The sound doesn't work on VIA chipsets

Forum: System
Topic: The sound doesn't work on VIA chipsets
started by: antoni_NT

Posted by antoni_NT on April 10 2006,10:09

Hello, I'm new to DSL.
I've download teh latest version (2.3), and I installed it on USB.
It worked but I cannot hear any sounds from my PC while running on DSL. How is that possible?
My chipset is VIA KT 400 motherboard Asus A7V8X-x.
Please, help me

Posted by doobit on April 10 2006,12:51

Sound does work with VIA chipsets. I've got it going on three of them. One of them took me a while to get going because I had the hardware disabled and didn't realize it.

Posted by piccolo on April 10 2006,13:01

In Linux there are two family or type drivers: ALSA and OSS.
DSL install by defect driver type OSS.

Newer cards may need ALSA (Perhaps your case) but you first insure that OSS really not work for you before attempt to install ALSA driver.

TESTING OSS DRIVER:

Procedure:

Launch XMMS player.
Click rightbutton over XMMS player
Click to "Play Location" and write:

tone://1000

Click OK

You should hear a 1000 Hz tone.
You can set volume level with DMIX application.

Unsuccess? Well, install ALSA driver.

INSTALLING ALSA DRIVER:
Procedure:

1) Install the gnu-utils.dsl myDSL extension.
(PanelDSL -> MyDSL -> gnu-utils.dsl)
Install the dsl-dpkg.dsl myDSL extension.
(PanelDSL -> MyDSL -> dsl-dpkg.dsl)
Install this extension alsadebs.dsl
(PanelDSL -> MyDSL -> .dsl)

2) Choose "Install ALSA" from the myDSL menu.

3)Launch XMMS player
Click right button over XMMS player
Options-> Preferences -> Audio I/O Plugins Tab -> Output Plugin
Perhaps it say OSS, but you must select or change to ALSA.
Click Apply and click OK.

4) Test play a tone with XMMS player how i explained before with OSS driver.

Posted by piccolo on April 10 2006,13:09

Sorry mistake on end step 1. Correction:
PanelDSL -> MyDSL -> alsadebs.dsl

Posted by doobit on April 10 2006,14:36

You probably do not need alsa for the VIA sound, but it can't hurt either, since alsa also supports VIA AC97 chipsets. Frankly, my experience with VIA sound is that it's pretty bad quality, but I'm picky about that. I installed (just plugged it in!) a USB sound chip from a Chinese distributor that I bought for $8.00US and the sound is a lot better - lower noise, more channel separation - than the onboard VIA chipset's sound. That might be another option for you if you are also picky about sound.

Posted by piccolo on April 10 2006,15:06

Again sorry, between steps 2 and 3 you must reboot computer with
the boot option: "dsl alsa"