Ubuntu Headphone Problem

**Bman** · May 13th, 2011

I just installed Ubuntu 11.04 on a new partition. (Unity sucks by the way, went to default Gnome) I want to start using that as my main system, and Windows 7 as my gaming.

Of course I am basically a newbie at Linux but part of doing this is because I want to learn it more.

My first issue, and it's a big issue because the main thing I do is watch movies and TV shows. And because of where I live I need to use headphones most of the time to not annoy other people. Well my headphones do not work.

I found many threads and topics on this but most seem old and are related to laptop issues. I am on a desktop system. I believe its on-board sound, and they are realtek (not sure how its spelt) drivers.

Any ideas, how to get it working. Thanks.

**American Zombie** · May 13th, 2011

You can download linux drivers at: Realtek

Once there you just need to know if you need HD or ac97 software.

**Bman** · May 13th, 2011

I have an EVGA 780i SLI mobo, is it realtek? All my system says is MCP55 High Definition Audio

**LeeJend** · May 13th, 2011

Looks like the MCP55 is an Nvidia sound chip. Multiple posts on the Ubuntu site about problems. Still looking for solution. brb

Try the find driver option on this page.

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Not looking good for linux support from nvidia.

EVGA site had no linux drivers listed either.

WTF? I can't beleive nvidia not supporting Ubuntu. I must be missing something.
There might be a generic driver in Ubuntu for the Nvidia MCP55 sound.

Also, Ubuntu might resist using proprietary drivers. You have to be sure to select use this vile no GPL driver when asked.

**Xie** · May 13th, 2011

I read a bunch of posts say that it was supported "out of box". I also read a bunch saying it broke when version of Ubuntu was updated (ex. 9.10 -> 10.04). Here is a post that might help I hope ...

Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 – nVidia MCP55 High Definition Audio Problem | Syscalls | com

*edit* - I also read one post that said stuff was muted in the "mixer" ... so perhaps check that out also. (System -> Preferences -> Sound)

**Bman** · May 13th, 2011

Yea did that, did not do anything.

In the Gnome Mixer it shows Realtek ALC1200, so...

**Xie** · May 13th, 2011

Maybe this will help you: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting

**Bman** · May 13th, 2011

Well I will go over that post but its all about sound, my sound works, just not the headphones.

**Xie** · May 14th, 2011

Have you tried booting up Ubuntu with the headphones plugged in? (read this worked in several threads that had headphone issues)

**Bman** · May 14th, 2011

Yes I tried that, was how I found out they didn't work. Since then tried booting without them in.

**LordOfLA** · May 14th, 2011

are they usb ones? THey should just work if they plug in to your sound card.

**Bman** · May 14th, 2011

Hmm, they are plugged into the front of the system, didn't think about that.

**LordOfLA** · May 15th, 2011

Let us know what happens when you plug them in directly at the back

Front audio requires driver support to switch audio paths.

**Bman** · May 15th, 2011

I haven't had time to try that yet, busy. But I did realize that it wouldn't matter, I want to be able to use my speakers as well and that would replace it.

Will let you know anyways.

**LordOfLA** · May 15th, 2011

And it'll kill you to swap wires over occasionally?

**Bman** · May 15th, 2011

So plugged them in the back and they don't work.

**

Once plugged in the back I started to play with settings, and now it's working. FINALLY! lol Not perfect but will do.

Thanks.

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #1
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Ubuntu Headphone Problem I just installed Ubuntu 11.04 on a new partition. (Unity sucks by the way, went to default Gnome) I want to start using that as my main system, and Windows 7 as my gaming. Of course I am basically a newbie at Linux but part of doing this is because I want to learn it more. My first issue, and it's a big issue because the main thing I do is watch movies and TV shows. And because of where I live I need to use headphones most of the time to not annoy other people. Well my headphones do not work. I found many threads and topics on this but most seem old and are related to laptop issues. I am on a desktop system. I believe its on-board sound, and they are realtek (not sure how its spelt) drivers. Any ideas, how to get it working. Thanks.

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #2
American Zombie OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: June 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 2,864 Reputation: 2689 Power: 151	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem You can download linux drivers at: Realtek Once there you just need to know if you need HD or ac97 software.

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #3
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem I have an EVGA 780i SLI mobo, is it realtek? All my system says is MCP55 High Definition Audio

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #4
LeeJend OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: January 2003 Location: Fort Worth, TX Posts: 5,261 Reputation: 3386 Power: 199	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Looks like the MCP55 is an Nvidia sound chip. Multiple posts on the Ubuntu site about problems. Still looking for solution. brb Try the find driver option on this page. http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us Not looking good for linux support from nvidia. EVGA site had no linux drivers listed either. WTF? I can't beleive nvidia not supporting Ubuntu. I must be missing something. There might be a generic driver in Ubuntu for the Nvidia MCP55 sound. Also, Ubuntu might resist using proprietary drivers. You have to be sure to select use this vile no GPL driver when asked. Thought for the new millenium: In a world without walls and fences, who needs Windows and Gates? - Open Office - Firefox - Thunderbird - Gimp -Ubuntu - Red Hat -

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #5
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem I read a bunch of posts say that it was supported "out of box". I also read a bunch saying it broke when version of Ubuntu was updated (ex. 9.10 -> 10.04). Here is a post that might help I hope ... Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 – nVidia MCP55 High Definition Audio Problem \| Syscalls \| com edit - I also read one post that said stuff was muted in the "mixer" ... so perhaps check that out also. (System -> Preferences -> Sound) tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

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May 13th, 2011	Top \| #6
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Yea did that, did not do anything. In the Gnome Mixer it shows Realtek ALC1200, so... Attached Thumbnails

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #7
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Maybe this will help you: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

May 13th, 2011	Top \| #8
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Well I will go over that post but its all about sound, my sound works, just not the headphones.

May 14th, 2011	Top \| #9
Xie - geek - Joined: September 2003 Location: NY, USA Posts: 5,224 Reputation: 1730 Power: 175	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Have you tried booting up Ubuntu with the headphones plugged in? (read this worked in several threads that had headphone issues) tehgeek \| tehgeek \| geeking out to tech \| IRC \| Parted Magic \| A+ Certified Professional

May 14th, 2011	Top \| #10
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Yes I tried that, was how I found out they didn't work. Since then tried booting without them in.

May 14th, 2011	Top \| #11
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem are they usb ones? THey should just work if they plug in to your sound card. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

May 14th, 2011	Top \| #12
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Hmm, they are plugged into the front of the system, didn't think about that.

May 15th, 2011	Top \| #13
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem Let us know what happens when you plug them in directly at the back Front audio requires driver support to switch audio paths. If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

May 15th, 2011	Top \| #14
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem I haven't had time to try that yet, busy. But I did realize that it wouldn't matter, I want to be able to use my speakers as well and that would replace it. Will let you know anyways.

May 15th, 2011	Top \| #15
LordOfLA Godlike! Joined: February 2004 Location: Salisbury, Wiltshire, UK Posts: 7,031 Blog Entries: 5 Reputation: 4137 Power: 213	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem And it'll kill you to swap wires over occasionally? If HK-47 and GLaDOS had a child, the character they create would cause the video game world to overdose on awesome. -sheridanmovieguy: Dragon age forum user.

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May 15th, 2011	Top \| #16
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Ubuntu Headphone Problem So plugged them in the back and they don't work. ** Once plugged in the back I started to play with settings, and now it's working. FINALLY! lol Not perfect but will do. Thanks.