Sound Blaster Z not working...

English Hardware
#1

I’ve read this posts: No sound with sound blaster creative z via spdif digital output!, Sound Blaster Z w/4.18.3 kernel. No sound and I have not found a solution as to why my is not working. In the last post it was mention “So you need to use an application such as ‘pavucontrol’ to re-route sound to card-1”. Also the author of the post said, “Lack of alsa-firmware was the problem. Works perfectly now.”

I’m still lost on how to correct my sound. So your help would be greatly appreciated.

ALSA Information Script v 0.4.65 Output

Thanks!..

#2

Any firmware-related messages?

dmesg|grep firmare
#3

I’ve copied the driver and hardware info (from your diagnostic output link) to this thread so that others can advise further…


!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------

snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_intel
snd_usb_audio
snd_usb_audio
snd_usb_audio


!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------

Pulseaudio:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/pulseaudio)
      Running - Yes


!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------

 0 [PCH            ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0xa56b8000 irq 131
 1 [Creative       ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Creative
                      HDA Creative at 0xa5504000 irq 17
 2 [Webcam         ]: USB-Audio - C922 Pro Stream Webcam
                      C922 Pro Stream Webcam at usb-0000:00:14.0-3.1, high speed
 3 [C920           ]: USB-Audio - HD Pro Webcam C920
                      HD Pro Webcam C920 at usb-0000:00:14.0-3.2, high speed
 4 [Snowball       ]: USB-Audio - Blue Snowball
                      BLUE MICROPHONE Blue Snowball at usb-0000:00:14.0-3.3, full speed


!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------

00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Cannon Lake PCH cAVS [8086:a348] (rev 10)
	Subsystem: Micro-Star International Co., Ltd. [MSI] Device [1462:9b98]
05:00.0 Audio device [0403]: Creative Labs Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series] [1102:0012] (rev 01)
	Subsystem: Creative Labs SB1570 SB Audigy Fx [1102:0010]
#4

I ran the command and didn’t get any info reply, so this may be the problem?

#5

Not necessarily. You have 4 sound cards present (2 of which are PCI-connected, and 2 are USB-connected). With PulseAudio in the mix, it should be possible to select the appropriate configuration profile via ‘pavucontrol’ GUI.

Creative Labs Sound Blaster Z - audio card - other choices
#6

Share the following…

pacmd list-sinks
#7

For testing, we should be able to run aplay to produce a test sound via card 1 (the Sound Blaster card)…

card 1: Creative [HDA Creative], device 0: CA0132 Analog [CA0132 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Creative [HDA Creative], device 1: CA0132 Digital [CA0132 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

This bypasses the PulseAudio layer for testing purposes.

The analog output…

aplay -d hw:1,0 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav

Digital output…

aplay -d hw:1,1 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav

It may be necessary to check the levels and that pertinent outputs are not muted for some reason. The ‘amixer’ CLI command can be used for this…

amixer -C1

where we’ve selected card #1 in this instance.

#8

A useful thread where oldcpu shows how to diagnose similarly…
https://forums.opensuse.org/showthread.php/527298-No-audio-output-via-HDA-ATI-HDMI/page2

#9

I get this:


1 sink(s) available.
  * index: 4
        name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_05_00.0.iec958-stereo>
        driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
        flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
        state: SUSPENDED
        suspend cause: IDLE
        priority: 9038
        volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
                balance 0.00
        base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
        volume steps: 65537
        muted: no
        current latency: 0.00 ms
        max request: 0 KiB
        max rewind: 0 KiB
        monitor source: 12
        sample spec: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
        channel map: front-left,front-right
                     Stereo
        used by: 0
        linked by: 1
        configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 1837.33 ms
        card: 3 <alsa_card.pci-0000_05_00.0>
        module: 9
        properties:
                alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.name = "CA0132 Digital"
                alsa.id = "CA0132 Digital"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.device = "1"
                alsa.card = "1"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Creative at 0xa5504000 irq 17"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:05:00.0"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.5/0000:05:00.0/sound/card1"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.vendor.id = "1102"
                device.vendor.name = "Creative Labs"
                device.product.id = "0012"
                device.product.name = "Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx)"
                device.string = "iec958:1"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "352768"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "176384"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
                device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                device.description = "Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx) Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Creative Sound Blaster Z"
                alsa.components = "HDA:11020011,11020023,00100918"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        ports:
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                        properties:

        active port: <iec958-stereo-output>
#10 
card 1: Creative [HDA Creative], device 0: CA0132 Analog [CA0132 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Creative [HDA Creative], device 1: CA0132 Digital [CA0132 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

This bypasses the PulseAudio layer for testing purposes.

The analog output…

aplay -d hw:1,0 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav

aplay: main:653: invalid duration argument ‘hw:1,1’

Digital output…

aplay -d hw:1,1 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav

aplay: main:653: invalid duration argument ‘hw:1,0’

It may be necessary to check the levels and that pertinent outputs are not muted for some reason. The ‘amixer’ CLI command can be used for this…

amixer -C1

where we’ve selected card #1 in this instance.


Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 72 [73%] -27.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 253 [99%] -0.40dB]
  Front Right: Playback 253 [99%] -0.40dB]
Simple mixer control 'Front',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] -90.00dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] -90.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Center',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] -90.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 99
  Mono: Playback 0 [0%] -90.00dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: '0 dB' '10 dB' '20 dB' '30 dB'
  Item0: '0 dB'
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined cswitch cswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off] Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958 Default PCM',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 99
  Front Left: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Enable InFX',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [off]
Simple mixer control 'Enable OutFX',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Crystalizer',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 65 [65%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Dialog Plus',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 50 [50%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer Preset',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Flat' 'Acoustic' 'Classical' 'Country' 'Dance' 'Jazz' 'New Age' 'Pop' 'Rock' 'Vocal'
  Item0: 'Flat'
Simple mixer control 'FX: Mic SVM',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Noise Reduction',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 74 [74%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume Setting',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Normal' 'Loud' 'Night'
  Item0: 'Normal'
Simple mixer control 'FX: Surround',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 67 [67%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: Voice Focus',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 50 [50%] [on]
Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass Crossover',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 1 - 100
  Mono: Playback 6 [5%]
Simple mixer control 'HP/Speaker Auto Detect',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [off]
Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Rear Mic' 'Line' 'Front Mic'
  Item0: 'Front Mic'
Simple mixer control 'Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Line Out' 'Headphone' 'Surround'
  Item0: 'Line Out'
Simple mixer control 'VoiceFX',0
  Capabilities: cenum
  Items: 'Neutral' 'Female2Male' 'Male2Female' 'ScrappyKid' 'Elderly' 'Orc' 'Elf' 'Dwarf' 'AlienBrute' 'Robot' 'Marine' 'Emo' 'DeepVoice' 'Munchkin'
  Item0: 'Neutral'
Simple mixer control 'What U Hear',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 99
  Front Left: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
#11

Plugins (e) Center / Suboofer], (d) Rear (L/R)], (c) Front (L/R)], (d) Headphone]

Testing on all the plugs, sound graph is moving, but no sound:
](https://postimg.cc/JDNkvKpZ)https://i.postimg.cc/sX84BNS6/Screenshot-20201107-153115.png

#12

The pacmd output reports that the curent active profile for that card is set as ‘active port: <iec958-stereo-output>’ which represents digital stereo output. I’m not sure why the KDE audio settings show analog stereo output, but that is likely why no sound is evident. If you can, use pavucontrol to configure (refer configuration tab).

#13

Sorry that should have been

aplay -D hw:1,0 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav
#14 
aplay -D hw:1,0 -vv /usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav

Playing WAVE '/usr/share/sounds/alsa/test.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
Hardware PCM card 1 'HDA Creative' device 1 subdevice 0
Its setup is:
  stream       : PLAYBACK
  access       : RW_INTERLEAVED
  format       : S16_LE
  subformat    : STD
  channels     : 2
  rate         : 44100
  exact rate   : 44100 (44100/1)
  msbits       : 16
  buffer_size  : 22016
  period_size  : 5504
  period_time  : 124807
  tstamp_mode  : NONE
  tstamp_type  : MONOTONIC
  period_step  : 1
  avail_min    : 5504
  period_event : 0
  start_threshold  : 22016
  stop_threshold   : 22016
  silence_threshold: 0
  silence_size : 0
  boundary     : 6196953087261802496
  appl_ptr     : 0
  hw_ptr       : 0

Tested all audio plugs and still no sound. I’m using pavcontrol with no success either. The system is updated, running a GeForce GTX 1660 VENTUS XS 6G OC, Z390-A PRO Motherboard. Question, would Tumbleweed solve this? I really want to stay with Leap, solid OS, but I need to be able to use SB.

#15

Ok, so no analog sound output evident. I assume that you have an amplifier and speakers connected to the line-out port right? Or is it actually connected by digital output (eg SPDIF)? Please clarify.

Tested all audio plugs and still no sound. I’m using pavcontrol with no success either. The system is updated, running a GeForce GTX 1660 VENTUS XS 6G OC, Z390-A PRO Motherboard. Question, would Tumbleweed solve this? I really want to stay with Leap, solid OS, but I need to be able to use SB.

You could try using a more recent kernel. No promises though. You do need to be careful if using proprietary graphics as the driver would need to be built against the new kernel.

https://kernel.opensuse.org/stable.html

#16

This sound card in addition to the ones mention above has [Optical Out], [Optical In] I’m not using or tested, I don’t have the accessories for them.

Yea, I’m using the Leap provided:

nvidia-gfxG05-kmp-default - NVIDIA graphics driver kernel module for GeForce 600 series and newer

and even though its working, Its not the correct driver, I need the 1660 series for my Card. Will the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop resolve this issue?

#17

Ok, so analog sound. Strangely ‘pacmd list-sinks’ output you shared didn’t show the analog ports, just the digital. I’m not sure what else to advise here.

Yea, I’m using the Leap provided:

| nvidia-gfxG05-kmp-default - NVIDIA graphics driver kernel module for GeForce 600 series and newer
|
|

and even though its working, Its not the correct driver, I need the 1660 series for my Card.

Right. So if you did install the stable kernel, you’d need to install the drivers the hard way, and it updates frequently, so this would be added work…
https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:NVIDIA_the_hard_way

Will the SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop resolve this issue?

I doubt that would help. TW might be good to test though.

#18

Ok, thanks everyone for your help, I really appreciate this, I will give TW a try…

#19

Be sure the user is in the audio group in the past for some sound blaster cards this was needed.

#20

I’m not sure that’s true these days. ACLs are used…assigned by udev.

For example, I have

> ls -l /dev/snd
total 0
drwxr-xr-x  2 root root       60 Nov  7 12:31 by-path
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  5 Nov  7 12:31 controlC0
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  3 Nov  7 12:35 pcmC0D0c
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  2 Nov  8 12:21 pcmC0D0p
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  4 Nov  7 12:31 pcmC0D1c
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  1 Nov  7 12:31 seq
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 33 Nov  7 12:31 timer
> getfacl /dev/snd/*
getfacl: Removing leading '/' from absolute path names
# file: dev/snd/by-path
# owner: root
# group: root
user::rwx
group::r-x
other::r-x

# file: dev/snd/controlC0
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---

# file: dev/snd/pcmC0D0c
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---

# file: dev/snd/pcmC0D0p
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---

# file: dev/snd/pcmC0D1c
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---

# file: dev/snd/seq
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---

# file: dev/snd/timer
# owner: root
# group: audio
user::rw-
user:dean:rw-
group::rw-
mask::rw-
other::---