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#1 2018-11-19 09:37:17

JayEmm
Member
Registered: 2018-11-19
Posts: 3

PulseAudio - subwoofer/lfe sometimes not working

Hi,

i've got a little problem here which drives me nuts: I bought a ASUS Xonar U7 MKII USB soundcard for my laptop. This new card is connected to my 5.1 analog sound system where the subwoofer expects a separate signal/lfe-channel. It is setup to work with pulse audio. The problem: Sometimes my subwoofer doesn't work at all.

Examples where all channels and the subwoofer work flawlessly:
- speaker test in Gnome-Settings
- VLC, playing movies and music
- Games via Steam: Snuggle Truck

Examples where the subwoofer doesn't work:
- Kodi
- Games via Steam: SteamWorld Dig
- Steam InHome-Streaming: Battle.net games. 5.1 Sound but no subwoofer (is it 5.0 then? :>)

Example where it's really weird:
- Steam InHome-Streaming: The Witcher 3: Intro: 5.1 with subwoofer. Main Menu: No subwoofer. Loadingscreen: Subwoofer works. In-game: Crystal clear 5.1 Sound but no subwoofer at all...

I'm really out of ideas how to proceed here and hope that anyone has some hints for me what could be wrong here. If you need any additional infos please let me know.

Thanks in advance!




Settings:

Current settings in daemon.conf under /etc (no configs under ~/.config/pulse). default-channel-map seems to be wrong (set to default-channel-map=front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe in config):
$ pulseaudio --dump-conf
### Read from configuration file: /etc/pulse/daemon.conf ###
daemonize = no
fail = yes
high-priority = yes
nice-level = -11
realtime-scheduling = yes
realtime-priority = 5
allow-module-loading = yes
allow-exit = yes
use-pid-file = yes
system-instance = no
local-server-type = user
cpu-limit = no
enable-shm = yes
flat-volumes = no
lock-memory = no
exit-idle-time = 20
scache-idle-time = 20
dl-search-path = /usr/lib/pulse-12.2/modules
default-script-file = /etc/pulse/default.pa
load-default-script-file = yes
log-target = 
log-level = notice
resample-method = soxr-vhq
avoid-resampling = yes
enable-remixing = yes
remixing-use-all-sink-channels = yes
enable-lfe-remixing = yes
lfe-crossover-freq = 110
default-sample-format = float32le
default-sample-rate = 48000
alternate-sample-rate = 44100
default-sample-channels = 6
default-channel-map = front-left,front-left-of-center,front-center,front-right,front-right-of-center,rear-center
default-fragments = 4
default-fragment-size-msec = 25
enable-deferred-volume = yes
deferred-volume-safety-margin-usec = 8000
deferred-volume-extra-delay-usec = 0
shm-size-bytes = 0
log-meta = no
log-time = no
log-backtrace = 0
rlimit-fsize = -1
rlimit-data = -1
rlimit-stack = -1
rlimit-core = -1
rlimit-rss = -1
rlimit-as = -1
rlimit-nproc = -1
rlimit-nofile = 256
rlimit-memlock = -1
rlimit-locks = -1
rlimit-sigpending = -1
rlimit-msgqueue = -1
rlimit-nice = 31
rlimit-rtprio = 9
rlimit-rttime = 200000


Settings to default all output to pulse:
$ cat ~/.asoundrc 
ctl.dmixer {
    type pulse
}

pcm.pulse {
    type pulse
}

ctl.pulse {
    type pulse
}

pcm.!default {
    type pulse
}

ctl.!default {
    type pulse
}




Settings to block my useless onboard soundcard:

# cat /etc/modprobe.d/no-intelsnd.conf 
blacklist snd_hda_codec_realtek
blacklist snd_hda_codec_generic
blacklist snd_hda_intel
blacklist snd_hda_codec
blacklist snd_hda_core


Settings according to [url]https://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Vendor-Asus[/url]

# cat /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf 
options snd-usb-audio ignore_ctl_error=1


Pulse audio infos:

$ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
  * index: 0
	name: <alsa_output.usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00.analog-surround-51>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
	state: SUSPENDED
	suspend cause: IDLE
	priority: 9049
	volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-center: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   lfe: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	        balance 0,00
	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	volume steps: 65537
	muted: no
	current latency: 0,00 ms
	max request: 0 KiB
	max rewind: 0 KiB
	monitor source: 0
	sample spec: s24le 6ch 48000Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe
	             Surround 5.1
	used by: 0
	linked by: 0
	configured latency: 0,00 ms; range is 0,50 .. 1213,62 ms
	card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00>
	module: 6
	properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "24"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "USB Audio"
		alsa.id = "USB Audio"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "Xonar U7 MKII"
		alsa.long_card_name = "ASUS Xonar U7 MKII at usb-0000:00:14.0-5.4, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:5.4:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-5/1-5.4/1-5.4:1.0/sound/card0"
		udev.id = "usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "0b05"
		device.vendor.name = "ASUSTek Computer, Inc."
		device.product.id = "183c"
		device.product.name = "Xonar U7 MKII"
		device.serial = "ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII"
		device.string = "surround51:0"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "1048572"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "524286"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "analog-surround-51"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Surround 5.1"
		device.description = "Xonar U7 MKII Analog Surround 5.1"
		alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
		alsa.components = "USB0b05:183c"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	ports:
		analog-output: Analog Output (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
	active port: <analog-output>

$ pacmd list-cards
1 card(s) available.
    index: 0
	name: <alsa_card.usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 6
	properties:
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "Xonar U7 MKII"
		alsa.long_card_name = "ASUS Xonar U7 MKII at usb-0000:00:14.0-5.4, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:5.4:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-5/1-5.4/1-5.4:1.0/sound/card0"
		udev.id = "usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "0b05"
		device.vendor.name = "ASUSTek Computer, Inc."
		device.product.id = "183c"
		device.product.name = "Xonar U7 MKII"
		device.serial = "ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII"
		device.string = "0"
		device.description = "Xonar U7 MKII"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	profiles:
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 15, available: unknown)
		input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 5, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 1500, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 1515, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1505, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-21: Analog Surround 2.1 Output (priority 1300, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 1315, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-21+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1305, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (priority 1200, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 1215, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-40+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1205, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-41: Analog Surround 4.1 Output (priority 1300, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 1315, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-41+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1305, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-50: Analog Surround 5.0 Output (priority 1200, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 1215, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-50+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1205, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-51: Analog Surround 5.1 Output (priority 4300, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 4315, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 4305, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-71: Analog Surround 7.1 Output (priority 1200, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-71+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 7.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 1215, available: unknown)
		output:analog-surround-71+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 7.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 1205, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 500, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 515, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (priority 505, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <output:analog-surround-51>
	sinks:
		alsa_output.usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00.analog-surround-51/#6: Xonar U7 MKII Analog Surround 5.1
	sources:
		alsa_output.usb-ASUS_Xonar_U7_MKII-00.analog-surround-51.monitor/#6: Monitor of Xonar U7 MKII Analog Surround 5.1
	ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-linein: Line In (priority 8100, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		analog-output: Analog Output (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:

Last edited by JayEmm (2018-11-19 19:58:34)

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#2 2018-11-28 14:46:33

JayEmm
Member
Registered: 2018-11-19
Posts: 3

Re: PulseAudio - subwoofer/lfe sometimes not working

Okay, some further tests:
- same system with Moonlight game streaming: same results
- same system, another USB-Card, Terratec Aureon 7.1: same results
- new system, fresh Arch install with an internal Asus Xonar DX: same results

I really don't know if I'm missing something essential here or if my demands cannot be fulfilled because the way pulse/alsa works but I'm inclined to give up at this point sad

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#3 2018-11-28 15:14:36

V1del
Forum Moderator
Registered: 2012-10-16
Posts: 21,427

Re: PulseAudio - subwoofer/lfe sometimes not working

Output of

pacmd list-sink-inputs

during playback from a not working application?  FWIW all the related remixing options seem to be properly defined so that's good, something to try, set lfe-crossover-freq = 0 as that should force "something" to be mixed into the LFE channel even if the frequency cutoff isn't met.

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#4 2018-11-28 16:27:50

JayEmm
Member
Registered: 2018-11-19
Posts: 3

Re: PulseAudio - subwoofer/lfe sometimes not working

Hey V1del, thanks a lot for trying to help! Here's the output (both working and not working):


pacmd list-sink-inputs while running moonlight on a game where the subwoofer isn't working (World of Warcraft):

1 sink input(s) available.
    index: 5
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	sink: 1 <alsa_output.usb-0ccd_Aureon_7.1_USB-00.analog-surround-51>
	volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-center: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   lfe: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	        balance 0,00
	muted: no
	current latency: 18,12 ms
	requested latency: 2,50 ms
	sample spec: s16le 6ch 48000Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right
	             Surround 5.1
	resample method: copy
	module: 13
	client: 13 <moonlight>
	properties:
		media.name = "Simple DirectMedia Layer"
		application.name = "moonlight"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "32"
		application.process.id = "1866"
		application.process.user = "sh4d0w"
		application.process.host = "XMG"
		application.process.binary = "moonlight"
		application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
		window.x11.display = ":1"
		application.process.machine_id = "f449e6fd38df4bc79e191f92b849c7a2"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-application-name:moonlight"



pacmd list-sink-inputs while running moonlight on a game where everything is working as it should (Tomb Raider):

1 sink input(s) available.
    index: 7
	driver: <protocol-native.c>
	flags: 
	state: RUNNING
	sink: 1 <alsa_output.usb-0ccd_Aureon_7.1_USB-00.analog-surround-51>
	volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   front-center: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   lfe: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-left: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB,   rear-right: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
	        balance 0,00
	muted: no
	current latency: 12,62 ms
	requested latency: 16,00 ms
	sample spec: s16le 6ch 48000Hz
	channel map: front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right
	             Surround 5.1
	resample method: copy
	module: 13
	client: 19 <moonlight>
	properties:
		media.name = "Simple DirectMedia Layer"
		application.name = "moonlight"
		native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
		native-protocol.version = "32"
		application.process.id = "1866"
		application.process.user = "sh4d0w"
		application.process.host = "XMG"
		application.process.binary = "moonlight"
		application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
		window.x11.display = ":1"
		application.process.machine_id = "f449e6fd38df4bc79e191f92b849c7a2"
		application.process.session_id = "2"
		module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-application-name:moonlight"

I've already tried to fiddle with (hopefully) all related settings (for example enable-lfe-remixing and different values for lfe-crossover-freq 0-254) without any success...

Last edited by JayEmm (2018-11-28 16:28:25)

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#5 2018-11-28 19:41:27

V1del
Forum Moderator
Registered: 2012-10-16
Posts: 21,427

Re: PulseAudio - subwoofer/lfe sometimes not working

Yeah that does look alright. One thing that could be the issue here, is that linux and windows (and hence Windows software) have a different understanding of what the default layout for surround systems/channels is. So it might be that the game/software correctly advertises 5.1 channels but they are logically mapped to an incorrect channel. You should be able to use module-remap-sink to create a new sink that maps the channels properly, see e.g. this thread for a discussion and my attempt at a solution, though I haven't really used that myself so this might need to be tested further.

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