Sound is much quieter in Windows XP vs. Linux

[arcenite]

I would have never noticed this if I had never installed Linux. I have Klipsch Promedia 5.1s, and under windows they always seemed kind of dull. I mean they'd still rock, but I'd have to turn the knob up to like 45 to hear anything at a decent level. I install Linux and BAM at 20 I can hear everything like it's in my head, and even at 01 is the music border line loud when someone is sleeping. What can I do? I have checked all the volume controls. Sound card is a Chaintech AV-710.

Thanks,
Bill

 

[drag]

So you want to make it quieter?


There is a major difference on how Linux and Windows handles volumes in sound cards. Built into the hardware there is volume controls and such.. Linux applications tend to access the hardware on a much lower level.

With Windows you have a software mixing system that sits between all applications and the hardware. I beleive it's called kmix. It's part of the Win32 API stuff.

In Linux this is comparable to using a sound deamon like artsd or esd.

Try openning up a xterm session and using the 'alsamixer' command. This will show you all the volumes and stuff that is aviable with your sound card. Maybe you can find what your looking for in their. Btw, PCM = audio from applications.

Also many alsa-using applications like Rhythmbox have their own volume controls independant from everything else so you can mix some applications loader then others.

 

[arcenite]

Originally posted by: drag
So you want to make it quieter?


There is a major difference on how Linux and Windows handles volumes in sound cards. Built into the hardware there is volume controls and such.. Linux applications tend to access the hardware on a much lower level.

With Windows you have a software mixing system that sits between all applications and the hardware. I beleive it's called kmix. It's part of the Win32 API stuff.

In Linux this is comparable to using a sound deamon like artsd or esd.

Try openning up a xterm session and using the 'alsamixer' command. This will show you all the volumes and stuff that is aviable with your sound card. Maybe you can find what your looking for in their. Btw, PCM = audio from applications.

Also many alsa-using applications like Rhythmbox have their own volume controls independant from everything else so you can mix some applications loader then others.

Thank you for your response...I want to make Windows louder if it's possible, not linux quieter 🙂

Bill