alsa and nforce2

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 01:52 PM

So i got the NFORCE2-... drivers from nvidia.com. I then proceed to install them. All goes well. I run alsaconf, no problem here, then i start up alsa. All went well. Later after a reboot, i get an alsactl restore error, unable to install snd-intel8x0 or something like that. So i proceed to reinstall nforce2 drivers, run alsaconf, restart alsa and it works again, yet every reboot i have to do the same thing. Anyone know how to fix this?
Another alsa-related question: Is it normal for different streams to not mix like kde and xmms, while it works fine with multiple streams from the same source, like kde + kde, or half-life (which runs each sound seperately if i'm not wrong)?
This is not of vital importance,but it'll be much nicer to have it all running well on boot up. Thanks.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 02:05 PM

what nforce2 drivers are you refering to? on that chipset, you SHOULD (well.. imho) use snd_intel8x0, as they work MUCH better than nvidia's own drivers. i'm guessing that you're runnign the oss drivers, not alsa drivers, and hence the alsa error trying to load that module. when everything is "working" run "lsmod" and post the output.

as for mixing, you need to enable the dmix plugin. there are a number of examples on this site, and much more on google.

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 02:11 PM

I'm referring to the nforce2 that's on my A7N8X-X, don't know more about it.
Here is the top of my lsmod

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
snd_seq_oss            29440  0
snd_seq_midi_event      7552  1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq                46480  4 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_intel8x0           33068  0
snd_ac97_codec         59268  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss            48168  0
snd_mixer_oss          16640  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                85384  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              23172  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc         11144  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mpu401_uart         7296  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi            23204  1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device          7944  2 snd_seq_oss,snd_rawmidi
snd                    50660  12 snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
soundcore               9824  1 snd

Yeah it looks like oss is loaded everywhere, but i try to use alsa for it all. About the dmix, i've modified my .asoundrc so technically it should be loaded, but if i'm accidently using the oss drivers, that probably is the reason the dmix isn't loading properly. How can i get rid of this damn oss and go pure alsa? Thanks, acid.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 02:49 PM

well that is alsa. the snd_blah_oss are alsa modules to provide oss-like access. can you provide more details about what you're actually doing to get it working, and any messages about the snd_intel8x0 module in dmesg or /var/log/messages

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 03:27 PM

i've found this:

Code:

Jan 23 11:30:18 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to change the Playback SampleRate, set back to 48000 
Jan 23 11:30:44 debian last message repeated 5 times
Jan 23 11:31:41 debian last message repeated 3 times
Jan 23 11:32:49 debian last message repeated 5 times
Jan 23 11:33:37 debian last message repeated 4 times
Jan 23 11:34:40 debian last message repeated 4 times
Jan 23 11:36:01 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to change the Playback SampleRate, set back to 48000 
Jan 23 11:36:17 debian last message repeated 13 times
Jan 23 11:36:18 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to Create a NewStream for apu 
Jan 23 11:36:18 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to allocate the wave device 
Jan 23 11:36:18 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to Create a NewStream for apu 
Jan 23 11:36:18 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to allocate the wave device 
Jan 23 11:36:30 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to change the Playback SampleRate, set back to 48000 
Jan 23 11:37:03 debian last message repeated 5 times
Jan 23 11:38:06 debian last message repeated 9 times
Jan 23 11:38:36 debian last message repeated 2 times
Jan 23 11:40:24 debian last message repeated 4 times
Jan 23 11:40:37 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to change the Playback SampleRate, set back to 48000 
Jan 23 11:42:28 debian last message repeated 7 times
Jan 23 11:43:24 debian last message repeated 4 times
Jan 23 11:44:03 debian last message repeated 3 times
Jan 23 11:45:29 debian last message repeated 2 times
Jan 23 11:45:36 debian kernel: Nvsound: Unable to change the Playback SampleRate, set back to 48000 
Jan 23 11:47:23 debian last message repeated 5 times
Jan 23 11:48:20 debian last message repeated 4 times

This is on boot up:

Code:

Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: agpgart: Detected NVIDIA nForce2 chipset
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: agpgart: Maximum main memory to use for agp memory: 439M
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: agpgart: AGP aperture is 64M @ 0xd0000000
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: nvnet: module license 'NVIDIA' taints kernel.
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: Nvsound: Nvidia Audio Init Module, 11:52:57 Jan 23 2005 version 1.0-1 
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: ACPI: PCI interrupt 0000:00:06.0[A] -> GSI 5 (level, low) -> IRQ 5
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: Nvsound: NVIDIA nForce2 Audio found at IO 0xb400 and 0xb000, IRQ 5
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: Nvsound: Aci_device dfba2000 Apu_device 00000000 
Jan 25 14:09:01 debian kernel: Nvsound: DEV MIXER 0 DEV AUDIO 3

I think this is from when i reinstall it:

Code:

Jan 25 15:21:59 debian kernel: Nvsound: Audio getting removed de968e20 
Jan 25 15:21:59 debian kernel: Nvsound: Release DEV MIXER 0 
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: Nvidia Audio Init Module, 15:22:07 Jan 25 2005 version 1.0-1 
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: ACPI: PCI interrupt 0000:00:06.0[A] -> GSI 5 (level, low) -> IRQ 5
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: NVIDIA nForce2 Audio found at IO 0xb400 and 0xb000, IRQ 5
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: Aci_device dfba2000 Apu_device 00000000 
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: DEV MIXER 0 DEV AUDIO 3 
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: Audio getting removed de968e20 
Jan 25 15:22:10 debian kernel: Nvsound: Release DEV MIXER 0 
Jan 25 15:22:34 debian kernel: ACPI: PCI interrupt 0000:00:06.0[A] -> GSI 5 (level, low) -> IRQ 5
Jan 25 15:22:35 debian kernel: intel8x0_measure_ac97_clock: measured 51240 usecs
Jan 25 15:22:35 debian kernel: intel8x0: clocking to 47451

Well what i do to reinstall it every reboot is cd into the directory with the drivers. Run the drivers (sh NFORCE2-...), check only the sound driver box, then run /etc/init.d/alsa stop (stops alsa), then i do alsaconf, it detects it just fine and installs it fine and then /etc/init.d/alsa start and it works. I think it could be a problem with alsa, or maybe the module is messed up. I remember when i first got debian working i installed it and it worked fine. Well i can't find the message of the alsa error, but it's like:
error: alsactl restore- no sound cards found (or something like that)
Thanks.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 03:32 PM

you're trying to use two totally different drivers at once. do not install the nvidia ones ever again. you can see you're trying to load it when you appear to think you're not.

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 03:44 PM

so what should i do? just reboot and try running alsaconf and see if i can get it working? Or do some obscure modconf-ing?

BTW: you're great (sounds sorta like that tony the tiger cereals comercial). Thanks alot man.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 03:49 PM

ok, so on EVERY boot, you're getting those nvidia messages? sounds like that module is being loaded in /etc/modules.conf (or debians equivalent if there is one)

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 04:01 PM

alsaconf output without reinstalling drivers on reboot:

Code:

Running update-modules...
Loading driver...
alsactl: load_state:1134: No soundcards found...
FATAL: Error running install command for snd_intel8x0
Setting default volumes...

That is the error i've been getting. And here is my /etc/modules.conf alsa-base section:

Code:

### update-modules: start processing /etc/modutils/alsa-base
above snd-pcm snd-pcm-oss
above snd-mixer snd-mixer-oss
above snd-seq snd-seq-oss
alias char-major-116 snd
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss
post-install snd-ad1816a /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ad1816a
post-install snd-ad1848 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ad1848
post-install snd-ali5451 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ali5451
post-install snd-als100 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-als100
post-install snd-als4000 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-als4000
post-install snd-asihpi /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-asihpi
post-install snd-atiixp /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-atiixp
post-install snd-au8810 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-au8810
post-install snd-au8820 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-au8820
post-install snd-au8830 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-au8830
post-install snd-audigyls /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-audigyls
post-install snd-azt2320 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-azt2320
post-install snd-azt3328 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-azt3328
post-install snd-azx /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-azx
post-install snd-bt87x /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-bt87x
post-install snd-bt87x-overclock /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-bt87x-overclock
post-install snd-cmi8330 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cmi8330
post-install snd-cmipci /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cmipci
post-install snd-cs4231 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cs4231
post-install snd-cs4232 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cs4232
post-install snd-cs4236 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cs4236
post-install snd-cs4281 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cs4281
post-install snd-cs46xx /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-cs46xx
post-install snd-dt019x /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-dt019x
post-install snd-emu10k1 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-emu10k1
post-install snd-emu10k1x /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-emu10k1x
post-install snd-ens1370 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ens1370
post-install snd-ens1371 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ens1371
post-install snd-es1688 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-es1688
post-install snd-es18xx /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-es18xx
post-install snd-es1938 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-es1938
post-install snd-es1968 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-es1968
post-install snd-es968 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-es968
post-install snd-fm801 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-fm801
post-install snd-fm801-tea575x /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-fm801-tea575x
post-install snd-gusclassic /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-gusclassic
post-install snd-gusextreme /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-gusextreme
post-install snd-gusmax /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-gusmax
post-install snd-harmony /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-harmony
post-install snd-hdsp /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-hdsp
post-install snd-hdspm /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-hdspm
post-install snd-ice1712 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ice1712
post-install snd-ice1724 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ice1724
post-install snd-intel8x0 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-intel8x0
post-install snd-interwave /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-interwave
post-install snd-interwave-stb /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-interwave-stb
post-install snd-korg1212 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-korg1212
post-install snd-maestro3 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-maestro3
post-install snd-mixart /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-mixart
post-install snd-mpu401 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-mpu401
post-install snd-msnd-pinnacle /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-msnd-pinnacle
post-install snd-mtpav /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-mtpav
post-install snd-nm256 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-nm256
post-install snd-opl3sa2 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-opl3sa2
post-install snd-opti92x-ad1848 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-opti92x-ad1848
post-install snd-opti92x-cs4231 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-opti92x-cs4231
post-install snd-opti93x /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-opti93x
post-install snd-pc98-cs4232 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-pc98-cs4232
post-install snd-pdaudiocf /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-pdaudiocf
post-install snd-pdplus /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-pdplus
post-install snd-portman2x4 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-portman2x4
post-install snd-powermac /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-powermac
post-install snd-rme32 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-rme32
post-install snd-rme96 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-rme96
post-install snd-rme9652 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-rme9652
post-install snd-sa11xx-uda1341 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sa11xx-uda1341
post-install snd-sb16 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sb16
post-install snd-sb16-csp /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sb16-csp
post-install snd-sb8 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sb8
post-install snd-sbawe /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sbawe
post-install snd-serialmidi /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-serialmidi
post-install snd-serial-u16550 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-serial-u16550
post-install snd-sgalaxy /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sgalaxy
post-install snd-sonicvibes /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sonicvibes
post-install snd-sscape /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sscape
post-install snd-sun-amd7930 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sun-amd7930
post-install snd-sun-cs4231 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-sun-cs4231
post-install snd-trident /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-trident
post-install snd-usb-audio /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-usb-audio
post-install snd-usb-usx2y /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-usb-usx2y
post-install snd-via82xx /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-via82xx
post-install snd-vx222 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-vx222
post-install snd-vxp440 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-vxp440
post-install snd-vxpocket /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-vxpocket
post-install snd-wavefront /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-wavefront
post-install snd-ymfpci /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-ymfpci
alias ac97 off
alias ac97_codec off
alias ac97_plugin_ad1980 off
alias ac97_plugin_wm97xx off
alias ad1816 off
alias ad1848 off
alias ad1889 off
alias adlib_card off
alias aedsp16 off
alias ali5455 off
alias audio off
alias awe_wave off
alias bt878 off
alias btaudio off
alias cmpci off
alias cs4232 off
alias cs4281 off
alias cs46xx off
alias dmasound_core off
alias dmasound_pmac off
alias emu10k1 off
alias es1370 off
alias es1371 off
alias esssolo1 off
alias forte off
alias gus off
alias harmony off
alias i810_audio off
alias kahlua off
alias mad16 off
alias maestro off
alias maestro3 off
alias maui off
alias mpu401 off
alias nm256_audio off
alias opl3 off
alias opl3sa off
alias opl3sa2 off
alias pas2 off
alias pss off
alias rme96xx off
alias sb off
alias sequencer off
alias sgalaxy off
alias sonicvibes off
alias sound off
alias soundcard off
alias sscape off
alias trident off
alias trix off
alias uart401 off
alias uart6850 off
alias v_midi off
alias via82cxxx_audio off
alias wavefront off
alias ymfpci off

### update-modules: end processing /etc/modutils/alsa-base

It's pretty long winded, but you clearly see:

Code:

post-install snd-intel8x0 /usr/lib/alsa/modprobe-post-install snd-intel8x0

Maybe i should apt-get remove --purge alsa-base and reinstall it or something? What do you recommend.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 04:05 PM

that's easily the longest nastiest looking modules.conf i've ever seen...! yuck! what happens if you just try a nice neat "modprobe snd_intel8x0" once you're logged in as root? what does lsmod say at the time you first log in?

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 04:13 PM

lsmod:

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
snd_intel8x0           33068  0
snd_ac97_codec         59268  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss            48168  0
snd_mixer_oss          16640  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm                85384  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer              23172  1 snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc         11144  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm
snd_mpu401_uart         7296  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_rawmidi            23204  1 snd_mpu401_uart
snd_seq_device          7944  1 snd_rawmidi
snd                    50660  9 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device
fglrx                 228672  7
ipv6                  229764  268
lp                     10408  0
eepro100               28300  0
shpchp                 87148  0
pciehp                 83948  0
pci_hotplug            30640  2 shpchp,pciehp
nvsound              1533320  0
soundcore               9824  2 snd,nvsound

and modprobe snd_intel8x0 returns nothing as root (that a good sign?). but alsaconf still fails, same error. What now

.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 04:20 PM

ok, all that alsa stuff still looks fine to me, near identical to what i have:

Code:

Module                  Size  Used by
snd_pcm_oss            53540  0 
snd_mixer_oss          20032  1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_intel8x0           32736  0 
snd_ac97_codec         75232  1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm                97416  3 snd_pcm_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec
snd_timer              25604  1 snd_pcm
snd                    55332  6 snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore              10208  1 snd
snd_page_alloc          9796  2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm

however.... you've still got the nvsound module listed there... but it's not listed in modules.conf? to be hoenst i can't think where else nvidia could be sneaking in that module. personally i'd delete the module file and then it can't load at all. I'm not ALSA guru in the slightest, but essentially both Alsa and OSS hook onto the soundcore module, however Alsa bolts on an advanced generic interface, whilst OSS (nvidia sound) just slaps the device driver right on in. so that nvsound module grabs the hardware before the nice, polite snd_intel8x0 module has a chance. hence the error.

so, i'd say delete the nvsound module (or move it somewhere safe, like /tmp) and see what happens. if you don't know where it is, just try "find /lib/modules | grep nvsound"

bobbens · 01-26-2005, 04:42 PM

you're right, i just had to send nvsound straight to HELL muahahahah!!! Nah, it worked, got rid of it and voila, sound works on boot up (except kde, but i'll look into that). Great you solved the problem, the crappiness of drivers, and i had some respect for nvidia drivers, now i put them in the same category as ATI, the shit-hole.
Tommorrow i'll go into testing to see if my dmix is working, and i'll run some other tests. I'll also try to see what's wrong with kde, but i should sleep now if i want to get my 7 hours of sleep. Thanks alot, you're a lifesaver.

acid_kewpie · 01-26-2005, 04:47 PM

cool. I impressed myself with that one... don't expect any KDE help from me though!

bobbens · 01-27-2005, 01:15 AM

don't worry, you've done enough, time for me to do my share :P. Thanks alot.