Creative Soundblaster Audigy 4 non-pro not detected correctly in alsa

disbeliever · 01-02-2006, 05:44 AM

hej all,

I've just started with linux 2 weeks ago so I'm still a litlle noobish. I have sucessfully installed slackware, mounted drives and got x (KDE) up and running. The problem I currently stumble upon is that my soundcard (Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 4 (non-pro)) is not producing any sound, or simply, its not working.

kernel:
2.4.31

distro:
slackware

i believe this is the relevant line from /sbin/lspci:
02:0d.0 Multimedia audio controller: Creative Labs SB0400 Audigy2 Value

as you can see it says I have a audigy 2, wich is not correct, since I have a Audigy 4 (non-pro).

I tried alsamixer and unmuted all values and put them to 90%, still no sound.

I googled quite a lot but all the time audigy 4 pro pops.

tnx for help in adavance

dive · 01-03-2006, 06:48 AM

Start kmix and look at switches tab. To get any sound you will need the Analogue/Digital output switch on (2nd from right).

It doesnt remember values between boots so you will need to add some commands to a start up script, same for tone switch and levels.

EG I have a script that gets called from /etc/rc.d/rc.local:

Code:

amixer sset 'Audigy Analog/Digital Output Jack' 'on'
amixer sset 'Tone' 'on'
amixer sset 'Surround' '90'
amixer sset 'Treble' '80%'
amixer sset 'Bass' '80%'

I believe that a new version of alsa is out from yesterday that may recognise the audigy 4 correctly, but I haven't tried it yet. Mine works ok even tho it's seen as an audigy 2.

disbeliever · 01-03-2006, 08:23 AM

tnx for the reply

I tried what you suggested but it doent seem to have effect. I also tried it on al plugs just to be shure.

I will presently look for this new alsa version.

tnx

dive · 01-03-2006, 09:20 AM

What sort of sound are you trying play? Sound file, CD, or a prog like xmms?
If it is cd there is another switch and level for that called CD rather than the Audigy CD switch/level.

I would try experimenting with the switches and levels. Also the green output is for front so make sure you are using that one.

disbeliever · 01-21-2006, 09:40 AM

Hej, I have experimented with switches. The only effect I seem to notice that when I unmute Audigy A my boxes stop making noise. However no music or sound comes from themeven when I change its volumes. In windows sound does work.

also I noticed that theres like 10 emu10k1 bars wich I can varie the volume.

anyone have suggestions?

tnx

dj_stkora · 08-15-2006, 05:32 PM

Recently, I saw on alsa page that Audigy 4 (non-pro) is not supported because the technical details weren't released by Creative... Now, it's status is "mixed reports, might not work for you". What's the deal here? Since I'm a Linux newbie, I have a few annoying questions... :|

Like, do I need ALSA on Linux, I mean, is there some alternative, I'm a bit confused as to what is ALSA, what is aRTS, what is jack, what is OSS, like, duh....

ANYWHO, do I really need to hack my kernel to get me Audigy 4 to work? I wanna use it for MIDI, and I actually managed to get it to play some MIDI files, once, but every time I install my SUSE distro, the whole thing acts differently any time... The PROBLEM IS, KDE Control Center refuses to configure it... If you leave it, though, don't touch it after installation, it works... BUT, when you try to configure it, it starts getting stuck, reporting problems, or looping through that progress bar, saying "restarting KDE sound system".

PHEW... Sounds familiar? Any help???? Please???????????

I just want to use the thing like I'm using it on Windows... If not for MIDI authoring, then at least for listening to some music... in surround?

And, yeah, what is it with Linux and surround sound?

Wicked...

dj_stkora · 08-15-2006, 05:40 PM

By the way, (it's me again), just to let u know, there is this very weird behaviour that I get from Amarok... Everythings cool, I get some mp3's onto my XFS partition, I check my mixer, start Amarok, try to play files, and notice that whenever I press play or change a song, THE PCM SLIDER IN THE MIXER GOES ALL THE WAY DOWN ON IT'S OWN... and when I get it back up, there's sound again. Concerning Audigy 4, of course... (P.S. you forgot :BYE!!!!)

jimdaworm · 09-19-2006, 04:50 AM

Sorry to hi-jack your thread but I am thinking of buying a Audigy 4 non pro. Do you know if it supports hardware sound mixing. For example can you play more than one sound at the same time from multiple applications in Linux?

jimdaworm · 09-23-2006, 03:30 AM

I now have my new card its great!

This card IS supported it has the same chip and many of the other FULLY supported Sound Blasters

The only thing is I had some strange issues with sound in KDE until I set:
Control Center
Sound System
Hardware

To open sound system.

I hope this helps.