The hold up is due to a current kernel in -proposed. By policy, a kernel
package must have been in -proposed for one full week for testing
purposes before it can be pushed to -updates. The stable release
maintainer is working to get the current one out to -updates, but if the
new kernel with this fix is moved to -proposed it will overwrite the
current package there, resetting the timer.

Essentially, the fix will get out there for karmic eventually, but as a
side effect of our duty to ensure that a stable release is not
destabilized by updates the fix may take a bit longer. If you are
anxious, you can find the fix in the kernel team's pre-prososed ppa:

https://launchpad.net/~kernel-ppa/+archive/pre-proposed/

-- 
Poor support for MacBook Pro 5,1: noise, no jack sense, no in-line headset 
microphones, broken volume control
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/488103
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Mactel
Support, which is the registrant for Mactel Support.

Status in Mactel Support: New
Status in “alsa-driver” package in Ubuntu: New
Status in “linux” package in Ubuntu: In Progress
Status in “linux-backports-modules-2.6.31” package in Ubuntu: Fix Committed

Bug description:
I have carefully read through these bugs:
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/337314
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/433633
  https://bugs.launchpad.net/alsa-driver/+bug/396563
They conflate a bunch of snd_hda_intel driver issues, and pulseaudio issues 
across many hardware platforms. However, some of these issues are quite 
separate between different chipsets. E.g. model=laptop does different things on 
different chipsets, and doesn't do a thing for my chipset ALC889A. See the full 
quirks list here:
  http://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/sound/alsa/HD-Audio-Models.txt

I am reporting this from a x86_64 install, but my sound was broken in exactly 
the same way when I was running i386.

I have not found a published configuration, which makes the sound on my MacBook 
Pro 5,1 work completely. I have tried:

1) linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic   +   snd_hda_linux option "model=mb5"  
(same as autodetected),
2) default 2.6.31-15-generic   +   snd_hda_linux option "model=mb5".
In both:
 * (GOOD) Both left and right speakers work (and subwoofer too, I suspect).
 * (BAD) Severe noise issues with headphones -- there is a reasonably quiet 
white noise floor (though the fact that it's audible is sad). But, on top of 
that there is a variety of noises, which vary in severity, and every time I 
unload and reload snd_hda_intel, I get a different result. The noises sometimes 
sound like radio static -- a crackling that gets quieter and louder with a 
period of a few seconds. Sometimes, they are tuned, high-pitch tones. The noise 
pattern varies when I adjust the headphone mixer control. It doesn't get 
quieter at lower volumes, but changes randomly depending on the slider's 
position. I tried "position_fix=1" and "=2" as module arguments, to no avail.
 * (BAD) No jack sense: "cat /proc/asound/card*/codec*" is the same regardless 
of whether headphones are plugged in
 * (BAD) Speakers always on: Volume controls always enable + maximize 
Front+LFE+Surround outputs (in tandem), never touch headphones (which are muted 
by default, and labeled "HP" -- which I suspect breaks PulseAudio paths that 
depend on the string Headphones). The only manual way (i.e. using alsamixer) to 
silence the speakers is to 0 (but not mute) those three sliders in alsamixer, 
and then never to touch the PulseAudio volume controls ever again. That's sad.
 * (SLIGHTLY BAD) Headphones should be on by default, not to make users set 
them up.
 * (BAD) Headset microphones don't work. Apple extensively uses a 3.5 jack 
standard which combines stereo output and microphone input. This is supported 
by iPhones & co, and their computers. Apple, and many external vendors 
manufacture such headsets. The headset works automagically under MacOS, but 
fails to work under linux, no matter what input settings I choose.

3) linux-backports-modules-alsa-generic   +   snd_hda_linux option "model=mbp3" 
 (recommended by community page 
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBook5-1/Karmic),
4) default 2.6.31-15-generic   +   snd_hda_linux option "model=mbp3".
In both:
 * (GOOD) Tolerable noise floor -- sounds like quiet white noise
 * (BAD) Only the right speaker works, and even that after switching alsamixer 
from 2 channels to 4 channels.
 * (BAD) No jack sense -- just as above
 * (OKAYISH) The system volume controls affect only the headphone volume. You 
are free to manually choose the speaker volume via "Surround".
 * (SLIGHTLY BAD) If "4 channel" mode is what it takes to have some semblance 
of speaker sound, that should be on by default.
 * (BAD) Headset microphones don't work.

5) model=imac24, macpro, and many others -- useless for this machine, no sound, 
the mixer settings are totally broken, still no jack sense.

The latest karmic backports have no effect on my problems. I have also tried 
compiling the latest alsa-driver (1.0.21), which didn't solve any of the above 
problems.

On the basis of the above, I'm changing the community docs to no longer make a 
blanket recommendation for model=mbp3. People have to make a choice between two 
different sets of issues.

In an ideal world:

0) The driver would not produce sporadic noise on the headphones.
1) The driver would support jack sense.
2) The driver would add an extra input for microphones connected through the 
output 3.5 jack.
3) PulseAudio would automatically mute the speakers on headphones being plugged 
in.
4) PulseAudio would switch to the headset microphone when that's plugged in.
5) PulseAudio would provide overrides for both of those behaviors.





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