ALSA or OSS sampling rate change

hisnumber666 · 04-27-2006, 03:49 AM

ok heres the deal. both ALSA and OSS work, but picky games such as Doom 3 or Quake 4 require a particular sampling rate - 44100Hz. my card puts out 48000Hz... using ALSA, sound is awful, both lag terribly, i can barely quit. OSS support fails to work since reported sampling rate is 48000... on some other forum i saw a suggestion about forcing a particular sample rate... one suggested way was KDE Control Center. yes there is a setting for sample rate. it doesn't do squat. i did a little reseach, people have this magic file /etc/asound.conf where there is a default sample rate setting. man, was i happy to see that... only to find out that the file is missing on my system. and it doesn't look like its supposed to be there.
i am running lates Debian Sarge, ALSA 1.0.8 i think.
this would all work if i can get the sample rate right...
any suggestions?

Linux.tar.gz · 04-27-2006, 08:25 AM

In alsamixer, you have an option to lock/unlock sample rate. Use space bar or enter to change value.

hisnumber666 · 04-27-2006, 01:48 PM

i ran alsamixer in terminal and it ran. my version is 1.0.8, it is a pseudo graphic/text mixer program. TAB changes category view between All, Playback and Capture. SPACE and ENTER do not do anything. i did not see a sampling rate option anywhere in there... the only thing thats there is vertical bars for level which you change values with UP and DOWN and select which mic you want to use for capture. Do you happen to know which config file alsamixer changes or links to? i can do it manually like that. do you have a different version of ALSA Linux.tar.gz?

hisnumber666 · 04-27-2006, 02:14 PM

i kept digging... alsaconf referred to amixer for settings so i tried that. looked through the list of options and commands and did this:
BitX:~# amixer controls
numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Switch'
numid=10,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Volume'
numid=1,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Switch'
numid=2,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Volume'
numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch'
numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Switch'
numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Volume'
numid=3,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Switch'
numid=4,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Volume'
numid=5,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Switch'
numid=6,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Volume'
numid=41,iface=MIXER,name='Line-In As Surround'
numid=18,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Switch'
numid=19,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Volume'
numid=20,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Switch'
numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Volume'
numid=42,iface=MIXER,name='Mic As Center/LFE'
numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Boost (+20dB)'
numid=31,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Select'
numid=15,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Switch'
numid=16,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Volume'
numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Switch'
numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Volume'
numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Switch'
numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Volume'
numid=11,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Switch'
numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Volume'
numid=24,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Switch'
numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Volume'
numid=30,iface=MIXER,name='Mono Output Select'
numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Source'
numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch'
numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume'
numid=38,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Valid Switch'
numid=32,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
numid=33,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
numid=36,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA'
numid=34,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Default'
numid=37,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Source'
numid=35,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Switch'
numid=39,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Monitor'
numid=40,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Switch'
numid=43,iface=MIXER,name='External Amplifier'
BitX:~# amixer contents
numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=10,iface=MIXER,name='Master Mono Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0
numid=1,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=on
numid=2,iface=MIXER,name='Master Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=23,23
numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=on
numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=2
: values=off,off
numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='Surround Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0,0
numid=3,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=4,iface=MIXER,name='Center Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=31
numid=5,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=6,iface=MIXER,name='LFE Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0
numid=41,iface=MIXER,name='Line-In As Surround'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=18,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=19,iface=MIXER,name='Line Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0,0
numid=20,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=on
numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='CD Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=28,28
numid=42,iface=MIXER,name='Mic As Center/LFE'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Boost (+20dB)'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=31,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Select'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw---,values=1,items=2
; Item #0 'Mic1'
; Item #1 'Mic2'
: values=0
numid=15,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=16,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0
numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Phone Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0
numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Video Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0,0
numid=11,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='PC Speaker Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=15,step=0
: values=0
numid=24,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Aux Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=31,step=0
: values=0,0
numid=30,iface=MIXER,name='Mono Output Select'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw---,values=1,items=2
; Item #0 'Mix'
; Item #1 'Mic'
: values=0
numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Source'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw---,values=2,items=8
; Item #0 'Mic'
; Item #1 'CD'
; Item #2 'Video'
; Item #3 'Aux'
; Item #4 'Line'
; Item #5 'Mix'
; Item #6 'Mix Mono'
; Item #7 'Phone'
: values=0,0
numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=on
numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=2,min=0,max=15,step=0
: values=0,0
numid=38,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Valid Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=32,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Con Mask'
; type=IEC958,access=r----,values=1
: values=?
numid=33,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Pro Mask'
; type=IEC958,access=r----,values=1
: values=?
numid=36,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback AC97-SPSA'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---,values=1,min=0,max=3,step=0
: values=0
numid=34,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Default'
; type=IEC958,access=rw---,values=1
: values=?
numid=37,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Source'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw---,values=1,items=2
; Item #0 'Analog'
; Item #1 'Digital'
: values=0
numid=35,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=39,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Monitor'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=40,iface=MIXER,name='IEC958 Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=off
numid=43,iface=MIXER,name='External Amplifier'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw---,values=1
: values=on

i dont see sampling rate anywhere on the list... perhaps amixer isnt it either. all my googling turns up questions about sampling rate of mp3s, which is 100% irrelevant to my problem.
i know there must be a simple solution. if i am doing something stupid, please walk me through it.

hisnumber666 · 04-27-2006, 05:55 PM

haha!! thank god im so smart!!!(later discredited god for lack of action)
anyway since no one bothered to help, no one has solved the issue on other threads, here is the solution (for me at least).
after a spending an hour digging through the system, i found this config file /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf
inside there is everything i needed.
here are the contents of the file after i modified it

Code:

#
#  ALSA library configuration file
#

# pre-load the configuration files

@hooks [
	{
		func load
		files [
			"/etc/asound.conf"
			"~/.asoundrc"
		]
		errors false
	}
]

# load card-specific configuration files (on request)

cards.@hooks [
	{
		func load
		files [
			{
				@func concat
				strings [
					{ @func datadir }
					"/cards/aliases.conf"
				]
			}
		]
	}
	{
		func load_for_all_cards
		files [
			{
				@func concat
				strings [
					{ @func datadir }
					"/cards/"
					{ @func private_string }
					".conf"
				]
			}
		]
		errors false
	}
]

# defaults

defaults.ctl.card 0
defaults.pcm.card 0
defaults.pcm.device 0
defaults.pcm.subdevice -1
defaults.pcm.front.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.front.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.rear.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.rear.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.center_lfe.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.center_lfe.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.side.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.side.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.surround40.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.surround40.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.surround41.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.surround41.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.surround50.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.surround50.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.surround51.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.surround51.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.surround71.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.surround71.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.iec958.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.iec958.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.pcm.modem.card defaults.pcm.card
defaults.pcm.modem.device defaults.pcm.device
defaults.rawmidi.card 0
defaults.rawmidi.device 0
defaults.rawmidi.subdevice -1
defaults.hwdep.card 0
defaults.hwdep.device 0
defaults.timer.class 2
defaults.timer.sclass 0
defaults.timer.card 0
defaults.timer.device 0
defaults.timer.subdevice 0

#
#  PCM interface
#

pcm.hw {
	@args [ CARD DEV SUBDEV ]
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func getenv
			vars [
				ALSA_PCM_CARD
				ALSA_CARD
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.pcm.card
			}
		}
	}
	@args.DEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func igetenv
			vars [
				ALSA_PCM_DEVICE
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.pcm.device
			}
		}
	}
	@args.SUBDEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.pcm.subdevice
		}
	}		
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device $DEV
	subdevice $SUBDEV
}

pcm.plughw {
	@args [ CARD DEV SUBDEV ]
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func getenv
			vars [
				ALSA_PCM_CARD
				ALSA_CARD
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.pcm.card
			}
		}
	}
	@args.DEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func igetenv
			vars [
				ALSA_PCM_DEVICE
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.pcm.device
			}
		}
	}
	@args.SUBDEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.pcm.subdevice
		}
	}		
	type plug
	slave.pcm {
		type hw
		card $CARD
		device $DEV
		subdevice $SUBDEV
	}
}

pcm.plug {
	@args [ SLAVE ]
	@args.SLAVE {
		type string
	}
	type plug
	slave.pcm $SLAVE
}

pcm.dmix {
	@args [ SLAVE FORMAT RATE ]
	@args.SLAVE {
		type string
		default "hw:0,0"
	}
	@args.FORMAT {
		type string
		default S16_LE
	}
	@args.RATE {
		type integer
		default 44100
	}
	type dmix
	ipc_key 5678293
	ipc_key_add_uid yes
	slave {
		pcm $SLAVE
		format $FORMAT
		rate $RATE
	}
}

pcm.dsnoop {
	@args [ SLAVE FORMAT RATE ]
	@args.SLAVE {
		type string
		default "hw:0,0"
	}
	@args.FORMAT {
		type string
		default S16_LE
	}
	@args.RATE {
		type integer
		default 44100
	}
	type dsnoop
	ipc_key 5778293
	ipc_key_add_uid yes
	slave {
		pcm $SLAVE
		format $FORMAT
		rate $RATE
	}
}

pcm.shm {
	@args [ SOCKET PCM ]
	@args.SOCKET {
		type string
	}
	@args.PCM {
		type string
	}
	type shm
	server $SOCKET
	pcm $PCM
}

pcm.tee {
	@args [ SLAVE FILE FORMAT ]
	@args.SLAVE {
		type string
	}
	@args.FILE {
		type string
	}
	@args.FORMAT {
		type string
		default raw
	}
	type file
	slave.pcm $SLAVE
	file $FILE
	format $FORMAT
}

pcm.file {
	@args [ FILE FORMAT ]
	@args.FILE {
		type string
	}
	@args.FORMAT {
		type string
		default raw
	}
	type file
	slave.pcm null
	file $FILE
	format $FORMAT
}

pcm.null {
	type null
}

# redirect to load-on-demand extended pcm definitions
pcm.cards cards.pcm
# some links for easy use
pcm.front cards.pcm.front
pcm.rear cards.pcm.rear
pcm.center_lfe cards.pcm.center_lfe
pcm.side cards.pcm.side
pcm.surround40 cards.pcm.surround40
pcm.surround41 cards.pcm.surround41
pcm.surround50 cards.pcm.surround50
pcm.surround51 cards.pcm.surround51
pcm.surround71 cards.pcm.surround71
pcm.iec958 cards.pcm.iec958
pcm.spdif cards.pcm.iec958
pcm.modem cards.pcm.modem
pcm.default cards.pcm.default

#
#  Control interface
#
	
ctl.hw {
	@args[ CARD ]
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func getenv
			vars [
				ALSA_CTL_CARD
				ALSA_CARD
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.ctl.card
			}
		}
	}
	type hw
	card $CARD
}

ctl.shm {
	@args [ SOCKET CTL ]
	@args.SOCKET {
		type string
	}
	@args.CTL {
		type string
	}
	type shm
	server $SOCKET
	ctl $CTL
}

ctl.default {
	type hw
	card {
		@func getenv
		vars [
			ALSA_CTL_CARD
			ALSA_CARD
		]
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.ctl.card
		}
	}
}

#
#  RawMidi interface
#

rawmidi.hw {
	@args [ CARD DEV SUBDEV ]
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func getenv
			vars [
				ALSA_RAWMIDI_CARD
				ALSA_CARD
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.rawmidi.card
			}
		}
	}
	@args.DEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func igetenv
			vars [
				ALSA_RAWMIDI_DEVICE
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.rawmidi.device
			}
		}
	}
	@args.SUBDEV {
		type integer
		default -1
	}
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device $DEV
	subdevice $SUBDEV
}

rawmidi.default {
	type hw
	card {
		@func getenv
		vars [
			ALSA_RAWMIDI_CARD
			ALSA_CARD
		]
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.rawmidi.card
		}
	}
	device {
		@func igetenv
		vars [
			ALSA_RAWMIDI_DEVICE
		]
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.rawmidi.device
		}
	}
}

rawmidi.virtual {
	@args [ MERGE ]
	@args.MERGE {
		type string
		default 1
	}
	type virtual
	merge $MERGE
}

#
#  Sequencer interface
#

seq.default {
	type hw
}

seq.hw {
	type hw
}

#
#  HwDep interface
#

hwdep.hw {
	@args [ CARD DEV ]
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func getenv
			vars [
				ALSA_HWDEP_CARD
				ALSA_CARD
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.hwdep.card
			}
		}
	}
	@args.DEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func igetenv
			vars [
				ALSA_HWDEP_DEVICE
			]
			default {
				@func refer
				name defaults.hwdep.device
			}
		}
	}
	type hw
	card $CARD
	device $DEV
}

hwdep.default {
	type hw
	card {
		@func getenv
		vars [
			ALSA_HWDEP_CARD
			ALSA_CARD
		]
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.hwdep.card
		}
	}
	device {
		@func igetenv
		vars [
			ALSA_HWDEP_DEVICE
		]
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.hwdep.device
		}
	}
}

#
#  Timer interface
#

timer_query.hw {
	type hw
}

timer_query.default {
	type hw
}

timer.hw {
	@args [ CLASS SCLASS CARD DEV SUBDEV ]
	@args.CLASS {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.timer.class
		}
	}
	@args.SCLASS {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.timer.sclass
		}
	}
	@args.CARD {
		type string
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.timer.card
		}
	}
	@args.DEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.timer.device
		}
	}
	@args.SUBDEV {
		type integer
		default {
			@func refer
			name defaults.timer.subdevice
		}
	}
	type hw
	class $CLASS
	sclass $SCLASS
	card $CARD
	device $DEV
	subdevice $SUBDEV
}

timer.default {
	type hw
	class {
		@func refer
		name defaults.timer.class
	}
	sclass {
		@func refer
		name defaults.timer.sclass
	}
	card {
		@func refer
		name defaults.timer.card
	}
	device {
		@func refer
		name defaults.timer.device
	}
	subdevice {
		@func refer
		name defaults.timer.subdevice
	}
}

sound works properly in Doom 3 and Quake 4 now, speaking of which, i get much better FPS than on clean windows -- about 1.5 times more (fx5700 Personal Cinema Edition). now if i could only overclock it like i did it on windows with CoolBits this will be totally cool. i expect my FPS be about twice what i had on windows... currently i get about 42FPS on average at 640x480 on "low" detail (looks like id has a different view of what low detail should look like, since it all still looks TOO DAMN GOOD).
As always the community was of no help... well i guess i cant have everything...
LINUX FOREVER!!!

Linux.tar.gz · 04-27-2006, 07:20 PM

You're damn right! The community is really not helpful at all, especially for a clever mind as yours. You solved your incredible problem so easily that i think you should build your own OS and leave us alone. I'll remember to ask you if i have any problem.

hisnumber666 · 04-28-2006, 02:11 AM

no need to be hostile. its just a said fact that if you need something done - count on yourself.
speaking of building an os... take a look at the ReactOS project... there might be a good potential there... or if you blend it with linux... but the question arises... what will the software developers do? what platform will they choose? apple just took a wrong step by supporting windows. now no software developer will make pure mac software since macs can run windows now... we either make linux adapt (well wine... but im not entirely happy with it) or the developer community will switch. one thing all developers fear is non-compatibility. even if you say that unixes are inherently supperior to Microsoft's dos based 9x or os/2 prototype which became NT, you would still need to be backwards compatible to will the community's vote. till that happens i have to keep a windows copy to use winamp

as for solving my problem... why wont someone just post a list of config files for each program/service, god dammit? i mean i wont have to ask questions that dont need to be asked... and gosh, that would save me so much of my precious time.
*applauses* thank you all for listening, the shows over. *applauses*
(runs off the stage and hides behind the curtain)