Ubuntu
alsa-utils package

Polycom Communicator mic volume too low

Bug #240623 reported by Jono Bacon
26
This bug affects 5 people
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
alsa-utils (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

When using the Polycom Communicator (Model C100S) speakerphone with Hardy, the microphone volume always remains very low. This speaker-phone was purchased primarily for use with Skype, and when trying to adjust the mixer settings in the volume control, it makes no difference. To do this I selected the USB Audio device in the volume control and whacked the volume on the mic up high, but no luck. when doing a Skype test call. the volume of the other end of the call is fine and the volume is excellent, it is literally just the mic volume being too low.

This is sound card issue - when testing recording in Audacity (using /dev/dsp1), the volume remains to be low. I tried to test using ALSA, but had problems accessing the device.

Revision history for this message
Jorge Castro (jorge) wrote :

I am confirming this since I borrowed one and had to follow steps outlined here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=5202323 and here: http://www.jonobacon.org/?p=1199

Revision history for this message
Daniel T Chen (crimsun) wrote :

The bug doesn't lie with alsactl or alsamixer[0] but rather what element in the mixer settings/volume control you're adjusting.

[0]You really shouldn't have to use `alsamixer -c0' or `pavucontrol' to adjust the volume, but it seems you have to until we clean up the mess, aka provide a unified way of setting global vs. application/stream volume.

Changed in alsa-utils:
status: Confirmed → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Matt Giuca (mgiuca) wrote :

I have this same issue with the same device. Jono (reporter) posted a workaround on his blog here:
http://www.jonobacon.org/2008/06/17/polycom-communicator-low-mic-volume/

I can confirm that this fix works.

However, it is extremely unintuitive. Both the Gnome sound control panel and alsamixer command-line tool do not help with this problem -- you can set it to 100% in alsamixer and over-amplify in Gnome sound control panel, which does affect the volume, but it is still deathly quiet. I would not mark this bug as Invalid, as there is a user interface issue here if nothing else.

Revision history for this message
Doudz (sebastien-ramage) wrote :

Bug steel here in Ubuntu 15.04

Revision history for this message
Doudz (sebastien-ramage) wrote :

erf still...

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