I have just installed a Xonar dg onto Ubuntu10.10
The MBoard is also Asus with a built in card that works ok.
The AlSA site says it may work (although no drivers for this are specific) as it uses a CM 18786 chip & I believe snd-cmipci contains the driver for this.
My motherboard has its own driver built in, I can turn this of in the BIOS.

Is their an easy install/driver option with Ubuntu 10.10?

Any ideas with installing the drivers, or is it just a quiet card ?

Thanks for any contributions.

Open a console and do a 'locate snd-cmipci' and see if it is there. I have it on my Mandriva system. If the file is there, then 'sudo modprobe snd-cmipci'. If it loads, ( no error messages ) try 'aplay somewavefile.wav' and see if it works. Make sure the volume is up and nothing is muted.

Hi Cliff,
thanks for the advice which I have followed, and the results are as below.
It plays sound only through the on board card, if I connect to the jack to this card.
Nothing from the new card, my sound preference window does not find the new card either.

I have had another look at the txt notes with cmipci, its seems I was wrong it supports pci cards with the CMI 8738, 8768 chipsets, mine is 8786, not the same I suspect. The ALSA site says possible to work but has no suggestions as to what drivers or how to configure it.

BELOW IS COPIED FROM MY TERMINAL

steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ locate snd-cmipci
/lib/modules/2.6.35-22-generic/kernel/sound/pci/snd-cmipci.ko
/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/pci/snd-cmipci.ko
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-cmipci
[sudo] password for steve:
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-cmipci
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ locate boom.wav
/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/pygame/examples/data/boom.wav
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ aplay /usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/pygame/examples/data/boom.wav
Playing WAVE '/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/pygame/examples/data/boom.wav' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 11025 Hz, Mono
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ above was from on/board card swap conection to new card
above: command not found
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ aplay /usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/pygame/examples/data/boom.wav
Playing WAVE '/usr/lib/python2.6/dist-packages/pygame/examples/data/boom.wav' : Unsigned 8 bit, Rate 11025 Hz, Mono
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ NO SOUND FROM NEW CARD
NO: command not found
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$

END

Any other suggestions gratefully received.
Thanks,
Steve

Getting a second sound card going is a little more difficult, since the on board hardware is the default. If you can disable the onboard card in the BIOS, then the new card would be the default.

If you run the command 'apaly -l' does it list both cards, or just the onboard card? This will give us a clew, if it does list the second card, then the driver you loaded is making it visible ( and in theory usable ) to the system.

I did a google on 'Xonar dg' and turned up many links, including links to drivers for the Xonar cards. The drivers seem to be related to the Asus system board you have.

I downloaded one, it is source code, so it has to be compiled and installed. There is a README file that tells you how to go about installing the driver. It would be nice if you could avoid this approach. Finding a compiled driver is much easier.

Other things to look at. I have 10.04 on my netbook. You are using 10.10. On 10.10 have you tried using System-->Preferences-->HardwareDrivers ? Does it 'find' a driver for your new card?

What do you see on System-->Preferences-->Sound Hardware tab, one card or two?

Ubuntu is sold on PulseAudio. I don't like it at all. It makes life much more difficult for sorting out sound problems.

There are some good HowTo docs on http://ubuntuforums.org/ You could look there, it might help.

Hi Cliff
My system/prefences/sound-hardware pop up window shows only the onboard card available, with the onboard audio card switched on, If I switch it of in BIOS then no cards are shown in this window and no sound from either card.
The system/admin/additional driver selection window only brings up a graphics driver required.

Check system from terminal using your command,

QUOTE
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ apaly -l
No command 'apaly' found, did you mean:
Command 'aplay' from package 'alsa-utils' (main)
apaly: command not found
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 0: VT1708S Analog [VT1708S Analog]
Subdevices: 2/2
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 1: VT1708S Digital [VT1708S Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END
This seems to show only the onboard NVidia card in both analog & digital modes, but I could be wrong here?



If I do a check using lspci on the terminal the system does shows both of the audio drivers present, or only the xonar- C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 if I switch the onboard off, see below, (the chip number is different to the box)

QUOTE
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ lspci
00:00.0 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 LPC Bridge (rev a1)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 LPC Bridge (rev a2)
00:01.1 SMBus: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SMBus (rev a2)
00:01.2 RAM memory: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Memory Controller (rev a2)
00:02.0 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:02.1 USB Controller: nVidia Corporation MCP61 USB Controller (rev a3)
00:04.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI bridge (rev a1)
00:05.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)
00:06.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 IDE (rev a2)
00:07.0 Bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 Ethernet (rev a2)
00:08.0 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SATA Controller (rev a2)
00:08.1 IDE interface: nVidia Corporation MCP61 SATA Controller (rev a2)
00:09.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:0b.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:0c.0 PCI bridge: nVidia Corporation MCP61 PCI Express bridge (rev a2)
00:0d.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation C61 [GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a] (rev a2)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor HyperTransport Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Miscellaneous Control
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Link Control
01:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

My onboard audio that works is; 00:05.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)
The added card, the xonar dg is at 01:06.0. Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]

I have looked on other links and it seems that sound problems can be a bit troublesome.

Thanks for the advice
Steve

I don't see a listing of your chipset here -->http://www.alsa-project.org/main/ind...ix:Vendor-Asus

That is not good. There is a listing for CMI8786. That is the closest.

I have come across this link, -->http://alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Download

It appears to me the way you might get this card to work is to download the driver, source, and compile and install it. I see there is firmware for 'cards that need it'. What isn't clear to me, is what cards need the firmware.

I did some more reading of the README files in the alsa driver. Seems you need a fully configured source for your kernel, or the compile will fail. As they indicate, with distro kernels. Since you are running Ubuntu, I'm guessing you are running a stock kernel. This is the quote.

I have also read on the ubuntu site, some HowTo's on how to install latest Alsa drivers. That would be your best bet.
I'll see if I can find a link there, and post it.

Here is the link, look at the section on installing the Alsa drivers from alsa-project. That should work to install the latest drivers.

The link-->http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449

Once installed, you will need to disable the on board sound, and mod-probe the correct driver. use lsmod to display the loaded modules.

Hope this helps.

Ive followed best as I can the installation guidelines on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449 It seems comprehensive, and I downloaded and as far as I can tell and inserted the files as required, picking them from there drop down blue list.
The nearest files that match, as far as I could tell were,
hifier 8788,which according to the computer print is the same (but not as per the box details),
oygen pci cmi8788, (my computer quotes oxygen)
virtuoso cmi8788, (stating asus xonar as a ref)
also cmipci
The drivers above now all show up on my computer installed log, but to be honest I am not sure if I have compiled them correctly.
I need to do a bit of background reading on configuring kernels, eg distro, stock etc, and understand more of how they work Are there any good reference sites that cover this in enough detail?
I do think that my card may need an actual driver, but until I know I have configured my system correctly using the drivers from above I will carry on trying.

Thanks
Steve

I have noticed something else with my system.

If I try to use modprobe to install snd files it is not permitted, forcing a fatal error.

modules listed when onboard soundcard disabled, note missing snd-kernel-modules,,
FROM TERMINAL
Module Size Used by
binfmt_misc 6599 1
nfsd 241120 3
exportfs 3449 1 nfsd
nfs 275158 0
lockd 65605 2 nfsd,nfs
fscache 46361 1 nfs
nfs_acl 2257 2 nfsd,nfs
auth_rpcgss 34001 2 nfsd,nfs
nvidia 9329739 38
sunrpc 193114 6 nfsd,nfs,lockd,nfs_acl,auth_rpcgss
ipt_REJECT 2004 1
ipt_LOG 4490 5
xt_limit 1394 7
xt_tcpudp 1927 7
ipt_addrtype 1611 4
xt_state 1014 7
ip6table_filter 1275 1
ip6_tables 11764 1 ip6table_filter
nf_nat_irc 1168 0
nf_conntrack_irc 3348 1 nf_nat_irc
nf_nat_ftp 1398 0
nf_nat 16289 2 nf_nat_irc,nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ipv4 10783 9 nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 1117 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_conntrack_ftp 5361 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 63258 7 xt_state,nf_nat_irc,nf_conntrack_irc,nf_nat_ftp,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 1302 1
ip_tables 10460 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 15921 10 ipt_REJECT,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,ipt_addrtype,xt_state,ip6table_filter,ip6_tables,iptable_filte r,ip_tables
ppdev 5556 0
asus_atk0110 11423 0
parport_pc 26058 1
i2c_nforce2 5179 0
psmouse 59033 0
serio_raw 4022 0
agpgart 32011 1 nvidia
k10temp 2607 0
lp 7342 0
parport 31492 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
forcedeth 49433 0
sata_nv 19420 2
pata_amd 8746 0
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

The following Error messages returned when trying to install snd files to above, (same result if onboard audio card is on or off)

FROM TERMINAL
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ modprobe snd-oxygen
WARNING: Error inserting snd (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_seq_device (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-device.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_rawmidi (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-rawmidi.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_mpu401_uart (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/drivers/mpu401/snd-mpu401-uart.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_page_alloc (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-page-alloc.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_timer (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-timer.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_pcm (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-pcm.ko): Operation not permitted
WARNING: Error inserting snd_oxygen_lib (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/pci/oxygen/snd-oxygen-lib.ko): Operation not permitted
FATAL: Error inserting snd_oxygen (/lib/modules/2.6.35-23-generic/kernel/sound/pci/oxygen/snd-oxygen.ko): Operation not permitted
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

After doing this some modules in lsmod (loaded kernel modules_are missing, I presume to do with fatal.

It seems to me something in the programme of Ubuntu is stopping the new sound files from loading
Is it the generic modules that do not allow the extra snd files to be added

Thanks
Steve

As far as I know, the modules soundcore need to loaded first. Try to modprobe it, and then try the module you compiled.

You can't load kernel modules (ie. running 'modprobe snd-oxygen') as a normal user. You need to be root or use sudo.

Adam

I have switched off the onboard audio and reloaded the modules,,, I think

FROM TERMINAL
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-cmipci
[sudo] password for steve:
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-cmipci
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-oxygen
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-hifier
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-virtuoso
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-hda-codec-cmedia
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ sudo modprobe snd-dummy
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

When adding the snd-dummy file a speaker appeared on my screen, I thought this was a Eureka moment, but no sound either from on board or new card. I checked the modules...

FROM TERMINAL
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ lsmod
Module Size Used by
snd_hda_codec_cmedia 7626 0
snd_hda_codec 87552 1 snd_hda_codec_cmedia
snd_dummy 10782 2
snd_hifier 3256 0
snd_virtuoso 27013 0
snd_oxygen 6449 0
snd_oxygen_lib 29406 3 snd_hifier,snd_virtuoso,snd_oxygen
snd_cmipci 30469 0
gameport 9327 1 snd_cmipci
snd_pcm 71475 5 snd_hda_codec,snd_dummy,snd_oxygen_lib,snd_cmipci
snd_page_alloc 7120 1 snd_pcm
snd_opl3_lib 8850 1 snd_cmipci
snd_hwdep 5040 2 snd_hda_codec,snd_opl3_lib
snd_mpu401_uart 5661 2 snd_oxygen_lib,snd_cmipci
snd_seq_midi 4588 0
snd_rawmidi 17783 2 snd_mpu401_uart,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_midi_event 6047 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 47174 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_timer 19067 3 snd_pcm,snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq
snd_seq_device 5744 4 snd_opl3_lib,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq
snd 49006 18 snd_hda_codec,snd_dummy,snd_hifier,snd_virtuoso,snd_oxygen,snd_oxygen_lib,snd_cmipci,snd_pcm,snd_opl 3_lib,snd_hwdep,snd_mpu401_uart,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq,snd_timer,snd_seq_device
soundcore 880 1 snd
nvidia 9329739 38
binfmt_misc 6599 1
nfsd 241120 3
exportfs 3449 1 nfsd
nfs 275158 0
lockd 65605 2 nfsd,nfs
fscache 46361 1 nfs
nfs_acl 2257 2 nfsd,nfs
auth_rpcgss 34001 2 nfsd,nfs
ipt_REJECT 2004 1
ipt_LOG 4490 5
xt_limit 1394 7
xt_tcpudp 1927 7
ipt_addrtype 1611 4
xt_state 1014 7
ip6table_filter 1275 1
ip6_tables 11764 1 ip6table_filter
nf_nat_irc 1168 0
sunrpc 193114 6 nfsd,nfs,lockd,nfs_acl,auth_rpcgss
nf_conntrack_irc 3348 1 nf_nat_irc
nf_nat_ftp 1398 0
nf_nat 16289 2 nf_nat_irc,nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack_ipv4 10783 9 nf_nat
nf_defrag_ipv4 1117 1 nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_conntrack_ftp 5361 1 nf_nat_ftp
nf_conntrack 63258 7 xt_state,nf_nat_irc,nf_conntrack_irc,nf_nat_ftp,nf_nat,nf_conntrack_ipv4,nf_conntrack_ftp
iptable_filter 1302 1
ip_tables 10460 1 iptable_filter
x_tables 15921 10 ipt_REJECT,ipt_LOG,xt_limit,xt_tcpudp,ipt_addrtype,xt_state,ip6table_filter,ip6_tables,iptable_filte r,ip_tables
ppdev 5556 0
parport_pc 26058 1
asus_atk0110 11423 0
psmouse 59033 0
serio_raw 4022 0
k10temp 2607 0
agpgart 32011 1 nvidia
lp 7342 0
i2c_nforce2 5179 0
parport 31492 3 ppdev,parport_pc,lp
forcedeth 49433 0
sata_nv 19420 2
pata_amd 8746 0
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

It seems to me that all of the possible driver modules are now installed, but still no sound.
Just to check below, it seems the dummy module is the only one recognized, but in this case it is just a dummy.

FROM TERMINAL
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Dummy [Dummy], device 0: Dummy PCM [Dummy PCM]
Subdevices: 7/8
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

It seems that the modules above will not drive the card, but I also think there may be a conflict because now too many snd modules are loaded.
Also I have checked the audio card to see if any kernel Modules or drivers are now attached,,

FROM TERMINAL
01:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: C-Media Electronics Inc CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio]
Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. Device 8467
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 64, IRQ 11
I/O ports at e800 [size=256]
Capabilities: <access denied>

steve@steve-System-Product-Name:~$
END

No they are not

I will try to follow the latter details from:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=205449

Thanks
Steve

A while back, in Debian based systems, you could use a command line tool called "alsaconf" to find sound cards. I don't know if this tool still exists, but it would only take a second to try it. In your terminal, try the command "sudo alsaconf" and see if anything happens. The command came from either the alsa-tools or alsa-utils packages.

Keep us posted, I'm following your progress. I wish I had more to offer.

Had a long look, and I can not find anyone claiming to have this card working on linux. Bad news, I know.