Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX USB Sound
Greetings,
I've got a Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX USB Soundcard plugged into my laptop's USB. I can't get it to do anything - the sound always comes from the internal soundcard/speakers, and I don't know how to switch. Additionally, the card's mute button is permanently lit, even though it is connected. I've looked on these forums and tried googling my way around, but there just isn't that much information on how to get it working. But I have read that it is supported. Running Slackware 10, kernel 2.6.7, 8k stacks. At boot, the following comes up: (this also is in dmesg) Code:
usbcore: deregistering driver audio Code:
root@purplehaze:~/linux-2.6.7# lsmod I tried running Knoppix, and it was a little different - the little ksoundmix applet in the taskbar asked me which device I wanted, so I assume it was a step further. But the card was still muted... Here's my lspci just in case it helps. Code:
root@purplehaze:~/linux-2.6.7# lspci -atm |
Have to bump this thread, didn't get any replies yet. It can't be that hard to get usb soundcards working under Linux!
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I renamed the onboard sound's drivers so that it couldn't find them, thinking that maybe it loads them first, preventing the USB from being loaded. To a certain extent I was right. Now, the little kmixer kicker applet gives the option between two USB devices. Both have a main, cdrom, and mic control. KMix shows both of them too.
But when I try to launch alsamixer, I get the following error: Code:
alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such device Where can I set the device for default? |
Did you or anyone ever get this working? because I just borrowed one to test and have not as yet got it working.
I am on SuSE 9.1 Pro. |
Yeah, I did finally get it working, although it wasn't obvious. You have to be sure you have modularized sound support. Then, you have to rename/get rid of/not load the module called 'sound' (if I remember right) because it prevents the USB driver from taking control of the sound. If you have an integrated sound (like a laptop) then you also have to make sure you disable that. If I didn't make myself clear, ask again and I'll try to do a better job. But it does work!
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ahh ok, cool. Thanks for posting back your results, I am sure that will save me a lot of time!
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Atmchicago, I am a newbie on linux :( (learning it for school and to get rid of windows since it's evil ;) )
Can you go in more details on the steps to installing the audigy 2 NX on linux. How do you make your sound modularized? Where are the sound drivers usually put? Is that /dev/dsp? I have a laptop...how to you take off onboard sound? Does the remote control for the sound card work? I appreciate any help you can give. The Overseer |
When I was talking about making sound modularized, I meant in the menus for compiling yourself a kernel. If you haven't compiled your own kernel before, I suggest you do it, as it helps you in the learning process. Otherwise, your stock redhat/suse/whatever kernel problably has it modularized anyway. When you compile the kernel you can choose to enable, disable, or build as module. Modules give you more flexibility.
Drivers are stored in the form of *.ko module files in /lib/modules/{kernel-version}/kernel/... The easy way for me to do it was to rename /lib/modules/2.6.7/kernel/drivers/usb/audio.ko (I think that's the one, this is coming from memory) to audio.ko-bak. The audio.ko tries to take control of the sound away from you and doesn't let you use the external card. I also commented out /lib/modules/2.6.7/kernel/sound/drivers/pci/intel-8x0.ko to intel-8x0.bak. (once again, I think that's where it is). I'm not sure if you have to do that or not, but if you don't care about the onboard sound then that will certainly do the trick. As for the remote control: the power button to turn it off and on does, but I think most of the functions are based on software for windows. Since Creative sucks and didn't write any software for Linux, I don't think you can adjust the volume or things like that for the time being via remote. Have to use alsamixer or the like. Hope that helps. |
thx alot, now all I have to do is learn how to compile the kernel :)
I have been reading about it so it shouldn't be too hard When I come back from my vacation I am going to tackle the problem and post my results thx again really appreciate it The Overseer |
hey I have been fiddling with what you have told me, I did everything except recompiling the kernel. Alsamixer sees the Audigy 2 NX but when I play something, it crackeling and I can't get 5.1 sound :(
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The crackeling happens because by default the sound is at 44100hz, and you want it at 48000hz. If you use KDE, it's easy to change that - do it in the arts configuration. You can also add it in your .asoundrc file - but that's a real pain in the ass, and I'm still messing with it myself.
As for the 5.1, technically you should only get sound in your rear speakers if you play a 5.1 surround sound file. I think the Alsa website has some you can download to test. If you want to mirror your front speakers to your rear ones, there is supposed to be a way to do that. I tried to but didn't have a 'net connection on my laptop so I have to wait a few more days. I'll keep this posted when I get that working. |
what if I use WineHQ and use the windows drivers?
will it only work for program that is runned in the emulator? (I am assuming yes but I want to make sure) If it's only in the emulator, all I really need is to install winamp and powerdvd and I should be fine to listen to a true surround sound while still in linux. Right? |
Using windows drivers is trickier than just using wine. You can try running the software through it though. Mplayer and Xine both say they support 5.1 surround, so you probably won't have to install winamp.
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I am using Mandrake 9.2 and if my Audigy 2 NX USB is turn on... my entire system stalled.
Do I have to install the driver or something else? Where can I get the driver? |
Well if I turn it off my keyboard freezes. :confused:
The driver is in the linux kernel. It's called snd-usb-audio. If you know how to compile your own kernels, then you know how to enable it. Otherwise, check on how to compile your kernels. |
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