Re: soundcard

On Sunday 21 November 2010, Rick Kunath wrote:
> On 10-11-21 02:08 PM, john wrote:
> >> Once you have Skype going, and the Logitech USB headset is plugged in,
> >> open the Pulse Audio Volume control, select the USB headset as the
> >> recording and playback device for Skype, and you'll be set. Pulse will
> >> remember this for the next time.
> >> 
> >> I know the Logitech USB headset works with Skype because I have one.
> >> 
> >> I still think you have one of the monitor recording inputs active on the
> >> Creative card while playing back. Check what I posted earlier and see if
> >> you can find it.
> >> 
> >> Rick Kunath
> > 
> > Hi Rick,
> > Replying to both messages.
> > I've played with all alsamixer controls - muting all channels and then
> > bringing them up one at a time - no joy.
> 
> Are you *certain* that you had all of the controls visible on alsamixer?
> Especially the recording controls and monitors?
> 
> > As for Skype with pulseaudio, I had Skype working with pulseaudio
> > disabled, Logitech USB headphone working perfectly. went to "Configure
> > your Computer" -> Sound and enabled pulseaudio. logged out, logged in
> > and now Skype shows pulseaudio for all inputs/outputs. Went to Pulse
> > Audio Volume Control but can't see any option to select the USB headset
> > specifically for Skype - am I missing something/misunderstanding?
> 
> As to Pulse, if Skype isn't using any audio resource at the time, it
> won't show up in the Pulse Audio volume control. So just make a Skype
> test call, say to the Skype test call user. Once the call is in
> progress, look in the Pulse Audio Vloume control for the recording and
> playback sliders for Skype. Just select the USB headset for these both
> and Pulse will remember that for the next time you make a call on Skype.
> It has to be trying to use audio to get the controls visible so you can
> set the hardware device. that drove me nuts for a while.
> 
> > I'm thinking that this particular card is the souncard equivalent of a
> > winmodem. I tried the boot to Windows idea, did a restart and XMMS played
> > a soundtrack perfectly. Did a cold boot and the card was no longer
> > working. It looks as though Windows/Windows Driver pre-loads something
> > which Linux doesn't but once it's loaded by Windows/Windows Driver, it
> > persists until a cold boot and Linux can use the card - hope I'm making
> > sense here.
> 
> Check here:
> 
> http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Module-ca0106
> 
> That's the ALSA support page for your card. Some of the stuff has been
> depreciated by Pulse, but this might turn up something.
> 
> You might ask about that particular card on the ALSA email list. They
> still handle the card drivers and might have some words of wisdom for
> you there.
> 
> Rick Kunath

Thanks again Rick your suggestion to check the ALSA mailing list was 
excellent, it confirms my suspicion about this card .... quote
"The CA106 based cards are one of those that are to sound, what a winmodem 
is to a real modem."
and from http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Vendor-
Creative_Labs
(where I should have looked first)


Sound Blaster 5.1 VX 


CA0106 

 
 Not all features on all models supported. On the VX, white noise on playback 
unless initialized in Windows first


So with that I'm giving up on this card and going shopping, when I have a 
supported soundcard I'll go back and set up Pulseaudio with Skype as per your 
guide above

Thanks again for your time and interest