Re: Audio not working no matter what I try

I didn't know you could have audio when you don't have a desktop
enviornment.

Suddenly I wanna try going desktop-less

On Wed, May 27, 2026, 2:10 p.m. Mark G. <[email protected]>
wrote:

> One correction, virtual_oss is a package/port in 14.4,
> so you'll have to install it.  It is built in to the kernel in 15.0.
>
>
> On 5/27/26 10:07, Mark G. wrote:
> > On 5/27/26 04:19, Polarian wrote:
> >> Hey,
> >>
> >> So I have moaned about this on IRC a lot with no solution. So a few
> >> years ago when I started using FreeBSD I had no issues with audio, it
> >> just worked. However I did a reinstall at some point and it never
> >> worked since then, that was probably 2 years ago from now.
> >>
> >> I very rarely need to use audio on my laptop, and I got lazy and
> >> anything I needed audio for I would use my phone or a second laptop.
> >>
> >> However I need to do a presentation and I need my dev environment,
> >> which is on FreeBSD, and I can't get working audio, so I can't present
> >> it.
> >>
> >> Steps:
> >>
> >> 1. kldload snd_driver
> >> 2. cat /etc/sndstat
> >>
> >> Installed devices:
> >> pcm0: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> (play/rec) default
> >> pcm1: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog)> (play/rec)
> >> pcm2: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
> >> pcm3: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
> >> pcm4: <Intel Panther Point (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
> >>
> >> I know from previous experiences, that pcm0 is the right one, but I
> >> have tried all of them just to be sure.
> >>
> >> 3. Check mixer
> >>
> >> pcm0:mixer: <IDT 92HD93BXX (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> on hdaa0 (play/rec)
> >> (default) vol       = 1.00:1.00     pbk
> >>      pcm       = 0.27:0.27     pbk
> >>      speaker   = 1.00:1.00     pbk
> >>      line      = 0.01:0.01     rec
> >>      mic       = 0.34:0.34     rec src
> >>      mix       = 0.35:0.35     rec
> >>      rec       = 0.35:0.35     pbk
> >>      ogain     = 1.00:1.00     pbk
> >>
> >> No issues there it appears.
> >>
> >> 4. beep(1) or write to /dev/dsp*, andddddddd nothing!
> >>
> >> I have a feeling because desktop packages pull in pulseaudio that this
> >> could be the issue, but this would require me literally uninstalling my
> >> desktop, which is 1. not a solution and 2. not something I
> >> have time to do for debugging.
> >>
> >> So I am hoping its not that, does anyone have any ideas?
> >>
> >> Thank you,
> >
> >
> > Some ideas (on 14.4p5 and 15.0p9) for working sound:
> >
> > You don't say what programs you want to use for audio,
> > so I will offer general advice on how I got my
> > stuff working.
> >
> > rc.conf:
> >
> > sndiod_enable="YES"
> > pipewire_enable="YES"
> > virtual_oss_enable="YES"
> >
> > The pipewire/sndiod entries may be optional, but some software had
> > an option to use it.  The virtual_oss is what I rely on.
> >
> > I use mixertui to select/set devices for default.  It's in pkg/ports.
> >
> > I also use this shell script to set a default for virtual_oss:
> >
> > ==============
> > #!/bin/sh
> > #
> > # Set the virtual oss device defaults
> > # to the dsp number passed, usually for the speakerphone.
> > #
> > DEV=${1}
> >
> > if [ "x${1}" = "x" ]; then
> >      DEV=6
> > fi
> >
> > virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl -P /dev/dsp${DEV}
> > virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl -R /dev/dsp${DEV}
> > virtual_oss_cmd /dev/dsp.ctl
> >
> > ===========
> >
> > Call it with the number 0 for pcm0 as the requested default device:
> >
> > $ ./set-speakerphone.sh 0
> >
> > I usually use both the script and mixertui before I
> > start chromium for a jitsi meeting.  One must sacrifice
> > the correct number of chickens after all.
> >
> > The most important item is to make sure that the ports
> > or packages you install are compiled with the proper
> > sound system support.  This is what usually bites me
> > in the bottom trying to get sound working.  So go
> > check the OPTIONS in make config and confirm that
> > the sound subsystem (e.g. pulseaudio) is actually compiled
> > in to the software you want to use.
> >
> > For example, my poudriere build of chromium has these
> > options:
> >
> > % pkg info chromium
> > chromium-146.0.7680.164_2
> > Name           : chromium
> > Version        : 146.0.7680.164_2
> > Installed on   : Sat Apr 11 20:14:01 2026 PDT
> > Origin         : www/chromium
> > Architecture   : FreeBSD:14:amd64
> > Prefix         : /usr/local
> > Categories     : wayland www
> > Licenses       : BSD3CLAUSE, LGPL21, MPL11
> > Maintainer     : [email protected]
> > WWW            : https://www.chromium.org/Home
> > Comment        : Google web browser based on WebKit
> > Options        :
> >      ALSA           : on
> >      CODECS         : on
> >      CUPS           : on
> >      DEBUG          : off
> >      DRIVER         : on
> >      HEIMDAL        : off
> >      HEIMDAL_BASE   : off
> >      KERBEROS       : on
> >      LTO            : off
> >      MIT            : off
> >      PIPEWIRE       : on
> >      PULSEAUDIO     : on
> >      SNDIO          : on
> >      TEST           : off
> >      WIDEVINE       : off
> > ...
> >
> > I recall some packages from the FreeBSD repositories
> > not having some common sound subsystems compiled in
> > as OPTIONS and had to rebuild them myself.
> >
> > Anyway, using mixertui/virtual_oss before starting chromium
> > for a meeting allows for a speakerphone to be used easily.
> > Otherwise the laptop microphone and speaker will also
> > work when specified.
> >
> > Hope this helps,
> > Mark
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>