---
title: "RHEL 6 USB Sound Too Low"
id: "3283"
type: "post"
slug: "rhel6-usb-sound-too-low"
published_at: "2012-07-09T13:48:47+00:00"
modified_at: "2014-04-12T20:35:33+00:00"
url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/rhel6-usb-sound-too-low/"
markdown_url: "https://johnpoelstra.com/rhel6-usb-sound-too-low.md"
excerpt: "Most laptops are getting to the point that you don’t need a USB headset or microphone to make audio calls. Sometimes it just makes sense to use one. I had a new install of RHEL running on a new Lenovo......"
taxonomy_category:
  - "Software & Technology"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "Linux"
  - "RHEL"
---

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# [RHEL 6 USB Sound Too Low](https://johnpoelstra.com/rhel6-usb-sound-too-low/)

[http://www.flickr.com/photos/wlef70/7507679760/](http://www.flickr.com/photos/wlef70/7507679760/)

Most laptops are getting to the point that you don’t need a USB headset or microphone to make audio calls. Sometimes it just makes sense to use one.

I had a new install of RHEL running on a new Lenovo x220 and could barely hear the incoming sound. Then I remembered why. I’ve [posted on it before](https://johnpoelstra.com/fedora-12-usb-headset-volume-too-low/)
, but here it is again with a different title and hopefully easier to find if you are on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

1. Plug in USB headset
2. Run `alsamixer` from a command line ``` $ alsamixer ```
3. Hit to find and select the USB headset device
4. Use the up and down arrow keys to adjust the volume
5. Press ECS (escape) to exit
6. Make the settings permanent with `alsactl store` ``` $ su -c 'alsactl store' ``` [Photo credit](http://www.flickr.com/photos/wlef70/7507679760/) [wlef70](http://www.flickr.com/photos/wlef70/)

#### John Poelstra

John Poelstra coaches directors in finance and software. Trained through the Co-Active Training Institute, he has coached for more than 10 years, with over 520 clients and 3,150 sessions, including people at well-known Fortune 100 companies. In over 30 years of professional experience, he spent 25 in technology and finance: software testing, project management and team leadership at Red Hat and Dell/EMC, and finance as a bank auditor at Wells Fargo and a CPA at Grant Thornton. He hosts The John Poelstra Show podcast and is based in Portland, Oregon.

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July 9, 2012

[Software & Technology](https://johnpoelstra.com/category/software/)

[Linux](https://johnpoelstra.com/tag/linux/)
, [RHEL](https://johnpoelstra.com/tag/rhel/)

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## 2 Comments

## [Add yours](#respond)

1. Svend O. Aagedal[April 9, 2013 at 10:26 pm](https://johnpoelstra.com/rhel6-usb-sound-too-low/#comment-2620) [Reply](#comment-2620) Thank you! Just what I needed! [Reply](#comment-2620)
2. Mary Heintz[December 27, 2012 at 8:58 am](https://johnpoelstra.com/rhel6-usb-sound-too-low/#comment-2350) [Reply](#comment-2350) Thanks! This was driving me nuts! [Reply](#comment-2350)

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