[mythtv-users] Sound Blaster Live! 5.1

[gibman]

All,

Just a comment piece here. No questions, just sharing my pain for
future searches.

I started with FC2, Jarod's guide, and very little time and budget.  I
had three sound cards, all were ISA.  It took a bit of tinkering (for
me) to learn how to get the sb16 installed and running, I'd later
learn that I could have used alsaconf to get the same results as the
isapnp tools and isapnp.conf.

However, I could never get audio from aplay /dev/dsp, I tried the
alsamixer and gnome mixer, and just never got sound.  ( yes,
specifying the capture device, hitting mute, all that.)

Tried a built-in sound card on a dell optiplex, and it wasn't found.

Bought a cheapo sound card on eBay that was supported by alsa.  (A
C-Media something or other.)

This card was detected, and worked, but for the life of me, I couldn't
get clear sound from aplay /dev/dsp.  It was distorted, badly.  I
tried loking for an in-gain, or anything else, and could never, ever
get the output right.

I read a post, (from Jarod?)  that suggested the "rock solid" SB Live
5.1.  I went to Best Buy, they only had a Sound Blaster Live! 24 7.1. 
I figured it was close enough, and I was wrong.  Nothing detected the
card.  It was as if it wasn't present at all.  I looked at the alsa
site, and determined that it was supported, but I just couldn't seem
to get it to work.  Took the card back.

Went to WalMart, and found it, a Sound Blaster Live! (LS) 5.1.  I
bought it.  Took it home.  In 5 minutes it was all working, with nice,
clear, /dev/dsp sound.

It's been frustrating, and I didn't want to buy hardware, but oh well.
 The SB Live 5.1 is a brain dead nice card and I'm very pleased wtih
it.

-=J