[mythtv-users] ALSA volume mixer integration

[Jean-Yves Avenard]

Hi

On 12 November 2010 10:56, E. Westbrook <mythtv-users at westbrook.com> wrote:
> Hi folks,
>
> When at my desk, I often run mythfrontend in a window so I can enjoy TV
> while I work.  At the same time, I often run other applications that use
> audio (for notifications, audio UI feedback, and such), and having set up
> ALSA's default pcm to a dmix in my /etc/asound.conf, my world is mostly
> delightful.
>
> My only (relatively minor) grumble with this arrangement is that
> mythfrontend doesn't update its idea of what the mixer's volume level is
> when I change it in another application (mostly, I like using gkrellm's
> volume plugin regardless of what else I'm doing).  For example, I can watch
> the levels change in alsamixer when I use the [ and ] keys in mythfrontend,
> but not the other way around.  This causes undesirable volume jumps whenever
> it's mythfrontend's turn to work with the level for any reason.
>
> I'd like to see mythfrontend take notice when another application changes
> the levels, at least enough so that the [ and ] keys work with the volume
> from where ALSA currently has it, and so that starting playback doesn't
> reset it.  There may be other cases too.  While not strictly necessary to
> satisfy me, it would be a bonus if the volume status bar could appear to
> reflect externally initiated change events.
>
> I would suspect that in the vast majority of MythTV installs, mythfrontend
> is the only application working with volume levels on a given frontend, so I
> wouldn't be surprised (or upset) if few or none other people cared about
> this.  But for me, it's a little "nit" that gets my goat from time to time.
>
> Has this kind of integration already been discussed and/or addressed somehow
> or somewhere that I am not aware of?  If not, I'm inclined to try to attack
> it in the code, either by myself or with help.  I'll be appreciative for any
> observations, corrections, pointers, or tips.  Thanks!
>

Please log a bug in trac.

Myth only reads the volume level when it starts and ignore if that
value is changed externally after that.

You would probably achieve better result if you use pulseaudio here as
that's what it's been designed for.

Use pulseaudio native driver, or the ALSA emulation (device will be
shown as ALSA:pulse in the list)