ALSA with nvidia AC'97 soundcard

[adrian89987]

I'm trying to get the sound working on an AMD64


I've been following the guide here: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml to try and get the sound up and running, but so far hasn't worked


I have ALSA compiled in the kernel

running lspci -v | grep -i audio gives me:

Code: Select all

aahome adrian # lspci -v | grep -i audio
0000:00:04.0 Multimedia audio controller: nVidia Corporation CK804 AC'97 Audio Controller (rev a2)

I ran alsaconf and everything appears to work correctly, I unmute all of the sound levels

I ran cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp to test the sound but it gives me this output:

Code: Select all

aahome adrian # cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp
bash: /dev/dsp: No such device

looking around the forum on other sound problems, I've seen other people suggesting to use a snddevices script to create all of the correct devices with the right permissions
I ran that and this is what the output was:
(Doesn't look right)

Code: Select all

aahome adrian # ./snddevices.sh
Creating /dev/mixer?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/sequencer...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/midi0?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/dsp?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/audio?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/sndstat...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/music...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/dmmidi?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/dmfm?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/amixer?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/adsp?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/amidi?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/admmidi?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
create symbolic link `/dev/mixer' to `/dev/mixer0'
create symbolic link `/dev/midi' to `/dev/midi00'
create symbolic link `/dev/dsp' to `/dev/dsp0'
create symbolic link `/dev/audio' to `/dev/audio0'
create symbolic link `/dev/sequencer2' to `/dev/music'
create symbolic link `/dev/adsp' to `/dev/adsp0'
create symbolic link `/dev/amidi' to `/dev/amidi0'
rm: cannot remove `/dev/snd': Is a directory
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
Creating /dev/snd/control?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/seq...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/timer...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/hw??...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/midi??...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/pcm??p...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/snd/pcm??c...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
ALSA loader devices
Creating /dev/aload?...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done
Creating /dev/aloadSEQ...chown: `root.audio' syntax is obsolete; use `:' since this will be removed in the future
 done

after running this it still says that /dev/dsp does not exist
Any suggestions as to what to do?

thanks

[mnxAlpha]

The device pointed to by /dev/dsp only really if you have OSS emulation enabled (or if you're actually using OSS, of course). If that's not enabled and configured properly, then catting stuff to /dev/dsp obviously won't work even if the device file exists, because the device it points to won't exist.

First, you should check that ALSA actually has a PCM playback device enabled. Try:

Code: Select all

cat /proc/asound/card0/pcm0p/info

Should give you a result like:

Code: Select all

card: 0
device: 0
subdevice: 0
stream: PLAYBACK
id: Intel ICH
name: NVidia CK8S
subname: subdevice #0
class: 0
subclass: 0
subdevices_count: 1
subdevices_avail: 1

If that works, try playing something using ALSA. The aplay command-line tool should do the trick:

Code: Select all

cat /dev/urandom | aplay

If all of that works correctly, then you probably have a problem somewhere with OSS emulation, and you might want to check all the kernel options.

[adrian89987]

all of that works except sound doesn't come out

Code: Select all

aahome adrian # cat /dev/urandom | aplay
Playing raw data 'stdin' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 8000 Hz, Mono

I'm gonna try using alsa-driver instead of the kernel module and see if that works

EDIT::~ I tried using alsa-driver
and when i go into the kde control panel to check if there is anything in there to help me get this working and it gave me this error:

Code: Select all

SNDCTL_DSP_SETFMT failed - inappropiate ioctl for device
the server will continue running, using the null output device.

[martindv]

Could you solve the problem?

Im suffering the same issue than you. I have alsa compiled in the kernel and oss compatibility too. but im unable to use oss aplications.
i already download and installed alsa-oss.

When i try to run an oss based application like VMWARE it shows "sound device or resource busy"

any clue?

[adrian89987]

nope
sorry
still looking for how to get this to work
I'll post if I find anything however, if You'll do the same that'd be cool

[TheLegend81]

Using the same motherboard and the built in sound, I'm also having a problem with Alsa.

What's more, I can't even get alsaconf to detect my card.

running XMMS inside of afterstep, I've got the following (applicable):
Input Plugins:
MPEG Layer 1/2/3 Player 1.2.10 [libmpg123.so]
...others

Output Plugin
ALSA 1.2.10 output plugin [libALSA.so]
configured
Audio device: - NVidia CK804: NVidia CK804 - IEC958 (hw3,2)
Mixer card: NVidia CK804
Mixer device: Master

With these settings, I can XMMS to read an mp3 file. the spectrum analyzer shows the expected frequency bands rising and dropping off. I imagine that is soley b/c of the correct input plugin and a lack of conflict w/ the output plugin. However, this does not produce any sound.

Any ideas?

[alistair]

you might want to try the emerge alsa-drivers way.

[davidsb]

I also have exactly the same problem.
Did alsa-drivers worked out?

[rburcham]

AMD64, same device, using alsa modules built from gntoo-sources-2.6.14-r5.

I unmuted everthing with aslamixer, kmix and artsd see the /dev/sound devices and do not complain. I just can't get a peep out of the internal speaker or external speakers.

Hints?

[weaksauce]

I tried the emerge alsa-driver route (with same intel8x0 card) and I can get alsaconf to run and then alsamixer will run (after running udevstart) and I unmuted everything and cat /dev/urandom > /dev/dsp AND cat /dev/urandom | aplay both give no errors, but no sound comes out

edit: I plugged my output into a different slot, the center-out plug and it works. I get no sound output at all from any of the other output jacks. The sound quality from here is only the mids...it's annoying

[weaksauce]

btw, DMESG gives:

Code: Select all

...
ACPI: PCI Interrupt Link [APCJ] enabled at IRQ 22
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:04.0[A] -> Link [APCJ] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 225
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:04.0 to 64
intel8x0_measure_ac97_clock: measured 54765 usecs
intel8x0: clocking to 46941
...

for the initial try, each subsequent time I try to run anything with sound it gives:

Code: Select all

ACPI: PCI interrupt for device 0000:00:04.0 disabled
ACPI: PCI Interrupt 0000:00:04.0[A] -> Link [APCJ] -> GSI 22 (level, low) -> IRQ 225
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 0000:00:04.0 to 64
intel8x0_measure_ac97_clock: measured 54753 usecs
intel8x0: clocking to 46931

could ACPI be an issue?

[rburcham]

I've determined that when I plug in speakers, I can get the following to produce sound thru the speakers:

Code: Select all

cat /dev/urandom | aplay

However, all of the following fail:

• Any sound at all through internal PC speaker
  Any sound at all through arts (xmms, mplayer, etc)
  Any sound at all through OSS (xmms, mplayer, etc)

It would seem that the only sound I can get to play is via "aplay." and only through external speakers. Aplay plays wav files fine, however if I try to configure KDE System Notifications to use aplay to play its ogg files, garbage-sound is the result. So it would seem that aplay cannot play ogg files properly.

What has happened here? Have some things been compiled 32bit and some things 64bit? I am at a loss to explain this behavior. I must admit that this is my first foray into x86_64. Here are some other relevant facts:

Code: Select all

# emerge --info
Portage 2.0.53 (default-linux/amd64/2005.1, gcc-3.4.4, glibc-2.3.6-r1, 2.6.14-gentoo-r5 x86_64)
=================================================================
System uname: 2.6.14-gentoo-r5 x86_64 AMD Hammer Family processor - Model Unknown
Gentoo Base System version 1.6.13
dev-lang/python:     2.3.5-r2, 2.4.2
sys-apps/sandbox:    1.2.11
sys-devel/autoconf:  2.13, 2.59-r6
sys-devel/automake:  1.4_p6, 1.5, 1.6.3, 1.7.9-r1, 1.8.5-r3, 1.9.6-r1
sys-devel/binutils:  2.16.1-r1
sys-devel/libtool:   1.5.20
virtual/os-headers:  2.6.11-r2
ACCEPT_KEYWORDS="amd64"
AUTOCLEAN="yes"
CBUILD="x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
CFLAGS="-O2 -pipe"
CHOST="x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
CONFIG_PROTECT="/etc /usr/kde/2/share/config /usr/kde/3.4/env /usr/kde/3.4/share/config /usr/kde/3.4/shutdown /usr/kde/3/share/config /usr/lib/X11/xkb /usr/lib64/mozilla/defaults/pref /usr/share/config /var/qmail/control"
CONFIG_PROTECT_MASK="/etc/gconf /etc/splash /etc/terminfo /etc/env.d"
CXXFLAGS="-O2 -pipe"
DISTDIR="/usr/portage/distfiles"
FEATURES="autoconfig distlocks sandbox sfperms strict"
GENTOO_MIRRORS="http://distfiles.gentoo.org http://distro.ibiblio.org/pub/linux/distributions/gentoo"
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1 -Wl,-Bdirect"
MAKEOPTS="-j2"
PKGDIR="/usr/portage/packages"
PORTAGE_TMPDIR="/var/tmp"
PORTDIR="/usr/portage"
PORTDIR_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage"
SYNC="rsync://rsync.gentoo.org/gentoo-portage"
USE="amd64 X aac alsa arts audiofile avi berkdb bitmap-fonts bzip2 cdr crypt cups dvb dvd dvdr dvdread eds emboss encode exif expat fam ffmpeg flac font-server foomaticdb fortran gif glut gnome gpm gstreamer gtk gtk2 idn ieee1394 imagemagick imlib ipv6 jpeg kde lcms lirc live lzw lzw-tiff mad mng mozilla mp3 mpeg ncurses nls nptl nptlonly ogg oggvorbisdv opengl oss pam pcre pdflib perl png python qt quicktime readline real samba sdl sox spell ssl tcpd tiff truetype truetype-fonts type1-fonts udev usb userlocales v4l vcd vorbis xml xml2 xmms xpm xv xvid zlib userland_GNU kernel_linux elibc_glibc"
Unset:  ASFLAGS, CTARGET, LANG, LC_ALL, LINGUAS

Code: Select all

# more /etc/make.conf
USE="vcd dvdread ogg vorbis ffmpeg flac lirc oggvorbisdv dvdr dvb ieee1394 mmx mmxext sse sse2 aac real win32codecs live mozilla X gnome gtk font-server truetype-fonts type1-fonts kde alsa oss arts dvd cups mpeg samba sox spell v4l xmms xvid xml encode ncurses usb nptl nptlonly"

# These settings were set by the catalyst build script that automatically built this stage
# Please consult /etc/make.conf.example for a more detailed example
CFLAGS="-O2 -pipe"
CHOST="x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
CXXFLAGS="${CFLAGS}"
LDFLAGS="-Wl,-O1 -Wl,-Bdirect"
MAKEOPTS="-j2"


PORTDIR_OVERLAY="/usr/local/portage/"

It should be noted that I have followed these directions http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic-t-376943.html to enable amd64 enhancements for glibc and enable Bdirect runtime linking. I must say that the performance improvements have been fantastic, but I wonder if this has done harm to alsa. I may be barking up a silly tree though.

Anybody have this hardware working with alsa on x86_64? How about with the bleeding edge amd64 enhanced glibc?