forums.xandros.com

[Kurzbein]

Hello! I'm new to Linux and Xandros - just installed this week - and I'm have trouble with the sound on my system. Whether it's the sound file that plays when the OS starts or music files I copied to the system, the sound quality is very poor (somewhat garbled and noticeably rough). I'm running Xandros Home Premium (I assume the newest version since I just bought and installed it), and here's the info about my sound card and driver I found in Control Center:

Sound Driver: 3.8.1a-980706 (ALSA v1.0.13 emulation code)

Kernel: Linux oldwork 2.6.18-dcc-smp #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Oct 18 12:30:24 EDT 2006 i686
Config options: 0

Installed drivers:
Type 10: ALSA emulation

Card config: Ensoniq Audio PCI ENS1371 at 0xdc00, irq 12

Audio devices:
0: ES1371 DAC2/ADC (DUPLEX)

Synth devices: NOT ENABLED IN CONFIG

Midi devices:
0: ES1371

Timers:
31: system timer

Mixers:
0: SigmaTel STAC9721,23

Anyway, that's the info. I'd be grateful if someone could offer some ideas about how I might correct this problem. As I said, I'm new to Linux/Xandros. Thanks!

[Kurzbein]

I don't know if this matters, but here's some additional info:

Manufacturer: Ensoniq
Model: 5880 AudioPCI
Description: Ensoniq 5880 AudioPCI
Driver: snd-ens1371
Driver loaded: Yes
Bus type: PCI

Anyone know how I might either change the driver or configure something differently to correct this sound quality problem?

[Davepet]

Near as I can tell that looks OK...

Have you tried playing with the various mixer setttings?

Also, you might want to get a support ticket going while folks work on this.....
_________________

Friends don't let friends use windows
GLPW
Registered Linux User #301200

[sqlpython]

Hi Welcome to the Xandros User Forums!

The es1371 can have Alsa BIOS issues so maybe this is your probelm
Try this....
go into your BIOS and disable something called "PCI Delay Transaction."
or some similar name Sound BIOS choice..
If you don't have this selection then ... Driver or Card selection
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[Kurzbein]

Thanks all. I've played with the mixer a bit without results. I'll take a look at that again along with the BIOS settings and see what happens.

Thanks again!

[Kurzbein]

[sqlpython]

What are your resources RAM
and do you have this Garbling or SKipping in all sound situations and apps or only some apps..

Before we get into modifying configs manually let's look into the Control Center GUI..
Mimic my settings Control Center /Sound / Sound System ...
Two Tabs on Version 3 ...ver 4 is similar..
General Tab........ Click (Enable Sound) Click (Run with Highest Priority...)
.......................Push the Sound Buffer SLIDER up for more Cache..
Hardware Tab.........Click (Full Duplex) Click Quality(16 bit)

Try that on different apps and post Back
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[Kurzbein]

sqlpython -

Thanks for the followup. I followed your instructions and mimicked your setup and applied the new settings. I tried the "test sound" button in Sound System and also played a file in Amarok, and the sound remained the same, scratchy and a bit gurgly.

[Kurzbein]

Oh, and while I'm not sure what you mean by "resources RAM" I do know that I have 512k ram in this machine.

As far as the poor sound quality goes, I've not encountered any programs or situations that produce good sound quality.

[sqlpython]

I was hoping it was something simple..

Here are the possibilities IF
if you can Dual Boot the system and all works correct with WIN..
If the problem is system wide and not restricted to particular apps
if you have not taken a surge to the soundcard or speakers or have a bad speaker wire.
if you do not have another concurrent app or process running that is interfering.
if there is not a static interference source due to home wiring or appliances..

1. Eliminate the peripheral wiring interference possibilities..by Trying the computer at another Location.
2. Try Known Working replacement parts from another computer.. Speakers, Wires and Yes another PCI sound Card..
You could spend a lot of time on system modules, tweaking and configurations only to find the Hardware was an issue..I know..A Pain..
If these basics fail..

Post you modules running to make sure nothing is missing or incorrect before we try Changes..

in a console
lsmod | more
hit enter for each new line when you get to the sound section copy ..Paste and POST it here..
Here is mine so you know what to look

snd_intel8x0 33216 1
snd_ac97_codec 75640 1 snd_intel8x0
snd_pcm_oss 52256 0
snd_mixer_oss 19328 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 90628 3 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 26116 1 snd_pcm
snd 57444 8 snd_intel8x0,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixe
r_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 10848 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 10756 2 snd_intel8x0,snd_pcm

_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[Kurzbein]

sqlpython - I'm 99% sure it's not a hardware problem since sound quality was fine with XP. I'm not running dual boot, so I can't confirm. I'll follow your instructions and post a little later.

[sqlpython]

[Kurzbein]

[sqlpython]

No, No, not INSMOD that in lowercase with the appropriate module name will install a module / driver

you want LSMOD in lower case..
_________________

Criticism only accepted for Solutions that work. ;^)
RevLinux, Debian Squeeze"
Kubuntu 10.04 & 10.10

[Kurzbein]

Well don't I feel stupid!

Here's what I found:

snd_ens1371 26656 1
gameport 16904 1 snd_ens1371
snd_rawmidi 24704 1 snd_ens1371
snd_seq_device 8972 1 snd_rawmidi
snd_ac97_codec 89636 1 snd_ens1371
snd_ac97_bus 3456 1 snd_ac97_codec
snd_pcm_oss 43520 0
snd_mixer_oss 17280 1 snd_pcm_oss
snd_pcm 75140 3 snd_ens1371,snd_ac97_codec,snd_pcm_oss
snd_timer 23940 1 snd_pcm
snd 53252 10 snd_ens1371,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_device,snd_ac97
_codec,snd_pcm_oss,snd_mixer_oss,snd_pcm,snd_timer
soundcore 11104 1 snd
snd_page_alloc 11144 1 snd_pcm