Running precise, though I don't recall this working in oneiric either.
None of the front panel outputs/inputs on the Xonar DG are detected at all. They are hooked up, as it works fine on Windows. Plugging in headphones doesn't switch the output, and a microphone on the front is not detected.
In sound preferences and pavucontrol, the card is listed as having three connectors: "Analog Output / Speaker" (works), "Analog Output / Headphones 1", and "Analog Output / Headphones 2." Changing the selected connector has no effect, and reverts back to Speaker when the settings view is reloaded. Additionally, setting via pacmd results in "failed to set sink port."[1]
Interestingly enough, alsamixer has an Analog Output selector with different outputs than reported by PulseAudio. These are Speakers, Headphones, and FP Headphones. Switching between these produces an audible "click" from the sound card (normal, it's in the switching circuit) so it's definitely communicating with the card. However, the front panel audio still does not work. Both Speakers and FP Headphones play out of the speakers, while Headphones outputs nothing at all.
Interestingly, alsamixer has no volume sliders for output, but that's a separate issue. (The output sliders do work in PulseAudio, so that's good enough for now.)
[1] http://askubuntu.com/questions/87581
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.24+dfsg-0ubuntu3
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-10.17-generic 3.2.1
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-10-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 1.91-0ubuntu1
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
**** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
card 0: DG [Xonar DG], device 0: Multichannel [Multichannel]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: jacob 1801 F.... pulseaudio
/dev/snd/pcmC0D0c: jacob 1801 F...m pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
Card hw:0 'DG'/'C-Media Oxygen HD Audio at 0xde00, irq 19'
Mixer name : 'CMI8786'
Components : 'CS4245 CMI8786'
Controls : 15
Simple ctrls : 10
Date: Sat Jan 21 15:17:04 2012
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Release amd64 (20111012)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:DG successful
Symptom_Card: CMI8788 [Oxygen HD Audio] - Xonar DG
Symptom_PulsePlaybackTest: PulseAudio playback test successful
Symptom_Type: Only some of outputs are working
Title: [CMI8786 - Xonar DG, playback] Playback problem
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-01-19 (1 days ago)
UserAsoundrc:
#pcm.!surround51 {
# type vdownmix
# slave.pcm "hw:1"
#}
modified.conffile..etc.modprobe.d.alsa.base.conf: [modified]
mtime.conffile..etc.modprobe.d.alsa.base.conf: 2012-01-17T23:40:21.034567
Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.