SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

[Scott Doty]

So I'm having the worst luck with optical SPDIF devices.

  
http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=d0d48e597f0cdbd1b377aea6f8d73b000301ae8a

Recently I hooked up my synthesizer in the configuration that used to
work fine, and it didn't work:  The Sound Blaster HD usb audio device
doesn't seem to be working on modern kernels, nor does the spandy-new
SIIG HD Digital 7.1 USB Audio Box.

I'll go down the list of devices:

_[/proc/asound]_(root@eva)_
# cat cards
 0 [Pro            ]: USB-Audio - SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro
                      Creative Technology Ltd SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro
at usb-0000:00:14.0-4.7.5, ful

This device works fine.  Unfortunately, it only has optical SPDIF out,
no SPDIF input.

 1 [Audio          ]: USB-Audio - USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio
                      CMEDIA USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio at
usb-0000:00:14.0-1.4, high speed

Just got this from Amazon, it is a "SIIG HD Digital 7.1 USB Audio Box". 
I was hoping the optical SPDIF input would work to replace the Sound
Blaster HD below -- but alas, it doesn't.

 2 [M8             ]: USB-Audio - MOTIF ES 8
                      Yamaha MOTIF ES 8 at usb-0000:00:14.0-1.3, full speed

This is actually a MIDI-over-USB device, my synth.  The output of the
synthesizer is optical SPDIF, which _used_ to work with the following
device:

 3 [HD             ]: USB-Audio - USB Sound Blaster HD
                      Creative Technology USB Sound Blaster HD at
usb-0000:00:14.0-4.7.6, full speed

I used to be able to use the optical SPDIF input for this device from my
synth, but that seems to have stopped working.  Further, I can't play
audio out of the Sound Blaster HD's optical SPDIF output, either.  It
works in Windows 10, which is where I had to spend my latest music
session -- yuck.

Never mind the rest of the devices.

Naturally, I'd love for this to be a quick fix, but I'm even willing to
buy more hardware, if I know the SPDIF optical input works.  (Buying the
SIIG device was my way of "punting" by getting Creative out of the mix.)

I'm also willing to ship the non-working devices to anyone who can make
them work, for the good of Linux.

I use Rosegarden on Linux, and for various reasons, the port to Windows
just doesn't cut the mustard.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated. :)

 -Scott

Re: SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

[Clemens Ladisch]

Scott Doty wrote:
> I used to be able to use the optical SPDIF input for this device from my
> synth, but that seems to have stopped working.  Further, I can't play
> audio out of the Sound Blaster HD's optical SPDIF output, either.

And how exactly are you trying to record or play?

Does it work with arecord/aplay?


Regards,
Clemens

Re: SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

[Ricard Wanderlof]

On Wed, 13 Apr 2016, Scott Doty wrote:

> So I'm having the worst luck with optical SPDIF devices.
>  ...
> 
>  3 [HD             ]: USB-Audio - USB Sound Blaster HD
>                       Creative Technology USB Sound Blaster HD at
> usb-0000:00:14.0-4.7.6, full speed
> 
> I used to be able to use the optical SPDIF input for this device from my
> synth, but that seems to have stopped working.  Further, I can't play
> audio out of the Sound Blaster HD's optical SPDIF output, either.  It
> works in Windows 10, which is where I had to spend my latest music
> session -- yuck.

Exactly what does 'stopped working' mean? Doesn't it should up when you 
enumerate audio devices, does it show up but input and output results in 
silence, does it show up but attempting to send audio results in an error, 
etc. (I know you linked to a long ALSA dump, but folks around here would 
be more willing to help if you stated as precisely as you could which 
symptoms you actually have.)

/Ricard
-- 
Ricard Wolf Wanderlöf                           ricardw(at)axis.com
Axis Communications AB, Lund, Sweden            www.axis.com
Phone +46 46 272 2016                           Fax +46 46 13 61 30

Re: SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

[Scott Doty]

On 04/13/2016 02:30 AM, Ricard Wanderlof wrote:
> On Wed, 13 Apr 2016, Scott Doty wrote:
>
>> So I'm having the worst luck with optical SPDIF devices.
>>  ...
>>
>>  3 [HD             ]: USB-Audio - USB Sound Blaster HD
>>                       Creative Technology USB Sound Blaster HD at
>> usb-0000:00:14.0-4.7.6, full speed
>>
>> I used to be able to use the optical SPDIF input for this device from my
>> synth, but that seems to have stopped working.  Further, I can't play
>> audio out of the Sound Blaster HD's optical SPDIF output, either.  It
>> works in Windows 10, which is where I had to spend my latest music
>> session -- yuck.
> Exactly what does 'stopped working' mean? Doesn't it should up when you 
> enumerate audio devices, does it show up but input and output results in 
> silence, does it show up but attempting to send audio results in an error, 
> etc. (I know you linked to a long ALSA dump, but folks around here would 
> be more willing to help if you stated as precisely as you could which 
> symptoms you actually have.)
>
> /Ricard

Sorry for being asleep at the switch, tax time hit me squarely between
the eyes. :/

The problem I'm seeing is that pulse can select the spdif input on both
devices, but I never hear any sound.  I've also tried using alsa via rec
(from SOX) to record from various hw: devices with no joy.  Also using
ALSA devices from Audacity (which is what I started with in the first
place.)

HOWEVER, I was able to get at the optical audio in on the SIIG device
with the following command:

   arecord -c 2 -f S32_LE -r 48000 -D dsnoop:CARD=Audio,DEV=1 trythis2.wav

And then I investigated the "plughw" interface, and this worked too:

   arecord -c 2 -f S16_LE -r 48000 -D plughw:CARD=Audio,DEV=1
trythisPLUG.wav

So at least I can investigate that, and read up on using dsnoop and
plughw devices with Audacity.

The Sound Blaster HD, though, didn't have the same luck -- it is still
flatline when I view the dsnoop: device recording .wav files with
audacity, as well as the files from arecord on the plughw devices.

The output of arecord -L is in my .sig.

I see also "dmix" devices on the SIIG device, I will now investigate
those for optical spdif playback on the SIIG device, and the Sound
Blaster HD device if I have a chance.  The X-Fi device plays through the
optical spdif connector as expected.

Thank you!

-- 
 -Scott
default
    Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
pulse
    PulseAudio Sound Server
special
sysdefault:CARD=HD
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=HD,DEV=1
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=HD,DEV=1
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=HD,DEV=1
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio #1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=HD,DEV=0
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=HD,DEV=1
    USB Sound Blaster HD, USB Audio #1
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=Pro
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Pro,DEV=0
    SB X-Fi Surround 5.1 Pro, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=PCH
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Digital
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog Mic-In2
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=PCH,DEV=4
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 What U Hear
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Digital
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog Mic-In2
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=PCH,DEV=4
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 What U Hear
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Digital
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog Mic-In2
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=4
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 What U Hear
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Digital
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 Analog Mic-In2
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=4
    HDA Intel PCH, CA0132 What U Hear
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=M8
    Default Audio Device
sysdefault:CARD=Audio
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Audio,DEV=1
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Audio,DEV=1
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio #1
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Audio,DEV=1
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio #1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Audio,DEV=0
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Audio,DEV=1
    USB2.0 High-Speed True HD Audio, USB Audio #1
    Hardware device with all software conversions

Re: SPDIF trouble with multiple usb devices

[Alan Horstmann]

I can't be any help with the core issue, but...

On Friday 15 April 2016 02:02, Scott Doty wrote:
<snip>
> ....  Also using
> ALSA devices from Audacity (which is what I started with in the first
> place.)

<snip>
> So at least I can investigate that, and read up on using dsnoop and
> plughw devices with Audacity.

The Portaudio code, which is used for audio in Audacity, has an SVN branch 
'alsa_expt_devt' where I began working on a more extensive device listing 
scheme.  That can be checked out into the lib-src of the Audacity code and 
rebuilt for a interesting alternative!  Join us on the Portaudio list to 
discuss it.

Regards

Alan