New sound card issues

[fletcher]

I think I may need drivers for this sound card, or maybe some piece of software to run it. I just got an Encore ENM232-8VIA sound card to run my Logitech X-530 speaker system. I know it is more sound card then I need for the speakers, but my trusted computer store does not sell any less.

I have the speakers connected to the proper ports, according to tech support at Encore, who helped me over the phone to make all the right connections. But I still get no sound from the speakers. Is there a set of drivers I need? And does anyone know where I could get them? Or is there some software that would help?

I appreciate all help when I feel and talk like a noob. Thank you to all who read and advise.

Edit for additional information: I am finding some info on alsa drivers, specifically a couple posts about the ICE1724 drivers. I do not want to download something that might mess up my system, so I like to go through the repos. Anyone know where I can find all the alsa drivers, in the repos or for a safe download?

[gordintoronto]

What OS version are you using? Can you run Sound Preferences and select the card?

[fletcher]

I'm running Mint 11 on LXDE. The way the menu is set up, a feature I usually love in LXDE, I'm not sure where the sound preferences menu is.

I often get a small bass sound from the speakers when shutting down or starting up the computer,and my headphones, plugged into the computer tower, not the speakers, have a buzz in them. But no sound other than that.

[gordintoronto]

If there's a speaker icon, it might be there, maybe by right-clicking.

[mank_in]

maybe you can check if your card is detected with :

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lspci

and see if a problem occur related with audio with :

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dmesg

If you see no error , maybe you can try :

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alsamixer

[fletcher]

This is the lspci output:

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00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS880 Host Bridge
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780/RS880 PCI to PCI bridge (int gfx)
00:07.0 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] RS780 PCI to PCI bridge (PCIE port 3)
00:11.0 SATA controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 SATA Controller [IDE mode]
00:12.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:12.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0 USB OHCI1 Controller
00:12.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:13.0 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI0 Controller
00:13.1 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0 USB OHCI1 Controller
00:13.2 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB EHCI Controller
00:14.0 SMBus: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 SMBus Controller (rev 3c)
00:14.1 IDE interface: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 IDE Controller
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 LPC host controller
00:14.4 PCI bridge: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 PCI to PCI Bridge
00:14.5 USB Controller: ATI Technologies Inc SB7x0/SB8x0/SB9x0 USB OHCI2 Controller
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor HyperTransport Configuration
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Address Map
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor DRAM Controller
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Miscellaneous Control
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 10h Processor Link Control
01:05.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc RS880 [Radeon HD 4250]
01:05.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc RS880 Audio Device [Radeon HD 4200]
02:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL8111/8168B PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet controller (rev 03)
03:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies Inc. VT1720/24 [Envy24PT/HT] PCI Multi-Channel Audio Controller (rev 01)


I do not see any sound card other than the built-in ATI card in there. But the new sound card from VIA technologies shows up in the alsamixer when I run that from terminal.

I am getting some white noise in the headphones, whether I plug them into the tower or into the speaker. I get no other sound when they are plugged into the speaker, though. They work fine plugged into the tower.

I also hear a short, quiet feedback when the computer goes to sleep or wakes up.

[gordintoronto]

Your device list shows three sound devices:
00:14.2 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc SBx00 Azalia (Intel HDA)
01:05.1 Audio device: ATI Technologies Inc RS880 Audio Device [Radeon HD 4200]
03:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies Inc. VT1720/24 [Envy24PT/HT] PCI Multi-Channel Audio Controller (rev 01)

When you say, "plugged into the tower," do you mean you plugged your headset into the PCI expansion card? (Specifically, into the green hole, third from the top.) From what I have Googled, it should just work, once you select it.

[fletcher]

Okay, I'm feeling really stupid (and annoyed) now.

When I open alsamixer from the menu, I can see all three audio devices, but I do not see how to select which one to use. My headphones work fine when plugged into the front of the tower, the original headphone jack that came on the computer. They do not work when plugged directly into the new sound card.

This is the first time that something, hardware or software, has not just worked for me in Linux. It is really getting on my nerves that I cannot figure this out.

[mank_in]

There is a package to select default soundcard ( asoundconf-gtk ) which works in previous ubuntu version but not work in LM 12.
The package still available in repository but i cannot make it works .
The only way i know to change soundcard is in multimedia application.
In Gnome Mplayer , select edit>preferences . You can choose option in "Audio Output"
In VLC , select Tool>Preferences>Audio , there is an option in "output module"