nvaudio issue?

[connyosis]

Has anyone else been able to use the surround function of the nforce2 audio chipset in Linux? I myself can only use the front l+r speakers. Nothing comes out of the rear ones. I guess this is a driver issue and wonder if nVidia in that case will give us Linux users this function any time soon?

[bahamot]

u could try Alsa driver in order to get surround.
but u still need software mixing to get multi stream e.g. esd, arts

[connyosis]

Ok, didnt know about that.
Though I must say it isnt very user friendly by nVidia.
Not only must we install the basic modules for nvnet, nvaudio and nvidia graphics cards, but also install alsa modules. Would someone stop the madness? :)

[bahamot]

Originally posted by connyosis
Would someone stop the madness? :)
helpless...... unless Nvidia itself make a FULL SUPPORT driver under Linux.
But i'm afraid that will never happen, Nforce1 proved it. Nforce1 already out in market for years. And untill now only SPDIF supported in very limited way and it was added recently!

[connyosis]

Yeah, that sucks.
I mean I am thankful that nVidia atleast provides drivers for Linux, a lot of companies dont, but I think they could either:
1: Put some more effort into it so Linux users get the same functionality as windows user
2: Release specs and code so other developers could do it for them.

[bahamot]

Originally posted by connyosis
Yeah, that sucks.
I mean I am thankful that nVidia atleast provides drivers for Linux, a lot of companies dont, but I think they could either:
1: Put some more effort into it so Linux users get the same functionality as windows user
2: Release specs and code so other developers could do it for them.
yeah agree!!!
but i think they don't even bother to listen to minor users , that's really scuks!!

[connyosis]

I really hope they do listen to their users, even the minority ones.
After all we buy their products, and maybe its just me but I think that if you buy a product you should be able to use it the way it was intended

[Chalnoth]

Originally posted by connyosis
Yeah, that sucks.
I mean I am thankful that nVidia atleast provides drivers for Linux, a lot of companies dont, but I think they could either:
1: Put some more effort into it so Linux users get the same functionality as windows user
2: Release specs and code so other developers could do it for them.
You should look at their latest Linux nForce drivers. They've recently added quite a lot of functionality (just in the past few weeks), including S/PDIF out. I will have to say, however, that I haven't had the chance to test out the specific functionality that is being asked about in this thread.

[bahamot]

Originally posted by Chalnoth
You should look at their latest Linux nForce drivers. They've recently added quite a lot of functionality (just in the past few weeks), including S/PDIF out. I will have to say, however, that I haven't had the chance to test out the specific functionality that is being asked about in this thread.

a lot?
could you mention it? Thx in advance!
the only thing i know is SPDIF and how many people have that kind of speaker? I mean without buy a SBLive i could save $60 Aus and to use SPDIF i have to spend 3 figures just to be able get surround under linux?
i want a driver support analog speaker surround and multi stream!

[Chalnoth]

http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=linux_nforce_1.0-0261

The most important addition, in my opinion, is the addition of the AGP gart.

Oh, by the way, this version, apparently:
"Fixed bug in audio driver that was causing MSI nForce board to only use 2 channels"

[connyosis]

Well, I use a Abit NF7-S motherboard and I can only use the front speakers plug. Connecting speakers to the rear ones and I still only get sound from the front speakers.

[Chalnoth]

Originally posted by connyosis
Well, I use a Abit NF7-S motherboard and I can only use the front speakers plug. Connecting speakers to the rear ones and I still only get sound from the front speakers.
Check volume settings. The actual commands slip my mind at the moment, but there may be some info in the nforce drivers readme.

[connyosis]

I've checked the readme and done as it says. Still same thing. The thing I'm wondering about is the fact that I must enable support for another soundcard to get sound at all. (Otherwise I get errors about unresolved symbols with ac97 blah)
In my case I enabled support for the ensonic 1371 card. Could that be causing the problem?

[bahamot]

Originally posted by Chalnoth
The most important addition, in my opinion, is the addition of the AGP gart.

not usefull for Nvidia VGA.
Originally posted by Chalnoth
Oh, by the way, this version, apparently:
"Fixed bug in audio driver that was causing MSI nForce board to only use 2 channels"
Surround only for SPDIF i think.

[Chalnoth]

Originally posted by bahamot
not usefull for Nvidia VGA.
Um, just remember that before these drivers, it was impossible to use any non-ATI card in AGP mode on the nForce (which meant, in my case, an inability to use a Radeon 9700 in Linux).

So, the addition of this AGP gart is a huge step forward for the nForce's Linux drivers.

Surround only for SPDIF i think.
It's a start. Remember, these updates have only been within the past month or so. Previously, the only support for the nForce has been from slightly modified versions of other open source drivers. This is definitely a good first step for nVidia to start really supporting the nForce.

[connyosis]

Originally posted by Chalnoth
It's a start. Remember, these updates have only been within the past month or so. Previously, the only support for the nForce has been from slightly modified versions of other open source drivers. This is definitely a good first step for nVidia to start really supporting the nForce.

Sure, its a start and as I said I am grateful that nVidia makes Linux drivers for their products. Even if Linux is getting more and more common it is still a minority system, but I (And I'm sure a lot of other Linux users) are sick and tired or having to wait a long time for Linux drivers that compared to their windows eqvivalents doesnt have half the functions.
I see no reason for nVidia not to open source these drivers so they can be integraded into the Linux kernel, it would make a lot of things better for us nVidia Linux users.

Anyhow, I got the sound issue resolved by using ALSA, but I still think its kinda user unfriendly since alsa isnt integrated into the current stable kernel. When version 2.6 is released I guess this will be resolved.

[bahamot]

Originally posted by connyosis
but I (And I'm sure a lot of other Linux users) are sick and tired or having to wait a long time for Linux drivers that compared to their windows eqvivalents doesnt have half the functions.
I see no reason for nVidia not to open source these drivers so they can be integraded into the Linux kernel, it would make a lot of things better for us nVidia Linux users.

Agree!

Originally posted by connyosis
Anyhow, I got the sound issue resolved by using ALSA
but it still doesn't support multi stream right?

how long should we have to wait ???! I really prefer to get SBLive for $60 Aus than with current user support for linux. Also why there's no Bass and Treble control for both Win and Linux driver? does the hardware really not support it? it's really a shame for a sound card that people claim can match Audigy 2 but can't adjust Bass and Treble.
I know we could do something about it with equalizer, but bass and treble control are more convenient than we have to tweak that equalizer, some people just don't know how to adjust an equalizer you know!.

[connyosis]

Nope, no multistream, but atleast I can use more than two speakers which is nice.

[Chalnoth]

Originally posted by connyosis
I see no reason for nVidia not to open source these drivers so they can be integraded into the Linux kernel, it would make a lot of things better for us nVidia Linux users.
nVidia claims that the reason they will not open-source drivers is due to IP issues (i.e. IP that nVidia does not own exclusively). It stands to reason that at least one of these possible issues is the unified driver architecture, for which nVidia does not have exclusive patent rights (if I remember correctly, they share a cross-licensing agreement on the unified driver architecture with SGI, but I could be wrong). If this is indeed the case, then it becomes exceedingly challenging to open source much of the drivers at all, as the unified driver architecture lies at the very heart of how the drivers are coded.

[connyosis]

Yes, if this is so then I agree that open sourcing these drivers is harder. Though, SGI also has a history of supporting open source, so maybe its possible to convince them.
Still, nVidia can and should release the specs for their cards so that people can write better programs for them. For instance nvtv has problems with GF4 and FX cards, just beacuse the specs arent released.

[leyon]

Hi guys,
after installed ALSA ,
you can use eSound in all the software(such as mplayer,xmms),
so that you can use multi stream.

But who can tell me how to use rear speakers ,such as in mplayer(which plays ac3 xvid)?
My rear speakers are silent always except I check the "Duplication Front",but they arenot the real rear sound stream,
so anybody can help me ?
thx a lot.

[bahamot]

Originally posted by leyon
But who can tell me how to use rear speakers ,such as in mplayer(which plays ac3 xvid)?
My rear speakers are silent always except I check the "Duplication Front",but they arenot the real rear sound stream,
so anybody can help me ?
thx a lot.

have u check set line input as rear speaker?

[leyon]

Originally posted by bahamot
have u check set line input as rear speaker?
if windows , it works properly.
my alsa mixer setup shows as the attachment,
any suggestion ?
thx!

[bahamot]

Originally posted by leyon
if windows , it works properly.
my alsa mixer setup shows as the attachment,
any suggestion ?
thx!

Leyon, try set the surround volume up
from the screenshot i see the volume bar for surround is at level 0 :)

[leyon]

Originally posted by bahamot
Leyon, try set the surround volume up
from the screenshot i see the volume bar for surround is at level 0 :)
thx!
I found my mplayer setting was wrong too.
After I change "esd" to "oss" and add option "channels=4",
mplayer work properly now,
so cool :D