[SB-XFi - Creative X-Fi, playback] Background noise and Distortion

[Finn61]

Recently upgraded to Kubuntu 12.10 x86_64. Was previously using 11.10 x86 (32 bit) and no problems with sound. Now sound is very glitchy, distorted and even has a warbling delayed echo.

Tried all maner of Pulse Audio stuff like changing sampling frequency in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf and timer scheduling in /etc/pulse/default.pa.

Tested with Pulse Audio suspended and using Jack and the problem persisted which makes me think it may be driver related (not pa) - possibly 64 bit version as I had no problems with 32 bit.

Kubuntu 12.10
uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64

Alsa version 1.0.25
alsa.driver_name = "snd_ctxfi"
Creative X-Fi 20K1 SB073x

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.5.0-17.28-generic 3.5.5
Uname: Linux 3.5.0-17-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu6
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC2: andy 2015 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: andy 2015 F.... pulseaudio
Date: Sun Nov 4 20:47:43 2012
InstallationDate: Installed on 2012-10-30 (4 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.1)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaRecordingTest: ALSA recording test through plughw:XFi successful
Symptom_Card: SB X-Fi - Creative X-Fi
Symptom_PulseAudioRecordingTest: PulseAudio recording test through plughw:XFi successful
Symptom_Type: High background noise, or volume is too low
Title: [SB-XFi - Creative X-Fi, recording] Background noise or low volume
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 09/16/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
dmi.bios.version: ASUS M2N-E SLI ACPI BIOS Revision 1301
dmi.board.name: M2N-E SLI
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.XX
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: 123456789000
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologies,LTD:bvrASUSM2N-ESLIACPIBIOSRevision1301:bd09/16/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnM2N-ESLI:rvr1.XX:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Finn61 (finn61)]

Hi Folks - I have done some further investigating and am pretty sure this is a known issue with these types of sound cards and 4GB or more of memory. See discussion thread here:
http://forums.creative.com/showthread.php?t=577245

The thread mostly details Windows experience but the exact same issue is replicated in 64bit Ubuntu when 4GB or more ram is present. To verify this I booted with mem=3840m in Grub2 parameters which limits the amount of ram the OS can use and the problem no longer presents itself.

So if it is a driver problem it appears to be present in both the linux driver (snd_ctxfi) and the windows driver. Alternatively perhaps it is more intrinsic to the hardware/firmware of the product. Posting this comment for future troubleshooters benefit.

Cheers - Andy

[Marcus Tomlinson (marcustomlinson)]

This release of Ubuntu is no longer receiving maintenance updates. If this is still an issue on a maintained version of Ubuntu please let us know.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for alsa-driver (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]