Re: [Ekiga-devel-list] Windows XP: "wave" volume goes to zero when calling

[Michael Rickmann <mrickma gwdg de>]

Eugen Dedu schrieb:
> Michael Rickmann wrote:
> > Michael Rickmann schrieb:
> > > my kabelfunk de schrieb:
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > I've installed Ekiga 3.2.5 on Windows XP and as far as I see it works
> > > > fine, but... :-)
> > > >
> > > > I used the call back service 530 ekiga net for my test.
> > > > When the incoming coming window pops up  the volume for WAVE in the
> > > > audio mixer goes to maximum.
> > > > After clicking anwer ("abnehmen") the volume of WAVE goes to zero and I
> > > > hear nothing.
> > > >
> > > > Doing a 500 ekiga net echo test has the same effect: After the
> > > > connection is established the volume is zero.
> > > >
> > > > This happens on a reals XP machine as well as in VirtualBox.
> > > >
> > > > regards
> > > > Dominik
> > > >
> > > > PS:
> > > > I know there is a small speaker button in ekiga where I can raise the
> > > > "wave" volume, too.
> > > > But the default seems to be zero, is only configurable during a call 
> > > > and
> > > > doesn't save the value between restarts.
> > > Yes, it is a real nuisance. I think that Ptlib does not have control 
> > > over the volume settings of the Windows Multimedia interface when 
> > > opening the device, but Ekiga just relies on it. Attached patch fixes 
> > > that. This does not yet allow Win32 Ekiga to restore output volume 
> > > from the last run. I work on that using an extra config key.
> > > The zero setting of the volume slider is a third different shortcoming.
> > > Regards
> > > Michael
> > Hi Dominik,
> > I think I fixed all the audio-output volume settings issues for Win32 
> > with attached two patches. ekiga_1outvolume.diff keeps the output volume 
>
> So should this patch be committed (trunk+stable)?
So far I have only tested it under stable because getting Win32 Ekiga 
stable stable is my chief concern at the moment. In itself the patch is 
harmless as it only tells audiooutput-core and the volume sliders and 
... what the situation is. So I would apply it to both.

> > across calls, ekiga_2outvolume.diff across Ekiga sessions - the latter 
> > is more intrusive as it introduces a new config key into the database 
> > which for Win32 is in ekiga.conf. I am just uploading new files to my 
>
> Couldn't the output volume be initialised from Windows default/current 
> level?  Thus we do not need a new config key.
I can confirm what Vanya Gubkin wrote in 
http://mail.gnome.org/archives/ekiga-list/2009-August/msg00032.html . 
Moreover, I have builds or times when initial audio output is maximal or 
minimal. Never it is right. I do not think that we changed something in 
priciple when we fixed the device names in 
http://git.gnome.org/cgit/ekiga/commit/?id=90b6fe1cbe6ab7cef3e4954d4cae767e65df9b8c 
. My conclusion is that as long as we use the PTLIB/WindowsMultimedia 
device, initial output volume is not defined (directsound still crashes 
Ekiga). Lately, I also have more Ekigas with zero initial output volume. 
 That is definitely preferable to maximal volume.  Once, I had changed 
the Windows volume settings for other applications and when I called 
500 ekiga net afterwards the lady blew my ears - it was an Ekiga with 
maximal volume. I am quite concerned with the health aspect of this.

In general I think an application should be able to restore the sound 
settings it used including volume. With the PTLIB/WindowsMultimedia 
interface Ptlib accesses the "wave" volume which corresponds to Linux 
pcm. So we have no control over the mixer.
I agree that introducing a new config key is a major change for an 
application. I would not mind to make this a general discussion.

Let me become practical again. I made the patch two days ago, so it is 
not well tested. Give me some more time.
Michael

> > directory. Could you try 
> > http://wwwuser.gwdg.de/~mrickma/ekiga/ekiga-setup-3.2.pre6-release.exe. 
> > I have tested it under XP-SP2 and 7RC. Could you tell me if it fixes 
> > the audio for you. For audio input use the general Windows sliders, 
> > its a thing I don't see any pattern yet.