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: 08-04-2006 10:41 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 ====================================================================== ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Raymond - 08-04-06 09:51 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:819:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave The slave of dmix is hw, this means the 'hw' is already used by other application (e.g. web browser plugin - flash, sound server running in background, ...) Do you have a customized .asoundrc ? AFAIK, aplay cannot read a 6-channels wav file. (RIFF) You may try the ALSA upmix plugin ( require alsa-1.0.11 or later ) for upmix stereo to 6-channels. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Manolo - 08-04-06 10:41 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't have a customized .asoundrc aplay reads and plays 6-channel wav files all right but sends error messages to .xsession-errors if invoked with -Dsurround51. Please read: https://launchpad.net/distros/ubuntu/+source/alsa-lib/+bug/26483 which includes a lot of information about this bug. I don't want to be an audio expert, I just want to use Linux. I bought a set of 'Home Cinema' speakers and naively thought it would be a matter of plug and play. Well it was not. It took me more than one week of fiddling with ALSA, Linux kernel, etc, until I could use my new speakers. Now it works all right but still there is no master volume control -gnome volume control only affects FrontLeft and FrontRight channels- and all applications using surround51 send continuous error messages to .xsession-errors. xine has an expra problem sometimes refusing to play surround51 movies: https://sourceforge.net/tracker/?func=detail&atid=109655&aid=1226595&group_id=9655 Forgive me if I am mistaken but I think ALSA should be more 'intelligent': All audio streams carry number of channels information, neither user nor applications need to specify the number of channels to ALSA (Why 'aplay -Dsurround51 5.1File.wav'?). A line in ALSA configuration file specifying the number of speakers available should be enough to have it map audio channels into available output channels. 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 08-03-06 05:33 Raymond Note Edited: 0011394 08-03-06 17:37 Manolo Note Added: 0011405 08-03-06 18:20 Raymond Note Added: 0011406 08-04-06 03:29 Raymond Note Edited: 0011406 08-04-06 05:25 Raymond Note Edited: 0011406 08-04-06 09:51 Raymond Note Edited: 0011406 08-04-06 10:41 Manolo Note Added: 0011418 ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Take Surveys. Earn Cash. 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