Cmedia Audio 4 channel prob
 

i have some question to ask...

first : i have a c-media soundcard it support 4 spk output , how to enable it? (when i play mp3 in xmms the sound output is only 2 channel not 4), the support for linux from cmedia is too old 01/2001 and the driver too. They show how to enable 4 channel in linux but is for redhat linux 6 and in redhat 9 ,the file i must configure to enabling the 4 channel /etc/conf.modules dosen't exist.

2. When a app freeze , linux have a task manager or not?, to force app to close everything like that?

1st. there may not be an /etc/conf.modules but is there an /etc/modules.conf? (or even a modules.conf somewhere else in the filesystem). I'm not a redhat user but I'm pretty sure that even redhat 9 has a modules.conf.

2. best solution for this I think would be to get to a command prompt (with a key combo like ctrl+alt+F2), login, then us the 'ps -U <your username>' to bring up a list of programs that are running and their IDs and then type 'kill <PID>' to kill the wayward process.

If your machine is locked up and ctrl+alt+F2 won't do anything then I think your only remaining option is to restart.

2. You can also get Visual Process Managers for KDE and GNOME. Just look for them under System / Utilities or something and you will find them :)

I think the best idea is using the Process Status (ps), though, even when you might need to think a bit more.

ok, but there is the trap...

Cmedia (installing cmedia audio drivers...)says :

3. Change directory to /usr/src/linux

4. Config cm8338 driver by 'make menuconfig', 'make config' or
'make xconfig' command.

hmm there's no more src/linux but src/redhat/ , i cannot find the file .config in src/redhat.

?

You need to install the Kernel Source package.

from Cmedia :

//comment: Nothing of that exist in Redhat Linux 9!!!!

Configure the 4 Channel setting parameters:

a)Modify the /etc/conf.modules configuration file using vi text-editor

#vi /etc/conf.modules

b)Use the “a” command to modify and add in a line as follows:

“options cmpci four_ch=1”

c)Press ESC and key-in “：wq” to save the configuration and exit.

8. When the configuration is done and system is rebooted, you should be able to enjoy the 4 channel sound effect.

#reboot

9. You may try with the “XMMS” MP3 program now.

//comment: what is suppose to do for ENABLING 4 Channel?

WTF!!!!?????

I have just restart linux and then XMMS gave me an error.

Unable to play sound.

I change plugins but nothings.

and the 4 spk...don't work again..

It's so hard...

Are you sure that it's conf.modules, not modules.conf?

Also, about the source packages, you'll have to install a source package either from red hat or from kernel.org. Type "uname -r" at the command prompt to find out which kernel you have, then download the appropriate source. You unpack it in /usr/src and it will create a directory there called kernel-source-2.x.xx. Where the x's correspond to your kernel version. Then you create a symlink called linux to kernel-source-2.x.xx. To do this you type (whilst in the /usr/src directory) "ln -s kernel-source-2.x.xx linux". Then there'll be a /usr/src/linux directory.

yeah maybe , now i restart with the new settings with modules.conf

my currently kerner is 2.4.20-8

Yeah i got the kernel file 2.4.21 , how to install the patch (im very nub is just started using linux yesterday)

the patch is a bzip2 type
filename: patch-2.4.21.bz2

any help is apreciated

So you have a patch now... Well, there's a package called "patch". Type "man patch" for more info. I've never patched a kernel so I'm not sure whether you have to patch the actual kernel or the source (I'm thinking it's probably the actual kernel image otherwise you could have just downloaded the kernel 2.4.21 source and compiled it) so I'd wait for someone else to tell you that. With regards to bzip2. To unzip it type:

"bunzip2 patch-2.4.21.bz2"

or

"bzip2 -d patch-2.4.21.bz2"

They are equivalent. To find out about just about any command type: "man <command>" or "info <command>".

Example

To find out about the command ls, type:

"man ls"

Wooh... hold on. the patch 2.4.21.bz... did you get that from kernel.org? That won't work.

A patch is to be applied against a kernel source (in this particular case against the 2.4.20 kernel source). You have a 2.4.20-8 kernel (from Redhat... the '-8' indicates that Redhat modified the kernel so the patch wouldn't necessarilly work anyway).

Here's what you want to do... check on your Redhat 9 CDs... there should be a file called
kernel-src-2.4.20-8.rpm or something like that. You may have to go to the internet to get it. Essentially what you're looking for is an RPM file with your kernel number in it (2.4.20-8) and the letters 'src' in it. When you install this RPM then you will have a directory /usr/src/linux that will contain your kernel source code. Don't mess with patches just get the kernel source rpm from Redhat.

Note: may I also add (as you're a 2 day linux user ??) you might not want to tackle rebuilding your kernel. Instead install the Alsa libraries (cm8338 specific directions are available here: http://alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/doc...&module=cmipci )

The kernel modules are probably just repackaged Alsa anyway and this way you will only have to rebuild just the sound drivers instead of the whole kernel.

Best of luck and HTH,
jpbarto

no, i have not patched my kernel yet because i was thinking about problems that patch could be created.

but yes im a 2 days user and yes i completely rebuild my kernel.Now the audio works great but no 4ch again.

In linux configuration (make menuconfig)
it's wrote Number of speaker : 4

Maybe this could be help:
Note: my line-in is not a rear output
This is my output i have on my soundcard (pci not integrated)
Midi port, Rear jack, Front jack , Line-in, Microphone

Audio CPU: CMI8738

I DON'T HAVE A 8338 CAR BUT A 8738
It's totally different,
the 8338 don't have 4 ch support.
and it's old , 1999 audio chip.

what is ALSA?

advanced linux sound architecture
www.alsa-project.org