Thursday, January 1, 2009

Skype Sound Problem in Ubuntu

I recently installed Skype on Ubuntu Intrepid, but whenever I tried to make a call I got an error - "Problem with audio playback". Upon searching the Internet, I found many postings advocating to remove the "pulse audio" package, but I was not comfortable removing a package which is a part of the official release.

After some trial and error I found a solution that worked for me:
  1. Make sure the headphone (or any other sound device) is connected
  2. Click on the "Skype logo" on the bottom left corner
  3. Select "Options"
  4. Select "Sound Devices"
  5. Pick the right devices for "Sound In", "Sound Out" and "Ringing". Click on "Make a test sound" to verify your selection.

25 comments:

  1. I've tried using all the options in Sound In/Out and it still does not play any test sound.

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  2. Hi, am facing the same problem,
    does Your microphone make sounds when blown at in the PCs speakers?
    Mine does, but the test sounds are not recorded.
    I have a picture from webcam.
    Ubuntu Hardy

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  3. If you're using Intrepid try "pulse" for Sound Out and Ringing. Worked for me.

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  4. Yep, if you're using Intrepid try "pulse" for Sound In, Sound Out and Ringing. You won't hear the sound immediately...the test sounds fade in and fade out.

    I thought it didn't work for me and was about to change settings then i heard the test sound fading in.

    Skype should rethink their test sounds to the standard "long beep" or at least make the test sound appear "as soon ass" you click on the test sound button.

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  5. Hello everyone,
    i tried to unmute mic in my volume control intel ICH6 (Alsa Mixer) but when i closed,the setting back to original state (muted).Tried to using Conexant Cx20551(OSS Mixer) but also not working.Any suggestion?

    *Using Ubuntu 8.04 on NECL1101 laptop :(

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  6. Hello friends,

    after messing with commands and stuff around to try to
    solve the famous skype echo, I finally solved this pain in the ass!!
    for intrepid ibex ubuntu.

    If you follow this step by step your skype should work, at least I garantee that you will learn something.

    so first of all don’t use the commands to remove any package
    from your ubuntu specially pulseaudio, is useless and you will have an other pain in the ass trying to find what package to install:

    1) for the audio playback echo (when trying to make a call),

    -go to the small skype logo located in the bottom left corner
    when you are loged in skype-> go to options-> sound devices

    - change all default options to “pulse”.

    Now you should be able to make a call test without the message
    ‘audio playback problem’ or stuff like that.

    And you will have the next typical echo that your microphone
    will not be working.

    2) for the microphone echo (im using a headset):

    -go to the upper panel in your window where is all the application-places-system options, in the right upper corner you will find a small speaker icon-> right click with the mouse-> open volume control-> preferences-> select all options specially those like headset- capture-capture1-capture2- input source- etc. those are not working !!!!

    -now in the volume control ->label “options”-> change default options for “Mic” and “Digital Mic1″.

    -in the next label “recording”-> maximum volume for all the stuff.

    - The device should be “HDA alsa mixer”

    -finally confirm in ->system-> preferences-> sound preferences, that the sound capture is set to “HDA analog (ALSA)” similar to the previous point.

    Now you can try to record something with the ’sound recorder program’
    it should work.

    And the best Skype should work, no shity messages no shity problems (although when I use the inbuild mic instead of my headset the sound is so so).

    I hope my suggestions are useful.

    best of luck,

    bye.

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  7. thanks Eapen,
    a very simple solution it's working. if you know a simple solution how to install logitech webcam, should be linux compatible.
    would be thankfull.
    kopretina

    ps i am a "DAU" (german for the very stupidest user an it person can think of)

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  8. Hi i'm able to use voic recorder but skype test call not recording my voice still

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  9. Hi, using the front mic on my laptop (dell xps m1330). I was able to use voice recorder, but as the last comment, I still wasn't able to record my voice with the echo test in skype.
    So I tried to change the Input Sound in skype to HDA Intel (hw:intel,0) (instead of pulse) and that finally worked, though the sound volume is very low.
    Thank you for your instructions, I found the others about removing pulse but I would not remove ubuntu-desktop.

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  10. thanks a lot recent convert that i am, been struggling to get upto speed. this worked perfectly.

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  11. great, on my Lenovo T60 it finally worked with the input (in skype) set to hw:intel,0 as suggested two entries above, thx for sharing

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  12. Hi and thankz!!

    I donno exactly what i did but this kind blogs is were the solution came from xDD after a good time fighting whit the configs :D

    Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thanks a lot ! It works, such a relief.
    Just want to add the following action: when all this is done, go back to your Skype Option, click Sound Device, and there, select HDA Intel for your Sound In !!

    ReplyDelete
  14. "Hi, using the front mic on my laptop (dell xps m1330). I was able to use voice recorder, but as the last comment, I still wasn't able to record my voice with the echo test in skype.
    So I tried to change the Input Sound in skype to HDA Intel (hw:intel,0) (instead of pulse) and that finally worked, though the sound volume is very low.
    Thank you for your instructions, I found the others about removing pulse but I would not remove ubuntu-desktop."

    This trick worked for me :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  16. 2) for the microphone echo (im using a headset):

    -go to the upper panel in your window where is all the application-places-system options, in the right upper corner you will find a small speaker icon-> right click with the mouse-> open volume control-> preferences-> select all options specially those like headset- capture-capture1-capture2- input source- etc. those are not working !!!!

    -now in the volume control ->label “options”-> change default options for “Mic” and “Digital Mic1″.

    -in the next label “recording”-> maximum volume for all the stuff.

    - The device should be “HDA alsa mixer”

    -finally confirm in ->system-> preferences-> sound preferences, that the sound capture is set to “HDA analog (ALSA)” similar to the previous point.


    After having tried with solutions removing packages and changing skype configuration (which did not work), this simple solution finally made me able to hear my input device when calling Echo. Using Ubuntu Hardy 8.10 on a Vaio FS570

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hi all.
    I've run into the same problem. None of the suggestions worked for me. I'm running AMD 64 kubuntu 8.10.

    The following is a summary of what I read in various forums and what finally worked

    For skype Version 2.0.0.72 the following is required:
    - Software requirements
    - Qt 4.2.1+
    - D-Bus 1.0.0
    - libasound2 1.0.12

    Tried this:

    * killall pulseaudio
    * sudo apt-get remove pulseaudio
    * sudo apt-get install esound
    * sudo rm /etc/X11/Xsession.d/70pulseaudio

    Tried changing my permissions on asound.conf and other conf files to 0666.

    Tried all these links here:


    I tried editing the various conf files and re-installing skype both regular and static-oss.

    Finally I decide just to concentrate on getting the mic working regardless of skype.
    I install 'record' and 'play' (commandline utils). I opened one of the mixers, alsamixergui I think, and ran record. Then as I toggled the various options in the mixer I could instantly see when the mic started working. My mic started working right away so I tried skype and it was fine as well. Honestly I think installing 'record' is what did it but I can't be sure.

    Sorry about the verbose post.
    Hope this info helps someone.
    Cheers

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  18. "pulse" isn't available in my device list

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  19. hi,
    after trying a lot of things my skype is still muted and I can't un-mute it. In my skype options I can only choose intel ICH6 or default, not pulse. After changing al lot of things in my volume control (alsa mixer) and regular volume control (xfce4-mixer) nothing worked. I also reinstalled skype 4 times. It is strange because I was in the middle of a call when this happend, I pushed hold call and again to re-activate it, and then it was muted and stayed muted. Before I didn't have any problems. Is there anyone who can help?

    ReplyDelete
  20. Thanks! I found your tips helpful.
    It got my skype working in the newest ubuntu 9.04 by on my lenovo G530 by using the hda intel 0 settings

    ReplyDelete
  21. I didn't understand exactly what your solution was. To tweak skype's options is pretty natural. But it doesn't help.

    ReplyDelete
  22. hi n' thanks, peace & love

    ReplyDelete
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