Arch Linux

Rappelle

Member

Registered: 2011-03-22

Posts: 9

Changing default soundcard

I've looked over the internet 2-3 times and none of the solutions have worked for me due to me not having packages with things like asoundconf or gnome-sound-properties.

I run Gnome on 2.6.37-ARCH. The problem I'm having is that my computer recognises several cards.

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [NVidia         ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xdeef8000 irq 23
1 [CMI8738        ]: CMI8738-MC6 - C-Media CMI8738
                      C-Media CMI8738 (model 55) at 0xd800, irq 19
2 [NVidia_1       ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xdef7c000 irq 18

And makes the default to 0 (HDA-Intel). But I want the CMI8738 to be default, and no matter what I do, it won't stick.

In my asoundrc, I tried this;

pcm.!default {
        type hw
        card CMI8738
}

But to no avail.

So could someone, please, help me!
Thanks in advance

Last edited by Rappelle (2011-03-22 23:35:45)

lagagnon

Member

From: an Island in the Pacific...

Registered: 2009-12-10

Posts: 1,087

Website

Re: Changing default soundcard

The easy way might be to just blacklist the snd_hda_intel module by editing your /etc/rc.conf file and in the MODULES line adding: !snd_hda_intel

This assumes snd_hda_intel is the module for your Intel audio chip. Check it with lsmod.

---

Philosophy is looking for a black cat in a dark room. Metaphysics is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there. Religion is looking for a black cat in a dark room that isn't there and shouting "I found it!". Science is looking for a black cat in a dark room with a flashlight.

skunktrader

Member

From: Brisbane, Australia

Registered: 2010-02-14

Posts: 1,587

Re: Changing default soundcard

My /etc/asound.conf contains this and it works fine

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card XFi
}
ctl.!default {
    type hw           
    card XFi
}

jdarnold

Member

From: Medford MA USA

Registered: 2009-12-15

Posts: 485

Website

Re: Changing default soundcard

And here's my ~/.asoundrc, just to make sure it doesn't pick (seemingly at random) my USB headset:

 $ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC888 Analog [ALC888 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC888 Digital [ALC888 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Audio [Plantronics Wireless Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
$ cat ~/.asoundrc
defaults.ctl.!card Intel
defaults.pcm.!card Intel
defaults.ctl.device 0
defaults.pcm.device 0

Rappelle

Member

Registered: 2011-03-22

Posts: 9

Re: Changing default soundcard

HDA Intel and my CMI card sometimes swap position though.
What I've done is blacklisted snd_hda_intel, and it seems everything works fine now.

Thanks!