[SOLVED] HDMI audio with Slackware64-current

GasPipe · 10-12-2011, 07:54 AM

Hi,

I installed Slack64-current this morning into my HTPC and now I'm trying to get HDMI audio working.
OK, I got it to work but KMix doesn't show any volume controls. I have unmuted all four S/PDIF channels from alsamixer.

I have added these lines into ~/.asoundrc:

Code:

pcm.!default {
     type hw
     card 0
     device 7
}

I have installed Nvidia proprietary drivers for my GPU.

My graphics card is GeForce GT220.

Any suggestions how I can get KMix to show up channels? Thanks!

jayfree · 10-12-2011, 08:32 AM

Quit Kmix and try entering

Quote:

KMIX_PULSEAUDIO_DISABLE=1 kmix

in a terminal window, see what you get.

If that does what you want you have to make that variable permanent something like adding

Quote:

export KMIX_PULSEAUDIO_DISABLE=1

to your ~/.bashrc file. Pulseaudio is different, it only shows volume sliders for what is playing.

GasPipe · 10-12-2011, 09:36 AM

Thank you for answer.

Unfortunately that didn't work out:

Code:

bash-4.1$ KMIX_PULSEAUDIO_DISABLE=1 kmix
grepHelper: File does not exists:  "/proc/asound/card0/pcm0p/info" 
kmix(3693): Cannot load profile  "ALSA.HDA_NVidia.1.default"  . It was removed by the user, or the KMix config file is defective. 
kmix(3693): Cannot load profile  "ALSA.HDA_NVidia.1.default"  . It was removed by the user, or the KMix config file is defective. 
bash-4.1$ kmix: Fatal IO error: client killed
QEventLoop: Cannot be used without QApplication
Unable to start Dr. Konqi

H_TeXMeX_H · 10-12-2011, 10:14 AM

See:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...2/#post4032980

GasPipe · 10-12-2011, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_TeXMeX_H

See:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...2/#post4032980

That didn't help.
As I said earlier, I have the audio, aplay lists my card correctly and I can listen to for example Spotify.

The only thing I'm missing here is the controls from KMix. There's no channels at all.

I raise here a second question about nvidia drivers:
I'm using Twinview with following setup:
24" 1920x1080 LCD monitor
32" 1360x768 LCD TV

I'm using the 24" monitor as a primary screen and TV as secondary screen, left of the monitor. I have arranged the TV screen to be in the middle compared to the monitor. I know, I'm a pretty horrible at explaining things so I attached a screenshot.
As you can see there's this black space above and below the TV screen. Although it didn't show in the TV screen. But I know it's there becuase my mouse cursor vanishes there from time to time.
This is kind of annoying so I'm asking is there any way I can restrict the mouse cursor for going to the black zone of screen?

And then there's this problem:
I have connected my screens like this:
GPU(HDMI) -> A/V receiver -> TV
GPU(DVI) -> Monitor

If I power on my A/V receiver but not my TV the system doesn't recognize audio at all. So if I want to listen some music and work with my monitor at the same time, that's not working if I don't power on my TV and restart X server. That's a big downside compared to windows. But I like to hope that there is also fix for this problem. :-)

jayfree · 10-12-2011, 01:50 PM

Maybe you should delete that .asound file and configure sound through Phonon, I believe most systems do not need that file anyway, I know my system(s) don't have that file.

disturbed1 · 10-12-2011, 08:19 PM

You should not get controls for HDMI, as there is not hardware level volume control. HDMI simply passes sound. If the application your are using has software volume level control, you can use that application to control the volume. Kmix, alsamixer, xfce mixer --- are hardware mixers. Otherwise just use the volume control on your receiver, TV, ....

About your Nvidia driver question -
It's working as expected. You have two different resolutions defined. Either match the resolutions, or use separate X screens. Twin View is Clone View. Considering it's a Clone, the dead space is expected. Sucks I know

ReaperX7 · 10-12-2011, 11:35 PM

Nvidia's HDMI audio should be supported by the latest version of ALSA (and the kernel). However the setup might have some issues...

Double check your install and configuration against the official documents from Nvidia here:
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/gp...dmi-audio.html

GasPipe · 10-13-2011, 02:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disturbed1

You should not get controls for HDMI, as there is not hardware level volume control. HDMI simply passes sound. If the application your are using has software volume level control, you can use that application to control the volume. Kmix, alsamixer, xfce mixer --- are hardware mixers. Otherwise just use the volume control on your receiver, TV, ....

Ok, that makes sense. So there's no way to control master audio using software, like in windows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by disturbed1

About your Nvidia driver question -
It's working as expected. You have two different resolutions defined. Either match the resolutions, or use separate X screens. Twin View is Clone View. Considering it's a Clone, the dead space is expected. Sucks I know

Well I can't match the resolutions if I want to be able to watch HD material without scaling and I sure want!
I tried before using separate X screens but there's this problem that I can't seaminglessly move windows from one screen to another.

So I guess there's still not that kind of extended desktop mode like in windows for linux?

Quote:

Nvidia's HDMI audio should be supported by the latest version of ALSA (and the kernel). However the setup might have some issues...

Double check your install and configuration against the official documents from Nvidia here:
ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/gp...dmi-audio.html

Thanks for the link. It contains information that answers a couple of my questions:

Quote:

HDMI audio does not work when X is not running and active on the VT; previously, the document stated that it simply may not work.

Got that right...

Quote:

Noted that no monitor is required; an A/V receiver is sufficient.

In my experience A/V receiver is not sufficent.

disturbed1 · 10-13-2011, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GasPipe

Ok, that makes sense. So there's no way to control master audio using software, like in windows?

If the application uses software volume control, then that application can control the volume of its output. For an example, we have MythTV connected to our TV through HDMI. MythTV has the option for software volume control or hardware volume control. When I choose software volume control, +/- controls the volume. With hardware volume control, +/- goes through the motions, but volume is not changed. Many applications do support software volume control, though you usually need to fiddle with an option or 2. Haven't personally investigated enough applications. Our PCs that utilize HDMI are connected to single TVs, and we allow the TV to control the volume.

Quote:

Well I can't match the resolutions if I want to be able to watch HD material without scaling and I sure want!
I tried before using separate X screens but there's this problem that I can't seaminglessly move windows from one screen to another.

So I guess there's still not that kind of extended desktop mode like in windows for linux?

AFAIK, this was the way it was. I could be (hopefully) wrong.
You might get a better answer at www.nvnews.net.

GasPipe · 10-13-2011, 03:37 AM

Thanks disturbed1!

I'm using Spotify to listen to music and they have this preview version for linux. Unfortunately the volume control bar isn't working (I'm guessing they are using pulseaudio) and the application is crashing like once per hour. They are only offering debian and fedora packages :-(
I used to use wine for spotify but I don't want to install multilib anymore. Of course I could use something like despotify because I'm paying 10€ per month for premium...

I'm marking this thread as SOLVED although it kind of is not. If I make something to work, I'll let you know.