Volume control range problems

[markwinger]

I am using the stereo audioinjector with OpenAuto pro. (I originally started with a usb audio if and changed to the injector)

After getting it all I chose to use the rca outputs and got it all working but volume control did not work. I tried for days to get softvol to work but was unable to. So I changed to use the headphone output. This worked but the quite right.

At full volume things are good, clean and loud as expected. But as I reduce the volume control, the sound decreases way too quickly. It is completely silent by 60%. I found some discussion about 'base' volume but could not determine how to adjust this. I tried changing volume=merge to volume=ignor. This dropped the point of silence to about 40%, still no great.

Any help appreciated........

[differentieel]

did you lift the Alsamixer volume slider to 90%?

[markwinger]

I assume you mean the alsa master. I’m not clear how this works. In open auto I see output 2 output devices, one called LADSPA Plugin EQ on Built-in Audio Stereo, and another with (echo controlled with…). The first is set to 100. I can see the vu meters show the signal passing through the first one. If I adjust the volume using this it will go louder or softer, but the alsa mixer master moves with it. The problem is (I think), the alsa mixer lever will be 0% for any level in the pulse audio mixer below 45%. The alsa mixer lever moves to 1% when pavu is up to 61%. I believe for this wot work well, the level of the pavucontrol and alsa mixer should match. Right??? From: ferrie = differentieel ***@***.***> Sent: Monday, November 15, 2021 11:23 AM To: Audio-Injector/stereo-and-zero ***@***.***> Cc: markwinger ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [Audio-Injector/stereo-and-zero] Volume control range problems (Issue #75) did you lift the Alsamixer volume slider to 90%? — You are receiving this because you authored the thread. Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#75 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ABNGCRCOPFT7Z3GBBS373XLUME6WNANCNFSM5IBZNMTQ>. Triage notifications on the go with GitHub Mobile for iOS<https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id1477376905?ct=notification-email&mt=8&pt=524675> or Android<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.github.android&referrer=utm_campaign%3Dnotification-email%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_source%3Dgithub>.

[differentieel]

http://forum.audioinjector.net/viewtopic.php@f=5&t=3.html

[markwinger]

That thread is very long and I did not see any discussion relating to my problem. Was it intended to be a suggestion for a fix.

[differentieel]

in short:

RPi running Raspbian Buster

1. Edit /boot/config.txt
   Code:
   sudo nano /boot/config.txt

2. Uncomment these lines (remove the #):
   Code:
   dtparam=i2c_arm=on
   dtparam=i2s=on
   dtparam=spi=on

3. Comment out this line (add a # at the start):
   Code:
   #dtparam=audio=on

4. Add the following line just after the one you commented out in the previous step:
   Code:
   dtoverlay=audioinjector-wm8731-audio

5. Quit and save (ctrl-x, y, enter)

6. Reboot the pi:

7. Run alsa mixer:
   Code:
   alsamixer

8. Scroll across to the one titled 'Output Mixer HiFi' and press 'm' to unmute it. It should now say '00' above it with a green background. Press 'esc' to save and exit.

That should be everything. You can now test that it works with:
Code:
aplay test.wav

[markwinger]

The only thing different in my setup is I dont have the line
Dtparam=i2s=on, uncommented.

Will this fix the level problem, or enable me to use softvol?

But I am away for the next week so it will be a while before I can try it.

[differentieel]

the only person that can answer your question is you.

[flatmax]

I think this may help for softvol : http://forum.audioinjector.net/viewtopic.php@t=572.html

That is from the old audioinjector forum, which can only be searched in google.

Untested, but by editing your .asoundrc file, use a softvol for default :

pcm.!default {
type plug
slave.pcm "RCAVolume"
}

pcm.RCAVolume {
type softvol
slave.pcm "hw:0,0"
control.name "Softmaster"
control.card 0
}

You may also need the ctl defined if it gives you troubles :

ctl.!default {
        type hw
        card 0
}

Finally if you get pulse audio funk, make sure you short circuit the pulseaudio defaults placing the following at the top of the ~/.asoundrc file :

@hooks [
    {
        func load
        files [
            "~/.asoundrc"
        ]
        errors false
    }
]

You can see some of that on my stackover answer here : https://stackoverflow.com/questions/34452150/how-to-run-alsa-application-without-killing-pulseaudio