simple mixer control 'HD source Capture',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'SPDIF' 'I2S' 'SRC48' 'SRCMulti_SPDIF' 'SRCMulti_I2S' 'CDIF' 'FX' 'AC97'
  Item0: 'SPDIF'
Comment 5 Christian Esken 2008-01-12 11:05:16 UTC 
OK, this is as expected. PCM has the cabilities pvolume and cvolume. This should theoretically work also under KDE3.x. But in general there are often issues with the balance slider, like "back coupling loops". I know that there are issues with that, but it is basically "impossible" to fix it in the KDE3.x version.
Unfortunately this means I cannot fix it in KDE3.x - sorry about that.

I'll have to think about a working concept for KDE4.x before re-introducing a balance slider.

   Christian