Hi all,
I have onboard AC97 sound, according to kmix my system automatically set itself up with the 'VIA 8237' driver, which is probably right. I have a good old analog connection to an amplifier.
If I set master and PCM to 100% the volume is at a good level but is very distorted. If I move both down 'a bit' then the distortion goes away but it's all a bit unscientific as to how much that 'bit' is. If I leave PCM at 100% and move Master about it gets quieter but is always distorted.
In Windows on the same hardware, setting all mixers to 100% seems to output a good, loud, non distorted sound, I'd guess at the 'line level' that my amp is expecting.
Is there a setting somewhere in the (ALSA) driver to set the maximum output to 'line level' so I can set kmix at 100% and get good volume and no distortion? There is an 'External amplifier' switch in kmix but it appears to have no effect.
I've had a good root around on Google and the answer appears to be 'turn the mixer volumes down a bit' - e.g.: http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php/TroubleShooting#Sound_can_be_heard_but_it_...
There must be something more accurate? If the Windows drivers have some built-in setting can it be replicated?
Cheers Neil