Trouble recording from USB audio device (Digitech rp500 guitar effects processor)

Hello, After unsuccessful attempts in the past, I’ve decided to give this a go once more, with no more success. I’m using a Digitech rp500 guitar effects processor via usb, and I can’t record or patch through audio from this device. When plugged in, the hardware shows up in both Kmix and Pavucontrol. In Kmix, “Built-in Audio Analog Stereo” is displayed in device preferences for playback, and for recording, “RP500 Guitar Multi-Effects Processor Analog Stereo” is displayed. This is how I have it configured under “Hardware Setup” in Kmix. I should state here that under “Hardware Setup”, when I select the RP500 from the dropdown menu, “Input Levels” shows no audio input from this device. “Analog Stereo Input/Output/Duplex/Off” are the only options I have here. When I start up Audacity, none of the input options for the RP500 port audio to the application. Now, here’s the weird thing: It isn’t always this way. I’ve seen options for digital audio in Kmix hardware setup for the RP500, but not on a consistant basis. In Audacity, one time I was able to select the RP500 as a USB audio device when that option was present, but that’s not a regular occurrence. Sometimes in Kmix under “Hardware setup” I do get indication of audio input from the device input levels, but this is more the exception than the rule. Other than these issue I’ve described here, it’s a fully-functional piece of hardware, and I’ve had no problems with it in any other capacity. For Linux, I use an itnterface application (gdigi) to manage settings on the device from the desktop, and this application, connecting to the device via the same USB, rarely has any issues. The device operates nominally in Windows. I’m out of ideas. Please share yours with me.

I did post this in paragraphs, but for some reason they disappeared. Here’s the eye-saver version:

Hello,
After unsuccessful attempts in the past, I’ve decided to give this a go once more, with no more success. I’m using a Digitech rp500 guitar effects processor via usb, and I can’t record or patch through audio from this device.

When plugged in, the hardware shows up in both Kmix and Pavucontrol. In Kmix, “Built-in Audio Analog Stereo” is displayed in device preferences for playback, and for recording, “RP500 Guitar Multi-Effects Processor Analog Stereo” is displayed. This is how I have it configured under “Hardware Setup” in Kmix. I should state here that under “Hardware Setup”, when I select the RP500 from the dropdown menu, “Input Levels” shows no audio input from this device. “Analog Stereo Input/Output/Duplex/Off” are the only options I have here.

When I start up Audacity, none of the input options for the RP500 port audio to the application. Now, here’s the weird thing: It isn’t always this way. I’ve seen options for digital audio in Kmix hardware setup for the RP500, but not on a consistant basis. In Audacity, one time I was able to select the RP500 as a USB audio device when that option was present, but that’s not a regular occurrence.

Sometimes in Kmix under “Hardware setup” I do get indication of audio input from the device input levels, but this is more the exception than the rule. Other than these issue I’ve described here, it’s a fully-functional piece of hardware, and I’ve had no problems with it in any other capacity. For Linux, I use an itnterface application (gdigi) to manage settings on the device from the desktop, and this application, connecting to the device via the same USB, rarely has any issues. The device operates nominally in Windows.

I’m out of ideas. Please share yours with me.

Please always tell which openSUSE version you use. And which desktop may often be important.

Opensuse 13.2 x86_64, 3.16.7-7-desktop, KDE

I had the idea to try to set it up in Yast sound, which reported the RP500 was not configured.
Yats sound returned this error:

An error occurred during the installation of  {Digitech RP500}  The kernel module snd-usb-audio for sound support could not be loaded. This can be caused by incorrect module parameters, including invalid IO or IRQ parameters. 

Under advanced options, here are the configurable parameters:

Enable auto-clock for UAC2  devices  (default yes)                 autoclock              0
Ignore errors from USB  controller for mixer interfaces          ignore_ctl_error    0
Product ID for the USB audio device                                     pid
Specific  device  setup (if needed)                                        device_setup
Vendor ID for the USB audio device                                      vid

lsusb

Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1210:0016 DigiTech 

lsusb -v

Bus 003 Device 003: ID 1210:0016 DigiTech 
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
Device Descriptor:
  bLength                18
  bDescriptorType         1
  bcdUSB               1.10
  bDeviceClass            0 (Defined at Interface level)
  bDeviceSubClass         0 
  bDeviceProtocol         0 
  bMaxPacketSize0         8
  idVendor           0x1210 DigiTech
  idProduct          0x0016 
  bcdDevice            0.01
  iManufacturer           1 
  iProduct                2 
  iSerial                 0 
  bNumConfigurations      1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength                 9
    bDescriptorType         2
    wTotalLength          352
    bNumInterfaces          5
    bConfigurationValue     1
    iConfiguration          2 
    bmAttributes         0x80
      (Bus Powered)
    MaxPower                0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        0
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Control Device
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                10
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength           52
        bInCollection           2
        baInterfaceNr( 0)       1
        baInterfaceNr( 1)       2
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                12
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             1
        wTerminalType      0x0101 USB Streaming
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bNrChannels             2
        wChannelConfig     0x0003
          Left Front (L)
          Right Front (R)
        iChannelNames           0 
        iTerminal               3 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             2
        wTerminalType      0x0603 Line Connector
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bSourceID               1
        iTerminal               3 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                12
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (INPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             3
        wTerminalType      0x0603 Line Connector
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bNrChannels             2
        wChannelConfig     0x0003
          Left Front (L)
          Right Front (R)
        iChannelNames           0 
        iTerminal               3 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (OUTPUT_TERMINAL)
        bTerminalID             4
        wTerminalType      0x0101 USB Streaming
        bAssocTerminal          0
        bSourceID               3
        iTerminal               3 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink           1
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag              1 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           2
        bBitResolution         16
        bSamFreqType            1 Discrete
        tSamFreq 0]        44100
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes           13
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Synchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x00c0  1x 192 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         1 Milliseconds
          wLockDelay              0 Milliseconds
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        1
      bAlternateSetting       2
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink           1
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag              1 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           3
        bBitResolution         24
        bSamFreqType            1 Discrete
        tSamFreq 0]        44100
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x01  EP 1 OUT
        bmAttributes           13
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Synchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0120  1x 288 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         1 Milliseconds
          wLockDelay              0 Milliseconds
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       1
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink           4
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag              1 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           2
        bBitResolution         16
        bSamFreqType            1 Discrete
        tSamFreq 0]        44100
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes           13
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Synchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x00c0  1x 192 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         1 Milliseconds
          wLockDelay              0 Milliseconds
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        2
      bAlternateSetting       2
      bNumEndpoints           1
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      2 Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              3 
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (AS_GENERAL)
        bTerminalLink           4
        bDelay                  1 frames
        wFormatTag              1 PCM
      AudioStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                11
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (FORMAT_TYPE)
        bFormatType             1 (FORMAT_TYPE_I)
        bNrChannels             2
        bSubframeSize           3
        bBitResolution         24
        bSamFreqType            1 Discrete
        tSamFreq 0]        44100
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x82  EP 2 IN
        bmAttributes           13
          Transfer Type            Isochronous
          Synch Type               Synchronous
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0120  1x 288 bytes
        bInterval               1
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        AudioControl Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 7
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (EP_GENERAL)
          bmAttributes         0x01
            Sampling Frequency
          bLockDelayUnits         1 Milliseconds
          wLockDelay              0 Milliseconds
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        6
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           0
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      1 Control Device
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              4 
      AudioControl Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength            9
        bInCollection           1
        baInterfaceNr( 0)       7
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength                 9
      bDescriptorType         4
      bInterfaceNumber        7
      bAlternateSetting       0
      bNumEndpoints           2
      bInterfaceClass         1 Audio
      bInterfaceSubClass      3 MIDI Streaming
      bInterfaceProtocol      0 
      iInterface              4 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 7
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      1 (HEADER)
        bcdADC               1.00
        wTotalLength           65
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 6
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (MIDI_IN_JACK)
        bJackType               1 Embedded
        bJackID                 1
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 6
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      2 (MIDI_IN_JACK)
        bJackType               2 External
        bJackID                 2
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (MIDI_OUT_JACK)
        bJackType               1 Embedded
        bJackID                 3
        bNrInputPins            1
        baSourceID( 0)          2
        BaSourcePin( 0)         1
        iJack                   0 
      MIDIStreaming Interface Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType        36
        bDescriptorSubtype      3 (MIDI_OUT_JACK)
        bJackType               2 External
        bJackID                 4
        bNrInputPins            1
        baSourceID( 0)          1
        BaSourcePin( 0)         1
        iJack                   0 
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x04  EP 4 OUT
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval               0
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        MIDIStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 5
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (GENERAL)
          bNumEmbMIDIJack         1
          baAssocJackID( 0)       1
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength                 9
        bDescriptorType         5
        bEndpointAddress     0x84  EP 4 IN
        bmAttributes            2
          Transfer Type            Bulk
          Synch Type               None
          Usage Type               Data
        wMaxPacketSize     0x0010  1x 16 bytes
        bInterval               0
        bRefresh                0
        bSynchAddress           0
        MIDIStreaming Endpoint Descriptor:
          bLength                 5
          bDescriptorType        37
          bDescriptorSubtype      1 (GENERAL)
          bNumEmbMIDIJack         1
          baAssocJackID( 0)       3


I’ve made some progress.
I was able to get audio input from the device by setting both my sound card and the rp500 device to “analog duplex” in Kmix hardware settings, and setting the rp500 as the preferred input device.
This alone didn’t do the trick.
I had to open Pavucontrol and verify that it was receiving input from the rp500 device, which it was. I could then open Audacity, select “default line 1” as input, and record.
However, I haven’t quite reached a solution. If I close Pavucontrol, then I lose input from the device. I have to leave Pavucontrol open in order to get input and record from the rp500.
I have 2 objectives before I consider this case closed:

  1. Receive and record audio input from the rp500 without Pavucontrol open (or having to open it in the first place).
  2. Be able to patch the audio input through to my soundcard+speakers. I know Jack does this, but Jack is a beast I’d rather not contend with. Is there any way I can do this natively?

That is not normal are you perhaps running as root???

Don’t do that.

pavolcontrol settings are saved in your user directory

Yes, I’m pretty sure it’s not normal. No, I’m not running it as root. I’m logged in as a regular user, starting the app from the application menu.
Where are those pulseaudio volume control settings stored? I don’t see anything in my user directory that looks like it belongs to pulseaudio. Yes, I’m looking at the hidden files and folders too.

I copied the /etc/pulse folder into my home directory, owned it, and hid it. Let’s see if anything gets modified when I tweak pavucontrol.

***Strange, after tweaking, nothing changed in ~/.pulse/ or in /etc/pulse. I see 4 files- client.conf,daemon.conf,default.pa,annd system.pa, and the only one that was updated the last time I rebooted my computer is client.conf.

Rebooted, and it looks like the files in ~/.pulse were updated, and several files were added (long string of numbers and letters with ‘device-volume’ etc), but the behavior of no audio input when pavucontrol is closed hasn’t changed.

Maybe because it is a removable USB device??? I never played with them

dmesg when I plug it in after booting:

  808.231949] usb 3-11: new full-speed USB device number 4 using xhci_hcd
  808.410206] usb 3-11: config 1 has an invalid interface number: 6 but max is 4
  808.410208] usb 3-11: config 1 has an invalid interface number: 7 but max is 4
  808.410210] usb 3-11: config 1 has no interface number 3
  808.410211] usb 3-11: config 1 has no interface number 4
  808.413852] usb 3-11: New USB device found, idVendor=1210, idProduct=0016
  808.413854] usb 3-11: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=0
  808.413856] usb 3-11: Product: DigiTech RP500
  808.413857] usb 3-11: Manufacturer: DigiTech
  808.441255] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.446426] usb 3-11: 1:2: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.452170] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.457136] usb 3-11: 2:2: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.458066] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audio
  808.467028] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.469526] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.475118] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.477396] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.480982] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.483477] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.489730] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.492018] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
  808.497641] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
  808.499989] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82

Not sure what it all means, but it doesn’t look good. When I start pavucontrol, I get more of this:

 1062.309374] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
 1062.311672] usb 3-11: 1:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x1
 1062.315466] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82
 1062.317901] usb 3-11: 2:1: cannot get freq at ep 0x82