[gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Maximilian Bräutigam]

Hello all,

I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
these error messages:

"ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"

I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
a HDMI and a standard device:

# lspci -v | grep -i audio
00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev 40)

# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb44000 irq 40
 1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
                      HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000 irq 16

You can find the complete alsa-info output at
http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/

For me, the interesting part is this section:

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
the order, please tell me how to do it?

I highly appreciate all kinds of help!

Kind regards,
der Max

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Dale]

Maximilian Bräutigam wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
> Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
> did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
> to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
> standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
> firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
> these error messages:
>
> "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
>
> I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
> a HDMI and a standard device:
>
> # lspci -v | grep -i audio
> 00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
> 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev 40)
>
> # cat /proc/asound/cards
>   0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
>                        HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb44000 irq 40
>   1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
>                        HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000 irq 16
>
> You can find the complete alsa-info output at
> http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/
>
> For me, the interesting part is this section:
>
> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
> card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>    Subdevices: 1/1
>    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
>    Subdevices: 1/1
>    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
>    Subdevices: 1/1
>    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>
> Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
> card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
> the order, please tell me how to do it?
>
> I highly appreciate all kinds of help!
>
> Kind regards,
> der Max
>
>
>    

A silly question for a common problem.  You did unmute the volume 
right?  The default is to have everything muted so it is very common for 
folks to forget that little but important detail.

Also, on one of my rigs, I had to unmute with both Kimix and alsamixer.

Just a thought.  I've done this myself.

Dale

:-)  :-)

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Leonardo Guilherme]

2011/8/21 Maximilian Bräutigam <max.braeutigam@googlemail.com>:
> Hello all,
>
> I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
> Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
> did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
> to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
> standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
> firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
> these error messages:
>
> "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
>
> I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
> a HDMI and a standard device:
>
> # lspci -v | grep -i audio
> 00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
> 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev 40)
>
> # cat /proc/asound/cards
>  0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
>                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb44000 irq 40
>  1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
>                      HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000 irq 16
>
> You can find the complete alsa-info output at
> http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/
>
> For me, the interesting part is this section:
>
> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
> card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>  Subdevices: 1/1
>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
>  Subdevices: 1/1
>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
>  Subdevices: 1/1
>  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>
> Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
> card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
> the order, please tell me how to do it?
>
> I highly appreciate all kinds of help!
>
> Kind regards,
> der Max
>
>


Have you tried running alsaconf? what happens when you try alsamixer?
I tend to hate pulseaudio. I fail to see its purpose, the only time i
tried it gave me a big headache. My (totally biased and personal
without any techincal background) advice is to stay clear of
pulseaudio.

-- 

Leonardo

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Volker Armin Hemmann]

Am Sonntag 21 August 2011, 04:48:49 schrieb Dale:
> Maximilian Bräutigam wrote:
> > Hello all,
> > 
> > I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
> > Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
> > did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
> > to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
> > standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
> > firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
> > these error messages:
> > 
> > "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
> > 
> > I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
> > a HDMI and a standard device:
> > 
> > # lspci -v | grep -i audio
> > 00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
> > 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev
> > 40)
> > 
> > # cat /proc/asound/cards
> > 
> >   0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
> >   
> >                        HD-Audio Generic at
> >                        0xfeb44000 irq 40
> >   
> >   1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
> >   
> >                        HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000
> >                        irq 16
> > 
> > You can find the complete alsa-info output at
> > http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/
> > 
> > For me, the interesting part is this section:
> > 
> > **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
> > card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
> > 
> >    Subdevices: 1/1
> >    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> > 
> > card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
> > 
> >    Subdevices: 1/1
> >    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> > 
> > card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
> > 
> >    Subdevices: 1/1
> >    Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> > 
> > Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
> > card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
> > the order, please tell me how to do it?
> > 
> > I highly appreciate all kinds of help!
> > 
> > Kind regards,
> > der Max
> 
> A silly question for a common problem.  You did unmute the volume
> right?  The default is to have everything muted so it is very common for
> folks to forget that little but important detail.
> 
> Also, on one of my rigs, I had to unmute with both Kimix and alsamixer.
> 
> Just a thought.  I've done this myself.

and don't forget to mute spdif optical raw

and try without pulseaudio first.

> 
> Dale
> 
> :-)  :-)
-- 
#163933

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[pk]

On 2011-08-21 12:24, Leonardo Guilherme wrote:

> tried it gave me a big headache. My (totally biased and personal
> without any techincal background) advice is to stay clear of
> pulseaudio.

+1

Best regards

Peter K

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Maximilian Bräutigam]

Am 21.08.2011 12:24, schrieb Leonardo Guilherme:
> 2011/8/21 Maximilian Bräutigam<max.braeutigam@googlemail.com>:
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
>> Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
>> did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
>> to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
>> standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
>> firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
>> these error messages:
>>
>> "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
>>
>> I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
>> a HDMI and a standard device:
>>
>> # lspci -v | grep -i audio
>> 00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
>> 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev 40)
>>
>> # cat /proc/asound/cards
>>   0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
>>                       HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb44000 irq 40
>>   1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
>>                       HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000 irq 16
>>
>> You can find the complete alsa-info output at
>> http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/
>>
>> For me, the interesting part is this section:
>>
>> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
>> card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>>   Subdevices: 1/1
>>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
>>   Subdevices: 1/1
>>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
>>   Subdevices: 1/1
>>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>
>> Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
>> card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
>> the order, please tell me how to do it?
>>
>> I highly appreciate all kinds of help!
>>
>> Kind regards,
>> der Max
>>
>>
>
>
> Have you tried running alsaconf? what happens when you try alsamixer?
> I tend to hate pulseaudio. I fail to see its purpose, the only time i
> tried it gave me a big headache. My (totally biased and personal
> without any techincal background) advice is to stay clear of
> pulseaudio.
>

Hi Leonardo,

i tried it of course without pulse audio in advance, but e.g. totem and 
vlc were using the wrong "standard" device and emerging world with 
pulseaudio use flag makes totem and vlc use the right device ...
my only problems are chromium and ff ... and probably some other apps, 
that I didn't test so far.

Kind regards,
Max

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Maximilian Bräutigam]

Am 21.08.2011 12:57, schrieb Volker Armin Hemmann:
> Am Sonntag 21 August 2011, 04:48:49 schrieb Dale:
>> Maximilian Bräutigam wrote:
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> I recently bought a Zotac Barebone ZBOX HD-AD02 AMD E-350 and installed
>>> Gentoo on it, what is working more or less very well except the sound. I
>>> did everything according to gentoo and gentoowiki docs, I installed (due
>>> to laziness) a gentoo-sources kernel with genkernel and Sabayon linux
>>> standard configuration, and I am using pulseaudio, but when I launch
>>> firefox or chromium from console and play some sounds, I get lots of
>>> these error messages:
>>>
>>> "ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:1018:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave"
>>>
>>> I already googled for it but didn't find something helpful. The Zbox has
>>> a HDMI and a standard device:
>>>
>>> # lspci -v | grep -i audio
>>> 00:01.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc Device 1314
>>> 00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA) (rev
>>> 40)
>>>
>>> # cat /proc/asound/cards
>>>
>>>    0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
>>>
>>>                         HD-Audio Generic at
>>>                         0xfeb44000 irq 40
>>>
>>>    1 [SB             ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI SB
>>>
>>>                         HDA ATI SB at 0xfeb40000
>>>                         irq 16
>>>
>>> You can find the complete alsa-info output at
>>> http://paste.pocoo.org/show/461744/
>>>
>>> For me, the interesting part is this section:
>>>
>>> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
>>> card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>>>
>>>     Subdevices: 1/1
>>>     Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>>
>>> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
>>>
>>>     Subdevices: 1/1
>>>     Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>>
>>> card 1: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
>>>
>>>     Subdevices: 1/1
>>>     Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
>>>
>>> Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
>>> card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
>>> the order, please tell me how to do it?
>>>
>>> I highly appreciate all kinds of help!
>>>
>>> Kind regards,
>>> der Max
>>
>> A silly question for a common problem.  You did unmute the volume
>> right?  The default is to have everything muted so it is very common for
>> folks to forget that little but important detail.
>>
>> Also, on one of my rigs, I had to unmute with both Kimix and alsamixer.
>>
>> Just a thought.  I've done this myself.
>
> and don't forget to mute spdif optical raw
>
> and try without pulseaudio first.
>
>>
>> Dale
>>
>> :-)  :-)

Hi Dale and Volker,

I tried it without pulseaudio first and, Dale, my card is unmuted. ;) 
Totem and vlc are working without any problems but ff and chromium 
aren't able to produce sound - and it is somehow related to the error 
message above.

But Volker, I highly appreciate the tip with the spdif and I'll try that.

Thank you very much.

Kind regards,
Max

Re: [gentoo-user] ff & chromium trapped in deafness or how to configure ALSA correctly

[Paul Hartman]

2011/8/21 Maximilian Bräutigam <max.braeutigam@googlemail.com>:
>
> Is is possible that ff and chromium are sending data to HDMI since it is
> card 0? If you think, it would be helpful to disable card 0 or change
> the order, please tell me how to do it?

Either make udev rules to create the devices in the correct order, or
specify the cards order (index) in your alsa config, such as on my
system:

$ cat /proc/asound/card0/id
Intel
$ cat /proc/asound/card1/id
NVidia

First is my on-board sound, second is my HDMI. So, one card is called
"Intel" and other is "NVidia". In modprobe's options I would set it
something like this (all on one line)

options snd-intel-hda model=intel-x58,auto enable_msi=1,0 index=0,1
id=Intel,NVidia