Ultimate Edition Forum

I think I have the easy part figured out.
I have sound in the headphones and analog sound through a make shift test speaker system.
The problem is that my amp and surround sound use digital and the system is reading the wrong device.

~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: ALC888 Analog [ALC888 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 1: ALC888 Digital [ALC888 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

It's reading device 0 and I need device 1 or I need to swap the designations for them.
I know it's easy and I'ma gonna feel stupid, but can someone give me a hint.
Hint as in step by step. A newbie's gotta start somewhere.
Thanks, GW

Thanks, I'm sneakin' up on it.
I should have been more specific.
Volume control is up and not muted.
Sound preferences are all set for surround.
All volumes are up and no mutes.
Onboard sound chip is recognized.
Drivers are a drivin'
Test analog speakers are speakin'
Headphones are, well you get the picture.
I can get sound everywhere (analog) except where I want it (the optical SPDIF port).
I had thought that the sound chip was only sending analog signals because of a
setting that was wrong in the /etc/pulse/? file.
Or some such file. Anyway If I can find it I can tamper with it a bit.
Can anyone tell me if I'm gettin' warm?

Thanks, GW

This link is old but may work: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=611400

Try running

Code: Select all

sudo alsaconf

in the terminal and follow the instructions like in here.

Thanks, pch.shot and stanca. I'm still not quite there.
I tried the old link and added .asoundrc to home and rebooted.
Nuttin' so I removed it.
So I read some more and then did this

gw@PPSMedia~$ amixer -c0 contents

numid=4,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Switch'

; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=2

: values=on,on


I believe that means surround sound is turned on in the alsa mixer.
It's not earth shaking but it gives me another piece of the puzzle.

Then I found a second reference to that magical SPDIF switch and light
in the volume control box. The switch/box and light that I can't find.
Right click volume and open the control, used preferences to select all tracks
needed for surround and then some. Still no SPDIF switch or light.

Did I miss something simple?

So then I tried

gw@PPSMedia:~$ sudo alsaconf

[sudo] password for gw:

sudo: alsaconf: command not found


Not at all sure what I did wrong here.

I did make some progress. Nvidia X server setting wouldn't take
so I learned how to edit the file for that and now it holds my
dual screen settings after a reboot. Don't sound like much but it's progress.
If I can fix the sound and get my 10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet going at full speed,
I should be done for a while
Appreciate all your help. Any ideas (except jump in a lake, piss up a rope, f yourself, etc)
Are welcome. I'm putting a list of hardware together now. I'll post it soon.

GW

Oops sorry,now I discovered that they removed alsaconf from ubuntu,they considered it is not necessary anymore.

Code: Select all

sudo apt-get install alsa-utils

and then again:

Code: Select all

sudo alsaconf

I think this is the best way to set your sound card properly.

Thanks stanca.
You got me thinkin' about alsa again.
There were just too many strange things going on and missing for it to be right.
Being new to this I just figured it was something else I didn't know.
Then I looked at your post and decided I'd try and reload everything alsa.
It worked. Now reloading is gonna be at the top of my troubleshooting list.
Just where it should have been in the first place. But it was a fresh install
and I didn't want to believe it.
Now I've got the Nvidia driver load and xconf and the sound problem fixed.
I'll tackle the Realtek nic drivers tomorrow. Then I should be in good shape to
make this box pay it's way again.
Thanks for all the help.

GW

You are making rapid progress, so give yourself a big pat on the back. And welcome aboard.
p.s. Linux isn't as difficult as most people think and a hell of a lot of fun...........

Jesus,I think I'm becoming a real maniac.If they wouldn't be problems in Ultimate Edition we would create them.And if I wouldn't have,try and fix an issue in my Ultimate Edition every day I think I would stick back with my windows only(God knows that there's no one single day without bugs,issues,tweaks,maintainence,trial,apps' and drivers updates/upgrades in it).

Thanks, pat pat.
I'ma tryin'.
A bug or tweak or new app every once in a while I can handle. Even get used to, maybe even look forward too.
But a couple days of no video, no audio, and and internet connection that is slower than snail mail gets old fast.
Things are starting to work over here.
Thanks again, GW