Arch Linux

fiz

Member

From: Spain

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 7

5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

I'm trying to get 5.1 audio in an old machine, using xfce desktop (no much graphical tools included) and a SoundBlaster Live soundcard

So far, digital spdif output is working, but the problem is that only front speakers work, not rear nor center/lfe
in fact sometimes front left does not work :?

I'm testing it with

speaker-test -c 6 -D surround51 -twav

I think alsamixer controls are ok

Any idea?

Last edited by fiz (2010-01-29 21:42:31)

n0dix

Member

Registered: 2009-09-22

Posts: 956

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

Try this: http://dudas.wordpress.com/2007/03/24/u … en-ubuntu/

Soumyadeep

Member

From: kolkata,India

Registered: 2009-09-09

Posts: 218

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

IMHO get rid of crappy alsa and install oss4

rebugger

Member

From: Germany

Registered: 2007-10-28

Posts: 229

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

@Soumyadeep i would too, if my webcam (logitech quickcam e3500) would be supported.

Soumyadeep

Member

From: kolkata,India

Registered: 2009-09-09

Posts: 218

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

^^hmm, it seems oss4 has a bad reputation with usb sound devices.

fiz

Member

From: Spain

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 7

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

What are the advantages of using OSS4 instead of ALSA?

n0dix

Member

Registered: 2009-09-22

Posts: 956

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

Not is a problem with the driver is a problem of configuration. I have the same driver (alsa) and 7.1 speakers, i get 5.1 of output and can put to 7.1 with duplicating the output.

fiz

Member

From: Spain

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 7

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

Nothing seems to work

I think it coud be some sort of conflict with the onboard card
First time I installed integrated soundcard was enabled (2 channels), so I disabled it through bios so I think some config files may be outdated reporting only 2 channels could it be possible?

I think I could clean all alsa-related files and make a clean install, how can I make this?

Another issue is that alsaconf does not detect any PCI card, but it's working  :S

n0dix

Member

Registered: 2009-09-22

Posts: 956

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

You have to configure your .asoundrc file in your $HOME. Look in google, there are many information about it.

fiz

Member

From: Spain

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 7

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

You have to configure your .asoundrc file in your $HOME. Look in google, there are many information about it.

I've tried many different configurations but none of them worked

I also think that the " -D surround51" switch will use the surround51 out no matter what is in the .asoundrc file

I thnk tomorrow I'm testing with a similar soundcard (same model) to see if the soundcard itself is not working properly

fiz

Member

From: Spain

Registered: 2008-07-01

Posts: 7

Re: 5.1 sound problems (ALSA+SB Live digital out)

Seems to work well now

But only when playing a DVD or music(stereo) using some upmix configuration

This seems to have something to do with some SPDIF limitations.
While using coaxial interface, you can anly transfer 2 channels using PCM, in order to play more channels, you must encode data (AC3?)
So I think speaker-test was trying to send raw pcm over SPDIF and anly 2 channels were working