So we should take all our hardware mixers, and crank them to full
volume right at boot time.
IMO, this is the best option.
Do you have a stereo system connected to your PC? I would not
made this the default. Start low and if "you" want a loud default
setting, use mixerctl.conf
If hardware mixer is too loud, we can attenuate the sound in
software. The opposite in not possible, we can't increase the
volume in software if the hardware is too quiet.
Except that would be bad. So this indicates that the new mixer layer
has a problem.
Hardware defaults are too quiet, they have always been too quiet.
I think there is a major disconnect here. The software level should
control the hardware level.
Or, this entire software layer should be removed. While the new mechanims
is fancy, the old one worked right.
Sound volume controll is higly user specific, and it troubles me with
every OS I use. Especially if there is more than one sound
card attached (e.g. USB Headset on a Laptop). And then different
sound inputs (mostly software, firefox, media player, system sounds)
all coming in with different line levels (volumes)...
I would also like the up/down/mute keys actuating the hardware outputs.
- Ben
