[mythtv] A weird problem with ALSA, X11, DirectFB

[jpahka at welho.com]

Hi List,

I just upgraded my home-server and at the same time upgraded mythtv from 0.16 to
0.18.1. The upgrade went reasonably easily despite some strugling with the new
DVB channel setup stuff. But, I'm having a really strange problem with alsa now.
The thing is, mythtv with alsa has some problem when I'm running mythtv in QT/E
and DirectFB setup (my normal environment), but not when I'm running it in X11.
I don't understand how this is possible since I've compiled both with the same
settings except for the display output. My 'audio output device' 'is ALSA:spdif'
and the following happens whether I have 'ALSA:default' as mixer device or I
have disabled the 'use internal volume controls'

So, the thing is, I can hear the audio throuh my external amplifier when I'm
running mythfrontend in X11 (a vnc desktop, that's why it doesn't find Xv
support), but I get a 'Unable to set sw params for playback: Invalid argument'
when I'm running mythfrontend with QT/E+DirectFB setup. The console ouput for
both cases is at the end of this mail. 

Can anyone see what the problem is here? I find it very strange. Maybe somebody
has a fix lying around somewhere?

Thanks in advance, juhis


Mythfrontend in X11:

2005-06-09 07:47:20.812 Overriding GUI, width=640, height=480 at 0,0
2005-06-09 07:47:20.866 New DB connection, total: 1
2005-06-09 07:47:20.883 mythfrontend version: 0.18.1.20050510-1 www.mythtv.org
2005-06-09 07:47:20.883 Enabled verbose msgs : important general
2005-06-09 07:47:21.134 Switching to square mode (G.A.N.T.)
2005-06-09 07:47:21.681 Joystick disabled.
2005-06-09 07:47:21.693 New DB connection, total: 2
2005-06-09 07:47:21.736 Registering Internal as a media playback plugin.
2005-06-09 07:47:31.816 Connecting to backend server: 127.0.0.1:6543 (try 1 of 5)
2005-06-09 07:47:31.821 Using protocol version 15
2005-06-09 07:47:31.865 Using protocol version 15
2005-06-09 07:47:33.928 Opening audio device 'spdif'.
***
* Couldn't find Xv support, falling back to non-Xv mode.
* MythTV performance will be much slower since color
* conversion and scaling will be done in software.
* Consider upgrading your video card or X server if
* you would like better performance.
2005-06-09 07:47:34.066 Couldn't get the color key color, and we need it.
You likely won't get any video.
2005-06-09 07:47:34.137 Video timing method: RTC
2005-06-09 07:47:34.137 Using realtime priority.
2005-06-09 07:47:34.159 Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
***
* Your system is not capable of displaying the
* full framerate at 640x480 resolution.  Frames
* will be skipped in order to keep the audio and
* video in sync.
2005-06-09 07:47:39.718 Couldn't get the color key color, and we need it.
You likely won't get any video.
2005-06-09 07:47:39.743 Changing from WatchingLiveTV to None
2005-06-09 07:47:39.746 Changing from None to None


Mythfrontend in QT/E + DirectFB:

Creating mouse: Auto
2005-06-08 17:31:05.602 New DB connection, total: 1
Total desktop width=720, height=576, numscreens=1
2005-06-08 17:31:05.668 Using screen 0, 720x576 at 0,0
2005-06-08 17:31:05.672 mythfrontend version: 0.18.1.20050510-1 www.mythtv.org
2005-06-08 17:31:05.672 Enabled verbose msgs : important general
2005-06-08 17:31:05.950 Switching to square mode (G.A.N.T.)
2005-06-08 17:31:06.261 Joystick disabled.
2005-06-08 17:31:06.279 New DB connection, total: 2
2005-06-08 17:31:06.322 Registering Internal as a media playback plugin.
2005-06-08 17:31:15.861 Connecting to backend server: 127.0.0.1:6543 (try 1 of 5)
2005-06-08 17:31:15.867 Using protocol version 15
2005-06-08 17:31:15.933 Using protocol version 15
2005-06-08 17:31:18.224 Opening audio device 'spdif'.
2005-06-08 17:31:18.302 Unable to set sw params for playback: Invalid argument
2005-06-08 17:31:18.302 Unable to set ALSA parameters
2005-06-08 17:31:27.206 Changing from None to WatchingLiveTV
2005-06-08 17:31:27.206 Decoder not alive, and trying to play..
2005-06-08 17:31:27.250 Changing from None to None