Arch Linux

Aeropsia

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 2

[SOLVED] SBZ / CA0132: Front Panel Audio NOT Working!

Hello guys,

I have a very, very annoying problem that appears to be a configuration issue (on KDE Plasma).
I own a SoundBlaster Z SE (yeah, I know) and I can't hear any audio when I connect my headphones to the front panel.
Manually changing output sources didn't change anything - can't hear anything on my headphones, no matter what.

Before I ran alsactl init, I couldn't even hear audio when I manually selected my monitor speakers. Only my front speakers were working.
However, my front speakers get muted, when I connect my headphones to the front panel. So it seems like my system notices a change.
I wasn't sure if this problem is only related to Arch, so I booted from a Live USB drive with Ubuntu 24.04 and I didn't have the problem.

Another weird behavior I noticed: When I run alsamixer, my default sound device is "PipeWire", instead of HDA Creative.

I am grateful for any support!

cat /proc/asound/card*/codec* | grep Codec

Codec: Creative Sound Blaster Z
Codec: ATI R6xx HDMI
Codec: Realtek ALC897

amixer -c0

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 77 [78%] [-22.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Bass Redirection',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Bass Redirection Crossover',0
  Capabilities: volume volume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: 1 - 100
  Mono: 8 [7%]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 254 [100%] [-0.20dB]
  Front Right: Playback 254 [100%] [-0.20dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround Channel Config',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '2.0' '2.1' '4.0' '4.1' '5.1'
  Item0: '2.0'
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: '0 dB' '10 dB' '20 dB' '30 dB'
  Item0: '0 dB'
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 99
  Front Left: Capture 99 [100%] [9.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 99 [100%] [9.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Enable InFX',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Enable OutFX',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Crystalizer',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 65 [65%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Dialog Plus',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 50 [50%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer Preset',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Flat' 'Acoustic' 'Classical' 'Country' 'Dance' 'Jazz' 'New Age' 'Pop' 'Rock' 'Vocal'
  Item0: 'Flat'
Simple mixer control 'FX: Mic SVM',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Noise Reduction',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 74 [74%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume Setting',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Normal' 'Loud' 'Night'
  Item0: 'Normal'
Simple mixer control 'FX: Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 67 [67%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Voice Focus',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 50 [50%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass Crossover',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 1 - 100
  Mono: Playback 8 [7%]
Simple mixer control 'Full-Range Front Speakers',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Full-Range Rear Speakers',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'HP/Speaker Auto Detect',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Microphone' 'Line In' 'Front Microphone'
  Item0: 'Microphone'
Simple mixer control 'Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Speakers' 'Headphone'
  Item0: 'Headphone'
Simple mixer control 'VoiceFX',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Neutral' 'Female2Male' 'Male2Female' 'ScrappyKid' 'Elderly' 'Orc' 'Elf' 'Dwarf' 'AlienBrute' 'Robot' 'Marine' 'Emo' 'DeepVoice' 'Munchkin'
  Item0: 'Neutral'
Simple mixer control 'What U Hear',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 99
  Front Left: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]

pactl info

Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 1981
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: aeropsia
Host Name: archlinux
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.2.1)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-stereo
Default Source: alsa_input.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-stereo
Cookie: e4ab:35bd

pactl list sinks

Sink #48
        State: RUNNING
        Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-stereo
        Description: CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx) Analog Stereo
        Driver: PipeWire
        Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
        Channel Map: front-left,front-right
        Owner Module: 4294967295
        Mute: no
        Volume: front-left: 19661 /  30% / -31,37 dB,   front-right: 19661 /  30% / -31,37 dB
                balance 0,00
        Base Volume: 46396 /  71% / -9,00 dB
        Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-stereo.monitor
        Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
        Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
        Properties:
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.components = "HDA:11020011,11020028,00100918"
                alsa.device = "0"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.id = "Creative"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Creative at 0xfcd04000 irq 34"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Creative Sound Blaster Z"
                alsa.name = "CA0132 Analog"
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA Creative at 0xfcd04000 irq 34"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HDA Creative"
                api.alsa.path = "front:0"
                api.alsa.pcm.card = "0"
                api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
                audio.channels = "2"
                audio.position = "FL,FR"
                card.profile.device = "7"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                device.id = "42"
                device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
                device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
                device.routes = "4"
                factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
                media.class = "Audio/Sink"
                device.description = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx)"
                node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-stereo"
                node.nick = "CA0132 Analog"
                node.pause-on-idle = "false"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:Creative:7:playback"
                port.group = "playback"
                priority.driver = "1009"
                priority.session = "1009"
                factory.id = "19"
                clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
                client.id = "41"
                node.driver = "true"
                node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
                library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
                object.id = "48"
                object.serial = "48"
                node.max-latency = "16384/48000"
                api.alsa.period-size = "1024"
                api.alsa.period-num = "32"
                api.alsa.headroom = "0"
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "0"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.0"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.0"
                device.nick = "HDA Creative"
                device.plugged.usec = "7293751"
                device.product.id = "0x0012"
                device.product.name = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx)"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.2/0000:02:00.2/0000:03:07.0/0000:04:00.0/sound/card0"
                device.vendor.id = "0x1102"
                device.vendor.name = "Creative Labs"
                device.string = "0"
        Ports:
                analog-output-lineout;output-speaker: Line-Ausgang / Lautsprecher (type: Line, priority: 9010, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
                analog-output-lineout;output-headphones: Line-Ausgang / Kopfhörer (type: Line, priority: 9009, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
                analog-output-headphones;output-speaker: Kopfhörer / Lautsprecher (type: Headphones, priority: 9910, availability group: Legacy 4, availability unknown)
                analog-output-headphones;output-headphones: Kopfhörer / Kopfhörer (type: Headphones, priority: 9909, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
        Active Port: analog-output-lineout;output-headphones
        Formats:
                pcm

Sink #50
        State: IDLE
        Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_2d_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1
        Description: Navi 31 HDMI/DP Audio Digital Stereo (HDMI 2)
        Driver: PipeWire
        Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
        Channel Map: front-left,front-right
        Owner Module: 4294967295
        Mute: no
        Volume: front-left: 32768 /  50% / -18,06 dB,   front-right: 32768 /  50% / -18,06 dB
                balance 0,00
        Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
        Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_2d_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1.monitor
        Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
        Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS 
        Properties:
                alsa.card = "1"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA ATI HDMI"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.components = "HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100800"
                alsa.device = "7"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.id = "HDMI"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfca20000 irq 80"
                alsa.mixer_name = "ATI R6xx HDMI"
                alsa.name = "LG ULTRAWIDE"
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfca20000 irq 80"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HDA ATI HDMI"
                api.alsa.path = "hdmi:1,1"
                api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
                api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
                audio.channels = "2"
                audio.position = "FL,FR"
                card.profile.device = "8"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                device.id = "43"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (HDMI 2)"
                device.profile.name = "hdmi-stereo-extra1"
                device.routes = "1"
                factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
                media.class = "Audio/Sink"
                device.description = "Navi 31 HDMI/DP Audio"
                node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_2d_00.1.hdmi-stereo-extra1"
                node.nick = "LG ULTRAWIDE"
                node.pause-on-idle = "false"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:HDMI:8:playback"
                port.group = "playback"
                priority.driver = "632"
                priority.session = "632"
                factory.id = "19"
                clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
                client.id = "41"
                node.driver = "true"
                node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
                library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
                object.id = "50"
                object.serial = "50"
                node.max-latency = "16384/48000"
                api.alsa.period-size = "1024"
                api.alsa.period-num = "32"
                api.alsa.headroom = "0"
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "1"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:2d:00.1"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_2d_00.1"
                device.nick = "HDA ATI HDMI"
                device.plugged.usec = "6237402"
                device.product.id = "0xab30"
                device.product.name = "Navi 31 HDMI/DP Audio"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:03.1/0000:2b:00.0/0000:2c:00.0/0000:2d:00.1/sound/card1"
                device.vendor.id = "0x1002"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
                device.string = "1"
        Ports:
                hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, availability group: Legacy 2, available)
        Active Port: hdmi-output-1
        Formats:
                pcm

Sink #51
        State: IDLE
        Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_2f_00.4.iec958-stereo
        Description: Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller Digital Stereo (IEC958)
        Driver: PipeWire
        Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
        Channel Map: front-left,front-right
        Owner Module: 4294967295
        Mute: no
        Volume: front-left: 26214 /  40% / -23,88 dB,   front-right: 26214 /  40% / -23,88 dB
                balance 0,00
        Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0,00 dB
        Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_2f_00.4.iec958-stereo.monitor
        Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
        Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS 
        Properties:
                alsa.card = "2"
                alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0897,1462ec56,00100402"
                alsa.device = "1"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.id = "Generic"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc800000 irq 81"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC897"
                alsa.name = "ALC897 Digital"
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc800000 irq 81"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
                api.alsa.path = "iec958:2"
                api.alsa.pcm.card = "2"
                api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
                audio.channels = "2"
                audio.position = "FL,FR"
                card.profile.device = "11"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                device.id = "44"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
                device.routes = "1"
                factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
                media.class = "Audio/Sink"
                device.description = "Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller"
                node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_2f_00.4.iec958-stereo"
                node.nick = "ALC897 Digital"
                node.pause-on-idle = "false"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic:11:playback"
                port.group = "playback"
                priority.driver = "736"
                priority.session = "736"
                factory.id = "19"
                clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
                client.id = "41"
                node.driver = "true"
                node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
                library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
                object.id = "51"
                object.serial = "51"
                node.max-latency = "16384/48000"
                api.alsa.period-size = "1024"
                api.alsa.period-num = "32"
                api.alsa.headroom = "0"
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "2"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio2"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:2f:00.4"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_2f_00.4"
                device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
                device.plugged.usec = "6378307"
                device.product.id = "0x1487"
                device.product.name = "Starship/Matisse HD Audio Controller"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:2f:00.4/sound/card2"
                device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
                device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
                device.string = "2"
        Ports:
                iec958-stereo-output: Digitalausgang (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, availability unknown)
        Active Port: iec958-stereo-output
        Formats:
                pcm

Last edited by Aeropsia (2024-07-17 06:45:06)

Aeropsia

Member

Registered: 2024-07-16

Posts: 2

Re: [SOLVED] SBZ / CA0132: Front Panel Audio NOT Working!

I'm not sure how, but it seems that my problem is somehow fixed.

The last thing I did was to create a configuration file under /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf with the following content:

options snd-hda-intel model=CA0132

I also ran sudo alsamixer --card=0 to display/customize the audio playback controls.
It looks to me like the channels for speakers and heaphones are mixed into one channel. WTF?!

1. line out / speakers
2. line out / headphones

It doesn't matter which channel I choose, now I can hear through headphones when they are plugged in and my speakers get muted.
Maybe someone has a good explanation for this behavior?

Last edited by Aeropsia (2024-07-17 07:01:07)