Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-19 08:26:11

In most ways, this thread is the same as my last, regarding a new Devuan Excalibur install with Alsa. However, I originally experienced this on another new install (exactly the same Devuan Excalibur install with LXDE and Alsa), on another computer (obviously with other components), but I moved this over to my original computer system from my last thread, to remove any variables that aren't part of the problem.

The new variable is that I am using my Behringer UMC204HD USB sound card as default audio output. The USB sound card works, but the output is very low. Sooo, I naturally wanted to go into alsamixer and adjust the master volume. I was met with the following:

$ alsamixer
cannot load mixer controls: No such file or directory

If I run (for example):

$ alsamixer -c 2

I get a visual (as expected) of that sound card and the various settings. So what is the issue with my Behringer card? Is this a Behringer issue or is this something that is experienced with other USB sound cards as well?

BTW, in my last thread, the USB sound device is just a cheap Chinese dongle to get the sound working. The Behringer is a USB sound card with inputs and outputs that should just work on various computers (class compliant).

Matlib · 2026-01-19 14:12:45

Try qasmixer. It presents a selection of all available mixing devices. It might have some custom hardware that doesn't work properly with Linux.

igorzwx · 2026-01-19 14:18:21

devuan_dk_fan wrote:

So what is the issue with my Behringer card?

It is easy to verify. Unplug Behringer, and run

alsamixer

Try alias

cat /sys/class/sound/card*/id

alias mixer='alsamixer -c <id of your card>'

mixer

You can add it to ~/.bashrc

mousepad ~/.bashrc

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-19 14:57:10

OK, this is getting weird. I have renamed ~/.asoundrc so that it doesn't get loaded, and removed the Behringer card. Now there are just two devices:

$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24C650]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC256 Analog [ALC256 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Alsamixer still doesn't work:

$ alsamixer
cannot load mixer controls: No such file or directory

Specifying card 0 gives me the same error as above.

If I run:

$ alsamixer -c 1

the interface appears as normal behavior.

inxi gives me the following:

$ inxi -A
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Renoir Radeon High Definition
    Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Audio Coprocessor driver: N/A
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
    driver: snd_hda_intel
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.63+deb13-amd64 status: kernel-api

Last edited by devuan_dk_fan (2026-01-19 15:02:01)

igorzwx · 2026-01-19 15:45:51

ALSA is not weird, just a bit strange.

The default is:

$ cat /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf
...
defaults.ctl.card 0
defaults.pcm.card 0
defaults.pcm.device 0

But your "card 0" (HDMI) has "device 3", not "0"

card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24C650]

Post the output of

amixer -c 0

or

amixer -c Generic

HDMI audio devices in ALSA often lack hardware volume controls

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-19 16:26:25)

zapper · 2026-01-19 16:19:27

I had problems with alsa when I installed devuan Excalibur to be honest.

But, one caveat, if I installed sndio AND alsa-sndio from jwmkit's repo, it caused certain applications to no longer work such as web browsers and qemu.

The strange thing though is everything else worked with that combo.

Devuan Excalibur seems to have some problems with alsa

rations · 2026-01-19 16:30:44

I am using my Behringer UMC204HD USB sound card as default audio output

I have this exact same audio interface. If your only using alsa try greenjeans AlsaTune gui. It picked up mine straight away and it is very loud with my behringer truth monitors. I'm using devuan 5 not 6

igorzwx · 2026-01-19 17:44:36

ALSA defaults to:

$ cat /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf | grep dmix.rate
defaults.pcm.dmix.rate 48000

This means all audio will be resampled to a 48 kHz sample rate using ALSA’s built-in low-quality resampler, or possibly a media player’s own low-quality resampler. The result may not sound good, but users with reduced hearing sensitivity might not notice the difference.

For more, see:
The Biological Risk of High-Frequency EQ
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7750

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-19 18:15:05

$ amixer -c 0
amixer: Mixer sysdefault:0 load error: No such file or directory

$ amixer -c Generic
amixer: Mixer sysdefault:0 load error: No such file or directory

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-19 18:27:29

At this point, I am mainly looking for a solution to the current issue. There are other variables with what I plan to do, among other things using the following:

https://www.flowkey.com/en

https://tomplay.com/

The first is more e-learning oriented, the second is sheet music and backing tracks for various instruments. Both use midi over web and webgl. Beyond this, I would like to start using midi input with a daw.

While in general I like sndio a lot and think it is a much simpler and more rational solution to piling pulseaudio and pipewire as extra layers on top of alsa, my mileage has varied, even with an lmms version compiled for sndio. Sndio is very finicky about usb devices being completely class compliant. It doesn't like wattage variations in the hardware, nor hardware kludges. On the other hand, if your setup is simple and most can be done via the command line, it just works.

igorzwx · 2026-01-19 20:22:51

Could you clarify what the current issue is?
Is it related to sound quality, or the setup with HDMI versus a Behringer audio interface?
Would you mind specifying what isn’t working as expected?

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-19 21:02:41

I am trying to get the Beehringer sound card to work with Alsa, including alsmixer. Audio is coming out,, but is way too low in volume to be of any use, and I can't access alsamixer for the Behringer card, to increase the master volume.

igorzwx · 2026-01-19 21:17:12

Plug your Behringer into USB port

Post the output of these commands:

cat /proc/asound/cards

cat /sys/class/sound/card*/id

What is needed is "id" of your Behringer

For example, I have Intel HDA (id: PCH) and iMic USB (id: system)

$ cat /sys/class/sound/card*/id
system
PCH

For Intel HDA:

alsamixer -c PCH

For iMic USB:

alsamixer -c system

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [system         ]: USB-Audio - iMic USB audio system
                      Griffin Technology, Inc iMic USB audio system at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.3.4, full s
 1 [PCH            ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7e10000 irq 31

This also works:

alsamixer -c 0

alsamixer -c 1

but numbers can change after reboot.

EXAMPLE:
$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [system         ]: USB-Audio - iMic USB audio system
                      Griffin Technology, Inc iMic USB audio system at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.3.4, full s
 1 [PCH            ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0xf7e10000 irq 31
Setting:
defaults.pcm.!card PCH
defaults.ctl.!card PCH
in ~/.asoundrc tells ALSA to use the PCH sound card by name as the default for both audio playback (pcm) and mixer controls (ctl).
When I run alsamixer, it uses the ctl default to determine which card’s controls to display — so it opens directly on my Intel HDA (PCH) card, as expected.
This is the correct and standard method to set a default sound card by name in ALSA.

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-20 01:23:21)

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-20 06:36:41

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c8000 irq 81
 1 [Generic_1      ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c0000 irq 82
 2 [U192k          ]: USB-Audio - UMC204HD 192k
                      BEHRINGER UMC204HD 192k at usb-0000:08:00.3-1, high speed

$ cat /sys/class/sound/card*/id
Generic
Generic_1
U192k

I have tried rebooting before, but the Behringer card remained as card 0. However, this time (where I have been using the USB sound card with a different computer) it has moved to card 2 after plugging it into the computer with my Devuan install. I was able to run alsamixer and adjust the controls:

$ alsamixer -c U192k

I am of course wondering how alsamixer will behave once the Behringer card is set to default again, but this is so far an improvement on the situation...

Last edited by devuan_dk_fan (2026-01-20 06:38:40)

kapqa · 2026-01-20 06:55:51

would not be too surprised if the Behringer USB device is achieving not such high volume;

have collected several firewire device off Ebay (Mbox) which sound great if can get to function with older computer (mac) ,
however, one low-cost-usb audio device on the same computer with same studio monitor sound just really different and volume is also low, but that is not a problem since the monitors are both actively powered.

Behringer is proably no-low-cost device, but entry-lvel usb, since other known brand might cost double the price for similar task (sapphire);

if then you use on Linux instead of Mac, then would fully expect that the situation could become interesting, but also one could expect less-than-stellar audio oob; hope you can get it function satisfactorly.

the app that has been shared here #arateconf has helped a lot with configuring laptop with alsa, but still learning on ways to improve hearing the nuances.

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-20 07:28:22

Thanks. Basically, what I am going for (medium term) is to be able to eventually create my own backing tracks. Possibly using something like Jjazzlab as an alternative to Band in a Box. So I am not so worried about input at this time. Currently, I am fighting with output issues. First and foremost the Behringer card, but also the vagaries of midi on web. Things like metronome, backing track not in sync with each other under certain circumstances (Tomplay).

Last edited by devuan_dk_fan (2026-01-20 07:53:13)

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-20 13:37:30

Hmm. Interesting. After a restart, all of a sudden the Behringer USB card is card 0, and is working correctly:

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [U192k          ]: USB-Audio - UMC204HD 192k
                      BEHRINGER UMC204HD 192k at usb-0000:08:00.3-1, high speed
 1 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c8000 irq 82
 2 [Generic_1      ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c0000 irq 83

Not really sure how that happened as I currently don't have an ~/.asoundrc file at as I needed last time around to get the card as default...

Wondering if it will change again after another reboot...

igorzwx · 2026-01-20 14:08:03

One may wonder that the sun rises every day, but this seems to be a normal course of things.

If you want to use the BEHRINGER UMC204HD 192k as the default sound card, you can set it as default in ~/.asoundrc:

defaults.pcm.!card U192k
defaults.ctl.!card U192k

This configuration tells ALSA to use the U192k (BEHRINGER) sound card by name as the default for both audio playback (pcm) and mixer controls (ctl), which is a standard and reliable method.

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-20 15:28:07

As the sun rises everyday, alsamixer craps out again, which is recurring but not a normal course of things:

$ alsamixer -c U192k
cannot load mixer controls: No such file or directory

igorzwx · 2026-01-20 15:49:41

Post the output of this command

cat /proc/asound/cards

Then reload ALSA

sudo /etc/init.d/alsa-utils force-reload

and again

cat /proc/asound/cards

It might be a hotplug issue. Try unplugging and plugging the device back in, then check

cat /proc/asound/cards

/proc/asound/cards shows exactly which audio devices ALSA recognizes and how they’re numbered. If your device isn’t listed, the system doesn’t see it — no matter what software you use. It’s the first real check: if it’s not in /proc/asound/cards, it doesn’t exist to Linux sound systems. That’s why you have to check it.
/proc/asound/cards shows both the number and name (ID) of each sound card that ALSA recognizes. When you run
alsamixer -c U192k
it looks for a card with the name U192k. If that name isn’t listed in /proc/asound/cards, the command fails — even if the device is physically connected.
So if U192k doesn’t appear there, ALSA doesn’t know that name exists. It’s like calling someone by a nickname they don’t have. You must use the exact name shown in /proc/asound/cards, or the command won’t work.

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-20 16:26:07)

devuan_dk_fan · Yesterday 09:04:29

I will get cracking on your suggestion when I have more time today. However, I wanted to post the following as I thought that it was extremely interesting in the context of this thread:

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c8000 irq 81
 1 [Generic_1      ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c0000 irq 82
 2 [U192k          ]: USB-Audio - UMC404HD 192k
                      BEHRINGER UMC404HD 192k at usb-0000:08:00.3-1, high speed

As you can see, I have connected a Behringer UMC404HD to the system that this thread is about. The main difference (other than more inputs and outputs) is that it has a power supply, and isn't powered through the USB connection. I haven't changed my ~/.asoundrc file for the new sound card, as for some reason, the card is identified with the same name as the previous card. At least on this boot, I am getting the default output despite not being the default card according to the above command. It should also be noted that while there are more than with the previous sound card, there are only controls for PCM Front, Rear and PCM 1 for output. The input controls are off as well, but of less importance to me at this time.

From looking at postings about the UMC202HD, it appears that in the past, kernel support needed to be manually compiled in, whereas the UMC204HD was known to "just work" plug and play. Despite its reputation as plug and play, I know that sndio has problems / difficulty with the UMC204HD, according to the sndio developer, because the voltage (or wattage) wasn't completely class compliant. OpenBSD tends to be a stickler with that kind of thing and not "what 'evs" like Windows.

I am of course wondering if what we are seeing with the UMC204HD and UMC404HD cards is either variations in the kernel support for these devices (or the devices variation in support of class compliance) or an issue of the quality of the signal that the computer receives based on electrical variations?

Regardless, I find the most startling thing to be that the system in some fashion sees the UMC204HD and UMC404HD cards as basically the same, with the same name...

Last edited by devuan_dk_fan (Yesterday 09:06:44)

Altoid · Yesterday 11:20:10

Hello:

I just use my on-board sound hardware for the basics, but been following this thread to see if I learn something. 8^°

devuan_dk_fan wrote:

... the system in some fashion sees the UMC204HD and UMC404HD cards ...
... with the same name...

Out of curiosity ...
How does the system ID the USB sound card/s when you open a terminal and execute:

$ lsusb

Just a guess, there may be a clue in the printout.
Or not.

Best,

A.

Last edited by Altoid (Yesterday 11:21:11)

igorzwx · Yesterday 14:09:48

On Devuan 5 Daedalus, the BEHRINGER UMC404HD has limited UCM support — while alsa-ucm-conf is installed (version 1.2.8-1), there is no dedicated UCM config for the UMC404HD in /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/USB-Audio/Behringer/. It relies on a generic USB-Audio profile instead.

$ dpkg -l | grep alsa-ucm-conf
ii  alsa-ucm-conf       1.2.8-1       all          ALSA Use Case Manager configuration files

$ ls -1 /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/USB-Audio/Behringer 
Flow8-Recording.conf
Flow8-Recording-Hifi.conf
Flow8-Streaming.conf
Flow8-Streaming-Hifi.conf
UMC202HD.conf
UMC202HD-HiFi.conf
UMC204HD.conf
UMC204HD-HiFi.conf

The lack of a specific UCM file means:
No automatic profile selection (e.g., "HiFi" or "Pro")
Mixer controls might be incomplete in alsamixer

On Devuan Excalibur (or newer systems), support may improve if alsa-ucm-conf is updated — some recent versions include UMC404HD detection in the generic USB-Audio.conf.

_https://github.com/alsa-project/alsa-ucm-conf/blob/master/ucm2/USB-Audio/USB-Audio.conf
If.behringer-umc404hd {
	Condition {
		Type String
		Haystack "${CardComponents}"
		Needle "USB1397:0509"
	}
	True.Define {
		ProfileName "Behringer/UMC404HD"
		MixerRemap yes
	}
}

devuan_dk_fan · Yesterday 15:43:48

$ lsusb
---
Bus 003 Device 002: ID 1397:0509 BEHRINGER International GmbH UMC404HD 192k
---

That is the only USB sound card plugged in at this time.

Last edited by devuan_dk_fan (Yesterday 15:44:51)

devuan_dk_fan · Yesterday 15:55:20

So, the Behringer UMC204HD USB sound card has better support in Devuan Excalibur than the UMC404HD? This is upstream ALSA project support?

The officially official Devuan Forum!

#1 2026-01-19 08:26:11

Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#2 2026-01-19 14:12:45

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#3 2026-01-19 14:18:21

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#4 2026-01-19 14:57:10

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#5 2026-01-19 15:45:51

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#6 2026-01-19 16:19:27

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#7 2026-01-19 16:30:44

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#8 2026-01-19 17:44:36

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#9 2026-01-19 18:15:05

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#10 2026-01-19 18:27:29

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#11 2026-01-19 20:22:51

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#12 2026-01-19 21:02:41

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#13 2026-01-19 21:17:12

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

EXAMPLE:

#14 2026-01-20 06:36:41

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#15 2026-01-20 06:55:51

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#16 2026-01-20 07:28:22

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#17 2026-01-20 13:37:30

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#18 2026-01-20 14:08:03

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#19 2026-01-20 15:28:07

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#20 2026-01-20 15:49:41

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#21 Yesterday 09:04:29

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#22 Yesterday 11:20:10

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#23 Yesterday 14:09:48

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#24 Yesterday 15:43:48

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

#25 Yesterday 15:55:20

Re: Behringer UMC204HD with Devuan Excalibur install and Alsa.

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