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The Ubuntu Kernel Team produces what they call "Crack of the Day" builds of alsa-driver code. This is the latest development code that is being worked on "upstream" and has all the most recent fixes to hardware issues. We ask users having audio problems to install these builds in order to help us identify whether the issue has already been fixed or if it's also an issue upstream.

Installing

Install with Command Line

Adding the ppa

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-audio-dev/ppa
sudo apt-get update

Install the linux-alsa-driver-modules package

sudo apt-get install linux-alsa-driver-modules-$(uname -r)

Note: After installing the linux-alsa-driver-modules package, your system needs to be rebooted.

Install with Synaptic Package Manager

Adding the ppa

• Open up the "Synaptic Package Manager":

  • System -> Administration -> Synaptic Package Manager

• Bring up the "Software Sources" dialog in the "Synaptic Package Manager":

  • Settings -> Repositories

• Select the "Other Software" tab in the "Software Sources" dialog.
• Click the "+Add" button.
• In the "APT line: " text input box type:
  • ppa:ubuntu-audio-dev/ppa
• Click the "+Add Source" button.
• Close the "Software Sources" dialog.
• You may see a dialog box pop up which warns you that your "Repositories changed". This is a good thing and you can close the dialog.
• Since we've just added a new repository we need to update that database that knows what packages are available and where from. Update the package information by:

  • Edit -> Reload Package Information

Determine the current version of kernel running (via command line)

uname -r

Install the linux-alsa-driver-modules package

• Open up the "Synaptic Package Manager" if it isn't already open:

  • System -> Administration -> Synamptic Package Manager

• Search for the "linux-alsa-driver-modules" package:

  • Edit -> Search

• In the search results shown, find the package that matches up with the kernel version that you are running.
• Select the "linux-alsa-driver-modules" package by checking the checkbox in the leftmost column of the search results.
• Install the package:

  • Edit -> Apply Marked Changes

• A dialog will come up asking if you want to "Apply the following changes?". Click the "Apply" button.
• A dialog will appear showing the progress of applying the indicated changes. After it's complete another dialog appears stating the changes have been applied. That dialog can be closed by clicking on the "Close" button.
• The "Synaptic Package Manager" can now be closed, the package has been installed.

Note: After installing the linux-alsa-driver-modules package, your system needs to be rebooted.

Uninstalling

If you want to return to the original sound drivers, do the following (from the command line):

sudo apt-get remove linux-alsa-driver-modules-$(uname -r)

You can also uninstall from "Synaptic Package Manager":

Install the linux-alsa-driver-modules package (via Synaptic Package Manager)

• Open up the "Synaptic Package Manager" if it isn't already open:

  • System -> Administration -> Synamptic Package Manager

• Search for the "linux-alsa-driver-modules" package:

  • Edit -> Search

• In the search results shown, find the package that matches up with the kernel version that you are running.
• Right-click the "linux-alsa-driver-modules" package, and select "Mark for complete removal".
• Uninstall the package:

  • Edit -> Apply Marked Changes

• A dialog will come up asking if you want to "Apply the following changes?". Click the "Apply" button.
• A dialog will appear showing the progress of applying the indicated changes. After it's complete another dialog appears stating the changes have been applied. That dialog can be closed by clicking on the "Close" button.
• The "Synaptic Package Manager" can now be closed, the package has been uninstalled.

Note: After uninstalling the linux-alsa-driver-modules package, your system needs to be rebooted.