I recently bought an sb live! ct4780 sound card off ebay. It was said to be fully tested and guaranteed not to be doa. I know the soundblaster is extremely well-supported under Linux--especially the Live! card, as the LQ HCL tells me.
I've even found a very specific review of my variant of card on
Phoronix.
I'm able to record to a wave file with arecord but if I try to play what I've just recorded with aplay... nothing. I've also, of course, tried playing all other sorts of audio and video files with the same result.
$uname -a
Linux c-67-167-188-115 2.6.16-2-686-smp #1 SMP Fri Aug 18 19:25:21 UTC 2006 i686 GNU/Linux
$lspci -v
00:07.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB Live! EMU10k1 (rev 07)
Subsystem: Creative Labs CT4780 SBLive! Value
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 209
I/O ports at 5440 [size=32]
00:07.1 Input device controller: Creative Labs SB Live! Game Port (rev 07)
Subsystem: Creative Labs Gameport Joystick
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64
I/O ports at 5480 [size=8]
$cat /proc/asound/version
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.13rc1.
Compiled on Sep 23 2006 for kernel 2.6.16-2-686-smp (SMP).
$lsmod|grep snd
snd_emu10k1_synth 6784 0
snd_emux_synth 31424 1 snd_emu10k1_synth
snd_seq_virmidi 7040 1 snd_emux_synth
snd_seq_midi_emul 5888 1 snd_emux_synth
snd_seq_oss 30468 0
snd_seq_midi 8128 0
snd_seq_midi_event 6944 3 snd_seq_virmidi,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 47276 8 snd_emux_synth,snd_seq_virmidi,snd_seq_midi_emul,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_emu10k1 104256 3 snd_emu10k1_synth
snd_rawmidi 22464 3 snd_seq_virmidi,snd_seq_midi,snd_emu10k1
snd_ac97_codec 87460 1 snd_emu10k1
snd_ac97_bus 2304 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 38880 0
snd_mixer_oss 16128 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 69508 3 snd_emu10k1,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_seq_device 7564 7 snd_emu10k1_synth,snd_emux_synth,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi,snd_seq,snd_emu10k1,snd_rawmidi
snd_timer 20708 3 snd_seq,snd_emu10k1,snd_pcm
snd_page_alloc 9576 2 snd_emu10k1,snd_pcm
snd_util_mem 4448 2 snd_emux_synth,snd_emu10k1
snd_hwdep 8516 2 snd_emux_synth,snd_emu10k1
snd 49440 17 snd_emux_synth,snd_seq_virmidi,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq,snd_emu10k1,snd_rawmidi,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_os s,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_seq_device,snd_timer,snd_hwdep
soundcore 9216 1 snd
I've added this part to modutils/alsa-base, as is
$cat /etc/modutils/alsa-base
# ALSA portion
alias char-major-116 snd
alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1
# module options should go here
# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
# card #1
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
$cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [Live ]: EMU10K1 - SBLive! Value [CT4780]
SBLive! Value [CT4780] (rev.7, serial:0x80221102) at 0x5440, irq 209
$modinfo snd_emu10k1
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.16-2-686-smp/kernel/sound/pci/emu10k1/snd-emu10k1.ko
license: GPL
description: EMU10K1
author: Jaroslav Kysela <perex@suse.cz>
alias: pci:v00001102d00000008sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00001102d00000004sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias: pci:v00001102d00000002sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends: snd-pcm,snd-util-mem,snd-page-alloc,snd,snd-rawmidi,snd-timer,snd-hwdep,snd-ac97-codec,snd,snd-seq-device
vermagic: 2.6.16-2-686-smp SMP 686 gcc-4.0
parm: index:Index value for the EMU10K1 soundcard. (array of int)
parm: id:ID string for the EMU10K1 soundcard. (array of charp)
parm: enable:Enable the EMU10K1 soundcard. (array of bool)
parm: extin:Available external inputs for FX8010. Zero=default. (array of int)
parm: extout:Available external outputs for FX8010. Zero=default. (array of int)
parm: seq_ports:Allocated sequencer ports for internal synthesizer. (array of int)
parm: max_synth_voices:Maximum number of voices for WaveTable. (array of int)
parm: max_buffer_size:Maximum sample buffer size in MB. (array of int)
parm: enable_ir:Enable IR. (array of bool)
parm: subsystem:Force card subsystem model. (array of uint)
$cat /dev/sndstat
Sound Driver:3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.13rc1 emulation code)
Kernel: Linux c-67-167-188-115 2.6.16-2-686-smp #1 SMP Fri Aug 18 19:25:21 UTC 2006 i686
Config options: 0
Installed drivers:
Type 10: ALSA emulation
Card config:
SBLive! Value [CT4780] (rev.7, serial:0x80221102) at 0x5440, irq 209
Audio devices:
0: ADC Capture/Standard PCM Playback (DUPLEX)
Synth devices:
0: Emu10k1
Midi devices:
0: EMU10K1 MPU-401 (UART)
Timers:
7: system timer
Mixers:
0: Cirrus Logic CS4297A rev 3
Oh... and yes, the card is unmuted.
Simple mixer control 'Master',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 63
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 46 [73%] [on]
Front Right: Playback 46 [73%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 23 [74%] [on]
Front Right: Playback 23 [74%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone LFE',1
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',1
Capabilities: pvolume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control 'Headphone Center',1
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Tone',0
Capabilities: pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Mono:
Front Left: Playback [off]
Front Right: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Bass',0
Capabilities: volume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: 0 - 40
Front Left: 20 [50%]
Front Right: 20 [50%]
Simple mixer control 'Treble',0
Capabilities: volume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: 0 - 40
Front Left: 20 [50%]
Front Right: 20 [50%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
Capabilities: volume volume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Mono
Limits: 0 - 15
Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
Capabilities: volume volume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Mono
Limits: 0 - 15
Mono: 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 28 [90%] [on]
Front Right: Playback 28 [90%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Capture 75 [75%] [off]
Front Right: Capture 75 [75%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono: Playback 100 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono: Playback 100 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'Synth',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 80 [80%] Capture 80 [80%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 80 [80%] Capture 80 [80%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Wave',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 100 [100%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 100 [100%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Wave Center',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono: Playback 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control 'Wave LFE',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono: Playback 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control 'Wave Surround',0
Capabilities: pvolume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100
Mono:
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line LiveDrive',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line2 LiveDrive',1
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Front Left: Playback 25 [81%] [on] Capture [off]
Front Right: Playback 25 [81%] [on] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Front Left: Capture [on]
Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
Capabilities: enum
Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Coaxial',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 LiveDrive',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Optical Raw',0
Capabilities: pswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Mono:
Front Left: Playback [off]
Front Right: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 TTL',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume cswitch
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] Capture 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'PC Speaker',0
Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Limits: Playback 0 - 15
Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 31
Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 15
Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'AC97',0
Capabilities: pvolume cvolume
Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Playback 0 - 100 Capture 0 - 100
Front Left: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 100 [100%]
Front Right: Playback 100 [100%] Capture 100 [100%]
Simple mixer control 'SB Live Analog/Digital Output Jack',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [off]
Thanks
