HT Omega eClaro (ALSA Oxygen HD) won't load under Mint 14

AlfredSka · 12-29-2012, 03:19 AM

Mint 14 64bit XFCE (derivative of Ubuntu 12.10)
Note: I have the same problem under stock Ubuntu 12.10

HT Omega eClaro
ALSA supports C-Media CMI8788

I cannot get this soundcard to load, either at boot or by forcibly modprobing.

1. When I run 'lspci' the device is detected:

Code:

04:00.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]

2. When I run 'lsmod' the module is not listed.
3. When I run 'cat /proc/asound/cards' the device is not listed

Code:

0 [NVidia         ]: HDA-Intel - HDA NVidia
                      HDA NVidia at 0xf6080000 irq 17
 1 [Q9000          ]: USB-Audio - QuickCam Pro 9000
                      Logitech, Inc. QuickCam Pro 9000 at usb-0000:00:1a.0-1.3.1, high speed

4. When I run 'sudo modprobe snd-oxygen' the driver loads and is listed under lsmod, but the sound card still doesn't show in alsamixer.

Code:

snd_oxygen             20948  0 
snd_oxygen_lib         41273  1 snd_oxygen
snd_mpu401_uart        14169  1 snd_oxygen_lib

Some possibly relevant websites:
1. http://crunchbang.org/forums/viewtopic.php?id=20719
2. http://askubuntu.com/questions/16514...-media-cmi8788 - I really don't want to rip out alsa

business_kid · 12-30-2012, 03:17 PM

Check in lspci -v that the module attaches to the sound card. At the end of the bit about it, it should say
Kernel driver in use: something

Then, when you are sure it can be seen, run alsaconf or system-config-sound

AlfredSka · 12-30-2012, 10:13 PM

I received a reply to my inquiry at askubuntu.com for this same question:

Quote:

The eClaro model is not supported by the snd-oxygen driver. You have to wait until somebody finds the time to write the code to handle that particular combination of AK4396 and CS4362 DAC chips. – CL.

For completeness, I'll still list the relevant output of 'lspci -v' as you suggested:

Code:

04:00.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]
	Subsystem: HT OMEGA Inc. eCLARO
	Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 32, IRQ 3
	I/O ports at d000 [size=256]
	Capabilities: [c0] Power Management version 2

and 'sudo lshw -C sound' gives

Code:

  *-multimedia UNCLAIMED
       description: Multimedia audio controller
       product: CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]
       vendor: C-Media Electronics Inc
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:04:00.0
       version: 00
       width: 32 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
       configuration: latency=32 maxlatency=24 mingnt=2
       resources: ioport:d000(size=256)

Both of these commands were run after 'sudo modprobe snd-oxygen'.

business_kid · 12-31-2012, 03:30 AM

I'd go with the AskUbuntu answer.
It seems there's no support also from the lspci, as no module claimed it.

The one time I ran into this, I went into the code and found a piece of code

case <one pci:id>; do this
<another pci:id>; do that
and so on. If you're brave, you might try that.

Nevertheless, you could notify the alsa guys your card isn't supported which is a kernel bug in the alsa section. They may have something on the most recent kernels.

Update the HCL also. If your card isn't supported in Dec 2012 people should have that info available, as we presume everything is supported.

AlfredSka · 12-31-2012, 02:44 PM

Thanks, I'll report this when the ALSA bug tracker is live again (seems to be down right now). I'll update this post with the bug report when it's available.

As for the Hardware Compatibility List, I assume you're referring to the sound card compatibility matrix for HT Omega. At closer inspection, I see the eClaro already has the [Possible] tag attached to it, so I think they're aware it is not currently supported.

business_kid · 12-31-2012, 02:50 PM

This is the LQ forum, so I was referring to the LQ HCL, but it doesn't matter if you update the other one as well. Date your posts, because it would be useful to know when you added the entry.

AlfredSka · 12-31-2012, 02:52 PM

Will do.

I sent a message to HT Omega with the contact details of ALSA developers in case anyone there would be willing to work with the ALSA team to get this card supported. I realize this is a long (long) shot, but the support team at HT Omega is pretty phenomenal, so I have an iota of hope.