[mythtv-users] ECS LIVA as Backend / Frontend Combo: It Works!

[Karl Newman]

On Fri, Jan 2, 2015 at 9:25 AM, Dave MythTV <dave.mythtv at gmail.com> wrote:

>
>
> On Thu, Jan 1, 2015 at 11:06 PM, Karl Newman <newmank1 at asme.org> wrote:
>
>>
>> I'll tack on my latest to this thread. My HDMI-to-Composite converter
>> died (or maybe it's the power supply; either way it's dead) so I swapped
>> out the old TV for an old monitor and a pair of speakers. Unfortunately it
>> seems the analog (and HDMI?) audio output levels are extremely low, so I
>> added an alsa pre-amp via the softvol plugin. Found a good guide here: http://blog.tpa.me.uk/2013/10/23/alsa-pre-amp-volume-boost-the-simple-explanation/
>>
>>
>> Note that in order for the pre-amp to show up in alsamixer you have to
>> actually play a sound (I used aplay <some wav file.wav>) Then you can open
>> alsamixer and adjust the pre-amp level. I think Mythfrontend needs to be
>> restarted to pick up the new configuration, and you'll probably need to
>> change your audio device from 'ALSA:default:card=PCH' to just read
>> 'ALSA:default' (mine threw an error about invalid device until I deleted
>> the card= stuff).
>>
>> Karl
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>>
>
>
> Another thing to check is that your Master and PCM controls are both at
> reasonable levels.   The volume control in the frontend only changes one of
> them (PCM by default?)...  so if the Master volume is set too low, you
> won't get much output even with the volume "cranked" in the frontend.   You
> might have already done this, but I'd double check those settings and crank
> them way up if necessary, as you should get better sound quality without
> the softvol component in the audio path.
>

Yes, I used alsamixer to turn up everything (and experiment with lower
levels as well) but even with earbuds the level was just okay, and was not
nearly loud enough to drive my 8 Ohm speakers.

Are your external speakers amplified?
>
> No, these are the first computer speakers I ever owned (~24 years ago).
Given the age, they were obviously not sold as computer speakers (sound
cards were still pretty new and not widespread). They have always been fine
being driven directly from the headphone port. However in my searching for
a solution to the low volume, I came across a handful of posts complaining
about the audio being too quiet from ECS motherboards, so maybe it's a
common problem. I don't notice any degradation in the audio, especially at
the levels we typically have it.

Thanks,

Karl
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