failed to find mixer elements

CrazyWind

This thread is reposted in multiple forums and while it led me to a fix it doesn't link to what worked for me.

I followed mitu's instructions and the error is gone.

@mitu said in Latest update lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements!:

This is caused by the recent change in kernel/firmware for the audio system on the Pi - the names of the cards and devices have changed (see the announcement on the 29th, the Other changes section).

The volume can be set using alsamixer or the Audio menu in RetroPie (which uses alsamixer), but for EmulationStation the only workaround right now is to edit es_settings.cfg and set AudioDevice to

HDMI, if using the HDMI for audio

Headphone, if using the analog jack for audio.

Once I edited /opt/retropie/configs/all/emulationstation/es_settings.cfg
and set
<string name="AudioDevice" value="HDMI"
the error dissapeared.

Thank you @mitu

matp

@CrazyWind Thank you for this, problem solved.

willinliv

Thanks for picking up on this. For me I wasn't getting any sounds - almost pulled everything apart fearing I'd damaged the socket on my rpi. In my case I wanted audio via the 3.5mm audio. I found that I could set it in Raspi-config but the Audio setting in emulationstation seemed to be orphaned from the setting. Looking in the es_settings.cfg it mentioned PCM for the string name not headphones, I changed it to headphones and the error no longer is mentioned - however the ELSAMIXER in emulationstation still seems to default to only allowing volume of HDMI, so still not yet idead (have to run ALSAMIXER as standalone)

mitu

@willinliv said in failed to find mixer elements:

however the ELSAMIXER in emulationstation still seems to default to only allowing volume of HDMI, so still not yet idead (have to run ALSAMIXER as standalone)

You probably need an updated EmulationStation for that - as mentioned in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/26628/audio-issues-after-latest-raspbian-updates.

ericitaquera

@CrazyWind Thanks!!

Heartman

I am using an external card on my PI and for me amixer and emulationstation gave errors when using the devicename as reported by aplay, I had to use hw:2, hope it helps someone

pablonauta

@crazywind Thank you!

Alex Levi

Only this helped me:
add the following line in your config.txt.

dtoverlay=pwm-2chan,pin=18,func=2,pin2=13,func2=4

dzungenzo

@alex-levi this worked for me too, Thanks alot,
Pi3A+ Cart - Gpi Case Retropie 4.7.1

smag

Just wanted to say thank you for this help. I had the same "failed to find mixer elements" problem with my Retropie on Raspberry Pi 4, with the Picade hardware. The volume was always very loud and could not be changed, but once I made this edit to the es_settings.cfg file, I rebooted and I was finally able to modify the volume in the Emulation Station settings UI.

Eleth

@alex-levi I know this is old but I need to tell you how much I appreciate your post! I am brand new to raspberry pi and didn't know how to do the other recommended changes. However, what you suggested not only eliminated the error constantly popping up, it also fixed the forced maxed-out volume level issue! I just reset and tested, now I can lower the volume and it keeps the value I move the slider to. Thank you so much!

sisyfos12

@Alex-Levi Thanks a lot! This worked for me too!

Muscleflex

Hi Levi - where do I enter this?
dtoverlay=pwm-2chan,pin=18,func=2,pin2=13,func2=4