[NBLUG/talk] Sound problem with Skype on Ubuntu 9.04

[Christopher Wagner]

Skype has had consistent problems with PulseAudio. Try switching to the 
ALSA audio driver (Skype Button, Options, Sound Devices, then change the 
Sound In/Out to one of the other options other than pulse).

Also, there's a certain intel audio chipset that has known issues. Does 
the microphone work in other applications? It's important to determine 
whether it's a Skype issue or a driver issue. I encountered a problem 
where sound output was fine, but the capture was messed up until I 
changed a few module options. Try googling "sony vaio intel chipset not 
working ubuntu" or some variation of that (if it's actually an Intel 
audio chipset.

Regarding the web cam, there's a software called EasyCam (IIRC) that 
might get her camera working, but no guarantees there. The camera on my 
Dell XPS worked flawlessly out of the box so I haven't had to fiddle 
around with that in a bit.

Hope that helps..

- Chris

Roger House wrote:
> Recently I helped my daughter's friend, Meghan, install Ubuntu 9.04 on a 
> Sony Vaio.  I was rather impressed at how well it went, since my 
> assistance was via phone; Meghan and my daughter managed to download the 
> ISO image on a Mac, burn it to a CD, install Ubuntu on the Vaio, etc.  
> Neither of them are computer geeks. 
>
> Meghan was basically in a position where Best Buy wanted to charge her 
> $200 to reinstall Windows on her computer, so free software looked good 
> to her.  She has been managing quite well so far.  But now she has 
> encountered an issue (see her email below) which I can't provide much 
> help with.  I myself am in a similar situation.  After I installed 8.10, 
> and continuing with 9.04, no one can hear me when I try to use Skype.  I 
> can hear them, and other sounds seems to work.  I use this machine 
> rarely, so the lack of Skype has not bothered me that much, so I haven't 
> devoted much time to the issue.  By the way, on my machine Skype worked 
> just fine with Ubuntu before I installed 8.10.  Any ideas about what to 
> do will be appreciated.
>
> Roger
>
> <Begin email from Meghan>
> Hi there!
>
> So far figuring out stuff hasn't been too difficult with Ubuntu, but I'm 
> getting really confused trying to use Skype. It downloaded just fine so 
> that I can log on and call people. I can even see the people that I'm 
> calling on their webcams, BUT they can't see or hear me. I guess Ubuntu 
> doesn't recognize my sound and built-in camera on my Sony Vaio anymore? 
> Do you know how I can make Skype recognize my camera and audio again? I 
> never had an issue with it before because it was all built in and 
> windows just recognized it automatically, so I have no idea how to fix 
> it. I tried to google about it, but all the answers were given in 
> codespeak, and I have no idea what they're talking about! Thanks Roger!!
>
> -Meghan
> <End email from Meghan>
>
>
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