Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX USB Sound

Godji · 09-25-2005, 06:54 AM

Thanks for all the information everyone has provided. I have managed to get the Audigy 2 NX to play with high quality, but only over two channels. Is it possible to get all speakers to work properly? How can I do this? I'm using ALSA 1.0.10rc1 on a 2.6.13.2 kernel with Gentoo. My /etc/asound.conf is:

Code:

pcm.intel {
	type hw
	card 0
	device 0
}

ctl.intel {
	type hw
	card 0
}

pcm.intel_dmix {
	type dmix
	ipc_key 1234
	slave {
		pcm intel
		period_time 0
		period_size 4096
		buffer_size 16384
	}
}

ctl.intel_dmix {
	type hw
	card 0
}

pcm.audigy {
	type hw
	card 1
	device 0
}

ctl.audigy {
	type hw
	card 1
}

pcm.audigy_dmix {
	type dmix
	ipc_key 5678
	slave {
		pcm audigy
		period_time 0
		period_size 1024
		buffer_size 4096
		rate 48000
	}
}

ctl.audigy_dmix {
	type hw
	card 1
}

pcm.!default {
	type plug
#	slave.pcm audigy_rate
	slave.pcm intel_dmix
}

pcm.audigy_rate {
	type rate
	slave {
		pcm audigy
		rate 48000
	}
}

ctl.audigy_rate {
	type hw
	card 1
}

pcm.dsp0 {
	type plug
	slave.pcm intel_dmix
}

pcm.dsp1 {
	type plug
	slave.pcm audigy_dmix
}

I'm completely out of ideas and I can't find info on the net.

Atmchicago · 09-25-2005, 11:56 AM

I have a 5.1 setup, and I just plugged the rear speakers into the headphone jack - which is also there for 7.1 setups. It's the simple way to avoid having to deal with all the software configuration required to really get rear speakers. I don't really need the surround anyway.

subpacket · 10-11-2005, 10:13 PM

Hi all,

BTW: Thanks to AtmChicago for all his work and help on the subject!

I've just installed Ubuntu Linux (Hoary Hedgehog release), and my SB Audigy 2 NX was picked up as a USB Audio device. After reading through this forum topic, I put together a .asoundrc file to set the rate correctly.

The playback is much better now, but every 20 seconds or so I get some crackling. As my playback rate is set to 48kHz, I don't think this is related to the rate. (I tested by setting the rate to 44100 and the original, much nastier crackling came back.) I noticed at least one other person reported crackling after setting the rate to 48000. Has anyone else come across this issue?

I've also tried a sampling rate of 96000. It played nicely, but did the same crackling every so often as it did at 48000 Hz.

I'm using XMMS to playback MP3s.

The only other time that I've come across this kind of crackling before was in Windows XP using Propellerhead's Reason software. I generally happened when I brought down the latency settings too low, but every once in a while it would make that same crackling noise.

Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Scotty

Atmchicago · 10-11-2005, 10:20 PM

I don't get any crackling so I'm not sure what the issue is. I know someone with the same card who runs XP, and his problem is whenever his hard disk is actively seeked it kills his sound quality. That's the closest I've come to the problem if it is not related to the sampling rate.

mkoljack · 10-16-2005, 11:46 PM

Be sure that you turn off the sound card and back on again during reboot.

Atmchicago · 10-17-2005, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Be sure that you turn off the sound card and back on again during reboot.

Why is that? I haven't had to do this - does this fix some issues?

mkoljack · 10-17-2005, 05:48 PM

I have rebooted and power cycled the sound card after doing updates to alsa, system updates involving sound, kde updates involving sound, etc. Also, I power cycle the sound card after logging into Windows. The crackling goes away every time. Just my experience without knowing the root cause of the problem outlined above.

Anonissimus · 01-17-2006, 03:13 AM

Ok peeps, I'm encountering the tiny problem that I am not able to understand any of these posts. I am a proud owner of an NX2 but somebody really has to help me out in another way.
I need something like a step by step guide, I'm trying for 2 days now to get this card running and I did not hear a single thing.
PM me, email me, fax me, whatever.

PS: I'm having NOOB tatood on my cheek next week

forrest44 · 06-14-2006, 04:22 PM

Hey Atmchicago
I hope you're still reading this thread...

I've got a few questions
Did you get the S/PDIF Optical in to work?????
Do you know if you are able to simultaneously playback a stereo Optical S/PDIF input, and at the same time record from an analog in (without playback from the analog in)?

See my thread here:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi....php?p=2292011

@Anonissimus:
Go to a console, enter "su" to log in as root, then enter the command "alsaconf" - this should help you set up your sound card..
When you've finished there, enter the command "alsamixer" and unmute the volume levels (if they are muted) - you need to press the m key to mute/unmute the selected chanel.

You might get an idea of what to do by installing a simple basic sound card before tackling your Audigy 2 NX.

Also, search this site or google for "audigy 2 nx linux" or something similar.

What is your kernel version and what distribution are you using????

Atmchicago · 06-18-2006, 02:04 PM

I realize that I talked about messing with the optical, but I still haven't gotten there yet. Sorry. I've been thinking about either buying a microphone or some other hardware to record my guitar playing, but haven't done anything about it yet, so I don't have any hardware that can use the optical in/out.

frank golden · 06-18-2006, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subpacket

Hi all,

BTW: Thanks to AtmChicago for all his work and help on the subject!

I've just installed Ubuntu Linux (Hoary Hedgehog release), and my SB Audigy 2 NX was picked up as a USB Audio device. After reading through this forum topic, I put together a .asoundrc file to set the rate correctly.

The playback is much better now, but every 20 seconds or so I get some crackling. As my playback rate is set to 48kHz, I don't think this is related to the rate. (I tested by setting the rate to 44100 and the original, much nastier crackling came back.) I noticed at least one other person reported crackling after setting the rate to 48000. Has anyone else come across this issue?

I've also tried a sampling rate of 96000. It played nicely, but did the same crackling every so often as it did at 48000 Hz.

I'm using XMMS to playback MP3s.

The only other time that I've come across this kind of crackling before was in Windows XP using Propellerhead's Reason software. I generally happened when I brought down the latency settings too low, but every once in a while it would make that same crackling noise.

Any suggestions or comments are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Scotty

Try updating to Dapper Drake I bet sound problems will go away. Did
for me. In Breezy I used to have to power cycle my audigy NX. Updated
to Dapper everything is OK now.

kcallis · 12-29-2006, 08:37 AM

I am still playing with my NX, although alsamixer recognizes the NX, I am still getting sound that is coming out on the built-in speakers. I am sure that will be worked out soon! My real question is, how does one make use of the SoundFont files to load the NX with sound patches. I have 78M worth of sf and don't know where to load them...

soccerfiend · 09-18-2007, 11:35 AM

The software synths qsynth and fluidsynth-dssi can make use of soundfonts. This also allows you to use soundfonts on cards that do not have a synth built into them (ie. most soundcards).

To load soundfonts onto the card directly, use asfxload.

Also, your apps will use the first sound device they find. You could blacklist the existing sound driver, or just set your apps to use the second sound device.