Is there any way to limit microphone volume and/or maintain a lower-than-100% default volume for the mic?

[videodante]

Ubuntu Version: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS

Desktop Environment (if applicable): GNOME (Ubuntu default)

Problem Description:

I have a Framework 13 laptop (the Intel i5-1340 model). It’s been noted on the Framework forums a couple times that the internal microphone on the Framework is, to put it simply: really really sensitive. It’s not unusable, but you have to turn it down to about 30% of the total volume in order for it to sound normal.

On Manjaro (my previous distro installed), I was about to set the mic volume and it would stay at the level I set it without resetting. But on Ubuntu, it seems like every time I try and use the mic it has “reset” back to 100% volume.

Is there any way to forcibly limit the microphone volume within Ubuntu or with an app, or to set the “default” volume to something lower than 100% for the microphone?

Relevant System Information:

Hardware Info

Hardware Information:

• Hardware Model: Framework Laptop 13th Gen Intel Core
• Memory: 32.0 GiB
• Processor: 13th Gen Intel® Core™ i5-1340P × 16
• Graphics: Intel® Graphics (RPL-P)
• Disk Capacity: 500.1 GB

Software Information:

• Firmware Version: 03.04
• OS Name: Ubuntu 24.04.2 LTS
• OS Build: (null)
• OS Type: 64-bit
• GNOME Version: 46
• Windowing System: Wayland
• Kernel Version: Linux 6.11.0-21-generic

What I’ve Tried:

Ubuntu sound settings: Works fine to set it, but again: doesn’t “remember” settings.
pavucontrol: The ‘base’ is set at 30%, though not through my own doing. Regardless, the mic still ‘defaults’ to 100%.
alsamixer (CLI): sees and can control the mic volume, does not seem to be able to “set a default volume”.

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[1fallen]

@videodante

alsamixer (CLI): sees and can control the mic volume, does not seem to be able to “set a default volume”.

Did you try with Admin/elevated privileges?
I see the same but using sudo alsamixer -c 1 and setting the value there, seems to work for me, along with sudo alsactl store

Note I’m not using Gnome or Wayland here. But Pipewire and Wireplumber are used.

inxi -Aaz
Audio:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GA107 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    pcie: gen: 1 speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 8 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s
    lanes: 16 bus-ID: 01:00.1 chip-ID: 10de:2291 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor
    vendor: Lenovo driver: N/A alternate: snd_pci_acp3x, snd_rn_pci_acp3x,
    snd_pci_acp5x, snd_pci_acp6x, snd_acp_pci, snd_rpl_pci_acp6x, snd_pci_ps,
    snd_sof_amd_renoir, snd_sof_amd_rembrandt, snd_sof_amd_vangogh,
    snd_sof_amd_acp63, snd_sof_amd_acp70 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 06:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
    vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s
    lanes: 16 bus-ID: 06:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: DisplayLink UOEOS Laptop Dock driver: cdc_ncm,snd-usb-audio
    type: USB rev: 3.2 speed: 5 Gb/s lanes: 1 mode: 3.2 gen-1x1
    bus-ID: 2-2.2.1:7 chip-ID: 17e9:4307 class-ID: 0a00 serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.0-13-generic status: kernel-api
    tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl

[videodante]

Aha, running alsamixer as admin and then storing the value does seem to have worked so far. Volume is at a reasonable level and is persisting across reboots! Thank you for the help!