ALSA issues - Gentoo 2006.1 on ASUS M2N-MX [Solved]

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

I have got gentoo 2006.1 installed on my computer. Everything except sound (ALSA) works.

I have done some research before posting this here. modprobe snd-hda-intel throws an error (tried on x86_64-2.6.17-gentoo-r7 and x86_64-2.6.18-gentoo-r1). I suspect the issue is with a conflicting kernel option. After emerging the alsa-driver, alsa-lib and alsa-utils, the module initially loaded and the sound device "worked". However, the speakers would produce a constant (and annoying!) high frequency sound and if I try to change the volume setting the sound stops working alltogether untill I restart alsa. Now this was before I re-compiled the kernel. After re-compiling the kernel, the modules just fail to load. I can get sound to work (modules load correctly) with the high frequency sound and mixer issues mentioned above, if I recompile the kernel with /usr/share/genkernel/x86_64/kernel-config-2.6 config file.

I have seen a similar problem reported somewhere but I am not sure how the issue was resolved if ever.

Incidentally, gentoo 2006.1 is the only distro that correctly detects MCP61 and most importantly the network card. For the benefit of anyone else using the same board, I had issues with nvidia display driver (with their current stable driver). The screen would simply blank out ! The beta driver works well (NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9625-pkg2.run) and stay away from silan NIC.

Thanks

ps: apologies if this is not the right place to post this topic.

localhost ~ # modprobe snd-hda-intel

truekaiser · l33t Joined: 05 Mar 2004 Posts: 801

when you re-compile a kernel and change something in it you will also need to re-compile external packages that insert modules into the kernel.
so you need to re-compile alsa-driver and any other external module.

as for me the best drivers that i found for nvidia's hda audio are the in-kernel ones. though not everything works with it. i can't get audio from flash etc even though i have everything set up in a way that it has worked for other people.

96140 · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1324

Oh, it means that somewhere in the in-kernel ALSA config, you've accidentally selected <*> rather than as <M>. I ran into this quite a few times before I discovered that I'd made all the suboptions <M>, but had forgotten to change the very highest toplevel ALSA support option to <M>! Oops. Once I recompiled everything as modules and rebooted, it started up just fine. I use the same sound module on my nForce 570 board; works nicely with the kernel-provided drivers. Post if you still have more troubles; we'll try to get things straightened out.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks for the reply. I always run a 'module-rebuild' after the a re-compile. ALSA driver and vmware modules are taken care of by that.

96140 · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1324

You absolutely cannot combine alsa-driver with the in-kernel drivers. It has to be one or the other, not both. You either need to completely remove alsa-driver, or remove all in-kernel drivers by using make menuconfig. Please read the Gentoo Linux ALSA Guide.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks nightmorph. As for the module load errors, it was simply a case of me not reading the relevant docs! Thanks for pointing that out.

So now the issue is with the persistant high frequency hissing sound. Also, if I adjust the volume ( audicious or mplayer) while playing an mp3 file, the sounds stops working unless I restart alsa.

Here are the details

96140 · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1324

Is your chip MCP51 or MCP55? nVidia uses two different numbers on their boards. Also, it might just be the audio ports you're using. I've just discovered that even though I wired the front audio cables correctly when building my computer, the headphone jack just produces a lot of hiss; I have to use the built-in audio ports on the back of the motherboard. Sometimes it's a weird hardware issue. Also, integrated sound is always going to have more interference (including EMI) than a dedicated sound card; that's the price of having components so close together.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

lspci says: 00:05.0 Audio device: nVidia Corporation MCP61 High Definition Audio (rev a2)

Yes I suspected I got the ports mixed up, but sound works without any issues with Windows XP. I am not sure if this is relevant, but alsamixer doesn't show a 'master' channel.

96140 · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1324

I don't have a master channel, either, and mine is MCP55. You know, if you really have an "MCP61" chip . . . I'm wondering if it's even supported yet; that strikes me as "just came out yesterday" new...but I'm not sure about that, either. You might need to do a couple of things:

First, try removing all preempt in your kernel; there are several motherboards that don't play well with preempt enabled. Second, go into your BIOS and see what options are available for assigning IRQs. It's best to let your board just automatically assign them (if possible; mine does), but you might need to make sure that nothing is trying to claim IRQ 16. You may want to think about setting up your IRQs manually and make sure that 16 is set aside for your sound chip.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Thanks nightmorph. I have done couple of things you suggested. Varified that IRQ 16 is not assigned (checked the bios settings) . Also, varified that the chipset is MCP61 as reported by lspci Motherboard Specification. However, I am yet to re-compile the kernel without preempt. I will do that later this evening and post the outcome. I tried to set the bios setting from a non-pnp OS to pnp OS, but that didnt make any difference.

As mentioned previously, ALSA now starts without any problems and I can play audio files (mp3's with say mplayer). However, there's a high frequency hiss/shrill while the audio plays. If I try to change the volume, the audio stop alltogether, unless, I do a /etc/init.d/alsasound restart.

Not sure if this is relevant, but, I noticed the following in dmesg output:

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

I've recompiled the kernel less preempt. No change, sound still doesnt work properly.

Monkeh · Veteran Joined: 06 Aug 2005 Posts: 1656 Location: England

Dr. Strangelove · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 5:07 pm Post subject:

theDOC_23 · Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:29 pm Post subject:

Hi, I have the M2NPV-VM mainboard and I had massive sound problems with enabled Message Signaled Interrupts (MSI). Try to boot with pci=nomsi and see if it fixes your sound problems.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Thank you labor_ratte. It worked !!! Made the changes you suggested to alsa. restarted alsa. Got the following messages. But sound works now. Will reboot the system and make sure its working and post the result.

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Rebooted the system everything, especially sound works like a charm !

For the benefit of others:

paulin · n00b Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 36

And what is your ALSA_CARDS in /etc/make.conf for MCP51 ?

kvr0006 · n00b Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 9

Hi paulin,

Its MCP61 and ALSA_CARDS="hda-intel"

paulin · n00b Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 36

Thanks (excuse my english but I'm french)

Me I have MPC51 but I will test with that
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96140 · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Jan 2005 Posts: 1324

Don't forget to add [Solved] to the thread's title, if you're sure everything has been fixed.