How can I access the external microphone with Ubuntu?

Posted by Charles Merriam on Super User See other posts from Super User or by Charles Merriam
Published on 2010-03-08T21:34:43Z Indexed on 2010/03/08 21:38 UTC
Read the original article Hit count: 338

Filed under:

ubuntu

|

sound

|

alsa

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microphone

Sound in Ubuntu, it has its own special joy. I would like my external microphone to work.

Symptoms:

I can play sound through the speakers
I can play sound through the headsets.
Plugging and and plugging headphone output correctly switches.
I can record from the built-in microphone, using "Sound Recorder" and others.

but:

I cannot record from the external microphone.
My Sound Preferences/Input panel has no option for an external microphone.

If the answer is upgrade the ALSA drivers, please say exactly what to type.

Thank you.

========

I'm using Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala on a laptop (Gateway W3501), Sigmatel.

That is:

~$ head -1 /proc/asound/card0/code*
==> /proc/asound/card0/codec#0 <==
Codec: SigmaTel STAC9205

==> /proc/asound/card0/codec#1 <==
Codec: Conexant ID 2c06
~$ lspci | grep -i audio
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 82801H (ICH8 Family) HD Audio Controller (rev 03)

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