Re: [PATCH] ALSA: hda: Allow for codec model selection with module param

[Cezary Rojewski <cezary.rojewski@intel.com>]

On 9/14/2026 6:44 PM, Takashi Iwai wrote:

>>>> Model selection allows for customization of codec behaviour and thus
>>>> dealing with various problems on very specific configurations. The
>>>> parameter already exists but is part of snd_hda_intel specifically.
>>>> Non-Intel HDAudio controllers and DSP-capable drivers cannot benefit
>>>> from it.
>>>>
>>>> The common place for all the bus drivers is snd_hda_codec. Add modelname
>>>> parameter there and honor it when initializing codec->modelname field.
>>>>
>>>> Link: https://github.com/thesofproject/linux/issues/5683
>>>> Signed-off-by: Cezary Rojewski <cezary.rojewski@intel.com>
>>>
>>> The handling of the model option is a very long-standing PITA.
>>> A few years ago, I proposed a change like:
>>>   https://mailman.alsa-project.org/pipermail/alsa-devel/2022-September/206631.html
>>> but it didn't reach to agreement.  So I'm not 100% sure whether adding
>>> here is the best choice, either.
>> Thank you for the link, Takashi.
>>
>> IMHO patch presented here addresses the feedback. I too prefer
>> one-location-for-all approach. Also, I do believe having no option for
>> specifying the model is worse than choosing either of the approaches for
>> the model selection.
>>
>> snd_hda_codec module is *everywhere* and given the param is an array, it
>> supports even very complicated scenarios when multiple HDAudio codecs
>> are engaged.
> 
> The multi-codec is exactly the problem I've been seeing (of course in
> addition to the lack of the option in ASoC HD-audio).  You'll have to
> be very careful how to pass the option, and it can be even fragile.
> That's why I hesitated to take this...
By multi-codec I also meant scenarios where one has 2+ codecs from one
vendor e.g.: realtek. Having non-array param e.g.: for
snd_hda_codec_realtek would not suffice.