[linux-audio-user] Re: ALSA: What is the website missing?

[Thomas Charbonnel]

Robert Epprecht wrote :
> Patrick Shirkey <pshirkey at boosthardware.com> writes:
> 
> 
>>Also, could everyone who is interested please have a look at this
>>updated version of the matrix:
>>
>>http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/index.php
>>
>>I will be working on this page from now on.
> 
> 
> That's very much appreciated. The outdated soundcard matrix was one of
> the biggest drawbacks of the ALSA project, IMHO.
> 
> BTW: Why does the selection of the manufacturer not stay in the field
>      but returns to the first choice (AudioExcel) after I klick on Go?
> 
> BTW2: In order to double check some information given below I tried the
>      search from the main ALSA page. It gave me a 'Not Found' error :-(
> 
> 
> 
> The following comments belong to the details of the RME Hammerfall DSP
> card family:
> 
> Firmware: In the past there have been problems with different firmware
> versions, but different people got different results: i.e. there's a
> comment in the matrix from Johannes Taelman about him having to downgrade
> the firmware to version 10, while I made the experience the other way
> round: v10 did *not* work for me, v11 (0b) did. I have heard (but not
> tested myself) that the firmware problem is solved in the newest drivers,
> so I vote for *deleting* the existing firmware comments from the matrix
> in order not to confuse new users. As RME seems to change firmware from
> time to time I would find it helpful to tell new users how they can
> determine which version their card has (see below).
> 

I vote for this too, and also to remove outdated comments about sr > 
48000 Hz being unsupported.

> 
> Some important steps that I had missed on the path of setting up a
> RME Hammerfall DSP card (in my case a PCI interface and a multiface)
> on a Linux box using ALSA let me propose the following detail comments
> to the sound card matrix:
> 
> 
> * There are some really nice add-ons from Thomas Charbonnel for this card
>   family in the alsa-tools package.
> 
> * After loading the snd-hdsp module you *have to* call hdsploader from
>   alsa-tools.  The driver does not work without that step.
> 

This is true only for multiface/digiface users. This step is not 
required for hdsp 96xx users.

> * Things like un-muting, setting channel levels and channel routing is
>   done in 'hdspmixer' from alsa-tools.

Or with amixer (we should consider non-gui users). The amixer matrix 
mixer syntax explanations should be kept (and enhanced for hdsp 9632 
users : for the input parameter 0-15 = physical input, 16-31 = software 
output)

> 
> * Settings like clock sync, sample rate and type of SPDIF in/out are set
>   by the program called 'hdspconf' from the same package.
> 

Or with amixer, again.

> * If you encounter problems it might be a good idea to mention the firmware
>   version of your card when reporting/asking.  Determine it with 'lspci -vv'

Nice one, thanks :)

Thomas