Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

Primoz · 2011-10-07 01:55:26

I checked the wiki and it isn't really helpful with my problem.
I have two modules listed when I do:

cat /proc/asound/modules
I get:
 0 snd_hda_intel
 1 snd_hda_intel

0 is pcm only and I really can't get it to work.
1 is full on 7.1 probably.
And 0 is default, by some reason.

As you can see the problem is, that wiki on ALSA recommends me to blacklist one module, but how do I know which one to blacklist.
And speaker test puts out this error:

speaker-test

speaker-test 1.0.24.2

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
Playback open error: -2,No such file or directory

Am I missing some driver? Or what is with slave and why it can't be opened?
Please help.

Last edited by Primoz (2011-10-07 16:55:32)

Primoz · 2011-10-07 02:30:00

I think I solved it (yeah sorry for posting this too soon.)
I had to specify .asoundrc and now I think it should work.

Primoz · 2011-10-07 12:40:23

Well yesterday I only tested on my headphones and it worked. But now when I tested it on my speakers (6.1 system) it doesn't work right.
No matter what I set in .asoundrc I can either get only my front speakers working or just left front speaker working, and even then it's under front right channel. Currently I can get both of my front speakers working, but they are recognised as rear speakers. Actually that's because I have plug in another cable on the rear output. But still, if I get the setting of my soundcard right, I should get my front speakers over S/PDIF and my rear speakers and centre over the rest of it...
Any idea.
this is the list of devices that aplay -l is showing me:

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC889 Analog [ALC889 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC889 Digital [ALC889 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

and my .alsarc looks like this:

pcm.!default {
type hw
card 1
device 0
}

ctl.!default {
type hw
card 1
device 0
}

Primoz · 2011-10-07 13:09:53

Okay I think I've almost got it. I had to install pulseaudio to get it working right.
Now I have to get my mediakeys (volume control) working and I'll be done.

Primoz · 2011-10-07 13:15:17

Oh well I just had to restart KMix and now that works too.
(Unfortunately I have nobody but myself to thank. But thanks for viewing I guess)
PS.:Mods you can move this to TGN, as I have learnt the lesson that PulseAudio is necessary if you want to use modern soundcard.

Last edited by Primoz (2011-10-07 13:16:24)

bernarcher · 2011-10-07 13:49:11

No need to TGN at all. "Lesson learnt" is sufficient to keep it here for others with similar problems.
So, please remove the "TGN" from the title.

Note: Please do not change the title proper of a thread of yours once you came to some solution.

Primoz · 2011-10-07 17:02:15

bernarcher wrote:

No need to TGN at all. "Lesson learnt" is sufficient to keep it here for others with similar problems.
So, please remove the "TGN" from the title.
Note: Please do not change the title proper of a thread of yours once you came to some solution.

OK I've removed TGN. Reason to rename the topic (which was at first: "Can't get ALSA to work" then:"Can't get all speakers to work..." and probably something other too) was that the original title didn't apply anymore.
Only on the end did I realise that the problems with my soundcard were due lack of PulseAudio and not due to badly configured ALSA.
I could rename it in something that when users with similar problems would check it out, but I have no idea what that could be.
So maybe it's the best that I leave this title, for all (like I was) who think that PulseAudio is just another useless layer in already complicated Linux sound architecture.
(And I'll keep the rest of the well-known rant out of this thread; if you wish to check the reasons why I didn't try to install PulseAudio at the beggining google it.)

ngoonee · 2011-10-10 00:23:14

Although I'm a pulseaudio user and semi-supporter, to state that pulseaudio is 'necessary' for surround sound is not accurate. It makes it much easier and idiot-proof, yes, but its possible using ALSA alone as well. Not that I'd ever want to craft that particular .asoundrc

brebs · 2011-10-10 01:16:44

ngoonee wrote:

Not that I'd ever want to craft that particular .asoundrc

See my sig

This thread is bizarre. ALSA bugs should go to the ALSA bugzilla, rather than be worked-around at the wrong level (pulseaudio).

Arch Linux

#1 2011-10-07 01:55:26

Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#2 2011-10-07 02:30:00

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#3 2011-10-07 12:40:23

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#4 2011-10-07 13:09:53

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#5 2011-10-07 13:15:17

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#6 2011-10-07 13:49:11

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#7 2011-10-07 17:02:15

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#8 2011-10-10 00:23:14

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

#9 2011-10-10 01:16:44

Re: Lesson learnt: Why PulseAudio is needed [Solved]

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