How do I stop sound from muting when the screen is locked?

Question

How to change the settings to the screen locker not to mute the sound while the screen is locked?

Answer 1

This will send the unmute command when the screen is locked, which might work. It will definitely work (tested) if what you want to do is just to unmute the sound when the screen is locked.

You can use Cuttlefish:

Cuttlefish is a tool that lets you do everything you want to under specific circumstances, like while locking your screen. Please see an introduction to Cuttlefish (it is very easy to use, but it would still be a lot easier with a video as an example): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7mSfh9pqpg

So, you generally have to

1. Create a new Reflex and give it a name that you prefer
2. Click on 'Activated by stimulus'
3. Check as stimulus the 'Screen is locked' (under Screensaver header)
4. Go to the Reaction tab and add a new reaction from bottom left
5. Go to Applications->Start application (advanced mode)->OK
6. Click on the 'executable' which is by default firefox and alter it to /usr/bin/amixer (head to /usr/bin and select amixer
7. At the parameters below add set 'Master' unmute

Tested and works fine under Ubuntu 12.04

Answer 2

You could try to install another screensaver alternative that could have another effect on your hardware: see How can I change or install screensavers?

Potential workaround - installing xscreensaver

sudo apt-get install xscreensaver xscreensaver-gl-extra xscreensaver-data-extra

Now remove gnome-screensaver

sudo apt-get remove gnome-screensaver

Now start the xscreensaver configuration tool - from a terminal:

xscreensaver-demo

there you can enter the time until screen-lock.