Audigy 2: only 4.1 sound not 6.1

[ffi]

I´d like to know if it´s possible to get sound from all my speakers on my Creative Audigy 2, it has 6.1 sound but right now there´s no sound coming from my mid front and back speakers. I´m using the alsa driver from the 2006 (1.0.9b) installation, are there any better drivers available?

Edited February 8, 2006 by ffi

[devries]

MDE has alsa 1.10 but I think it´s more a mixer problem. Open a console and type: alsamixer and unmute every channel.

[ffi]

That didn´t do anything, I still only hear some white noise coming from the mid back speaker.

 

(edit: btw kmix = alsamixer w/ gui ? )

Edited February 8, 2006 by ffi

[devries]

Sort off, the gui for alsmixer is alsamixergui :)

 

Open a console and type: amixer scontrols

 

Look for the mid back speaker and check its status. Change the status with: amixer set XXXX unmute (where xxx is the mid bak channel)

[ffi]

Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Center/LFE',0
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Front',0
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Rear',0
Simple mixer control 'HD Analog Unknown',0
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Center/LFE',0
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Front',0
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Rear',0
Simple mixer control 'HD SPDIF Unknown',0
Simple mixer control 'HD channel Capture',0
Simple mixer control 'HD source Capture',0
Simple mixer control 'Sigmatel 4-Speaker Stereo',0
Simple mixer control 'Sigmatel Surround Phase Inversion Playback ',0

 

I believe this is the relevant output, and after checking I found front centre not to be working either, so I have 4.1 sound.

 

(edit:typo)

Edited February 8, 2006 by ffi

[devries]

Still looks like a mixer problem. I don´t have that card so can´t help you with the exact settings. Keep trying :)

[ffi]

Still looks like a mixer problem. I don´t have that card so can´t help you with the exact settings. Keep trying :)

It´s not a *big* problem but it would be nice to have it fixed, thanks for helping me anyway, maybe someone else here might have an answer.

[ffi]

Maybe you could answer me another question: what is the ¨ sound system¨ or ¨ artsd¨ (I believe) because it keeps crashing. (doesn´t seem to affect the sound however)

[devries]

Arts is a software mixer. If your soundcard doesn´t support hardware mixing you can´t have multiple sounds at the same time. For that you use a software mixer like arts. However with alsa 1.08 dmix (another mixer) was enabled by default. Since arts is not the most stable program (like you have discoverd :) ) most people don´t use it anymore. (just keep it around for kde systemsounds)

[ffi]

Oh okay.

 

 

Anyway I found this emu10k1.conf file in usr/share/alsa/cards:

 

#
# Configuration for the EMU10K1 chip
#

<confdir:pcm/front.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.front.0 {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
type hooks
slave.pcm {
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device 0
}
hooks.0 {
	type ctl_elems
	hook_args [
		{
			interface PCM
			device 0
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			interface PCM
			device 0
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Routing"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 8 9 0 0 8 9 0 0 8 9 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Routing"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 8 9 0 0 8 9 0 0 8 9 0 0 ]
		}
	]
}
}	

<confdir:pcm/rear.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.rear.0 {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
type hooks
slave.pcm {
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device 0
}
hooks.0 {
	type ctl_elems
	hook_args [
		{
			interface PCM
			device 0
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 0 0 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 0 0 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 ]
		}
	]
}
}	

<confdir:pcm/center_lfe.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.center_lfe.0 {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
type hooks
slave.pcm {
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device 0
}
hooks.0 {
	type ctl_elems
	hook_args [
		{
			name "Headphone Center Playback Switch"
			index 1
			preserve true
			# lock true
			value true
		}
		{
			name "Headphone LFE Playback Switch"
			index 1
			preserve true
			# lock true
			value true
		}
# if you have a creative's digital receiver, you can get surround/center/lfe
# output through the digital jack.  so, the following is commented out.
# pay attention in case of analog output from the shared center/digital
# jack!
#			{
#				name "SB Live Analog/Digital Output Jack"
#				preserve true
#				lock true
#				value 0
#			}
		{
			interface PCM
			device 0
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Volume"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 255 255 0 0 255 0 0 0 0 255 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			interface PCM
			device 0
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Routing"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 6 7 0 0 6 7 0 0 6 7 0 0 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "EMU10K1 PCM Send Routing"
			index { @func private_pcm_subdevice }
			lock true
			optional true
			value [ 6 7 0 0 6 7 0 0 6 7 0 0 ]
		}
	]
}
}	

<confdir:pcm/surround40.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.surround40.0 {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
type multi
slaves [
	{
		pcm {
			@func concat
			strings [
				"cards.EMU10K1.pcm.front.0:CARD=" $CARD
			]
		}
		channels 2
	}
	{
		pcm {
			@func concat
			strings [
				"cards.EMU10K1.pcm.rear.0:CARD=" $CARD
			]
		}
		channels 2
	}
]
bindings [
	{ slave 0 channel 0 }
	{ slave 0 channel 1 }
	{ slave 1 channel 0 }
	{ slave 1 channel 1 }
]
}

<confdir:pcm/surround41.conf>
<confdir:pcm/surround50.conf>
<confdir:pcm/surround51.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.surround51.0 {
@args [ CARD ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
type multi
slaves [
	{
		pcm {
			@func concat
			strings [
				"cards.EMU10K1.pcm.front.0:CARD=" $CARD
			]
		}
		channels 2
	}
	{
		pcm {
			@func concat
			strings [
				"cards.EMU10K1.pcm.rear.0:CARD=" $CARD
			]
		}
		channels 2
	}
	{
		pcm {
			@func concat
			strings [
				"cards.EMU10K1.pcm.center_lfe.0:CARD=" $CARD
			]
		}
		channels 2
	}
]
bindings [
	{ slave 0 channel 0 }
	{ slave 0 channel 1 }
	{ slave 1 channel 0 }
	{ slave 1 channel 1 }
	{ slave 2 channel 0 }
	{ slave 2 channel 1 }
]
}

<confdir:pcm/iec958.conf>

EMU10K1.pcm.iec958.0 {
@args [ CARD AES0 AES1 AES2 AES3 ]
@args.CARD {
	type string
}
@args.AES0 {
	type integer
}
@args.AES1 {
	type integer
}
@args.AES2 {
	type integer
}
@args.AES3 {
	type integer
}
type hooks
slave.pcm {
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device 2
}
hooks.0 {
	type ctl_elems
	hook_args [
		{
			interface PCM
			name "IEC958 Playback Default"
			device 2
			lock true
			preserve true
			optional true
			value [ $AES0 $AES1 $AES2 $AES3 ]
		}
		{
			# for compatibility with older drivers
			name "IEC958 Playback Default"
			lock true
			preserve true
			optional true
			value [ $AES0 $AES1 $AES2 $AES3 ]
		}
		{
			name "IEC958 Optical Raw Playback Switch"
			lock true
			preserve true
			value [ 1 1 ]
		}
		{
			name "SB Live Analog/Digital Output Jack"
			lock true
			preserve true
			value 1
		}
	]
}
}

 

this txt file

 

This document is a guide to using the emu10k1 based devices with JACK for low

latency, multichannel recording functionality. All of my recent work to allow

Linux users to use the full capabilities of their hardware has been inspired

by the kX Project. Without their work I never would have discovered the true

power of this hardware.

 

http://www.kxproject.com

- Lee Revell, 2005.03.30

 

Low latency, multichannel audio with JACK and the emu10k1/emu10k2

-----------------------------------------------------------------

 

Until recently, emu10k1 users on Linux did not have access to the same low

latency, multichannel features offered by the "kX ASIO" feature of their

Windows driver. As of ALSA 1.0.9 this is no more!

 

For those unfamiliar with kX ASIO, this consists of 16 capture and 16 playback

channels. With a post 2.6.9 Linux kernel, latencies down to 64 (1.33 ms) or

even 32 (0.66ms) frames should work well.

 

The configuration is slightly more involved than on Windows, as you have to

select the correct device for JACK to use. Actually, for qjackctl users it's

fairly self explanatory - select Duplex, then for capture and playback select

the multichannel devices, set the in and out channels to 16, and the sample

rate to 48000Hz. The command line looks like this:

 

/usr/local/bin/jackd -R -dalsa -r48000 -p64 -n2 -D -Chw:0,2 -Phw:0,3 -S

 

This will give you 16 input ports and 16 output ports.

 

The 16 output ports map onto the 16 FX buses (or the first 16 of 64, for the

Audigy). The mapping from FX bus to physical output is described in

SB-Live-mixer.txt (or Audigy-mixer.txt).

 

The 16 input ports are connected to the 16 physical inputs. Contrary to

popular belief, all emu10k1 cards are multichannel cards. Which of these

input channels have physical inputs connected to them depends on the card

model. Trial and error is highly recommended; the pinout diagrams

for the card have been reverse engineered by some enterprising kX users and are

available on the internet. Meterbridge is helpful here, and the kX forums are

packed with useful information.

 

Each input port will either correspond to a digital (SPDIF) input, an analog

input, or nothing. The one exception is the SBLive! 5.1. On these devices,

the second and third input ports are wired to the center/LFE output. You will

still see 16 capture channels, but only 14 are available for recording inputs.

 

This chart, borrowed from kxfxlib/da_asio51.cpp, describes the mapping of JACK

ports to FXBUS2 (multitrack recording input) and EXTOUT (physical output)

channels.

 

/*JACK (& ASIO) mappings on 10k1 5.1 SBLive cards:

--------------------------------------------

JACK Epilog FXBUS2(nr)

--------------------------------------------

capture_1 asio14 FXBUS2(0xe)

capture_2 asio15 FXBUS2(0xf)

capture_3 asio0 FXBUS2(0x0)

~capture_4 Center EXTOUT(0x11) // mapped to by Center

~capture_5 LFE EXTOUT(0x12) // mapped to by LFE

capture_6 asio3 FXBUS2(0x3)

capture_7 asio4 FXBUS2(0x4)

capture_8 asio5 FXBUS2(0x5)

capture_9 asio6 FXBUS2(0x6)

capture_10 asio7 FXBUS2(0x7)

capture_11 asio8 FXBUS2(0x8)

capture_12 asio9 FXBUS2(0x9)

capture_13 asio10 FXBUS2(0xa)

capture_14 asio11 FXBUS2(0xb)

capture_15 asio12 FXBUS2(0xc)

capture_16 asio13 FXBUS2(0xd)

*/

 

TODO: describe use of ld10k1/qlo10k1 in conjunction with JACK

 

and this on scourceforge: http://sourceforge.net/docman/display_doc....&group_id=44773

 

and I´m guessing that editing the conf file should somehow do the trick, though I´m having a hard time understanding it :s

[devries]

The first is a dmix config for the emu10k1 module ( a driver. If your card uses that driver (i´ve no idea if it does)) you can copy it to your home folder and edit it to reflect your preferences. However it isn´t something I would advize to a beginner.

 

Jack is a separate program that pipes audio through different channels. You don´t need it for your problem.

[ffi]

Okay, I believe I understand this, there are only .conf files for 4.0 (4 channels), 4.1 ( 5channels), 5.0 (5 channels), 5.1(6 channels) and 7.1 (8 channels) speakers but my card has 6.1 (7 channels), so how and which files should I edit to make get a 7 channel output? I found 5 surroundXX.conf files for each of the 5 supported types and also a file for audig2.conf. (I believe the newer versions ie ZS do have 7.1 sound but not the older plain Audigy 2 models).

 

 

The first is a dmix config for the emu10k1 module ( a driver. If your card uses that driver (i´ve no idea if it does)) you can copy it to your home folder and edit it to reflect your preferences. However it isn´t something I would advize to a beginner.

 

It can use 3 different drivers according to harddrake snd-emu10k1, emu10k1 and audigy but none work properly for 6.1 sound.

[ffi]

I also found this info on my speakers:

 

Connectivity wise, the Inspire 6700 offers 3 analog inputs for connecting to your soundcard: one for the front speakers, another for the rear speakers and a single jack for the two centres plus the subwoofer.

 

http://www.techspot.com/reviews/hardware/i...700/index.shtml

 

 

So I´m really hoping if someone could tell me if it´s possible to edit the conf file and is so how to edit these so that I can have 6.1 sound.

[devries]

http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php?page=emu10k1

 

No you can only use 1 alsa driver. The other module is for oss. :). Before you do all that read this link and try out different mixer settings. There is nothing wrong with the default settings.

[ffi]

http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php?page=emu10k1

 

Thanks for the link but I think I tried just about every setting available from the mixer :(

 

No you can only use 1 alsa driver. The other module is for oss. :). Before you do all that read this link and try out different mixer settings. There is nothing wrong with the default settings.

 

I know but there are 3 different drivers installed which work for my card :)