SoundBlaster PCI 128 Audio Issue

English Hardware
1

Hi
I’m running OpenSuSE 11:
Kernel-PAE 2.6.25.11-0.1
KDE 3.5.9-1.1
Alsa 1.0.16-39.1
and have a problem with my sound card.

It is a “Sound Blaster PCI 128” (Ensoniq AudioPCI “snd-ens1371”)…

I have detected no errors. But… When the volume is above 65% (PCM, in the mixer) the sound comes out very distorted and turn up it up to a VERY(!) high level (This is, when the volume is at its maximum)
Here attached a demonstration: audio.tar.gz (recorded with gnome-sound-recorder 2.22.0)

Can I fix the volume-problem?. In that case, could help me to fix it?? Please!.

More info:
http://img230.imageshack.us/img230/2076/audiocr5.th.png](http://img230.imageshack.us/my.php?image=audiocr5.png)

**lspci -vv **

00:0a.0 Multimedia audio controller: Ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI (rev 02)
        Subsystem: Ensoniq Sound Blaster 16PCI 4.1ch
        Control: I/O+ Mem- BusMaster+ SpecCycle- MemWINV- VGASnoop- ParErr- Stepping- SERR- FastB2B- DisINTx-
        Status: Cap+ 66MHz- UDF- FastB2B- ParErr- DEVSEL=slow >TAbort- <TAbort+ <MAbort+ >SERR- <PERR- INTx-
        Latency: 32 (3000ns min, 32000ns max)
        Interrupt: pin A routed to IRQ 18
        Region 0: I/O ports at d000 [size=64]
        Capabilities: [dc] Power Management version 1
                Flags: PMEClk- DSI+ D1- D2+ AuxCurrent=0mA PME(D0-,D1-,D2-,D3hot-,D3cold-)
                Status: D0 PME-Enable- DSel=0 DScale=0 PME-
        Kernel driver in use: ENS1371
        Kernel modules: snd-ens1371

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2

Try going to YAST > HARDWARE > SOUND > OTHER > VOLUME and turn your volume there up to about 70%.

Then exit yast and test your audio again. Don’t test your audio with vlc as that program is known to introduce distortion at even moderate volume levels. Rather also adjust your volume with kmix (kde) or alsamixer (gnome).

3

Not sure if it is relevant in your case, but some model sound blaster also require one install “alsa-firmware”.

4

Well, I’ll have to leave it as you say. Thank you.

OK, I will do it. If I hear any improvement, I’ll let you know. Thank you for all.