[mythtv-users] Mythtv analog audio HELP!

Ray Whiteman ray.whiteman at consultant.com
Tue Dec 9 21:07:06 UTC 2008


Allen Edwards wrote:
> On Tue, Dec 9, 2008 at 3:21 AM, Ray Whiteman
> <ray.whiteman at consultant.com> wrote:
>   
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have been battling with an analogue sound output problem for a couple
>> days with a new myth front end I put together using old hardware. It is
>> a clean install with back ports added to bring the FE up to my current
>> backend FE config. My objective is to get the FE to playback DVB-T and
>> PVR-150 sampled recordings via the FE to stereo speakers embedded in an
>> old 4:3 CRT TV. I have tried with and without .asoundrc files, and every
>> configuration of alsamixer I could think of as well as all the options
>> in mythfrontend audio configuration.
>>
>> My last configuration, which I thought was the closest, was the below
>> configuration with the myth (Settings General > Audio) set to
>> ALSA:mixed-analog
>>
>> I am not categorically sure that the analog output is working hardware
>> wise, I think it was, I just can't get a whimper out of it now.
>> Everything looks correct to me. Sorry for the spam. ANy help would be
>> seriously appreciated. I suspect this is something basic. :/
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> Hardware:
>> Asus P4P800-E
>> ALC850 sound (AC97)
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> Software:
>> Mythbuntu 7.10 with backports enabled (mythfrontend 0.21.20080304-1)
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $sudo lspci -v
>>
>> 00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801EB/ER
>> (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 02)
>>        Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Unknown device 812a
>>        Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 22
>>        I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
>>        I/O ports at ee80 [size=64]
>>        Memory at f7fff800 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512]
>>        Memory at f7fff400 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
>>        Capabilities: [50] Power Management version 2
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $ hwinfo --sound
>> 21: PCI 1f.5: 0401 Multimedia audio controller
>>  [Created at pci.296]
>>  UDI: /org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/pci_8086_24d5
>>  Unique ID: W60f.GwekzbCBmC6
>>  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.5
>>  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:1f.5
>>  Hardware Class: sound
>>  Model: "ASUSTeK 82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller"
>>  Vendor: pci 0x8086 "Intel Corporation"
>>  Device: pci 0x24d5 "82801EB/ER (ICH5/ICH5R) AC'97 Audio Controller"
>>  SubVendor: pci 0x1043 "ASUSTeK Computer Inc."
>>  SubDevice: pci 0x812a
>>  Revision: 0x02
>>  Driver: "Intel ICH"
>>  Driver Modules: "snd_intel8x0"
>>  I/O Ports: 0xe800-0xe8ff (rw)
>>  I/O Ports: 0xee80-0xeebf (rw)
>>  Memory Range: 0xf7fff800-0xf7fff9ff (rw,non-prefetchable)
>>  Memory Range: 0xf7fff400-0xf7fff4ff (rw,non-prefetchable)
>>  IRQ: 22 (19576 events)
>>  Module Alias: "pci:v00008086d000024D5sv00001043sd0000812Abc04sc01i00"
>>  Driver Info #0:
>>    Driver Status: snd_intel8x0 is active
>>    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe snd_intel8x0"
>>  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $ lsmod | grep snd
>> snd_intel8x0           34972  2
>> snd_ac97_codec        100644  1 snd_intel8x0
>> ac97_bus                3200  1 snd_ac97_codec
>> snd_pcm_oss            44672  0
>> snd_mixer_oss          17664  1 snd_pcm_oss
>> snd_pcm                80388  4 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
>> snd_seq_dummy           4740  0
>> snd_seq_oss            33152  0
>> snd_seq_midi            9600  0
>> snd_rawmidi            25728  1 snd_seq_midi
>> snd_seq_midi_event      8448  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
>> snd_seq                53232  6
>> snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
>> snd_timer              24324  2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
>> snd_seq_device          9228  5
>> snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
>> snd                    54660  13
>> snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
>> soundcore               8800  1 snd
>> snd_page_alloc         11400  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $dpkg -l \*alsa\* | grep ^ii
>> ii  alsa-base            1.0.14-1ubuntu2   ALSA driver configuration files
>> ii  alsa-utils           1.0.14-1ubuntu4   ALSA utilities
>> ii  libesd-alsa0         0.2.38-0ubuntu4.1 Enlightened Sound Daemon
>> (ALSA) - Shared lib
>> ii  libsdl1.2debian-alsa 1.2.11-9ubuntu2   Simple DirectMedia Layer
>> (with X11 and ALSA
>> ii  xfce4-mixer-alsa     1:4.4.1-3ubuntu1  Xfce4 Mixer ALSA backend
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $aplay -l
>> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
>> card 0: ICH5 [Intel ICH5], device 0: Intel ICH [Intel ICH5]
>>  Subdevices: 0/1
>>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>> card 0: ICH5 [Intel ICH5], device 4: Intel ICH - IEC958 [Intel ICH5 -
>> IEC958]
>>  Subdevices: 1/1
>>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $ aplay -L
>> front:CARD=ICH5,DEV=0
>>    Intel ICH5, Intel ICH5
>>    Front speakers
>> surround40:CARD=ICH5,DEV=0
>>    Intel ICH5, Intel ICH5
>>    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
>> surround41:CARD=ICH5,DEV=0
>>    Intel ICH5, Intel ICH5
>>    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
>> surround50:CARD=ICH5,DEV=0
>>    Intel ICH5, Intel ICH5
>>    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
>> surround51:CARD=ICH5,DEV=0
>>    Intel ICH5, Intel ICH5
>>    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
>> null
>>    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
>>
>> ===================================================================
>> $ cat .asoundrc
>> # ~/.asoundrc or /etc/asound.conf
>> # ALSA configuration file
>>
>> ##### USAGE #####
>> # Save this file as "~/.asoundrc" (for user-specific sound configuration) or
>> # "/etc/asound.conf" (for system-wide sound configuration) and specify ALSA
>> # device names ad described in the next section.
>>
>>
>> ##### DEVICE NAMES #####
>> # This configuration file defines four devices for use by the user.  Those
>> # devices are "analog", "mixed-analog", "digital", and "mixed-digital".  The
>> # user may also re-define "default" to be identical to one of the
>> above-named
>> # devices (i.e. to send all sound output to the digital output unless
>> otherwise
>> # specified).  Use the device names as described below:
>> #  - "analog" outputs to the analog output directly and (at least on
>> software
>> #  sound cards) blocks other audio output.  After playback completes,
>> "queued"
>> #  sounds are output in sequence.
>> #  - "mixed-analog" mixes audio output from multiple programs into the
>> analog
>> #  output (so you can hear beeps, alerts, and other noises while playing
>> back
>> #  an audio stream).
>> #  - "digital" outputs to the digital output directly.  Since most (all?)
>> #  digital outputs expect 48kHz PCM audio, this may not work for some
>> playback
>> #  (i.e. CD's--which are 44.1kHz PCM audio--or 32kHz audio streams from TV
>> #  recordings, etc.).
>> #  - "mixed-digital"
>>
>> # All other devices created within this file are used only by the
>> configuration
>> # file itself and should /not/ be used directly.  In other words, do not use
>> # the devices "analog-hw", "dmix-analog", "digital-hw", or "dmix-digital".
>>
>>
>> ##### IMPORTANT #####
>> # To make this ALSA configuration file work with your sound card, you
>> will need
>> # to define the appropriate card and device information for the
>> "analog-hw" and
>> # "digital-hw" devices below.  You can find the card and device information
>> # using "aplay -l".
>>
>>
>> ##### Configuration File #####
>>
>> # Override the default output used by ALSA.  If you do not override the
>> # default, your default device is identical to the (unmixed) "analog" device
>> # shown below.  If you prefer mixed and/or digital output, uncomment the
>> # appropriate four lines below (only one slave.pcm line).
>> #
>> # Note, also, that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound cards have been
>> modified
>> # such that their default "default" device is identical to the
>> "mixed-analog"
>> # device.  Whether using an ALSA version before or after 1.0.9, it does
>> no harm
>> # and has no affect on performance to redefine the device (even if the
>> # redefinition does not change anything).  Also, by using this ALSA
>> # configuration file, you once again have access to unmixed analog
>> output using
>> # the "analog" device.
>> pcm.!default {
>>  type plug
>> ## Uncomment the following to use (unmixed) "analog" by default
>> #  slave.pcm "analog-hw"
>> ## Uncomment the following to use "mixed-analog" by default
>>  slave.pcm "dmix-analog"
>> ## Uncomment the following to use (unmixed) "digital" by default
>> #  slave.pcm "digital-hw"
>> ## Uncomment the following to use "mixed-digital" by default
>> #  slave.pcm "dmix-digital"
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.!default {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Alias for (converted) analog output on the card
>> # - This is identical to the device named "default"--which always exists and
>> # refers to hw:0,0 (unless overridden)
>> # - Therefore, we can specify "hw:0,0", "default", or "analog" to access
>> analog
>> # output on the card
>> # - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
>> # "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is different from
>> "default" and
>> # allows playback while blocking other sound sources (until playback
>> # completes).
>> pcm.analog {
>>  type plug
>>  slave.pcm "analog-hw"
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.analog {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Alias for (converted) mixed analog output on the card
>> # - This will accept audio input--regardless of rate--and convert to the
>> rate
>> # required for the dmix plugin (in this case 48000Hz)
>> # - Note that as of ALSA 1.0.9, "software" sound card definitions redefine
>> # "default" to do mixing, meaning this device is identical to "default" for
>> # "software" sound cards.
>> pcm.mixed-analog {
>>  type plug
>>  slave.pcm "dmix-analog"
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.mixed-analog {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Alias for (converted) digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
>> # - This will accept audio input--regardless of rate--and convert to the
>> rate
>> # required for the S/PDIF hardware (in this case 48000Hz)
>> pcm.digital {
>>  type plug
>>  slave.pcm "digital-hw"
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.digital {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Alias for mixed (converted) digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
>> #  - This will accept audio input--regardless of rate--and convert to
>> the rate
>> #  required for the S/PDIF hardware (in this case 48000Hz)
>> pcm.mixed-digital {
>>  type plug
>>  slave.pcm "dmix-digital"
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.mixed-digital {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # The following devices are not useful by themselves.  They require specific
>> # rates, channels, and formats.  Therefore, you probably do not want to use
>> # them directly.  Instead use of of the devices defined above.
>>
>> # Alias for analog output on the card
>> # Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
>> pcm.analog-hw {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>>  # The default value for device is 0, so no need to specify
>> #  - Uncomment one of the below or create a new "device N" line as
>> appropriate
>> #    for your sound card or
>> #  device 1
>> #  device 4
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.analog-hw {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Alias for digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
>> # Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
>> pcm.digital-hw {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>>  device 4
>> #  - Comment out "device 1" above and uncomment one of the below or create a
>> #    new "device N" line as appropriate for your sound card or
>> #  device 2
>> #  device 4
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.digital-hw {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Direct software mixing plugin for analog output on the card
>> # Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
>> pcm.dmix-analog {
>>  type dmix
>>  ipc_key 1234
>>  slave {
>>    pcm "analog-hw"
>>    period_time 0
>>    period_size 1024
>>    buffer_size 4096
>>    rate 48000
>>  }
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.dmix-analog {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>> # Direct software mixing plugin for digital (S/PDIF) output on the card
>> # Do not use this directly--it requires specific rate, channels, and format
>> pcm.dmix-digital {
>>  type dmix
>>  ipc_key 1235
>>  slave {
>>    pcm "digital-hw"
>>    period_time 0
>>    period_size 1024
>>    buffer_size 4096
>>    rate 48000
>>  }
>> }
>>
>> # Control device (mixer, etc.) for the card
>> ctl.dmix-digital {
>>  type hw
>>  card 0
>> }
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> mythtv-users mailing list
>> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
>> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>>     
>
>
> I have a P4P800E-Deluxe MB and a myth FE running on it with analog
> audio.  I delete the asound.conf file and set myth to the following:
>
> Audio output device: /dev/dsp
> Max audio channels: Stereo
> Upmix:  Passive
> passthrough and agressive not checked.
>
> Hope this helps,
>
> Allen
> _______________________________________________
> mythtv-users mailing list
> mythtv-users at mythtv.org
> http://mythtv.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/mythtv-users
>
>
>
>   
Allen,

Thank you for the reply.

Currently myth is set up to

Audio output device: Alsa:default
Max audio channels: Stereo
Upmix:  Passive
passthrough and agressive not checked.

I will focus my testing from now on on /dev/dsp (I have tried this, but 
perhaps I had other issues at the time).


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