I think I've learned that in order for a52encode to possibly work, I need to have /var/run/pulse/.asoundrc defined. /var/run/pulse/.asoundrc: pcm.a52encode { type a52 } Yields: lroom# /usr/bin/pulseaudio --system E: module-alsa-sink.c: Error opening PCM device a52encode: Device or resource busy E: module.c: Failed to load module "module-alsa-sink" (argument: "sink_name=ac3_encode device=a52encode rate=48000 channels=6"): initialization failed. E: main.c: Module load failed. E: main.c: failed to initialize daemon. If I change a52encode to something else in the .asoundrc, I get: E: module-alsa-sink.c: Error opening PCM device a52encode: No such file or directory E: module.c: Failed to load module "module-alsa-sink" (argument: "sink_name=ac3_encode device=a52encode rate=48000 channels=6"): initialization failed. E: main.c: Module load failed. E: main.c: failed to initialize daemon. So, apparently the .asoundrc in /var/run/pulse is recognized. Using a52encode:0 results in: lroom# /usr/bin/pulseaudio --system ALSA lib conf.c:3949:(snd_config_expand) Unknown parameters 0 ALSA lib pcm.c:2144:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM a52encode:0 E: module-alsa-sink.c: Error opening PCM device a52encode:0: Invalid argument E: module.c: Failed to load module "module-alsa-sink" (argument: "sink_name=ac3_encode device=a52encode:0 rate=48000 channels=6"): initialization failed. E: main.c: Module load failed. E: main.c: failed to initialize daemon. Some permission problem maybe .... Thanks for listening :-) Jim "Tanu Kaskinen" <tanuk at iki.fi> wrote in message news:20080229054425.GB12761 at a9a.mannikko1.tontut.fi... > On Thu, Feb 28, 2008 at 09:36:20PM -0500, Jim Duda wrote: >> Unfortunately, using a52encode as a device doesn't seem to work. I >> tried by a52encode and a52. >> >> lroom# /usr/bin/pulseaudio --system >> ALSA lib control.c:909:(snd_ctl_open_noupdate) Invalid CTL surround51:0 >> W: alsa-util.c: Unable to attach to mixer surround51:0: No such file or >> directory >> ALSA lib pcm.c:2144:(snd_pcm_open_noupdate) Unknown PCM a52encode >> E: module-alsa-sink.c: Error opening PCM device a52encode: No such file >> or directory > > Which file doesn't exist? > "strace -f pulseaudio --system > strace.out 2>&1" should > give the answer. Before running that I'd check if changing > a52encode:0 to just a52encode would help. The :0 part > identifies the card and I think a52encode isn't associated > with any specific card. > > Since I don't know much about the a52 plugin, I really am > not sure that pulseaudio can use it at all. > > -- > Tanu Kaskinen