X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

Hi,

I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
capturing from.  I assume that this must be a bug.  If there's anything
I can do to assist with debugging this, please let me know.

This is my software configuration:
 - Debian Squeeze
 - Linux 2.6.32 (Debian Linux 2.6.32-20)
 - alsa-lib 1.0.23

Best regards,
Thor Kristoffersen

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Sun, 29 Aug 2010 22:36:45 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> capturing from.

What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
no bug.


Takashi

>  I assume that this must be a bug.  If there's anything
> I can do to assist with debugging this, please let me know.
> 
> This is my software configuration:
>  - Debian Squeeze
>  - Linux 2.6.32 (Debian Linux 2.6.32-20)
>  - alsa-lib 1.0.23
> 
> Best regards,
> Thor Kristoffersen
> _______________________________________________
> Alsa-devel mailing list
> Alsa-devel@alsa-project.org
> http://mailman.alsa-project.org/mailman/listinfo/alsa-devel
> 

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> capturing from.
>
> What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> no bug.

No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
As far as I can understand this must be a bug. For example, if you
want to do real-time audio processing, you want to send the input
signal to an audio processing application without sending it also
straight to the output. And I think that's how it used to work on
older sound cards I have owned.

Thor

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:41:51 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 9:56 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> >> capturing from.
> >
> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> > no bug.
> 
> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.

Which mute?  Please be more specific.


Takashi

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> capturing from.
>> >
>> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> > no bug.
>>
>> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>
> Which mute?  Please be more specific.

The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
problem is exactly the same on that channel.

Thor

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 10:52:28 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> >> >> capturing from.
> >> >
> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> >> > no bug.
> >>
> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
> >
> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
> 
> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
> problem is exactly the same on that channel.

Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
let me guess:

  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.

Correct?


Takashi
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Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> >> capturing from.
>> >> >
>> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> >> > no bug.
>> >>
>> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>> >
>> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
>>
>> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
>> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
>> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
>> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
>
> Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
> let me guess:
>
>  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
>  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
>
> Correct?

Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
"SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.

Thor

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:18:01 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> >> >> >> capturing from.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> >> >> > no bug.
> >> >>
> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
> >> >
> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
> >>
> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
> >
> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
> > let me guess:
> >
> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
> >
> > Correct?
> 
> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.

There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
working and non-working states.

But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.


thanks,

Takashi
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Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> >> >> capturing from.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> >> >> > no bug.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>> >> >
>> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
>> >>
>> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
>> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
>> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
>> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
>> >
>> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
>> > let me guess:
>> >
>> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
>> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
>> >
>> > Correct?
>>
>> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
>> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
>> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
>> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
>> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
>> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
>
> There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
> display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
> working and non-working states.
>
> But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
> analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.

The problem is exactly the same with the analog input, but we'll focus
on the digital input first. I don't have access to my computer right
now, but I'll send you the diffs later today.

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:14 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> >> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> >> >> >> >> capturing from.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> >> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> >> >> >> > no bug.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
> >> >>
> >> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
> >> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
> >> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
> >> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
> >> >
> >> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
> >> > let me guess:
> >> >
> >> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
> >> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
> >> >
> >> > Correct?
> >>
> >> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
> >> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
> >> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
> >> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
> >> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
> >> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
> >
> > There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
> > display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
> > working and non-working states.
> >
> > But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
> > analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.
> 
> The problem is exactly the same with the analog input,

Hmm... what do you mean "exactly the same"?
Does "SPDIF-in" mixer have to be unmuted?  Or any other mixer element?

> but we'll focus
> on the digital input first. I don't have access to my computer right
> now, but I'll send you the diffs later today.

Thanks.


Takashi
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Alsa-devel@alsa-project.org
http://mailman.alsa-project.org/mailman/listinfo/alsa-devel

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:14 +0200,
> Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> >> >> >> capturing from.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> >> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> >> >> >> > no bug.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
>> >> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
>> >> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
>> >> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
>> >> >
>> >> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
>> >> > let me guess:
>> >> >
>> >> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
>> >> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
>> >> >
>> >> > Correct?
>> >>
>> >> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
>> >> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
>> >> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
>> >> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
>> >> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
>> >> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
>> >
>> > There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
>> > display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
>> > working and non-working states.
>> >
>> > But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
>> > analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.
>>
>> The problem is exactly the same with the analog input,
>
> Hmm... what do you mean "exactly the same"?
> Does "SPDIF-in" mixer have to be unmuted?  Or any other mixer element?

No, what I mean is that in order to capture sound from the analog
input, it is necessary to set the Mute switch to off and the Capture
switch to on on the Line mixer control.

Thor

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Takashi Iwai]

At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:02:49 +0200,
Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> 
> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> > At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:14 +0200,
> > Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
> >>
> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> >> >> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
> >> >> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
> >> >> >> >> >> capturing from.
> >> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
> >> >> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
> >> >> >> >> > no bug.
> >> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
> >> >> >> >
> >> >> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
> >> >> >>
> >> >> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
> >> >> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
> >> >> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
> >> >> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
> >> >> > let me guess:
> >> >> >
> >> >> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
> >> >> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
> >> >> >
> >> >> > Correct?
> >> >>
> >> >> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
> >> >> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
> >> >> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
> >> >> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
> >> >> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
> >> >> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
> >> >
> >> > There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
> >> > display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
> >> > working and non-working states.
> >> >
> >> > But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
> >> > analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.
> >>
> >> The problem is exactly the same with the analog input,
> >
> > Hmm... what do you mean "exactly the same"?
> > Does "SPDIF-in" mixer have to be unmuted?  Or any other mixer element?
> 
> No, what I mean is that in order to capture sound from the analog
> input, it is necessary to set the Mute switch to off and the Capture
> switch to on on the Line mixer control.

Ah, now it's becoming clear.  So it's "Line-in" mixer to be unmuted
if you want to record from line-in, right?
And "Line-in Playback Volume" plays no role for recording?


Takashi
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Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 12:08 PM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
> At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 12:02:49 +0200,
> Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
>>
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:45 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> > At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:43:14 +0200,
>> > Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
>> >>
>> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:32 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> >> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> >> >> >> >> capturing from.
>> >> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> >> >> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> >> >> >> >> > no bug.
>> >> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>> >> >> >> >
>> >> >> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
>> >> >> >>
>> >> >> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
>> >> >> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
>> >> >> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
>> >> >> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
>> >> >> > let me guess:
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
>> >> >> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > Correct?
>> >> >>
>> >> >> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
>> >> >> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
>> >> >> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
>> >> >> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
>> >> >> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
>> >> >> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
>> >> >
>> >> > There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
>> >> > display.  To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
>> >> > working and non-working states.
>> >> >
>> >> > But, what you wrote above is about the SPDIF input, not about the
>> >> > analog input, right?  Let's focus on one of them first.
>> >>
>> >> The problem is exactly the same with the analog input,
>> >
>> > Hmm... what do you mean "exactly the same"?
>> > Does "SPDIF-in" mixer have to be unmuted?  Or any other mixer element?
>>
>> No, what I mean is that in order to capture sound from the analog
>> input, it is necessary to set the Mute switch to off and the Capture
>> switch to on on the Line mixer control.
>
> Ah, now it's becoming clear.  So it's "Line-in" mixer to be unmuted
> if you want to record from line-in, right?

Yes, that's correct, when trying to record from the analog input.

> And "Line-in Playback Volume" plays no role for recording?

I don't know. The signal I'm trying to capture is rather weak, so I
have only tried this with the volume at max.

Thor

Re: X-Fi Titanium: Capture is possible only with unmuted input

[Thor Kristoffersen]

Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> writes:
> At Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:18:01 +0200,
> Thor Kristoffersen wrote:
>> 
>> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 11:07 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> On Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:46 AM, Takashi Iwai <tiwai@suse.de> wrote:
>> >> >> >> I'm having issues with an X-Fi Titanium and ALSA.  The problem is that
>> >> >> >> it appears to be impossible to capture without unmuting the channel I'm
>> >> >> >> capturing from.
>> >> >> >
>> >> >> > What do you mean exactly "unmuting the channel I'm capturing from"?
>> >> >> > If you mean to turn on/off "XXX Capture Switch", then it's a feature,
>> >> >> > no bug.
>> >> >>
>> >> >> No, I mean that capture is possible only when mute=off and capture=on.
>> >> >
>> >> > Which mute?  Please be more specific.
>> >>
>> >> The signal I'm trying to capture is coming in through the SPDIF-i
>> >> channel, so I'm talking about the mute and capture flags on that
>> >> channel. However, I also tried the analog input (line), and the
>> >> problem is exactly the same on that channel.
>> >
>> > Well, this is still unclear (what actually do you mean "channel") but
>> > let me guess:
>> >
>> >  the recording from either mic or line-in doesn't work unless you unmute
>> >  via "Front Playback Switch" mixer element.
>> >
>> > Correct?
>> 
>> Not really. I use gnome-alsamixer, and there is a mixer element called
>> "SPDIF-i" that has a slider, a "Mute" switch, and a "Capture" switch.
>> I connect a digital source to the SPDIF input on the card, and then I
>> try to record it with arecord from device hw:0,0. The only way I'm
>> able to record sound is by setting the Mute switch (of the SPDIF-i
>> mixer element) to off and the Capture switch to on.
>
> There is no mixer switch names "SPDIF-i".  It's cut in alsamixer's
> display.

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.  There is definitely a mixer
element called "S/PDIF-in".  It is present in gnome-alsamixer,
alsamixer, and amixer (though in gnome-alsamixer the text says
"S/PDIF-i").  This is what the element looks like in the amixer output:

Simple mixer control 'S/PDIF-in',0
  Capabilities: pvolume cvolume pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined penum
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 256 Capture 0 - 256
  Front Left: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [off] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [off] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]

> To check more exactly, make a diff of amixer outputs between
> working and non-working states.

Ok, here's a transcript of the test that reproduces the issue.  First I
send in a digital stream on the S/PDIF input on the sound card.  Then I
set the "S/PDIF-in" mixer control to volume=100%, mute=on, capture=on.
Then I issue the following commands.

[calvin:~]amixer > capture-not-working.txt
[calvin:~]arecord -D hw:0,0 -c 2 -f S16_LE -r 96000 -d 5 sndtest1.wav
Recording WAVE 'sndtest1.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 96000 Hz, Stereo
[calvin:~]aplay -D hw:0,0 sndtest1.wav 
Playing WAVE 'sndtest1.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 96000 Hz, Stereo

No sound is played.  Now I change the "S/PDIF-in" mixer control to mute=off.
Then I issue the following commands.

[calvin:~]amixer > capture-working.txt
[calvin:~]arecord -D hw:0,0 -c 2 -f S16_LE -r 96000 -d 5 sndtest1.wav
Recording WAVE 'sndtest1.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 96000 Hz, Stereo
[calvin:~]aplay -D hw:0,0 sndtest1.wav 
Playing WAVE 'sndtest1.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 96000 Hz, Stereo

Sound plays just fine.  This is the diff between the non-working and
working states:

[calvin:~]diff -u capture-not-working.txt capture-working.txt 
--- capture-not-working.txt     2010-08-30 19:01:02.344319762 +0200
+++ capture-working.txt 2010-08-30 19:01:46.964945361 +0200
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@
   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
   Limits: Playback 0 - 256 Capture 0 - 256
-  Front Left: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [off] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
-  Front Right: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [off] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
+  Front Left: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
+  Front Right: Playback 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on] Capture 256 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
 Simple mixer control 'S/PDIF-out',0
   Capabilities: pvolume pswitch pswitch-joined penum
   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right

Please let me know if there are any other tests you want me to perform.

Thor
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