Re: [PATCH RFC v4 2/8] ALSA: pcm: add IEC958 channel status helper for hw_params

[Jyri Sarha <jsarha@ti.com>]

On 09/21/15 12:37, Russell King - ARM Linux wrote:
> On Fri, Sep 18, 2015 at 02:06:39PM +0300, Jyri Sarha wrote:
>> Add IEC958 channel status helper that gets the audio properties from
>> snd_pcm_hw_params instead of snd_pcm_runtime. This is needed to
>> produce the channel status bits already in audio stream configuration
>> phase.
>
> What is the reason for doing this early?
>

After some thinking, there is no good reason. It makes the codec bit 
more complicated, but that is not a good reason. I'll change that and 
use the prepare callback.

This patch can be dropped.

> ALSA documentation (which may be out of date) says that the hw_params
> callback can be called multiple times during stream setup.  Do we want
> to be repeatedly programming the HDMI infoframe with different settings,
> potentially confusing the attached device, or would it be better to do
> it slightly later (in the prepare callback) after the parameters have
> been fully negotiated?
>

If it is possible that hw_params() can be called multiple times, at 
least it does not happen very often. I wonder if it would ever happen 
again after a successful hw_params() call. But there is no downside in 
using prepare callback. I was just too much following the way ASoC 
codecs usually do the thing by writing everything to iron as the 
callbacks come in.

Best regards,
Jyri