ESD And ALSA Can't find my sound card!

enigma Z · 09-15-2004, 10:56 PM

When I try to set up sound in Enlightenment, I run ESD and it says: Audio_Alsa: Can't find audio device . Is there some module I need to load or some setting I need to change?

shedir · 09-16-2004, 03:52 AM

Hi,

yes there are some kernel modules to be loaded. At first you should identify the exact type of your soundcard with lspci.
Then go to http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/ and find out which module is needed for your soundcard.

If you use a 2.6.x kernel you have to compile the required modules (or build them into the kernel). If you compiled modules you should add them to /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6 to have them loaded at startup.

If you use a 2.4.x kernel you must set the ALSA_CARDS variable in /etc/make.conf then emerge alsa-driver. Afterwards add /etc/init.d/alsasound to the default runlevel.

enigma Z · 09-16-2004, 08:55 AM

What do I need to set ma ALSA_CARDS variable to? My ALSA soundcard module (snd-ens1371)? or is it a USE variable?

enigma Z · 09-16-2004, 09:01 AM

Yesss, figured it out!! it's the actual sound card-code-module-thingy ens1371

enigma Z · 09-16-2004, 09:22 AM

Oops, it still doesn't work. I get as far as "modprobe snd-ens1371" and I get the following output:

Code:

bash-2.05b# modprobe snd-ens1371
/lib/modules/2.4.26-gentoo-r9/kernel/sound/pci/snd-ens1371.o: init_module: No such device
Hint: insmod errors can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters.
      You may find more information in syslog or the output from dmesg
/lib/modules/2.4.26-gentoo-r9/kernel/sound/pci/snd-ens1371.o: insmod /lib/modules/2.4.26-gentoo-r9/kernel/sound/pci/snd-ens1371.o failed
/lib/modules/2.4.26-gentoo-r9/kernel/sound/pci/snd-ens1371.o: insmod snd-ens1371 failed

Did I forget something? perhaps I should remerge alsa-utils?

EDIT:

I also tried to run "/etc/init.d/alsasound start", and I get this output:

Code:

 * Loading ALSA drivers...
 * Using ALSA OSS emulation
 * Loading: snd-seq-oss
 * Loading: snd-pcm-oss
 * Running card-dependent scripts
 * Restoring Mixer Levels
 * No mixer config in /etc/asound.state, you have to unmute your card!                                                                                       [ ok ]

But when I try to start alsamixer to umnute my sound card, I get this output:

Code:

bash-2.05b# alsamixer

alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device

Is there anything that I need to do extra? If alsasound is started, I still get the above output about 'modprobe snd-ens1371'. I wish I could get ALSA working

EDIT2: I also went and edited modules.conf, but when I try '/etc/init.d/alsasound start', it tries to load the snd-es1371 module and the snd-interwave module. Both fail to load (it can't find interwave

shedir · 09-17-2004, 11:07 AM

Hi,

there is no sense in re-emerging alsa-utils unless the kernel modules don't work.

As the insmod of snd-ens1371 fails, I guess, that eigther it is not the correct module (are you sure it is the same chipset that was reported by lspci? [there are ens and es chipsets]) or that another module has to be loaded first (soundcore or something like that).

Unfortunately I've a 2.6 kernel with alsa compiled in (yes an ens1371 based card) so I can not try out this loadable module stuff. And the mahine is much to slow to recompile a kernel quickly with modules enabled.

It's a pity that I couldn't help you.

enigma Z · 09-17-2004, 10:09 PM

Problem solved:

I downloaded the gentoo 2.6 kernel sources and compiled them with built in support for my es1371 sound card and now it works (btw: the alsa module I needed was ens, but the kernel module was es, so go figure!). Anyways, I'm curently running the 2.6.8-r3-gentoo kernel, and am very happy with my alsa-based sound

. Oh yeah, and the config needed a little tweaking too :P