[USB-Audio - Fast Track Ultra, playback] Playback problem

Bug #1186512 reported by Baskak
6
This bug affects 1 person
Affects Status Importance Assigned to Milestone
alsa-driver (Ubuntu)
Invalid
Undecided
Unassigned

Bug Description

there's an artificial spatilization when using usb multichannel audio interface. in 12.10, in the "sound settings" window it did manifest itself as "analog surround 7.1" profile, which is inadequate (i have 2.0 setup) and it applies some bombastic fx (reverberation?) and virtual channels to the stereo. in 13.04 i don't see the "analog surround 7.1" label anymore.
it also has no input.
there's only this fake surround profile available. seemingly it tries to put all channels (with reverbs) into two physical channels if it detects it's a multichannel device. and it happened specifically since 12.10, cause with 12.04 i had no problem. 12.04 had no "analog surround" profile forced on it.
there are some reverbed virtual channels (side l, side r and center) added to outputs 1 and 2 (why?), and controls for balance and "distance" are entangled (moving one moves the another). also i have NO analog surround 7.1 setup.
there are no other options.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-23.34-generic 3.8.11
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-23-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.9.2-0ubuntu8
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sat Jun 1 11:39:06 2013
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-02-23 (463 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=pl_PL.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:Ultra failed
Symptom_Card: M-Audio RunTime DFU - Fast Track Ultra
Symptom_Type: None of the above
Title: [USB-Audio - Fast Track Ultra, playback] Playback problem
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to raring on 2013-06-01 (0 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 02/15/2012
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: 8JET41WW (1.35 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 50384MU
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: Not Available
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: Not Available
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvr8JET41WW(1.35):bd02/15/2012:svnLENOVO:pn50384MU:pvrThinkPadEdgeE220s:rvnLENOVO:rn50384MU:rvrNotAvailable:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNotAvailable:
dmi.product.name: 50384MU
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad Edge E220s
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :
Baskak (antoni-beksiak)
tags: added: precise
Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

thanks. sorry for messy description, i compiled it from unsuccessful attempt at getting help at irc channels. correction: the (only) "analog surround 7.1" is there for m-audio fast track ultra since i fixed the 13.04 bug that prohibited the use of internal soundchip (http://askubuntu.com/questions/294016/no-sound-in-ubuntu-13-04-only-dummy-output-device-listed).

Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :
Download full text (10.0 KiB)

seem only support s24le and no snurround 71 volume control

  0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Looking at profile output:analog-surround-71
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Checking for playback on Analog Surround 7.1 (analog-surround-71)
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Trying surround71:1 with SND_PCM_NO_AUTO_FORMAT ...
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Managed to open surround71:1
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 16 bit Little Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 16 bit Big Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Float 32 bit Little Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Float 32 bit Big Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 32 bit Little Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 32 bit Big Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 24 bit Little Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: snd_pcm_hw_params_set_format(Signed 24 bit Big Endian) failed: Invalid argument
( 0.178| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Maximum hw buffer size is 990 ms
( 0.180| 0.001) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Set buffer size first (to 3528 samples), period size second (to 441 samples).
( 0.180| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Device surround71:1 doesn't support sample format s16le, changed to s24le.
( 0.181| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Profile output:analog-surround-71 supported.
( 0.183| 0.002) I: [pulseaudio] (alsa-lib)control.c: Invalid CTL surround71:1
( 0.183| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Unable to attach to mixer surround71:1: No such file or directory
( 0.187| 0.003) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-util.c: Successfully attached to mixer 'hw:1'
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probing path 'analog-output'
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Hardware Master' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Master' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Master Front' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Master Mono' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Line HP Swap' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Headphone' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Probe of element 'Headphone2' succeeded (volume=0, switch=0, enumeration=0).
( 0.187| 0.000) D:...

Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

maybe this can help

Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

and this.

Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :

post the output of

lsusb -vvvv

for your USB audio device

if it does not support stereo playback/capture and only support 8 channel playback/capture

you need to ask pulseaudio developer how to map those playback volume controls to front, rear, center, lfe and side

Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :
Download full text (55.5 KiB)

here it comes. sorry for delay. the device _is_ running, tested for playback, with aforementioned problems.
regarding the channel mapping i did with alsamixer without problems under 12.04. please refer to the description - i believe it's not a mapping issue, as explained, but virtual spatialization effect added.
do i understand right that i should file a bug here http://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/PulseAudio/Distributions/Ubuntu/Bugs/? actually they direct to filing it in launchpad. thanks.

Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass 0 Unused
  bDeviceProtocol 1 Single TT
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x8087 Intel Corp.
  idProduct 0x0024 Integrated Rate Matching Hub
  bcdDevice 0.00
  iManufacturer 0
  iProduct 0
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 25
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower 0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternateSetting 0
      bNumEndpoints 1
      bInterfaceClass 9 Hub
      bInterfaceSubClass 0 Unused
      bInterfaceProtocol 0 Full speed (or root) hub
      iInterface 0
      Endpoint Descriptor:
        bLength 7
        bDescriptorType 5
        bEndpointAddress 0x81 EP 1 IN
        bmAttributes 3
          Transfer Type Interrupt
          Synch Type None
          Usage Type Data
        wMaxPacketSize 0x0001 1x 1 bytes
        bInterval 12

Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Couldn't open device, some information will be missing
Device Descriptor:
  bLength 18
  bDescriptorType 1
  bcdUSB 2.00
  bDeviceClass 9 Hub
  bDeviceSubClass 0 Unused
  bDeviceProtocol 1 Single TT
  bMaxPacketSize0 64
  idVendor 0x8087 Intel Corp.
  idProduct 0x0024 Integrated Rate Matching Hub
  bcdDevice 0.00
  iManufacturer 0
  iProduct 0
  iSerial 0
  bNumConfigurations 1
  Configuration Descriptor:
    bLength 9
    bDescriptorType 2
    wTotalLength 25
    bNumInterfaces 1
    bConfigurationValue 1
    iConfiguration 0
    bmAttributes 0xe0
      Self Powered
      Remote Wakeup
    MaxPower 0mA
    Interface Descriptor:
      bLength 9
      bDescriptorType 4
      bInterfaceNumber 0
      bAlternat...

Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :
Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

thanks. i contacted these guys.

penalvch (penalvch)
tags: added: bios-outdated-1.37 needs-upstream-testing regression-potential
Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

hello. there is no progress.

i have received an answer from grant diffey:
"It sounds to me like you haven't set up the internal mixer of the ultra correctly this will sound bad."

and i answered:
"not sure what do you mean. how do i set it up under ubuntu? and, as stated, the change apparently came with upgrade to 12.10 from 12.04, not with any changes i made."
the issue raised by grant don't seem to be the case. there was no follow-up.

Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

update kindly requested.

Revision history for this message
Raymond (superquad-vortex2) wrote :

when the on board sound card has hardware volume control, pulseaudio provide info of hardware and calculated software volume

8| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: Requested volume: 0: 1% 1: 1%
( 70.068| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: in dB: 0: -128.01 dB 1: -128.01 dB
( 70.068| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: Got hardware volume: 0: 1% 1: 1%
( 70.068| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: in dB: 0: -128.01 dB 1: -128.01 dB
( 70.068| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: Calculated software volume: 0: 100% 1: 100% (accurate-enough=yes)
( 70.068| 0.000) D: [alsa-source] alsa-source.c: in dB: 0: 0.00 dB 1: 0.00 dB

did gnome sound control allow you to change bass, balance and fade in 7.1 profile ?

if yes, did you change them in the previous test since there is no calculated software volume for 7.1 in the log

213| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] source.c: device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
( 0.214| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: Using 2.0 fragments of size 524280 bytes (495.35ms), buffer size is 1048560 bytes (990.70ms)
( 0.214| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: Time scheduling watermark is 3.99ms
( 0.214| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: hwbuf_unused=0
( 0.214| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: setting avail_min=43514
( 0.214| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Activating path analog-output
( 0.214| 0.000) D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Path analog-output (Analog Output), direction=1, priority=99, probed=yes, supported=yes, has_mute=no, has_volume=no, has_dB=no, min_volume=0, max_volume=0, min_dB=inf, max_dB=-inf
( 0.214| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: Driver does not support hardware volume control, falling back to software volume control.
( 0.214| 0.000) I: [pulseaudio] alsa-sink.c: Driver does not support hardware mute control, falling back to software mute control.

Baskak (antoni-beksiak)
Changed in alsa-driver (Ubuntu):
status: New → Confirmed
status: Confirmed → Invalid
Revision history for this message
Baskak (antoni-beksiak) wrote :

hello,

please excuse the delay.

first of all i must report, that the abovementioned reply from grant diffey: "It sounds to me like you haven't set up the internal mixer of the ultra correctly this will sound bad." was actually right. after lots of guesswork i dug into alsamixer's "effect" faders and they were wrongly set because of, probably, both settings made under windows as well as certain inconsistency in card's setup between systems (i.e. the wrong linux setting wouldn't manifest itself under windows at the same time). so i'm marking it as "invalid".

however, i believe this is a symptom of a serious problem. if the system is rendered unusable (at least to me) for over a year and there's no way to get clear solution (the above answer was too enigmatic to me), there seems to be a problem with the whole ecosystem. please comment on how similar cases can be solved effectively.

now to answer above questions (i actually indirectly answered it before): the gnome/unity sound control lets me change balance, fade and bass, however balance and fade are illogically entangled (moving one may move the other). am i expected to do any tests regarding your "log" question?

thank you for the support.

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