Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z - audio card - other choices

Hello all. This audio card works fine with windows 10. I haven’t tried it on windows 11 yet.

I can’t get it work on ‘Opensuse 15.4’. I like to get it to work and use all the extra features. Are there any plans to fully support this audio card? As It is, I have to choose monitors with speakers, since I use Linux.

Else, are linux compatible audio cards that use pci/e slot that have all the extra features (that come with modern audio cards) with opensuse 15.4 GUI?

Thanks.

To be honest, I haven’t used a sound card in decades. Linux has always worked with the on-board audio connection from my motherboard. These days I don’t even use that. Instead i have a USB HyperX surround sound headset.

But, what is the nature of your problem? No audio at all? Distorted audio? Something Else? I’ll Google it and read up on the common issues in a bit.

With respect to the Sound Blaster Z, what features does it provide that are missing in Linux? Maybe start by sharing some diagnostic output as well…

https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Audio_troubleshooting#Script_to_run_to_obtain_detailed_information

OK it looks like this is an OLD issue, maybe. Years ago add-on soundcards were sometimes muted by the kernel during the boot process. Back then the solution was to use a package called alsa-mixer to unmute the card. To be honest, this is why I stopped using add-on audio cards. I have no clue how to fix it with Pulse Audio, but I do hope this points you in the direction.

Such hardware support is more likely to be kernel-version related, (rather than distro-specific as such), but perhaps if you can outline what features you’re looking for in a sound card, others can then chime in with their recommendations.

But, what is the nature of your problem? No audio at all? Distorted audio? Something Else? I’ll Google it and read up on the common issues in a bit.
With respect to the Sound Blaster Z, what features does it provide that are missing in Linux? Maybe start by sharing some diagnostic output as well…

I’m using my laptop now, since my desktop system is getting old and getting more and more unstable. I can get to the desktop system in a few days.

(Doing this from memory) The issue is no sound. Alsa Mixer does nothing. I haven’t checked it in a long time.

From Pulse Audio Volume:
select devices - > sound blaster z
select configuration → sound blaster z. I’ve tried nearly everything on the menu, no sound.

The best i’ve heard is random crackling.

Such hardware support is more likely to be kernel-version related, (rather than distro-specific as such), but perhaps if you can outline what features you’re looking for in a sound card, others can then chime in with their recommendations.

The features of this sound card work fine for me. Basic features and a extra features to access (bells and whistles). There windows 10 app has one feature for two speakers systems, like monitors. Volume boost and room echo settings.

The internet is littered with forum posts and bug reports concerning various models of SBZ cards. It would be good for a user of such cards to chime in with their experiences. Based on my recent reading, it is a member of a family of cards best avoided in the Linux world. Without any specifics chipset details, and maybe some diagnostic output (from alsa-info.sh), no one will be able to contribute further though.

Just in case the following is applicable to your situation…

I installed ‘opensuse leap 15.5’ and restored all my files on the desktop and laptop. I’m on my laptop now. So, I’ll get any info requests as soon as I can.

I checked and alsa-firmware is installed. Alsa info file created from script.

https://paste.opensuse.org/pastes/b3cfa6ade459

alsa-firmware was installed.

Pulse Volume Audio Control:
configuration or devices → settings for sound blaster z → menu ‘analog 5.1 speakers with analog input’

In firefox, I set pav applications to sound blaster z.

No audio

So you have surround sound? Not just stereo output?

If you truly have surround sound, then the following guide may apply with respect to PulseAudio…
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PulseAudio/Examples#Surround_sound_systems

The uploaded alsa-info.sh output reported…

snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1: ca0132 failed to download DSP

This is unfortunately a common scenario (if you care to search online). Some examples I found…
https://www.reddit.com/r/SoundBlasterOfficial/comments/i84832/creative_sound_core_3d_ca0132_r3dr3dizzxrzxriae5/
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=251997
Others have reported rebooting (sometimes a number of times) may sometimes eventuate with a working card and this kernel message instead…

snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1: ca0132 DSP downloaded and running

Also, in this Manjaro thread it was reported that stereo sound output worked but not surround sound…

I’m not sure that I can offer more here, other than to raise a bug report. Not an openSUSE-specific issue as such.

One final thought: Check the installed firmware. Report back with the output from

ls -la /lib/firmware |grep ct

Sound cards which use the CA0132 firmware require ctefx.bin.

If ctefx.bin (ctefx.bin.xz) is missing, then install with

sudo zypper in kernel-firmware-sound

and reboot.

Yes a ‘5.1’ analog surround sound system.

sub-woofer (hardware disabled)
center
Front Left
Front Right
Rear Left
Rear Right.

Ok, check my other replies as well. Do you also have (wired) headphones to test with?

I have everything listed here in a reference file. I’ll post information when I get the chance.

The monitor speakers I have work. I think I have the lots of the cheap headphone/ear buds. I may have good headphones, but my ears overheat when I use them.

I’ll try them with my sound card headphone output jack and use PAV to set to the headphone jack.

#ls -la /lib/firmware |grep ct
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 311060 Jul 25 01:12 ct2fw-3.2.5.1.bin.xz
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 655856 Feb 20 2021 ctefx-desktop.bin
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 655816 Feb 20 2021 ctefx-r3di.bin
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 88224 Jul 25 01:12 ctefx.bin.xz
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 283836 Jul 25 01:12 ctfw-3.2.5.1.bin.xz
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 3216 Jul 25 01:12 ctspeq.bin.xz
drwxr-xr-x 1 root root 1310 Aug 3 00:27 ti-connectivity

I’m busy with work. So, I’ll do some testing as soon as I can.

Ok, so the firmware is installed at least.

If you have any more information I can gather, let me know.

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PulseAudio/Examples#Surround_sound_systems