no sound from ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI

[gwpritch]

I am about to lose it over this sound problem. I have searched the forum and google to the nth degree and found similar problems but no solutions that work for me.
I am getting no sound out of my Ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI card in FC5 . I have tried upgrading the kernel, upgrading alsa, changing permissions on devices, nothing seems to work.
The maddening thing is I did manage to get it to work for a very brief period but as soon as I rebooted I was back to square one.
Interestingly enough when it did work there was a Master volume slider in a mixer . Now there is none. As a matter of fact, several of the controls are missing including CD volume.

Here is the output from /root/scsound.log generated when the auto sound configuration was done. Could someone have a look and see what they think. Note amix section.


------- System Config Soundcard --------
Mon Apr 24 22:19:11 EDT 2006

------- lspci --------
00:00.0 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C693A/694x [Apollo PRO133x] (rev c4)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C598/694x [Apollo MVP3/Pro133x AGP]
00:04.0 ISA bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super South] (rev 22)
00:04.1 IDE interface: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE (rev 10)
00:04.2 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 10)
00:04.3 USB Controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller (rev 10)
00:04.4 Host bridge: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 [Apollo Super ACPI] (rev 30)
00:08.0 Multimedia audio controller: Ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI (rev 02)
00:09.0 Ethernet controller: Linksys NC100 Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 (rev 11)
00:0a.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL-8139/8139C/8139C+ (rev 10)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc Radeon R200 QL [Radeon 8500 LE]

------- lsmod --------
Module Size Used by
radeon 96097 1
drm 63701 2 radeon
ppdev 8645 0
autofs4 19013 1
hidp 15937 2
rfcomm 34517 0
l2cap 23617 10 hidp,rfcomm
bluetooth 44069 3 hidp,rfcomm,l2cap
sunrpc 136573 1
iptable_nat 8133 0
ip_nat 16621 1 iptable_nat
ppp_synctty 10433 0
ppp_async 11841 1
crc_ccitt 2241 1 ppp_async
ppp_generic 28373 6 ppp_synctty,ppp_async
slhc 6593 1 ppp_generic
ip_conntrack_netbios_ns 3009 0
ipt_REJECT 5441 1
xt_state 2241 2
ip_conntrack 49261 4 iptable_nat,ip_nat,ip_conntrack_netbios_ns,xt_stat e
nfnetlink 6489 2 ip_nat,ip_conntrack
xt_tcpudp 3265 7
iptable_filter 3137 1
ip_tables 11657 2 iptable_nat,iptable_filter
x_tables 12613 5 iptable_nat,ipt_REJECT,xt_state,xt_tcpudp,ip_table s
dm_mirror 19985 0
dm_mod 50521 1 dm_mirror
video 14917 0
button 6609 0
battery 9285 0
ac 4933 0
ipv6 225569 14
lp 12297 0
usblp 13377 0
floppy 57733 0
nvram 8393 0
uhci_hcd 28881 0
snd_ens1371 24801 0
gameport 15177 1 snd_ens1371
snd_rawmidi 24001 1 snd_ens1371
snd_ac97_codec 83937 1 snd_ens1371
snd_ac97_bus 2497 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_seq_dummy 3781 0
snd_seq_oss 28993 0
snd_seq_midi_event 7105 1 snd_seq_oss
snd_seq 47153 5 snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_seq_device 8909 4 snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_dummy,snd_seq_oss,snd_seq
snd_pcm_oss 45009 0
snd_mixer_oss 16449 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 76869 3 snd_ens1371,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 22597 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 50501 10 snd_ens1371,snd_rawmidi,snd_ac97_codec,snd_seq_oss ,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss, snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 9377 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 10441 1 snd_pcm
i2c_viapro 8277 0
via686a 15561 0
hwmon 3269 1 via686a
i2c_isa 5185 1 via686a
i2c_core 20673 3 i2c_viapro,via686a,i2c_isa
8139too 25409 0
8139cp 21185 0
tulip 46817 0
parport_pc 25445 1
parport 34313 3 ppdev,lp,parport_pc
mii 5313 2 8139too,8139cp
ext3 116809 3
jbd 53077 1 ext3

------- /etc/modprobe.conf --------
alias eth0 8139too
alias eth1 tulip
alias snd-card-0 snd-ens1371
options snd-card-0 index=0
options snd-ens1371 index=0
remove snd-ens1371 { /usr/sbin/alsactl store 0 >/dev/null 2>&1 || : ; }; /sbin/modprobe -r --ignore-remove snd-ens1371

------- /etc/asound.conf --------


------- aplay -l --------
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: AudioPCI [Ensoniq AudioPCI], device 0: ES1371/1 [ES1371 DAC2/ADC]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: AudioPCI [Ensoniq AudioPCI], device 1: ES1371/2 [ES1371 DAC1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

------- amixer --------
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Center',0
Capabilities: volume volume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Mono
Limits: 0 - 15
Mono: 12 [80%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Depth',0
Capabilities: volume volume-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Capture channels: Mono
Limits: 0 - 15
Mono: 12 [80%]
Simple mixer control '3D Control - Switch',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Line',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Line In->Rear Out',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'CD',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [on]
Front Right: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost (+20dB)',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Select',0
Capabilities: enum
Items: 'Mic1' 'Mic2'
Item0: 'Mic1'
Simple mixer control 'Video',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Phone',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Aux',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mono Output Select',0
Capabilities: enum
Items: 'Mix' 'Mic'
Item0: 'Mix'
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
Capabilities: cvolume cswitch cswitch-joined
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Limits: Capture 0 - 15
Front Left: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Front Right: Capture 0 [0%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mix',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mix Mono',0
Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-exclusive
Capture exclusive group: 0
Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
Front Left: Capture [off]
Front Right: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'External Amplifier',0
Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
Playback channels: Mono
Mono: Playback [on]

------- /proc/asound/version --------
Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.11rc2 (Wed Jan 04 08:57:20 2006 UTC).

------- rpm -q alsa-lib --------
alsa-lib-1.0.11-3.rc2.2

------- rpm -q alsa-utils --------
alsa-utils-1.0.11-3.rc2

------- /proc/asound/modules --------
0 snd_ens1371

------- /proc/asound/pcm --------
00-01: ES1371/2 : ES1371 DAC1 : playback 1
00-00: ES1371/1 : ES1371 DAC2/ADC : playback 1 : capture 1

------- system-config-soundcard --------

/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/soundcard.py:273: DeprecationWarning: use gtk.ComboBox
self.primarySubDeviceOptionMenu = gtk.OptionMenu()
/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/soundcard.py:308: GtkDeprecationWarning: gtk.timeout_add is deprecated, use gobject.timeout_add instead
self.timer = gtk.timeout_add (100, self.checkStatus, self)
/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/soundcard.py:548: GtkDeprecationWarning: gtk.TRUE is deprecated, use True instead
gtk.main()
Playing WAVE '/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/sound-sample.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Playing WAVE '/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/sound-sample.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Playing WAVE '/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/sound-sample.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Playing WAVE '/usr/share/system-config-soundcard/sound-sample.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Read config:
card 0
device 0
HW 0
----------- Kudzu -------------
Desc: Ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI
Driver: snd-ens1371
Device: None

----------- **** -------------

[hard candy]

Did you ever do 'alsaconfig" using the console as "su"? Open console, "su"-->password-->alsaconfig and then accept the defaults.
If so, did you get any errors?
Do your /home directories have a hidden file named "/home/.asoundrc". Not really required but would be setup with alsaconfig.

[gwpritch]

I have installed the modules with both alsaconf and manually, with the same results. alsaconf seemed to work flawlessly...identified card, set up module etc etc , no errors...told me to have fun!...this is no longer fun! I have even gone as far as to reinstall FC5.

I have looked high and low for .asoundrc but it doesn't seem to exist, not in root or my home directory. There is a asound.conf and sound.state in /etc, but neither provides anything useful. When I got the sound to work briefly it was by removing asound.state...at least that is what I thought, but that didn't work a second time.

I am wondering if the sound is muted but I can't do anything about it because the Master Volume doesn't show up in alsamixer...or kmixer for that matter. Is there something I can do from command-line to unmute and adjust the volume directly?

I'd suspect the hardward if I hadn't gotten it working once and sound works fine in WinXP. It should be providing full-duplex, stereo sound, not just mono as indicated in the configuration log.

AARRRRGGHH!

[hard candy]

In your mixer, are there a couple of sliders named mic-input-sensing and line-input-sensing (or something similiar to those)? If so, try muting those two.

[gwpritch]

I'm pretty sure the mic is muted but I'll try the line tonight when I get home.
Thanks

[gwpritch]

Nothin'!!

Some googling has presented the idea that some other device loaded after the sound card may be hijacking the mixer settings. In the one case I read, it was a modem. When the modem was 'black-listed'...behold there was sound! But I have no idea how to tell which device might be guilty or how to blacklist it. Anyone have any ideas.

[hard candy]

It's been awhile, but in /etc/hotplug there may be a blacklist file. You would add the modem module name to the list. That would keep it from loading.

[gwpritch]

s$@#, cr@p and corruption!!!! I give up! Its got to be the hardware!!! or my own stupidity!!! Out of shere frustration I deep sixed FC5 and installed Slackware 10.2.....same problem.

Can anyone suggest a problem free sound card?

Off topic...why is it that with no apps other than gkrellm running on an identical kde desktop, FC5 shows 105 processes running and Slack only 52?

Anyway, thanks for the help. I appreciate it.

[topher800]

Did you ever get this figured out? I have the same card and same problem. Been working great on FC3.

[gwpritch]

Sorry...I'm embarrassed to say I gave up. I am getting a new laptop next week and this box is going to stay XP for the kids' games. I'd suggest punting the thing into next week and buying a new card. This one just about pushed me to the edge.
Now I'm having a real relaxing time getting wireless to work on my network :eek:...almost there.
Good Luck...if you get it working, let me know what you did, I'd be interested.

[topher800]

Yesterday I was doing all my testing through the headphones (both speakers & headphones are plugged into the card).

Today I powered on the speakers full volume (volume control is maxed for all itemsalso ) and I can faintly hear the sound out of the speakers. So sounds like some sort of volume control still isn't correct somewhere.

[gwpritch]

Mine is the same...if I really crank the volume I can hear eg. the MP3 playing through the static.