[linux-audio-user] Re: ALSA: What is the website missing?

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Subject: [linux-audio-user] Re: ALSA: What is the website missing?
From: Robert Epprecht (epprecht_AT_solnet.ch)
Date: Wed Dec 03 2003 - 12:54:02 EET


Patrick Shirkey <pshirkey_AT_boosthardware.com> writes:

> Also, could everyone who is interested please have a look at this
> updated version of the matrix:
>
> http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php
>
> I will be working on this page from now on.

That's very much appreciated. The outdated soundcard matrix was one of
the biggest drawbacks of the ALSA project, IMHO.

BTW: Why does the selection of the manufacturer not stay in the field
     but returns to the first choice (AudioExcel) after I klick on Go?

BTW2: In order to double check some information given below I tried the
     search from the main ALSA page. It gave me a 'Not Found' error :-(

The following comments belong to the details of the RME Hammerfall DSP
card family:

Firmware: In the past there have been problems with different firmware
versions, but different people got different results: i.e. there's a
comment in the matrix from Johannes Taelman about him having to downgrade
the firmware to version 10, while I made the experience the other way
round: v10 did *not* work for me, v11 (0b) did. I have heard (but not
tested myself) that the firmware problem is solved in the newest drivers,
so I vote for *deleting* the existing firmware comments from the matrix
in order not to confuse new users. As RME seems to change firmware from
time to time I would find it helpful to tell new users how they can
determine which version their card has (see below).

Some important steps that I had missed on the path of setting up a
RME Hammerfall DSP card (in my case a PCI interface and a multiface)
on a Linux box using ALSA let me propose the following detail comments
to the sound card matrix:

* There are some really nice add-ons from Thomas Charbonnel for this card
  family in the alsa-tools package.

* After loading the snd-hdsp module you *have to* call hdsploader from
  alsa-tools. The driver does not work without that step.

* Things like un-muting, setting channel levels and channel routing is
  done in 'hdspmixer' from alsa-tools.

* Settings like clock sync, sample rate and type of SPDIF in/out are set
  by the program called 'hdspconf' from the same package.

* If you encounter problems it might be a good idea to mention the firmware
  version of your card when reporting/asking. Determine it with 'lspci -vv'

Robert Epprecht


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