Re: [linux-audio-user] A nice PCI audio card for the PC?

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Subject: Re: [linux-audio-user] A nice PCI audio card for the PC?
From: Stephen Hassard (steve_AT_hassard.net)
Date: Mon Jun 21 2004 - 04:46:57 EEST


Their's a bug in the driver that mutes the left primary channel on init
until you bumb the mixer values. no matter how much you do an 'alsactl
restore' you don't get your left channel to play. mixer looks fine, but
no audio until the mixer twidle..

mmap support also seems to be lacking last I checked, so I wouldn't
suggest it for linux gaming.

otherwise, it's got really nice clean output, and is relatively cheap.

oh, it's also missing internal analog/digital audio connectors for
CDROM, etc. I also doesn't have a joystick port, so no MIDI I/O.

It's a really nice card when combined with an on-board AC97 for gaming
and generic blips.

I just wish someone would fix the mute bug in the driver. :P

later,
Steve

RickTaylor_AT_speakeasy.net wrote:
> There's this... {sorry 'bout the word wrap.} It has OSS support and there's a
> couple posts on the alsa users list regarding partial support. Seeing as it
> would make a great card for gamers and offices and for folk that want high
> quality 7-1 surround at the same price as your average sound card... I'm
> surprised it's not better supported.
>
> It does have an envy 24 chip in it which is pretty much supported
> otherwise... It's probably a gamble unless you want to go with OSS.
>
> I'm sure someone else knows more about it...
>
> http://www.midiman.com/index.php?do=products.main&ID=0ed0405324041d8025a955aa6ae
> 2db1c
>
> On 20-Jun-2004 Malcolm Baldridge wrote:
> } Egads, I know I'm being a bit lazy and irresponsible tossing such a basic
> } question into this list, but I'm hoping to cut through most of the forest
> } of data to hone in to the right area.
> }
> } I think I'm "done" with messing about with various motherboard audio
> } hardware - it's pretty noisy and has quite a few limitations I'm starting
> } to find annoying.
> }
> } I have a (genuine) Aureal A3D Vortex2 PCI card in my stockpile of hardware,
> } but the support on both Wintendo and Linux seems iffy at best.
> }
> } I have modest requirements:
> }
> } 1) Stereo in/out's fine, but multi-channel output is a pure bonus.
> }
> } 2) It should be as clean as practical - I realise outboard DAC/ADC is the
> } way to go if the godliness of Clean is sought, but I don't need better than
> } a -93dB noise floor.
> }
> } 3) It should have reprogrammable bitclocks so that resampling is not
> } necessary at any bitrate of sampling OR playback. Creative Labs seems to
> } have gone the way of fixed-rates and overrelies on DSP hardware to "patch
> } up" support for various user configurable bitrates. 96KHz support would be
> } awesome, but 48K wouldn't be a problem. Likewise, with sample sizes, 16's
> } all I need, but 20 or 24 would be awesome.
> }
> } 4) Intelligent and flexible audio-routing [monitoring would be nice, but
> } isn't required] so that I don't have minefields of which channels are
> } shadowed to which channels when recording from LINE OUT. I ran into so
> } real minefields with some motherboard chipsets where it was quite difficult
> } to record LINE IN audio without having LINE OUT audio mixed in with it.
> }
> } 5) Rich and excellent ALSA support, of course.
> }
> } 6) It should be a well-performing card with good bus-mastering DMA support
> } so driving it doesn't take too many CPU cycles.
> } I've seen Turtle Beach hardware on sale for reasonable prices, and a
> } generally positive writeup on these in various ALSA groups. How are they
> } for audio quality and performance?
> }
> } 7) Under US$200 price tag. Preferably under US$100.
> }
> } Am I asking for something that exists? Thanks for your patience.
> }
> } =MB=
> }
> } PS: My negative bias against Creative Labs is not cast in stone - if my
> } impressions or perceptions are mistaken, I'm happy to correct them.
> }
> } PPS: The Hammerfall cards look *AWESOME*, however I sense they are way over
> } my price range.
> }
> } --
> } A focus on Quality.
>
> ----------------------------------
> E-Mail: RickTaylor_AT_Speakeasy.Net
> Date: 20-Jun-2004
> Time: 19:16:27
>
> This message was sent by XFMail
> ----------------------------------


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