4 Speaker support for Slackware

greatarsenic · 12-21-2004, 01:27 AM

I got a Slackware 10 installation with dualboot windows, creative sb live 5.1 with 4.1 channel speakers but get sound only frm two speakers. however 4 speakers work well with windows.

plz help.

greatarsenic@yahoo.com

Vincent_Vega · 12-23-2004, 06:08 PM

Have you gone through alsamixer thoroughly? I have the same card and I got all of mine going (6 actually) by adjusting alsamixer, followed by
alsactl store

greatarsenic · 12-23-2004, 10:54 PM

did try that. no go.

Vincent_Vega · 12-24-2004, 08:50 AM

You might want to try upgrading to a new kernel and make sure you check *all* of the available settings for alsamixer. There's a lot, and I normally skip most of them, but I know that all of my speakers (except the fifth one) work through alsamixer. I even think they worked before I upgraded to 2.6.9.

greatarsenic · 12-24-2004, 09:05 AM

Hi ,

how am i to update the kernel? whats the latest version? i am using kernel 2.4 now.

Vincent_Vega · 12-24-2004, 03:21 PM

The latest is 2.6.9. You can download the kernels from www.kernel.org and then start reading a couple of guides on how to compile your own. In the Slackware forum there's a sticky by DaOne that tells you what you need to know. Following that is your best bet.
What are you using to play your music? Have you tried XMMS and checked that it's using the alsa drivers for sound? I just have a feeling that your speakers work but something small is getting in the way.

greatarsenic · 12-25-2004, 01:27 AM

i did chk alsamixer and also the alsa config thing. what happens most of the time is that the recording gets enabled automatically and it keeps buzzing..... the recording buzz.... coming to xmms, yes configured that too... plays only 2 speakers.

cud we directly talk to eachother at greatarsenic@yahoo.com would appreciate.

Cheers,

Vincent_Vega · 12-25-2004, 03:59 PM

Can't meet you at Yahoo, sorry, and I'm not really sure what you should do next. You can check lsmod to see if the modules are loading for your card, or you can go ahead and configure a new kernel with explicit support for that card and alsa.
Does lspci -v bring up a correct entry for the sound card?

greatarsenic · 12-26-2004, 11:06 PM

Thanks Vincent. Got the problem fixed. had to adjust the WAVE SURROUND option.

Thanks. Good Day.

Vincent_Vega · 12-26-2004, 11:44 PM

Glad you got it to work. Was that in the alsamixer setup?

greatarsenic · 12-26-2004, 11:48 PM

yes, a part of the alsa mixer and also was a disturbing MIC sound which cud be reduced by reducing PCM setting in alsamixer. thanks.

Vincent_Vega · 12-27-2004, 06:12 PM

You might be able to just turn off the MIC input all together. I think it's turned up by default which means it's constantly picking up outside noise. Then you could go all out with the PCM if you ever had the urge.