Re: sndioctl output.mute=1 does not mute PC speaker beep

On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 08:34:55AM +0200, Alexandre Ratchov wrote:
> On Wed, May 21, 2025 at 05:02:53AM +0000, H. Hartzer wrote:
> > Hi misc@,
> >
> > Not 100% sure this is a bug, but it feels like it is. Not sure if it's
> > my audio driver or if this is universal.
> >
>
> The pc-speaker is a separate device, most of the time with its own
> speaker. On most laptops, the pc-speaker signal is wired to the audio
> device (to save space).
>
> To disable it, the simpler is to tell X(7) to not produce beeps, ex.
> with "xset b off".
>
> Certain audio devices have a level control for the pc speaker signal,
> it's exposed by mixerctl(1). Not very practical (it's hardware
> dependent and requires root privileges).
>
> > If I do sndioctl output.level=0, I don't hear any PC speaker beeps, like
> > the terminal beeps (\a).
> >
> > If I do sndioctl output.mute=1, while output.level is greater than 0, I
> > hear the beeps.
> >
> > Is this intentional? I certainly find it confusing.
>
> Not intentional, but probably confusing if you're unfamiliar with PC
> history ;-)
>
> Alternatively, you could make X(7) use the audio device instead of the
> pc speaker, the x11/sndiokeys port can do this. Despite the bloat, the
> result might look less confusing, and works regardless the underlying
> hardwre, including usb headsets, etc.
>

wsconsctl keyboard.bell.volume might also help.

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