[clug] skype hdmi error

[steve jenkin]

Andreas Bauer wrote on 5/4/09 11:53 AM:
> Dear Clugers,
> 
> I know that perhaps there is not a whole lot that can be done about
> it, since nobody really knows how skype works, but until yesterday I
> could get away using it without seeing the following error(s):
> 
> ALSA lib pcm.c:2202:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.hdmi
> ALSA lib pcm.c:2202:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.hdmi
> ALSA lib pcm.c:2202:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM cards.pcm.hdmi
> ...
> 
> Rather "magically", skype stopped working since these messages showed
> up.  No, I am not trying to use hdmi output, or anything fancy.
> Interestingly, sound and microphone both work in other applications,
> and even in skype itself the annoying system sounds still play fine,
> it just won't let me do any calls, insisting that my audio hardware
> has problems.  :-(
> 
> I'm on a fairly recent Debian unstable, using kernel 2.6.29, latest
> alsa drivers and skype, etc.  I don't use KDE, Gnome, or their sound
> servers.
> 
> Did any of you see such errors previously?
> 
> Any thoughts on this are greatly appreciated!
> 
> Andi.


Under OS/X, Skype experiences some problems that could be related:

 - The default sound input/output has to be reselected at times.
    Skype doesn't remember devices or rates as far as I can see.

 - The rate/bits of the system default sound output gets reset
    by another program - something higher than the input supports.
    Skype attempts to open the input and fails to find a usable dev.
     then exits with a less than helpful error msg.
    [Soln: Sys-Prefs to reset rates/bits sampling]

HTH
s


-- 
Steve Jenkin, Info Tech, Systems and Design Specialist.
0412 786 915 (+61 412 786 915)
PO Box 48, Kippax ACT 2615, AUSTRALIA

sjenkin at canb.auug.org.au http://members.tip.net.au/~sjenkin