How to Get HDMI Audio Output?

English Multimedia
#1

I tried a hardwire HDMI connection between my OSS 12.3 PC and a TV. The video comes through, but there is no audio. The audio from regular TV works fine. I would like to know how to setup the HDMI audio. Here are outputs from aplay:


randolph@linux-ppnb:~> aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: HDMI [HDA ATI HDMI], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Microphone [Yeti Stereo Microphone], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

randolph@linux-ppnb:~> aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
default
    Default ALSA Output (currently PulseAudio Sound Server)
sysdefault:CARD=SB
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=SB,DEV=0
    HDA ATI SB, ALC892 Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=HDMI,DEV=0
    HDA ATI HDMI, HDMI 0
    HDMI Audio Output
sysdefault:CARD=Microphone
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    Front speakers
surround40:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Microphone,DEV=0
    Yeti Stereo Microphone, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output

Thanks in advance

#2

When I plug my computer into my TV via HDMI to get audio working I have to go to (in KDE)

config desktop > multimedia > audio and video settings > audio hardware setup

and change the profile.

If I remeber correctly, I change it from analogue stereo duplex to one fo the HDMI options.

#3

You’ve left out three crucial pieces of info:

  • which graphics adapter? … from the output you’ve provided I can reasonably assume that its an AMD adapter we’re talking about, but what exact one? (it does indeed matter)
  • which graphics driver stack are you using: the OSS drivers or the proprietary AMD drivers?
  • which DE are you using? gnome, kde, xfce…?
#4

Thanks for your reply. I have played with the audio hardware set up under phonon. I applied and gave preference to the one HDMI output I have, but there is still no audio output, only video. It’s a new cable from Fry’s, but now I’m wondering since I got it cheap.

#5

Please tell me if I’m providing you with the correct info. Under KInfoCenter, I looked at graphical info>open gl>driver>vender: X.org; renderer: gallium 0.4 on AMD RS880.

Please tell me how to look up the graphics driver stack.

I’m using: KDE 4.10.5 “release 1” under 12.3. Thanks in advance.

#6

Are you not using pulse audio volume control (pavucontrol) to control this ?

#7

yes, that’s fine … tells us your using an RS880 based adapter (i.e. Radeon HD42xx )

Please tell me how to look up the graphics driver stack.
well, there are many ways by which it can by inferred, including what you provided above … the presence of “gallium” in the output conveys the point that you’re using the OSS driver stack

I’m using: KDE 4.10.5 “release 1” under 12.3. Thanks in advance.
okay, and it appears you already know where to make changes with that DE

Now to the crux: add “radeon.audio=1” to your kernel boot line. Also see here for more info: http://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/494860-ATI-7770-HDMI-audio-(-Very-rusty-linux-user)?p=2619490#post2619490

#8

I just now looked this up in yast. I definitely do not have pavucontrol. Should I?

#9

I really appreciate the info. BTW, how do I find the default setting in case I want to put it back?

#10

If you followed the injunction the the thread just go to yast and remove radeon.audio=1 from the boot line

#11

If you are using pulse audio, for many users it provides them greater control over the use of their sound device(s) with different applications. There are a couple of blog descriptions on how pavucontrol is used:

A point thou, as already noted in this thread, typically HDMI video and audio is associated with one’s graphic card. The open source radeon driver audio support for HDMI audio is not very stable, and so by default it is disabled. Hence if one’s PC is using the open source radeon driver, then it must be enabled as noted by Tyler_K with the boot code “radeon.audio=1”.

Thank you for participating in our forum, and good luck.

#12

I wouldn’t characterize the situation as such. In fact, hdmi/dp audio support has worked quite well for years for many adapters. There were, however, some (screen corruption related) issues the occurred in the case with a few adapters, and consequently, rather then taking a broad stroke approach, it was not enabled by default in the kernel driver until such cases could be resolved, but remained a viable user option for those adapters for which it was supported.

That’s not to say that regressions don’t occur either, as they do (e.g. some clicking noises, introduced in 3.11-3.12 kernels, that occur with some adapters, around the time that radeon.ko’s hdmi audio feature set support was expanded (to include all the extra channel and formats stuff) … and which seems to be resolved in 3.13).

As mentioned in the thread linked to earlier, broad “enabled by default” support in the kernel driver is introduced for most adapters in kernel 13.3. Consequently, the use of the boot option to enable said feature will no longer be required after this point (assuming your adapter is already supported).

As the OP is using an adapter which gained hdmi audio support in kernel 3.5, and as oS 12.3 uses kernel 3.7, they should be good to go after passing the boot option.

#13

BTW: I truly appreciate your help. I wish I could find a way to thank you other than saying “thank you.”

With the audio hardware setup in phonon, all it needed is that extra line at bootup and it works like a charm. Since that setup gives priority to HDMI audio, I have left that setup at the 2nd desktop from bootup; it’s like a marriage - I’ll return to my single life at my 1st desktop if the marriage doesn’t work out.

#14

I appreciate your help!:slight_smile:

#15

And it does! that extra instruction at boot works:)

#16

Good to read you got it working lol!