Sound: SPDIF confusion - some apps analog, some digital.

[CJ]

I managed to set the default device to hw:0,1 by creating ~/.asoundrc:

Code: [Select]

pcm.!default {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 1
}

ctl.!default {
  type hw
  card 0
  device 1
}
... but so far, only app that gives me proper surround is Clementine.
VLC does give the chance to files with AC3 in surround (though if it truly is, I haven't been able to establish yet).
As for SMPlayer, only stereo.
Firefox Flash now has sound, but stereo. From what I read, this is all Flash has, for now, so that's to be expected.

Save your hair by installing Pulse Audio and give it a try .......  you can always uninstall it again if you wish  

This shall be my next stop now! I just need to get my head a bit clearer after this dismal experience.
I will let you know how it goes.

Cheers!
CJ

[CJ]

Save your hair by installing Pulse Audio and give it a try .......  you can always uninstall it again if you wish  

Ok, it took a few attempts (connections failed on pavucontrol), but I finally got PA working.

Not that things have improved, sadly. I can get sound, but no 5.1. The option is there in different players, but - depending on which - either it plays stereo or nothing.

I noticed in pavucontrol sound devices, I have several variations of analogue surround, though only two lines for digital:
1. Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input
2. Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958)

It seems to me that the operative word here is Stereo. I am beginning to suspect that what comes through the SPDIF cable is only stereo. I would find it hard to believe that a sound device that has 5.1 analogue (per jacks) would not have this ability through the optical port - which leaves me with what? Possible the Linux driver for the MoBo is not up to scratch for optical 5.1?
EDIT: Just remembered, 5.1 can come through the cable as I actually had VLC spitting out Dolby Surround at some point before PA and forcing it to use SPDIF (it gets an option when the channels are present in the file).

I guess I could try finding an old Windows disk and install to try it out, but I must admit that is the last thing I want to have to do.

Any suggestions, as I am down a dead end here?

Cheers!
CJ

[Just17]

Try this:

 edit /etc/pulse/daemon.conf

The last line shows the following

Code: [Select]

default-sample-channels = 2
Change the '2' to '6' for 5.1 sound

Reboot after the edit.

I do not KNOW this will work ....  but it should .....   

This link might help some ......  I have not read it 

http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/PulseAudio/FAQ#IhaveasurroundsoundcardbutPulseAudiousesjustthefrontspeakers

Good luck!

[CJ]

Just18, '/etc/pulse/daemon.conf' already had the line with 6 added to it. I suspect that happened when I checked the PA 5.1 option in PCC.
Alas, it made no difference.

VLC now has a very hissing version of sound (as in, I can still hear it but it is very distorted).
As I tried installing the PA plugin for VLC (just to try it), it could be that...

Overall, I cannot say things are improving with PA.
Plus is that I have sound everywhere now - i.e. it's more consistent throughout the system.
Minus is that I have no surround anywhere (where before I could get it in Clementine and VLC).

So... effed if I do, effed if I don't.

Thanks for your help all the same, much appreciated!
All the best...
CJ

[Just17]

I noticed recently that VLC starts with distorted sound ....  but comes right again after a short while .......  I have not found the cause .....  but do recall having it about a year ago and it may have been cured by some update then .....  difficult to recall exactly what fixed it 

There may be other PA plugins for different apps .....  you should install them if using those apps .....  lately i noticed that most apps now have the necessary PA function built in.

As I mentioned previously ......  cannot even make suggestions about the surround sound ....  don't use it and have never tried it 

I do seem to recall some post on this forum about 5.1 sound and Pulse Audio .....  if it is still there you may be able to find it.

The big advantage I have when using Pulse Audio is that I can have different hardware in use at the same time, for different purposes ....... for instance ......  the speakers playing the sound from a film .......  wireless headphones playing music .....  and a Bluetooth earpiece set to do VOIP calls .......

I can also easily record from a 'monitor' of any of those streams.

Hopefully when the packagers get around to updating PA and introducing PA Prefs we will have even more options to use from the GUI .....  such as audio over the LAN etc

[CJ]

I noticed recently that VLC starts with distorted sound ....  but comes right again after a short while ....... 

Well, I uninstalled the PA-VLC plugin and that took care of that issue, but...
Sometimes starting VLC and changing to SPDIF, it complains about the device being busy, and I have to try a few times. Slightly annoying, but at least I can get some surround.

lately i noticed that most apps now have the necessary PA function built in.

Yes,  and VLC is one of those, it seems...

As I mentioned previously ......  cannot even make suggestions about the surround sound ....  don't use it and have never tried it 

I do seem to recall some post on this forum about 5.1 sound and Pulse Audio .....  if it is still there you may be able to find it.

Trust me, I have hoovered every source I can find on the subject. Dismayingly, though, most seems to have one thing in common: the op rarely get it to work.
I had hoped that someone here had it working and would drop by - if not with a soluition, then at least to confirm that it is possible... but this thread is probably getting to cluttered by now for someone to jump in...

The big advantage I have when using Pulse Audio is that I can have different hardware in use at the same time, for different purposes ....... for instance ......  the speakers playing the sound from a film .......  wireless headphones playing music .....  and a Bluetooth earpiece set to do VOIP calls .......

My only need for this would be Skype (sheesh, I haven't even had the guts to try it after this, fearing another can of worms), and as it has selective controls for the audio devices, PA is not specifically needed for this.

Hopefully when the packagers get around to updating PA and introducing PA Prefs we will have even more options to use from the GUI .....  such as audio over the LAN etc

I am kind of hoping that perhaps a fresher kernel sometime in the future might have a better driver for my MoBo and sort this out... but somehow I am not sure I can believe that's where the issue is.

I think I might pull a few live discs of other distroes down, just to see if this works out of the box on any of them... when I can be *rsed.

Thanks for sticking with me on this one, your 'hand holding', such as it is, is helpful!

Cheers!
CJ