Internal microphone recognized but not working (Intel Meteor Lake)

[vincent73]

Hi, I’m using Manjaro XFCE since 10 years but I’m not a configuration expert, and I’m new to this forum.
I have a DELL Precision 5490 which poses numerous problems that I am trying to resolve on my own (webcam, sound, etc.). I’m using Pipewire and pavucontrol, I upgraded the kernel to 6.16 and I have less problems with sound (with 6.6 no sound at all, with 6.12 sound freezing randomly). I still have a problem with the mic that does not work. Using alsamixer does not help. I don’t know what to do. Help would be much appreciated, many thanks in advance.

Here is some information:

Manufacturer:      Dell Inc.
Product Name:      Precision 5490
Firmware Version:  1.13.0

> uname -r
6.16.0-5-MANJARO

> inxi -A
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Meteor Lake IPU driver: intel-ipu6
  Device-2: Intel Meteor Lake-P HD Audio driver: sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl
  API: ALSA v: k6.16.0-5-MANJARO status: kernel-api
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.7 status: active

> pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 233
Tile Size: 65472
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.7)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3-platform-sof_sdw.HiFi__Speaker__sink
Default Source: alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3-platform-sof_sdw.HiFi__Mic__source
Cookie: 1528:6492

> arecord -l 
**** List of Capture Hardware Devices ****
Card 0 : sofsoundwire [sof-soundwire], Device 1 : Jack In (*) []
  Sub-devices : 1/1
  Sub-device #0 : subdevice #0
Card 0 : sofsoundwire [sof-soundwire], Device 3 : Amplifier Feedback (*) []
  Sub-devices : 1/1
  Sub-device #0 : subdevice #0
Card 0 : sofsoundwire [sof-soundwire], Device 4 : Microphone (*) []
  Sub-devices : 1/1
  Sub-device #0 : subdevice #0

> sudo dmesg | grep sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 
[   14.121890] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[   14.122075] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: DSP detected with PCI class/subclass/prog-if 0x040100
[   14.122117] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops intel_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
[   14.129125] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: use msi interrupt mode
[   14.140256] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: hda codecs found, mask 4
[   14.140259] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: NHLT device BT(0) detected, ssp_mask 0x4
[   14.140260] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: BT link detected in NHLT tables: 0x4
[   14.140261] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: DMICs detected in NHLT tables: 0
[   14.142523] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: Firmware paths/files for ipc type 1:
[   14.142525] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3:  Firmware file:     intel/sof-ipc4/mtl/sof-mtl.ri
[   14.142526] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3:  Firmware lib path: intel/sof-ipc4-lib/mtl
[   14.142527] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3:  Topology file:     intel/sof-ace-tplg/sof-mtl-rt713-l0-rt1316-l12-rt1713-l3.tplg
[   14.143208] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: Loaded firmware library: ADSPFW, version: 2.13.0.1
[   14.263074] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: Booted firmware version: 2.13.0.1
[   14.273462] sof-audio-pci-intel-mtl 0000:00:1f.3: Topology: ABI 3:29:1 Kernel ABI 3:23:1

I have both packages sof-firmware and alsa-ucm-conf installed.

[BG405]

Hello and welcome to the Manjaro Community!

I’m sorry for not responding earlier (distractions!) however hopefully this “bump” will get you some attention.

I’m no audio expert but we do have some knowledgeable people in that regard. Maybe @nikgnomic will be willing to assist?

I’d suggest also posting the output of inxi -zv8 as this may help; it’s normally requested in Support topics as we get a better idea of your system and can often spot things which might need attention.

(Note: the output is filtered for privacy with that command).

Cheers!

[nikgnomic]

I found an issue report for a similar system with an unusual workaround

sofproject - Issues - [BUG] Internal Mic not working - Dell Precision

the microphone on my DELL Precision 5690 stopped working. The microphone appears to receive a wrong signal in the audio settings (or pavucontrol), and the signal fluctuates continuously. When I attempt to record, a crackling sound is heard.

Multiple users have reported similar issues for Dell Precision in various forums: link to forum post

The issue seems to come from the microphone with the F4 key on the keyboard (mute/unmute) When I switch from secondary to primary F keys, the microphone behavior changes and the microphone works, even if the microphone is not working before…

The problem reappeared after a week of normal usage.

went into the BIOS to disable the microphone and observe Ubuntu’s behavior with the microphone turned off. After rebooting, the microphone worked normally using the primary Fn key… yet in the BIOS, the microphone was still disabled.

I haven’t had any issues since I had to disable the microphone in the UEFI in order for it to work on Ubuntu. But by doing that, I can no longer use it on Windows because it sees it as disabled. I contacted DELL, but I haven’t received a response so far.

thanks at least for the workaround (BIOS disabling), this worked for me

If disabling microphone in BIOS does not work for you, get more information about audio devices in ALSA

sudo alsa-info.sh --upload

[BG405]

Blimey that was fast !!

[vincent73]

Many thanks @nikgnomic, it’s working: I went into the BIOS and disabled the microphone… which is now working. Kind of weird.

BTW, I’m sorry I couldn’t find the solution proposed in the other issue on my own, even though I searched for a long time… Thanks for the help

[nikgnomic]

@BG405

that was fast !!

I found the issue report on Saturday but it did not make any logical sense to me at the time

@vincent73

Kind of weird

Very strange workaround, but better than digging around in ALSA or keyboard configurations