Please file this against the kernel. The log message tries to make clear that this is an issue in the kernel driver. (I am wodnering, is there anything to misunderstand in the message?)

Your hardware exposes invalid dB information which the ALSA driver passes on to userspace. It shouldn't do that. A volume range from 18dB to 18dB just doesn't make sense. The place to filter out bogus data like that is in the kernel, not in PA.

Continue to get this with kernel-2.6.27.5-101.fc10.x86_64:

Nov 12 09:31:00 tlondon kernel: usb 2-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 2
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usb 2-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=0991
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usb 2-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=2
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usb 2-1: SerialNumber: 268AC312
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: Linux video capture interface: v2.00
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (046d:0991)
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: input: UVC Camera (046d:0991) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.7/usb2/2-1/2-1:1.0/input/input13
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
Nov 12 09:31:01 tlondon kernel: USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0)
Nov 12 09:31:02 tlondon pulseaudio[3257]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz.
Nov 12 09:31:02 tlondon pulseaudio[3257]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 2 channels, changed to 1.
Nov 12 09:31:02 tlondon pulseaudio[3257]: module-alsa-source.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.

This bug appears to have been reported against 'rawhide' during the Fedora 10 development cycle.
Changing version to '10'.

More information and reason for this action is here:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

I am seeing this error message, too.  Here is some information about the sound card device driver:

1) First, the error message from /var/log/messages:

pulseaudio[2613]: module-alsa-source.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it
reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.

2) From /var/log/dmesg:

EMU10K1_Audigy 0000:03:06.0: PCI INT A -> GSI 29 (level, low) -> IRQ 29
ALSA sound/pci/emu10k1/emufx.c:1546: Installing spdif_bug patch: SB Audigy 2 ZS [SB0350]

3) From /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf.dist:

$ grep -i emu10k1 /etc/modprobe.d/modprobe.conf.dist
install snd-emu10k1 /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install snd-emu10k1 && /sbin/modprobe snd-emu10k1-synth

4) kernel version:

$ uname -r
2.6.27.9-159.fc10.x86_64

In case it is of some use, here is a bit more information about my "Multimedia audio controller":

$ su -c "lspci -vs 03:06.0"

03:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Audigy (rev 04)
        Subsystem: Creative Labs SB Audigy 2 ZS (SB0350)
        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 29
        I/O ports at b880 [size=64]
        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 2
        Kernel driver in use: EMU10K1_Audigy
        Kernel modules: snd-emu10k1

Please, attach output from 'amixer contents' command to analyze your problems. Thanks.

*** Bug 468695 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

OK.  Here are messages in /var/log/messages when I plug in the camera:


Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 9
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=0991
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=2
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: SerialNumber: 268AC312
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: Linux video capture interface: v2.00
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (046d:0991)
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: input: UVC Camera (046d:0991) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.7/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/input/input14
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
Feb  4 10:10:00 tlondon kernel: USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0)
Feb  4 10:10:01 tlondon pulseaudio[3321]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz.
Feb  4 10:10:01 tlondon pulseaudio[3321]: alsa-util.c: Device hw:1 doesn't support 2 channels, changed to 1.
Feb  4 10:10:01 tlondon pulseaudio[3321]: module-alsa-source.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.

Output of 'amixer contents':

[root@tlondon ~]# amixer contents
numid=0,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Switch'
  ; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
  : values=on
numid=0,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Volume'
  ; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=2,min=0,max=65536,step=1
  : values=62259,62259
numid=0,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch'
  ; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
  : values=on
numid=0,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume'
  ; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=2,min=0,max=65536,step=1
  : values=56636,56636
[root@tlondon ~]# 


That what you're looking for?

I see (essentially) the same messages output by 'amixer contents', with only the ': values=' lines differing for the Volume sections.

This continues in the latest version of the Fedora 10 x86_64 kernel:

uname -r
2.6.27.12-170.2.5.fc10.x86_64

Should have mentioned, I'm now running kernel-2.6.29-0.78.rc3.git5.fc11.x86_64

Mark, file a separate bug. All the "cards" reported here are webcams that use the UVC driver. Yours is a SB Audigy.

*** Bug 463714 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***

Same Problem here, i use the Logitech MP6600 quickcam. The problem is that when i am using pulseaudio and VoIP client like ekiga or skype my sound-system becomes useless, the sound is extremely distorted and chopped also i am affected seriously by the bug https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=472339 .
If there is anything i can do please let me know!

Created attachment 339311 [details]
alsa-info.sh output.

(In reply to comment #14)
> Created an attachment (id=339311) [details]
> alsa-info.sh output.  

Jaroslav thanks for the reply and the interest,
i attached the output. i noticed that even though pulseaudio was running at the time, the log points that it wasn't, is that normal?
If you need anything else, please ask for it, i 'll be more than happy to assist.

I think that this bug should be changed to priority - low and severity - low.
This issue may be due to alsa trying to configure the usb mic as a whole soundcard and thats why it gives these:

"Device hw:1 doesn't support..."
A.  44100 Hz, changed to 16000 Hz (Common mic frequency)
B.  2 channels, changed to 1.     (its a webcam mic of course its 1 channel)
C.  Reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB   (i guess that's because the built in microphone doesn't support hardware volume level management only software) 

and since the output is like that, the alsa module complain that the "soundcard" is not correctly configured (broken driver) although the actual microphone is configured correctly and working! 
At least that is my personal opinion, does everyone agree?

(In reply to comment #16)
> I think that this bug should be changed to priority - low and severity - low.
<snip>
> and since the output is like that, the alsa module complain that the
> "soundcard" is not correctly configured (broken driver) although the actual
> microphone is configured correctly and working! 
> At least that is my personal opinion, does everyone agree?  

The original bug is about the messages, not about the microphone working or not. The severity is just fine as it is.

Same problem with F12 Rawhide running kernel 2.6.31-0.145.rc5.git3.fc12.i686

ID 046d:0991 Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Pro for Notebooks

This is another UVC cam
But I only get the Db message, not the other Hz and Channels messages.

This bug appears to have been reported against 'rawhide' during the Fedora 12 development cycle.
Changing version to '12'.

More information and reason for this action is here:
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

Yeah, I'm still seeing this with kernel-2.6.31.6-148.fc12.x86_64


Nov 25 12:30:22 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 9
Nov 25 12:30:23 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=0991
Nov 25 12:30:23 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=2
Nov 25 12:30:23 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: SerialNumber: 268AC312
Nov 25 12:30:23 tlondon kernel: usb 1-1: configuration #1 chosen from 1 choice
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: Linux video capture interface: v2.00
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (046d:0991)
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: input: UVC Camera (046d:0991) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.7/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/input/input14
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver uvcvideo
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: USB Video Class driver (v0.1.0)
Nov 25 12:30:24 tlondon kernel: usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon pulseaudio[1881]: alsa-mixer.c: Your kernel driver is broken: it reports a volume range from 18.00 dB to 18.00 dB which makes no sense.
Nov 25 12:30:25 tlondon rtkit-daemon[1721]: Sucessfully made thread 4352 of process 1881 (/usr/bin/pulseaudio) owned by '500' RT at priority 5.

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Approximately 30 (thirty) days from now Fedora will stop maintaining
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to a later Fedora version prior to Fedora 12's end of life.

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we may not be able to fix it before Fedora 12 is end of life.  If you 
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The process we are following is described here: 
http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/BugZappers/HouseKeeping

No longer seeing this with kernel 2.6.35.6 (Fedora 14), it seems a quirk has been added at some point, which may explain it. Here is what I get

Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80454.829415] usb 1-1.5.1: new high speed USB device using ehci_hcd and address 11
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.048243] usb 1-1.5.1: New USB device found, idVendor=046d, idProduct=0991
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.048250] usb 1-1.5.1: New USB device strings: Mfr=0, Product=0, SerialNumber=2
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.048255] usb 1-1.5.1: SerialNumber: A86056E0
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.048731] uvcvideo: Found UVC 1.00 device <unnamed> (046d:0991)
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.081645] input: UVC Camera (046d:0991) as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.5/1-1.5.1/1-1.5.1:1.0/input/input9
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.583432] ALSA sound/usb/mixer.c:1118: set resolution quirk: cval->res = 384
Nov  4 13:16:08 t410 kernel: [80455.583775] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio

As such closing this bug report