Date: Wed, 27 May 2026 10:10:03 -0700 From: "Mark G." <fbsd.questions@palaceofretention.ca> To: questions@freebsd.org Cc: Polarian <polarian@polarian.dev> Subject: Re: Audio not working no matter what I try Message-ID: <2edefd0b-0d65-4419-98ed-2b1acf79f158@palaceofretention.ca> In-Reply-To: <c2bf2344-1569-4446-8eb4-5b0b95653f7c@palaceofretention.ca> References: <20260527121906.04f4c270@Hydrogen> <c2bf2344-1569-4446-8eb4-5b0b95653f7c@palaceofretention.ca>
index | next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail
One correction, virtual_oss is a package/port in 14.4,
so you'll have to install it. It is built in to the kernel in 15.0.
On 5/27/26 10:07, Mark G. wrote:
> On 5/27/26 04:19, Polarian wrote:
>> Hey,
>>
>> So I have moaned about this on IRC a lot with no solution. So a few
>> years ago when I started using FreeBSD I had no issues with audio, it
>> just worked. However I did a reinstall at some point and it never
>> worked since then, that was probably 2 years ago from now.
>>
>> I very rarely need to use audio on my laptop, and I got lazy and
>> anything I needed audio for I would use my phone or a second laptop.
>>
>> However I need to do a presentation and I need my dev environment,
>> which is on FreeBSD, and I can't get working audio, so I can't present
>> it.
>>
>> Steps:
>>
>> 1. kldload snd_driver
>> 2. cat /etc/sndstat
>>
>> Installed devices:
>> pcm0: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> (play/rec) default
>> pcm1: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog)> (play/rec)
>> pcm2: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
>> pcm3: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
>> pcm4: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
>>
>> I know from previous experiences, that pcm0 is the right one, but I
>> have tried all of them just to be sure.
>>
>> 3. Check mixer
>>
>> pcm0:mixer: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> on hdaa0 (play/rec)
>> (default) vol = 1.00:1.00 pbk
>> pcm = 0.27:0.27 pbk
>> speaker = 1.00:1.00 pbk
>> line = 0.01:0.01 rec
>> mic = 0.34:0.34 rec src
>> mix = 0.35:0.35 rec
>> rec = 0.35:0.35 pbk
>> ogain = 1.00:1.00 pbk
>>
>> No issues there it appears.
>>
>> 4. beep(1) or write to /dev/dsp*, andddddddd nothing!
>>
>> I have a feeling because desktop packages pull in pulseaudio that this
>> could be the issue, but this would require me literally uninstalling my
>> desktop, which is 1. not a solution and 2. not something I
>> have time to do for debugging.
>>
>> So I am hoping its not that, does anyone have any ideas?
>>
>> Thank you,
>
>
> Some ideas (on 14.4p5 and 15.0p9) for working sound:
>
> You don't say what programs you want to use for audio,
> so I will offer general advice on how I got my
> stuff working.
>
> rc.conf:
>
> sndiod_enable="YES"
> pipewire_enable="YES"
> virtual_oss_enable="YES"
>
> The pipewire/sndiod entries may be optional, but some software had
> an option to use it. The virtual_oss is what I rely on.
>
> I use mixertui to select/set devices for default. It's in pkg/ports.
>
> I also use this shell script to set a default for virtual_oss:
>
> ==============
> #!/bin/sh
> #
> # Set the virtual oss device defaults
> # to the dsp number passed, usually for the speakerphone.
> #
> DEV=${1}
>
> if [ "x${1}" = "x" ]; then
> DEV=6
> fi
>
> virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl -P /dev/dsp${DEV}
> virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl -R /dev/dsp${DEV}
> virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl
>
> ===========
>
> Call it with the number 0 for pcm0 as the requested default device:
>
> $ ./set-speakerphone.sh 0
>
> I usually use both the script and mixertui before I
> start chromium for a jitsi meeting. One must sacrifice
> the correct number of chickens after all.
>
> The most important item is to make sure that the ports
> or packages you install are compiled with the proper
> sound system support. This is what usually bites me
> in the bottom trying to get sound working. So go
> check the OPTIONS in make config and confirm that
> the sound subsystem (e.g. pulseaudio) is actually compiled
> in to the software you want to use.
>
> For example, my poudriere build of chromium has these
> options:
>
> % pkg info chromium
> chromium-146.0.7680.164_2
> Name : chromium
> Version : 146.0.7680.164_2
> Installed on : Sat Apr 11 20:14:01 2026 PDT
> Origin : www/chromium
> Architecture : FreeBSD:14:amd64
> Prefix : /usr/local
> Categories : wayland www
> Licenses : BSD3CLAUSE, LGPL21, MPL11
> Maintainer : chromium@FreeBSD.org
> WWW : https://www.chromium.org/Home
> Comment : Google web browser based on WebKit
> Options :
> ALSA : on
> CODECS : on
> CUPS : on
> DEBUG : off
> DRIVER : on
> HEIMDAL : off
> HEIMDAL_BASE : off
> KERBEROS : on
> LTO : off
> MIT : off
> PIPEWIRE : on
> PULSEAUDIO : on
> SNDIO : on
> TEST : off
> WIDEVINE : off
> ...
>
> I recall some packages from the FreeBSD repositories
> not having some common sound subsystems compiled in
> as OPTIONS and had to rebuild them myself.
>
> Anyway, using mixertui/virtual_oss before starting chromium
> for a meeting allows for a speakerphone to be used easily.
> Otherwise the laptop microphone and speaker will also
> work when specified.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Mark
>
>
>
>
>
home |
help
Want to link to this message? Use this
URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?2edefd0b-0d65-4419-98ed-2b1acf79f158>