Soundcard configuration on linux

[doors666]

I am trying to get my new sub to work with linux. I am trying with m-audio revolution 7.1 sound card. In system config->multimedia->phonon settings i can see options for selecting stereo, 5.1 or 7.1 etc, test speakers and all that. I need a 2.1 mode, but no option for that.

No option to configure Large, small (send bass to speaker, sub or both) etc or the crossover frequency like 100hz etc. The windows control panel for m-audio provides all that, so sound card supports it. M-Audio doesnt have drivers for linux but provided specs to OS community and support is integrated in oss and alsa.

I tried oss also, but again no settings and players like banshee/rockbox etc dont work. Command line test programs work though.

OS is kubunu 12.04

 

[alpha1]

Did you try the Ubuntu Studio edition?

 

[doors666]

Did you try the Ubuntu Studio edition?

No. This is not on my htpc but on my desktop.

 

[gobble]

Unfortunately Linux does not have an equivalent program like "Certified hardware for M$" for which vendors sign up. This has to do with poor desktop penetration. A vendor who wants to sell his gear ensures that he hires M$ programmers to write device drivers as he will not succeed in selling his product in the market place otherwise.

Linux on the other hand requires free time of programmers who want to prove their mettle and skill and gain recognition. But they also need to pay their bills. So they implement a part solution ex: only 2-channel audio and most of the features not developed/working and wait for someone to assign them on a commercial project that will bring home the bread.

Google around to see if a complete device driver exists or look at the known issues for existing driver in the source code README file or the driver development site.

--G0bble

 

[doors666]

Unfortunately Linux does not have an equivalent program like "Certified hardware for M$" for which vendors sign up. This has to do with poor desktop penetration. A vendor who wants to sell his gear ensures that he hires M$ programmers to write device drivers as he will not succeed in selling his product in the market place otherwise.

Linux on the other hand requires free time of programmers who want to prove their mettle and skill and gain recognition. But they also need to pay their bills. So they implement a part solution ex: only 2-channel audio and most of the features not developed/working and wait for someone to assign them on a commercial project that will bring home the bread.

Google around to see if a complete device driver exists or look at the known issues for existing driver in the source code README file or the driver development site.

--G0bble

M-Audio released specs for these cards a good 8 years ago, to the open sound group. i downloaded the drivers and installed. cant figure out a gui to do the config though. will have to dig through the config files now. I thought some one might have figured it out already.

Features i am looking for are quite commonly used. I think these should definitely be available.
Oh hell, time to dig into /etc.

 

[alpha1]

No. This is not on my htpc but on my desktop.

Ubuntu Studio will work on desktop.
In fact it is meant for workstations only.

The reason why I introduced Ubuntu Studio is because they may have some packages that may help you in your quest. Of course you can also download/install those packages, while running normal (k)Ubuntu - but then you need to know which package and what dependencies - better to get pre-packaged Ubuntu studio.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Ubuntu Studio is a good basis. Another good addition to either Studio or bland Ubuntu is KXStudio, which has made a lot of stuff work that can be tough in Linux, mostly around the jack demon. If not using the jack demon, it may not be worth bothering with.

Unfortunately it is not just that manufacturers do not want to employ coders for platforms other than Windows and Mac: it is also that they are often unwilling to co-operate with the voluntary coders. Some manufacturers are not willing to reveal their technology secrets by opening up their code.

When it works, Ubuntu is as straightforward (or more!) than Windows, but when driver problems strike, it can be a long wait to a dead end.

Whilst Google is the proverbial friend, a perrenial source of information and help on music-associated Linux hardware is the Linux Musicians forum


PS Try envy24control. If you can't find it on a menu, execute that from a command line. If you get a not-found, install alsa-tools-gui and/or alsa-tools

PPS This, on Ubuntu Forums looks useful


.

 

[doors666]

Ubuntu Studio is a good basis. Another good addition to either Studio or bland Ubuntu is KXStudio, which has made a lot of stuff work that can be tough in Linux, mostly around the jack demon. If not using the jack demon, it may not be worth bothering with.

Unfortunately it is not just that manufacturers do not want to employ coders for platforms other than Windows and Mac: it is also that they are often unwilling to co-operate with the voluntary coders. Some manufacturers are not willing to reveal their technology secrets by opening up their code.

When it works, Ubuntu is as straightforward (or more!) than Windows, but when driver problems strike, it can be a long wait to a dead end.

Whilst Google is the proverbial friend, a perrenial source of information and help on music-associated Linux hardware is the Linux Musicians forum


PS Try envy24control. If you can't find it on a menu, execute that from a command line. If you get a not-found, install alsa-tools-gui and/or alsa-tools

PPS This, on Ubuntu Forums looks useful


.

envy24 didnt work, it works for ice1712, mine uses ice1724.

PS: atleast i got the sub working for music. still have to configure the crossover. except for the fronts, everything was 0 volume, fixed using gnome-alsa-mixer.

movies are all messed up. its using 7.1 channels. rears are going to fronts (for movies only), center and sub out together are going to the sub (stereo out to rcas), so the voices goto the sub. if i cant fix this, i will have to muck around with the cables.

 

[doors666]

things got more messed up, just got my ODAC. gotta configure both of these. 2 soundcards shouldnt cause issues right?

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

2 soundcards shouldnt cause issues right?

Well, no, they shouldn't.

 

[musicbee]

2 soundcards shouldnt cause issues right?

Nah. I have 2 in my PC.. one (Asus) purely for audio and another (onboard Realtek) for Creative + movies. Also, onboard has sockets in the front and back so you can have different outputs at both locations... so its movies from the back of the PC connected via Creative... and its headphones for Skype and video chats/calls in the front sockets.

Never needed to use all 3 simultaneously but they do play all at the same time!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Actually. I've got three in mine --- but the built-in is disabled at the BIOS. so it's really only two.

I'm using the external Firewire card, but I thought I might as well keep the RME in the case rather than in the machine, and experiment at a later date. An initial trial did work with patching output from jack into either.

Jack, the Jack Audio Connection Kit, is optional if one is neither doing studio work nor using a Firewire card. Unfortunately, a Firewire card makes it necessary ...but once one gets the KXStudio Cadence tools, and gets a bit used to Jack, it is fun to play with. Or Ignore and just play music.