September 18, 2025

Enable sound output and input after installing GNU/Linux Trisquel’s netinstall

Install the package alsa-utils:

$ sudo install alsa-utils

You can alasmix to control sound from the commad line.

This was helpful: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture

Checked that asound.state exists:

$ file /var/lib/alsa/asound.state 
/var/lib/alsa/asound.state: ASCII text, with very long lines (362)

Checked the status of also:

$ systemctl status alsa-restore.service
● alsa-restore.service - Save/Restore Sound Card State
Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/alsa-restore.>
Active: active (exited) since Thu 2024-09-19 07:1>
Docs: man:alsactl(1)
Process: 636 ExecStartPre=/bin/mkdir -p /run/alsa >
Process: 655 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/alsactl -E HOME=/>
Main PID: 655 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
CPU: 10ms

Sep 19 07:18:27 x220 systemd[1]: Starting Save/Restore>
Sep 19 07:18:27 x220 alsactl[655]: alsa-lib main.c:141>
Sep 19 07:18:27 x220 systemd[1]: Finished Save/Restore>
lines 1-12/12 (END)

All good.

To test speakers I ran:

$ speaker-test -c 2

Play audio file from the command line

Use ffmpeg to play an audio file from the command line

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Edit: February 2025

Troubleshooting: no sound output, no sound input

I installed:

$ sudo install alsa-base 
$ reboot

still, no mic input.

Then I installed pavucontrol:

$ sudo install pavucontrol

Ran:

$ pavucontrol

A graphic interface pops up.

I went to the configuration tab and seclected Analog Stereo Duplex from the drop down menu of Profile. Input and output did not work immediately. I fiddled around a bit; first on input or output worked but not both simultaneously. Maybe try a reboot. Also, when I use sound through the browser, I have to select “Built in Audio Analog” instead of Monitor Built in Audio Analog”.

Issue: weak sound

Sound output varies. Need to fix this.

personal computing command-line interface (cli) gnu linux trisquel shell literacy wiki mvd alsa