[ALSA - driver 0001612]: Ubuntu5.10 not configured for Alsa device:surround51?

[bugtrack@alsa-project.org]

A NOTE has been added to this issue.
======================================================================
<https://bugtrack.alsa-project.org/alsa-bug/view.php?id=1612> 
======================================================================
Reported By:                Manolo
Assigned To:                
======================================================================
Project:                    ALSA - driver
Issue ID:                   1612
Category:                   1_OTHERS
Reproducibility:            always
Severity:                   major
Priority:                   normal
Status:                     new
Distribution:               Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy
Kernel Version:             Linux 2.6.12
======================================================================
Date Submitted:             12-02-2005 17:51 CET
Last Modified:              08-03-2006 03:56 CEST
======================================================================
Summary:                    Ubuntu5.10 not configured for Alsa
device:surround51?
Description: 
Hardware
  Motherboard: Abit Ic7, Audio: Onboard (Intel ICH5) RealTek
    ALC650F 6-Channel AC97 CODEC.
  uP: Pentium4, Hyperthreading, 3Ghz

Software
  Ubuntu 5.10
  Custom compiled kernel from 'linux-source-2.6.12 2.6.12-10.24'
    make menuconfig
      Device Drivers
        Sound
          <M> Sound card support
          Advanced Linux Sound Architecture --->
            <M> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
            <M>   Sequencer support
            <M>     Sequencer dummy client
            <M>   OSS Mixer API
            <M>   OSS PCM (digital audio) API
            [*]   OSS Sequencer API
            <M>   RTC Timer support
            PCI devices --->
              <M>  All drivers <M> when option available.
          Open Sound System --->
            < > Open Sound System
  Compiled Alsa packages:
    alsa-driver-1.0.10
    alsa-lib-1.0.10
    alsa-utils-1.0.10 # configure --disable-nls: configure fails
otherwise.
    alsa-oss
    alsa-plugins-1.0.10 # configure,pcm/Makefile.in:Modified to compile
without
      jack.
    Note: At boot, if file /var/lib/alsa/asound.state does not exist,
file
      /etc/asound.state is overwritten with default values (No surround
sound!).
      Alsa package is not responsible for this (Ubuntu5.10 or
Kernel2.6.12??).

Sound Applications
  aplay (alsa-utils-1.0.10)
  audacity 1.2.3 #Device /dev/dsp
  xmms 1.2.10 #plugin /usr/lib/xmms/Input/libwav.so (does not accept
    5.1ChannelFile.wav) replaced by older version (Ubuntu 4.10).
  mplayer 4.0.2
  xine v0.99.3

esd daemon running:
  aplay -Dsurround51 File.wav #GnomePanel or gnome-terminal
    5.1ChannelFile.wav, 2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  aplay -Ddefault File.wav # GnomePanel or gnome-terminal
    2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    No output sent to .xsession-errors
  audacity #GnomePanel
    Error Message: There was an error initializing the audio i/o
      layer. You will not be able to play or record audio.
      Error: Host error.
  audacity #gnome-terminal
    Most of the times application starts without error message.
  xmms #OutputPlugin:Alsa;AudioDevice:default.GnomePanel or
gnome-terminal
    Application starts without error message
    No output sent to .xsession-errors
    2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
  xmms #OutputPlugin:Alsa;AudioDevice:surround51.GnomePanel
    Error Message: Couldn't open audio. Please check that:
      Your soundcard is configured properly
      You have the correct output plugin selected
      No other program is blocking the soundcard.
    After several Play/ErrorMessage:
      5.1ChannelFile.wav, 2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
      .xsession-errors fills with:
        ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  xmms #OutputPlugin:Alsa;AudioDevice:surround51.gnome-terminal
    Most of the times application starts without error message.
    5.1ChannelFile.wav, 2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  mplayer # 'mplayer -v -ao alsa:device=surround51 -channels 6'
    No StdError error messages (-v)
    All kinds of files and DVDs (Multichannel AC3) play Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  xine # 'xine --verbose --audio-driver
alsa';SpeakerArrangement:Surround5.1
    Error Message: The audio device is unavailable. Please verify if
another program
      already uses it.
    StdError error messages (--verbose):
      audio_alsa_out: snd_pcm_open() of plug:surround51:0 failed: Device
or
        resource busy
      audio_alsa_out: >>> check if another program already uses PCM <<<
    After several Play/ErrorMessage:
      All kinds of files and DVDs (Multichannel AC3) play Ok.
      .xsession-errors fills with:
        ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  xine # 'xine --verbose --audio-driver
alsa';SpeakerArrangement:Stereo2.0
    No error Message
    No StdError error messages
    All kinds of files and DVDs play Ok. Multichannel AC3 downshifted to 2
Channels.
    No output sent to .xsession-errors

esd daemon NOT running (killall esd):
  aplay -Dsurround51 File.wav #GnomePanel or gnome-terminal
    5.1ChannelFile.wav, 2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  aplay -Ddefault File.wav # GnomePanel or gnome-terminal
    2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    No output sent to .xsession-errors
  audacity #GnomePanel or gnome-terminal
    Application starts without error message
  xmms #OutputPlugin:Alsa;AudioDevice:default.GnomePanel or
gnome-terminal
    Application starts without error message
    No output sent to .xsession-errors
    2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
  xmms #OutputPlugin:Alsa;AudioDevice:surround51.GnomePanel or
gnome-terminal
    Application starts without error message
    5.1ChannelFile.wav, 2ChannelFile.wav: Sound Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  mplayer # 'mplayer -v -ao alsa:device=surround51 -channels 6'
    No StdError error messages (-v)
    All kinds of files and DVDs (Multichannel AC3) play Ok.
    .xsession-errors fills with:
      ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  xine # 'xine --verbose --audio-driver
alsa';SpeakerArrangement:Surround5.1
    Error Message: The audio device is unavailable. Please verify if
another program
      already uses it.
    StdError error messages (--verbose):
      audio_alsa_out: snd_pcm_open() of plug:surround51:0 failed: Device
or
        resource busy
      audio_alsa_out: >>> check if another program already uses PCM <<<
    After several Play/ErrorMessage:
      All kinds of files and DVDs (Multichannel AC3) play Ok.
      .xsession-errors fills with:
        ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
  xine # 'xine --verbose --audio-driver
alsa';SpeakerArrangement:Stereo2.0
    No error Message
    No StdError error messages
    All kinds of files and DVDs play Ok. Multichannel AC3 downshifted to 2
Channels.
    No output sent to .xsession-errors

======================================================================

----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Manolo - 08-02-06 20:15 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you Raymond,
It is more than a year since I reported this bug and yours is the first
reply.

With just one instance of surround51 .xsession-errors still fills with:
  ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave

All applications are configured as you suggest except for audacity
(portaudiolib is installed in my system but I don't know how to use it
with audacity).

Please have a look to:
https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/alsa-lib/+bug/26483
Another report of the bug with same results as in
bugtrack.alsa-project.org (I.E.: No useful suggestions).

Don't have the channels swap problem.

Kind regards,
Manolo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
 Raymond - 08-03-06 03:56 
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Most motherboard has only 3 jacks and rear ,center/lfe jack have to share
with mic/line in jack

This means you cannot perform surround51 and capture through mic/line in
concurrently

The OSS application open /dev/dsp exclusively, you need to configure your
sound application to use ALSA or use aoss

The default device of ALSA ntel8x0 driver is configured to use 'dmix'
which allow two or more ALSA application to play mono/stereo sound. This
means that you cannot play stereo and surround51 concurrently.

You have to compile audacity from source (1.2.4 or later) to support ALSA
./configure --with-portaudio=v19
However audacity require exclusive access of the sound card for best
quality of multi-channels capture, it only use 'hw' device instead of
'dsnoop'.

If possible, upgrade to alsa-1.0.12rc1 as there are a number of dmix bugs
fixed and fix for AL565x codec

http://hg-mirror.alsa-project.org/alsa-kernel?cmd=changeset;node=aa4a2c63b675;style=gitweb

Issue History
Date Modified  Username       Field                    Change              
======================================================================
12-02-05 17:51 Manolo         New Issue                                    
12-02-05 17:51 Manolo         Distribution              => Ubuntu 5.10 Breezy
12-02-05 17:51 Manolo         Kernel Version            => Linux 2.6.12    
12-03-05 13:54 Manolo         Note Added: 0006898                          
07-28-06 05:39 Raymond        Note Added: 0011283                          
08-02-06 20:15 Manolo         Note Added: 0011390                          
08-03-06 03:56 Raymond        Note Added: 0011394                          
======================================================================



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