LinuxQuestions.org - My confusion about default alsa device

- Linux - Hardware (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/)

- - My confusion about default alsa device (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-hardware-18/my-confusion-about-default-alsa-device-4175560080/)

My confusion about default alsa device

Hi guys!

I'm confused a little bit about my alsa soundcards. I have onboard sound ALC662 and

Code:

aplay -l

shows:

Code:

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****

card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]

  Subdevices: 1/1

  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]

  Subdevices: 1/1

  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

card 0: HDMI [HDA Intel HDMI], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]

  Subdevices: 1/1

  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

card 1: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC662 rev1 Analog [ALC662 rev1 Analog]

  Subdevices: 1/1

  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

So I can pass the sound throug 4 devices: hw=0.3, hw=0.7, hw=0.8 and analog hw=1.0 and this is ok - my "default" device is HDMI 2 that is hw=0.8 (I have attached TV to computer by HDMI) and my .asoundrc is

Code:

defaults.pcm.card 0

defaults.pcm.device 8

defaults.ctl.card 0

Now, when I start mplayer with a command

Code:

mplayer file.mp4 -v -ao alsa

in log I have

Code:

alsa-init: using device default

and I can use PCM in my alsamixer/kmix to adjust volume, but if start mplayer like this

Code:

mplayer file.mp4 -v -ao alsa:device=hw=0.8

I have

Code:

alsa-init: using device hw:0,8

and I am not able to adjust the volume using mixer. I tried that using also audacity and changing sound devices, and the result is similar. So what is default device? Why can't I use sound mixer when I directly name sound device instead of leaving it as default?

Once upon time digital pass-through was invented. The idea behind it was simple - untouched digital signal passes through all devices until it reaches the D/A converter. All manipulation to the sound is done in the last unit - analog unit. Adjusting the volume of digital sound while it is still digital would degrade the quality due to re-sampling.

I agree but your answer is not the answer to my question - what is the "default" device?

most os's are using pulse audio

what OS are you using ?

and is " pavucontrol - PulseAudio Volume Control" installed

default should be

Quote:

card 1: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC662 rev1 Analog [ALC662 rev1 Analog]