SB Live again

[synchratic]

Ok, I have been fighting with this thing for weeks. I am very new to linux as are most people these days. I have a Soundblaster Live Value sound card that I can not get sound out of for anything, I have followed the NHF on this site and every possible solution I have seen on various message boards and web sites with no luck.

When I run sndconfig it appears to load my soundcard drivers and all is fine there, but when I try to play any audio whatsoever (mp3, Cd's, wav, system sounds) I get no sound.

Anyone have any ideas how to get this thing working?

Thank you very much for any help.

By the way I am running Mandrake 8 now, but have also tried Mandrake 7.2 and RH 7.1 with the same outcome.

Thanks again

[Craig McPherson]

Have you compiled the Emu10K module?

Have you modprobed it?

Do you get any errors when you modprobe it?

Does it show up on "lsmod"?

Does /dev/dsp exist after you've modprobed the module?

Have you tried catting a .wav file into /dev/dsp to test the sound system? (ie "cat filename.wav > /dev/dsp")

Have you verified all the non-technical stuff -- speakers plugged in properly?

Have you checked your mixer values to make sure your volume isn't all the way down?

Answer those questions to give us an idea of where you are, then someone will be able to tell you where to go from there.

[synchratic]

1. If part of the LNO NHF was compiling the emu10k1 module then I have tried it, if not it has not been done.

2. I get no errors when I modprobe it.

3. emu10k1 does show up on lsmod along with something called soundcore

4. in the /dev directory I have dsp, dsp1, dsp56k, adsp0, adsp1, adsp2, and adsp3.

5. Tried catting a .wav file with no sound.

6. Speakers are plugged in and sound works fine in Win2k. And all volumes are turned up in the mixer.

Thanks for the reply

[ 19 June 2001: Message edited by: synchratic ]

[ssadams]

try and dissabling Plug and Pray in your bios.As every one here will attest to, getting the SB Live ot work in any modern distro is a no brainer.Mandrake will install the card without any input from you.

[synchratic]

Mandrake installed my card with no problems at all. All drivers are loaded and sound is working according to Mandrake, I just don't get any sound. I can open sound files in xmms and it plays them but I don't hear any sound. I have also tried playing a cd with the CD player with the same result, no errors but no sound either.

I am using a Gateway computer and there is no BIOS option to disable Plug and Play.

[synchratic]

Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks

[bdg1983]

If Mandrake detected your card and the modules are loaded correctly with no conflicts, then I would say it's either that your speakers are not plugged in the right jack or the volume is not turned up enough. I would imagine you have already verified this.

You may find other suggestions at http://www.mandrakeuser.org/index.php

[synchratic]

Yeah, all volumes are up and everything works when I boot into Win2k (dual-boot on same computer with Mandrake). I'll check out that link to see if I get any info over there.

Thanks

[synchratic]

Well, I tried the suggested site as well as a few others I came across and still can't get this figured out.

Does anyone else have any ideas about what else I could try to get this working?

Thanks

[ssadams]

what does the lines in /etc/modules.conf say
in reguards to sound,maybe something might have to be added.

[Interplexie]

I'm running on the digital out and i know in winders, I have to change the mixer to only digital out to get anything out of my speakers. In mandrake I dont get sound, but I think, its because my mixer is not on digital out, but I don't know.

[synchratic]

There is only one line having to do with sound in the /etc/modules.conf file.

alias sound-slot-0 emu10k1

If you need me to post the rest of the lines just let me know, I didn't have the time right now. The rest are all in reference to other things like my ethernet cards, usb adapter and such. No other sound entries.

Thanks again for the help.

[ 23 June 2001: Message edited by: synchratic ]

[Unruly]

I hate to have to resort to this, but you might just have to grab the new kernel (or 2.2.19) and compile it with the emu10k1 module in it.

My sblive x-gamer works great with it.

[synchratic]

Well, if a new kernel is what it takes I am willing to give it a shot. As I am completely new to Linux I will most definitely need some assistance compiling a new kernel so if you would be willing to give some instruction or point me at some on the web I would really appreciate it.

Thanks

[bdg1983]

Have you tried switching from the digital connection to the regular to verify that the soundcard works in Linux? Might be advisable to do before you attempt a new kernel compile.

There are a couple of kernel compile NHF's you can check out to get an idea of what is involved first.

I get the feeling that the digital out is not supported.

Try http://opensource.creative.com/ as they might have some info.

[synchratic]

I don't have a digital connection on my card, only the 1/8" analog jacks. Any other ideas before I try a kernel compile?

[Molecule Man]

Try opening up a sound mixer like aumix or gmix. Might be you have some thing turned down. Turning off PNP OS in BIOS makes a big difference.