[LAU] asoundrc issue - Unique IPC key not defined (Re: Setting HDMI as default in asoundrc and getting Firefox to use this default)

[Joel Roth]

Hi Jeanette,

On Mon, Apr 18, 2022, Jeanette C. wrote:
> Hi Joel,
> this is more informed guess work, so take it with a pinch of salt, but it
> maybe worth the effort.
> 
> First try to create a plug device for your HDMI:
> pcm.my_hdmi {
>   type plug
>   salve { plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3 }
> }
> 
> Now create your !default with dmix:
> pcm.!default {
>   type dmix
>   slave { my_hdmi }
> }
> 
> Perhaps you can even shorten it to putting the
> plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
> inside the default dmix device.

To review, the following plays through TV speakers:
aplay tmh.wav -D plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7

With the .asoundrc below,

aplay tmh.wav

results in:

ALSA lib pcm_direct.c:2079:(snd1_pcm_direct_parse_open_conf) Unique IPC key is not defined
aplay: main:830: audio open error: Invalid argument

I get this same error even after specifying ipc_key in .asoundrc:

pcm.hdmi_out {
  type plug                                                                                                                                                                                    
  ipc_key 5641 # inserting this line, and using various values doesn't help
  slave { plughw:CARD=PCH,DEV=7 }
}

pcm.!default {
  type dmix                                                                                                                                                                                    
  slave { pcm "hdmi_out" }
}

> I know that getting all this to work with Firefox and GUI can be cumbersome.
> Perhaps pulse might be in the way, but I know much less about Pulse than
> ALSA. Still the plughw, which converts samplerates may help.

I believe firefox will honor the !default setting.

Thank you,

Joel

> Best wishes,
> 
> Jeanette


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> 

-- 
Joel Roth