Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

warnec · 2009-09-11 14:08:11

Hi. I've got a creative x-fi sound card and alss 1.0.20. I used a package named 'ctxfi' from AUR to obtain drivers for it. After adding the ctxfi kernel module to rc.conf, it works fine.

Today in my updates list:

extra/alsa-lib 1.0.20-1 -> 1.0.21.a-1            
extra/alsa-utils 1.0.20-2 -> 1.0.21-1

And I read here (I'm Polish):

http://osnews.pl/alsa-1021-juz-dostepna/

that 1.0.21 version does support x-fi automatically. So that's my question - how should I switch the driver from the ctxfi package to alsa?

How would I do it (tell me if correct)

1)remove ctxfi package and remove 'ctxfi' from rc.conf
2)reboot
3)update alsa
4)reboot

And will my card work afterwards? Thanks in advance!

warnec · 2009-09-11 16:45:06

Just tried and it doesn't work.

[warnec@chakra ~]$ sudo pacman -Qs alsa
local/alsa-lib 1.0.21.a-1
    An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/alsa-oss 1.0.17-1
    OSS compatibility library
local/alsa-utils 1.0.21-1
    An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/lib32-alsa-lib 1.0.21.a-1 (lib32)
    An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
[warnec@chakra ~]$

[warnec@chakra ~]$ sudo /etc/rc.d/alsa start
:: Restoring ALSA Levels                                                                       [BUSY] 

/usr/sbin/alsactl: load_state:1608: No soundcards found...                        [FAIL]
[warnec@chakra ~]$

PS.:

[warnec@chakra ~]$ lspci | grep -i audio
02:00.0 Audio device: Creative Labs X-Fi Titanium series [EMU20k2] (rev 03)
[warnec@chakra ~]$

PPS.:
I should propably have a snd-ctxfi module, judging from here:

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php? … 25#p617625

[warnec@chakra ~]$ sudo modprobe snd-ctxfi
Hasło:
FATAL: Module snd_ctxfi not found.

Last edited by warnec (2009-09-11 16:58:02)

warnec · 2009-09-11 17:38:53

Doing this:

http://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php? … 65#p616965

helped. Looks like the x-di driver isn't included into alsa 1.0.21 by default. Strange. Will remove snd-cxfi package after upgrading to 2.6.31 kernel.

Nepherte · 2009-09-11 18:08:05

Yes, it is included in alsa 1.0.21, but they are all kernel modules now. The alsa packages do not include the drivers.

warnec · 2009-09-11 18:39:19

Good to know. Just learned a next bit of linux knowledge for the future... That's how you get familiar with this system

PS.: Do you perchance know the 2.6.31 release date? I heard Linus wanted to release it on Labor Day, but the kernel didn't make it in time.

Last edited by warnec (2009-09-11 18:40:27)

Kn3cHt · 2009-09-11 19:57:08

warnec wrote:

PS.: Do you perchance know the 2.6.31 release date? I heard Linus wanted to release it on Labor Day, but the kernel didn't make it in time.

It was released 2 day ago Its already in testing, so all you have to do is activate the repository in /etc/pacman.conf and update your system...

warnec · 2009-09-11 20:24:49

Ok, one more thing about the driver - when using ctxfi there was a horrible 1 second lag between sound output from the OS and my headphones' reaction. It was the fault of the driver, because the sound from my Xbox360 (through Digital In) worked without any lags. I hoped it would be fixed for the ALSA release, and the lag is still clearly visible (like when I move the volume bar in YouTube and the volume is lowered only a moment later... Really annoying, especially because of no lipsync when I see human speakers.

Any chance to fix that? Anyone getting this as well?

Xyne · 2009-09-11 20:27:56

I think it would be better to wait. It is bad advice in my opinion to encourage someone to enable the testing repo just for a single package, especially one which will be in the main repos very soon.

warnec · 2009-09-11 20:44:33

I know. I'll use your snd-ctxfi until new kernel is out. I wanted to ask about the release of a stable version, because I only knew about RCs. But if it's already in tsting, I'll wait for it to hit core/extra/whatever.

And what about the lag? It's something that pisses me right now, because I was absolutely sure it was Creative's fault and it would be fixed for 2.6.31 release. And looks like it's still present in current driver.

s3kt0r · 2009-09-12 22:56:38

Would you say lag = 0.2s on youtube test, something like that? I have the driver for X-Fi compiled into the kernel, dated 2009-09-10, and it does lag a little. Don't know who's fault is it, I didn't even noticed it till now.

edit: kernel is compiled from git

Last edited by s3kt0r (2009-09-12 22:59:47)

warnec · 2009-09-13 20:04:41

Well, I think it's a little longer lag than 0.2s, but yeah, something like that. Everything that comes from the OS lags a little (changing volume in Amarok, YouTube lip de-synchronization and all sounds) and everything sent via Digital In (I transmit my Xbox360 sound to my soundcard and then to my heaphones) works without any lag at all.

PS.: I wrote to alsa-user mailing list about that. Will notify You when I know anything more.

Last edited by warnec (2009-09-13 20:07:02)

Arch Linux

#1 2009-09-11 14:08:11

Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#2 2009-09-11 16:45:06

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#3 2009-09-11 17:38:53

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#4 2009-09-11 18:08:05

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#5 2009-09-11 18:39:19

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#6 2009-09-11 19:57:08

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#7 2009-09-11 20:24:49

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#8 2009-09-11 20:27:56

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#9 2009-09-11 20:44:33

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#10 2009-09-12 22:56:38

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

#11 2009-09-13 20:04:41

Re: Managing X-fi drivers after update to ALSA 1.0.21

Board footer