Repost: FC3: Static on VIA AC97 Audio Controller

[Serge de Souza]

Philip A. Chapman wrote:
> Everyone,
> 
> This is a repost. I don't normally do these.  However I am really hoping
> that there is someone on the list that can help me with this.  I have
> not been able to google an answer.  Nor has my own limited skills been
> of any use.  I am hoping that someone  with suggestions or answers is
> reading this list today that wasn't reading it late Monday night.
> 
> I have a laptop which has a VIA Tech sound chip.  The Chip is identified
> as "VT8233/A/8235/8237 AC Audio Controller" in /etc/sysconfig/hwconfig.
> The snd-via82xx module is being used for this chip.
> 
> When I play .ogg files through winamp or ogg123, I get sound that is low
> volume and has a lot of static.  I get the same results when I use
> playwave to play a .wav file.  I believe this issue is caused by not
> having a volume control for the "PCM" input.  I have used the gnome
> volume control panel and aumix, but cannot control the volume to PCM,
> only mute it.  I have come to this conclusion after playing DVDs.  I had
> the exact same issue with DVD audio until I located the second "VIA DXS"
> slider (there are a total of 4 sliders with this label) and increased it
> considerably (A little over half way).  I might mention that on FC1, and
> FC2, I did not have this issue.  On none of the 3 FC releases have the
> "Master" volume control worked.  I typically set the input control
> fairly high, then use the volume control wheel on the front of my laptop
> to adjust the volume to my headphones (or crappy built in speakers).  I
> do not know whether the master volume control works on Windows as I do
> not use this laptop for windows.  I've always assumed that the chip does
> not support it because of the manual volumn control wheel.
> 
> Has anyone else experienced this issue?  Are there any solutions.
> 
> Please forgive me for the repost.  If I still get no answers, I will NOT
> continue to repost.
> 
> 

Try using alsamixer. People have reported getting static when some other 
channels are enabled. Using alsamixer, try muting everything (use right 
arrow to scroll over the end) and only leave master and PCM (if it 
appears in the list...). If you get no sound, progressively unmute other 
channels until you get lucky...

Hope you get somewhere with this
Serge