How can i setup virtual 7.1 surround sound in alsa?

Sol33t303 · 07-19-2017, 04:41 AM

I have tried following some guides but none seem to work (or maybe I'm just too dumb), I've installed all the plugins I think I'll need, some guides told me to edit ~/asound.conf or /etc/asound.conf but both seem to not exist, are they suppose to exist or am i meant to create them? Also, I want to do it without using PulseAudio as I have had problems with it in the past regarding Bluetooth, I also need it to output the sound through my TOSLINK cable as my headset is connected via Bluetooth to a base station that handles the Bluetooth side of things and it requires a TOSLINK connection.

frankbell · 07-19-2017, 08:10 PM

What distro are you using? (I guessing that 7.1 is the version.)

aus9 · 07-19-2017, 08:43 PM

I think he means a 8 ch or 7.1 surround sound via spdif.....in pulseaudio (PA) its called iec958

1) show us the output to

Code:

aplay -l
aplay -L
lspci

are you using onboard sound for toslink or a pci card or usb sound device?

2) to use spdif you need to have the default sound using analog and not hdmi

3) spdif needs to be active, but may need to be toggled off and then on to be active....depending on your device.

4) assuming you do not have PA installed open a terminal as local user and take screenshots of the relevant command below

Code:

alsamixer -c0
press F6 and choose the other devices that show up

taking a screen shot of the analog will show something like this

http://imgur.com/a/ir13p

I have high lighted spdif and that its showing MM meaning muted

use the right arrow to navigate to that control and press the m key to unmute it

pressing m again toggles it off....so you can test if you need to toggle off then on etc

its a good idea to show us your screenshot so we can see all output controls in case vol is muted too

and please specify which screenshot it is....ie first screenshot meaning for alsamixer -c0 or a diff one

we can then setup a system where you can have hdmi disabled .....alsamixer only see analog etc etc

5) if you are not using PA ....and screenshot does not show surround sound for a 7.1 we will need to give you a config to "default" to the correct surround sound.

leaping ahead.....its a config file but there are a number of ways it can be done.....and depends on your device

6) If you are a newbie, PA is actually easier to use even tho you have been burnt in the past

can you advise if pulseaudio is installed please?

a per screenshot of PA config it is easy to setup in the config GUI by choosing either the third down or 4
http://imgur.com/a/YJLvs

Sol33t303 · 07-20-2017, 01:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

I think he means a 8 ch or 7.1 surround sound via spdif.....in pulseaudio (PA) its called iec958

1) show us the output to

Code:

aplay -l
aplay -L
lspci

are you using onboard sound for toslink or a pci card or usb sound device?

2) to use spdif you need to have the default sound using analog and not hdmi

3) spdif needs to be active, but may need to be toggled off and then on to be active....depending on your device.

4) assuming you do not have PA installed open a terminal as local user and take screenshots of the relevant command below

Code:

alsamixer -c0
press F6 and choose the other devices that show up

taking a screen shot of the analog will show something like this

http://imgur.com/a/ir13p

I have high lighted spdif and that its showing MM meaning muted

use the right arrow to navigate to that control and press the m key to unmute it

pressing m again toggles it off....so you can test if you need to toggle off then on etc

its a good idea to show us your screenshot so we can see all output controls in case vol is muted too

and please specify which screenshot it is....ie first screenshot meaning for alsamixer -c0 or a diff one

we can then setup a system where you can have hdmi disabled .....alsamixer only see analog etc etc

5) if you are not using PA ....and screenshot does not show surround sound for a 7.1 we will need to give you a config to "default" to the correct surround sound.

leaping ahead.....its a config file but there are a number of ways it can be done.....and depends on your device

6) If you are a newbie, PA is actually easier to use even tho you have been burnt in the past

can you advise if pulseaudio is installed please?

a per screenshot of PA config it is easy to setup in the config GUI by choosing either the third down or 4
http://imgur.com/a/YJLvs

1.

Code:

$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC1150 Analog [ALC1150 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 1: ALC1150 Digital [ALC1150 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Chat [Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Code:

$ aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
pulse
    PulseAudio Sound Server
upmix71
default:CARD=PCH
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=PCH
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Front speakers
surround21:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
    HDMI Audio Output
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Digital
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=7
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=8
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Digital
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=7
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=8
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Digital
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=8
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Analog
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, ALC1150 Digital
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=8
    HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
    Hardware device with all software conversions
default:CARD=Chat
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=Chat
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround21:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Chat,DEV=0
    Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions

Code:

$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Sky Lake Host Bridge/DRAM Registers (rev 07)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Sky Lake Integrated Graphics (rev 06)
00:14.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H USB 3.0 xHCI Controller (rev 31)
00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H CSME HECI #1 (rev 31)
00:17.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H SATA controller [AHCI mode] (rev 31)
00:1b.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Root Port #17 (rev f1)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #1 (rev f1)
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #3 (rev f1)
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #5 (rev f1)
00:1d.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #9 (rev f1)
00:1d.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PCI Express Root Port #13 (rev f1)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H LPC Controller (rev 31)
00:1f.2 Memory controller: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H PMC (rev 31)
00:1f.3 Audio device: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H HD Audio (rev 31)
00:1f.4 SMBus: Intel Corporation Sunrise Point-H SMBus (rev 31)
00:1f.6 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation Ethernet Connection (2) I219-V (rev 31)
02:00.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt [Alpine Ridge]
03:00.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt [Alpine Ridge]
03:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt [Alpine Ridge]
03:02.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt [Alpine Ridge]
03:04.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation DSL6540 Thunderbolt [Alpine Ridge]
06:00.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation DSL6540 USB 3.1 Controller [Alpine Ridge]
08:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros QCA6174 802.11ac Wireless Network Adapter (rev 32)
09:00.0 SATA controller: ASMedia Technology Inc. ASM1062 Serial ATA Controller (rev 02)

2. How can I check this? in the GNOME ALSA Mixer in the bottom left IEC958 Default PCM is checked (also the other options all say IEC958) so I presume it is using analog by default?
3. Toslink is the only audio cable that my base station accepts (unless maybe from its USB port though I'm pretty sure that is only for power) so I'll presume it's active.
4.i do have PA INSTALLED, but I have deactivated it by setting autospawn = no but here are the results http://imgur.com/VQOI2zK (most of the things are at max when I was trying to get it working, just in case it was that I couldn't hear it) looks like the spidifs are showing their bar, so that must be the problem? (also it's alsa mixer -c0)
Also as I said I would prefer not to use Pulse even though it's easier to setup, I'm not a total newbie as I have been using Ubuntu for the past 7 months and I have become adjusted to using the command line, I have setup created a very simple script (telling the terminal to output Hello World in python) and have used a few made by other people, and I'm even in the middle of customising my GRUB. (i have got a background image working. but I still need to setup a custom splash animation)

aus9 · 07-20-2017, 04:16 AM

Ok so re-read my number (4)

since we now know you have PA disabled you should be able to run

Code:

alsamixer

if pulseaudio appears in terminal.....you have not quite succeeded.....but don't worry many have tried and many have failed heh heh.

I have not seen so many spdifs before

@ frankbell.....have you seen so many?

any how please toggle off and then on spdif and report if cable now works

2) if you leave the toslink disconnect at the stereo receiver, but connected to PC do you see any light?

aus9 · 07-20-2017, 04:18 AM

I have looked at a youtube movie....some mac user has an adapter on the end of their toslink cable to convert to 3.5 mm headphone jack

that could be an option but not sure if it works with IBM type PCs

images of adapter and discussion of toslink can be found here too
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TOSLINK

Sol33t303 · 07-20-2017, 05:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

Ok so re-read my number (4)

since we now know you have PA disabled you should be able to run

Code:

alsamixer

if pulseaudio appears in terminal.....you have not quite succeeded.....but don't worry many have tried and many have failed heh heh.

I have not seen so many spdifs before

@ frankbell.....have you seen so many?

any how please toggle off and then on spdif and report if cable now works

2) if you leave the Toslink disconnect at the stereo receiver, but connected to PC do you see any light?

yep, I have correctly disabled pulseaudio, I honestly have no idea why it thinks there are so many but it's not hurting anything so leave them be I suppose? Also, I managed to get surround sound working (by complete accident, my PC crashed so I had to restart, when it turned back on it was working, even though I had already previously restarted) however, now my headset is making all my sound echoey/trebly (not quite sure how to describe it) Also the only other "soundcard" on the list when I press f6 is "Turtle Beach Elite 800 chat" the headset I use uses a completely separate Bluetooth receiver just for the mic (it's there so you can connect it to for example your phone so you can answer it wirelessly). Also, when I disconnect only the optical cable the port stops glowing red, however, the optical out stays on, so I presume it gets power from both the USB port and the optical cable. Also, my optical cable actually came with a 3.5mm jack to optical adapter, but I would presume that it might be a big bottleneck for audio quality? If my thing does, in fact, take power from the Toslink it probably won't work.

aus9 · 07-20-2017, 05:41 AM

so you are confirming (ignoring crappy sound) that toslink direct from digital hole to digital is working?

now try disabling all of the other spdifs....and seeing if they make a diff.

i think its unlikely you need all of them.

2) is crappy sound only thru the headset?

3) some how i thought you were suggesting that headset was connected to the receiver.

is this headset connecting thru BT on the PC...independent of the stereo ...yes?

4) mic input to headsets can lead to distortion if their vol is too high or you have boost on.

if you are happy to say normal speaker output is fine.....we can use this post for the headset

and post a screenshot of alsamixer for the turtle beach...but I don't own such beasts
---press TAB key twice to get to all assuming you entered
alsamixer....F6....selected turtle

Sol33t303 · 07-20-2017, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

so you are confirming (ignoring crappy sound) that toslink direct from digital hole to digital is working?

now try disabling all of the other spdifs....and seeing if they make a diff.

i think its unlikely you need all of them.

2) is crappy sound only thru the headset?

3) some how i thought you were suggesting that headset was connected to the receiver.

is this headset connecting thru BT on the PC...independent of the stereo ...yes?

4) mic input to headsets can lead to distortion if their vol is too high or you have boost on.

if you are happy to say normal speaker output is fine.....we can use this post for the headset

and post a screenshot of alsamixer for the turtle beach...but I don't own such beasts
---press TAB key twice to get to all assuming you entered
alsamixer....F6....selected turtle

From what I can tell, it appears the audio is going through the Toslink cable so yes I am confirming it. Already tried turning off all of the spdifs, it looks like when I mute either s/pdif or s/pdif 1 the sound stops, though muting any of the others has no effect, also you were correct, the headset is connected to the receiver and sorry I meant transmitter rather than receiver, the transmitter is connected to the PC via optical, so all the PC sees is just a regular thing that accepts optical, then the transmitter sends the sound to the headset, the headset has a completely separate system that is connected to its mic so the headset can accept input/output for one thing for the mic (say for example a phone call) while the other Bluetooth system delivers sound from your PC. So the sound part of the headset is not connected directly to the PC but the transmitter that accepts audio from the PC then transmits it to the headset. Also, the mic couldn't be the problem as I currently have it turned off. I cannot confirm rather or not it's only through the headset as right now I don't have anything else to test sound on.

aus9 · 07-20-2017, 06:34 PM

yeah I am not too sure about this headset setup. BT=bluetooth

--I am now guessing headset and its mic connect to laptop via BT and without PA your headphone output is also going to stereo.....but that does not make sense.
I am confused more. I thought you meant the headset was connected to stereo via BT and for some reason you wanted sound to laptop speaker?

can you provide a link for your device pls?

2) is the distortion only related to the headset or does playing sound files lead to distortion too?

3) Can you name what BT method you used, and have tried other methods.

4) I no longer own a laptop but I found PA easier to adjust to stream music from my android to my laptop speakers.

####################################

and because I am confused I may not be the best person to help with BT issues

have a gander at arch wiki and see if anything helps

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bluetooth_headset

Sol33t303 · 07-21-2017, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

yeah I am not too sure about this headset setup. BT=bluetooth

--I am now guessing headset and its mic connect to laptop via BT and without PA your headphone output is also going to stereo.....but that does not make sense.
I am confused more. I thought you meant the headset was connected to stereo via BT and for some reason you wanted sound to laptop speaker?

can you provide a link for your device pls?

2) is the distortion only related to the headset or does playing sound files lead to distortion too?

3) Can you name what BT method you used, and have tried other methods.

4) I no longer own a laptop but I found PA easier to adjust to stream music from my android to my laptop speakers.

####################################

and because I am confused I may not be the best person to help with BT issues

have a gander at arch wiki and see if anything helps

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Bluetooth_headset

Sorry for confusing you, basically, the headset has two separate Bluetooth channels, one for the sound and one for the mic. The one for the mic is connected directly to my PCs Bluetooth, while the sound is connected to a transmitter that is connected to the PC. A few images of it will probably help clear it up a bit http://www.trustedreviews.com/review...each-elite-800
reading through the review will probably clear things up.
2. It's not really distortion, it sounds echoey and higher pitched, but not really any less clear, nevertheless it sounds the same playing
3. When I connected the headsets sound directly to the PC's (not the transmitter's) Bluetooth everything goes back to normal, the sound sounds normal and is as deep as it was before, while I was doing this I also noticed connecting directly to the PC was noticeably louder, I'm fine with this as I can easily adjust by making the programs louder.
4.This isn't really the same thing, as the transmitter is seen as just a regular speaker to the PC so it outputs to it the same as it would a speaker, so no Bluetooth (for sound at least, not including the mic) is done what so ever by the PC and the transmitter sends the audio to the headset completely by itself.

aus9 · 07-21-2017, 04:52 AM

Hi
in your post # 4 section 1 aplay -l you show
card 1: Chat [Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

and its looking like an usb device...how does that jingle with your last post about direct connection to bluetooth for PC

I don't think I can help here. Hopefuly someone else can

Sol33t303 · 07-21-2017, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aus9

Hi
in your post # 4 section 1 aplay -l you show
card 1: Chat [Turtle Beach Elite 800 Chat], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

and its looking like an usb device...how does that jingle with your last post about direct connection to bluetooth for PC

I don't think I can help here. Hopefuly someone else can

Huh, didn't notice that. the base station must automatically connect the Bluetooth for the mic to it as well? It must have something to do with how you can connect to a phone or something and answer a call while playing a game, the base station must be using its USB port to also send audio from the mic to the PC if you are using chat in-game or Teamspeak or something. It would have to use that I suppose as the optical cable is only one way, so I guess I never actually needed to connect my mic directly to the PCs Bluetooth and only ever needed to use that for stuff like answering phones. Either way, hopefully, I will be able to get this sorted out, thanks for the help