[mythtv-users] Using a second digital sound card

[Michael T. Dean]

On 11/12/2008 12:25 AM, Oz Dror wrote:
> My situation is different.
>
> I have dual monitor system. The second monitor is HDTV and the first is 
> a regular ubuntu desktop
> I actually need to used both sound cards. I need the first default card 
> to be used by the pc desktop.
> the second card needs to be a digital sound for the HDTV.
>  
>
> This is because I cannot share one card for both. In fact I cannot use 
> the analog port for the desktop
> and the digital for the HDTV simultaneously.
>
> Based on your recommendation I will loose the first card.
>
> Back to my question is it possible to assign the second card to 
> ALSA:default (in mythtv) and keep the first card as the
> ubuntu system default.

No, ALSA:default = ALSA's "default" logical device, and there's only one 
default.  Create a differently-named logical device for Myth and specify 
"ALSA:mydevicename" for the audio output device and "ALSA:default" for 
the mixer device.

(Yes, the use of "ALSA:default" fox mixer with "ALSA:mydevicename" for 
audio output device is confusing because people didn't understand the 
concept and changed the mixer value from what it was supposed to be, 
"default", so that it was "symmetrical" with the audio output device, 
even though there's no such thing as an "ALSA default mixer".  Anyway, 
"default" probably still works, and really, "default" is (and always has 
been) more appropriate because you're trying to use the "default" mixer 
for the chosen ALSA device, "mydevicename".  However, I haven't tried 
using "default" for quite some time, and I think there was (is?) an 
issue with using a value that's not in the drop down, so you'll have to 
play around and hope for the best...)

Mike