Re: Sound Advice

[Andrei Popescu <andreimp@rdslink.ro>]

On Wed, 4 Jan 2006 11:25:53 +0000
Graham Smith <graham@crazysquirrel.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I would like to get my sound card working correctly (using all 4.1 speakers) 
> but I can't seem to figure out how. I have a GigaByte GA-K8NXP-SLI 
> motherboard with a built in RealTec ALC850 sound chip. At the moment I get 
> sound but only from 2.1 speakers. I think these drivers
> 
> http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/dlac97-2.aspx?lineid=5&famid=12&series=8&Software=True#8Unix%20
> (Linux)
> 
> would make it work but before I go and screw up my system trying to get them 
> installed is there a Debian way of installing / setting up these drivers?
> 
> lsmod shows the following sound related modules are installed
> 
> snd_intel8x0           35904  0
> snd_ac97_codec         88836  1 snd_intel8x0
> snd_pcm_oss            56544  0
> snd_mixer_oss          19072  1 snd_pcm_oss
> 
> I have a feeling that the first one is actually the correct driver. If it is 
> then how do I get all the speakers working?
> 
> Many thanks,
> 
> Graham


If you're lucky all you need is manually specify surround41 as the alsa output device. Try something like this:

$aplay -D surround41 my-multichan-file.wav

with a multichannel wav file, though i don't remember from where i got mine ... If you have a multichannel DVD you can try something similar with mplayer or xine.

HTH
Andrei