Re: Problem with HDMI audio output after upgrade

[Rob Owens <rowens@ptd.net>]

On Sat, Jul 06, 2013 at 12:47:33AM +0200, José Luis Segura Lucas wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> I'm having an issue with my HTPC computer. I was using it with WBMC, and
> using a HDMI cable to output the video and audio from my computer to the TV.
> 
> When I first installed Debian a year ago I have some problems ([1]),but
> them was solved using a ~/.asoundrc configuration file.
> 
> I was happy with my computer, but a few days ago I realized that my
> Debian Sid become a little outdated, when I try to install the
> experimental version of XBMC.
> 
> Before upgrading XBMC I decided to upgrade the whole system (around 300
> packages, only upgrade, not dist-upgrade). The upgrade process was fine
> and I rebooted the computer.
> 
> The surprise comes when I try to use my XBMC installation and the sound
> is not working at all. No errors are shown, the configuration file is in
> its place. I checked the "mute" checkboxes on my alsaconfig, and all
> appears to be ok.
> 
> I don't know where to start to look for a solution.
> 
> Anybody knows what can be wrong? Anybody had a similar problem? Thanks
> in advance
> 
> [1] http://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2012/05/msg00056.html
> 
> Some (maybe) helpful outputs:
> 
> $ lspci | grep -i -e audio
> 00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation NM10/ICH7 Family High Definition
> Audio Controller (rev 02)
> 02:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation High Definition Audio
> Controller (rev a1)
> 
> $ aplay -l
> **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
> card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
>   Subdevices: 0/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 1: ALC892 Digital [ALC892 Digital]
>   Subdevices: 1/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>   Subdevices: 1/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>   Subdevices: 1/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>   Subdevices: 1/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
>   Subdevices: 1/1
>   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
> 
I just went through something similar when changing the video card on my
MythTV machine.  I used aplay -l to get my list of devices.  MythTV has
a sound setting, and I also configured /etc/asound.conf so that mplayer
and rhythmbox would output sound through HDMI. 

Here is my /etc/asound.conf:

pcm.pulse {
    type pulse
}
ctl.pulse {
    type pulse
}

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
    device 7
}
ctl.!default {
    type hw           
    card 1
    device 7
}

You should probably check to see if XBMC has its own sound settings that
need to be tweaked in addition to asound.conf.  Also keep in mind that
there may be a per-user setting in $HOME/.asoundrc

-Rob