Thinkpad T440p: my microphone is noisy in video conferencing software (Teams but not only)

dnb

dnb

I've been using Teams successfully for the past 3 years only in FreeBSD 13 via the Сhromium browser (I install packages from repositories). And sound/video/sharing works great on all machines (mostly workstations) except my Thinkpad T440p laptop.

Problem: When I talk via T440p (Sennheiser chat 5) people are complaining about unbearable noise from my microphone (severe noise, "ragged" sound). Therefore, I conclude that the problem is in the laptop. Moreover, noise can occur immediately or a few minutes after the start of the meeting. The problem exists only on this laptop and in other video conferencing services like Teams which also work in Chromium.

I have several copies of Sennheiser chat 5 (including new ones), and the problem is on all of them.

Code: 
# cat /dev/sndstat
Installed devices:
pcm0: <Intel Haswell (HDMI/DP 8ch)> (play)
pcm1: <Realtek ALC292 (Analog 2.0+HP/2.0)> (play/rec) default
pcm2: <Realtek ALC292 (Internal Analog Mic)> (rec)
No devices installed from userspace.

# sysctl hw.snd.default_unit
hw.snd.default_unit: 1

Since hw.snd.default_unit shows the value I need, I did not add anything to /etc/sysctl.conf.

What options are worth trying?
  • should I try sndiod?
  • should I upgrade to FreeBSD 14?
 
dnb said:
Microsoft Teams classic at teams.microsoft.com
Click to expand...

Thanks. For the same (Classic), I normally prefer Firefox; my hearing is poor, so the absence of voice and video chat doesn't bother me.

Recently (probably on 12th March) I tested Classic Teams audio in Chromium on FreeBSD 15.0-CURRENT. With a simple old USB headset, which doesn't help you, but FYI. Not a long test, just long enough to confirm that my colleague could hear me clearly.
 
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dnb said:
… should I try sndiod? …
Click to expand...

I see that it is installed, and that the daemon is running, however I no idea about usage.

Code: 
% pkg_tree -r ^sndio
sndio-1.9.0
|\__ chromium-123.0.6312.58_1
|\__ ungoogled-chromium-123.0.6312.58
|\__ electron25-25.9.8_3
|\__ vscode-1.85.2
|\__ cmus-2.10.0_8
|\__ openjfx14-14.0.2.1+1_15
 \__ gstreamer1-plugins-sndio-1.8.0.1_1
% pkg info --list sndio | grep bin/
        /usr/local/bin/aucat
        /usr/local/bin/midicat
        /usr/local/bin/sndioctl
        /usr/local/bin/sndiod
% pkg rquery %o sndio
audio/sndio
% sysrc sndiod_enable
sndiod_enable: YES
%

audio/sndio

sndio(7)

I can't guess where sndiod_enable is documented.

Code: 
% rg --count --sort path sndiod_enable /usr/ports
/usr/ports/audio/sndio/files/sndiod.in:2
% rg --count --sort path sndiod_enable /usr/doc/website/content/en
% rg --count --sort path sndiod_enable /usr/doc/documentation/content/en
%
 
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