Rpi USB audio woes and other zombies.

Xeon

Hardware: Rpi Zero
Usb hardware: PS3 Controler, usb keyboard, 3 port usb hub,.
Problematic hardware: USB sound cards wont work. (C-Media Electronics, Inc. and Corsair 1500)
Image: RetroPie is v4.2 – released on the 20th March 2017

I have been trying to enable usb audio.
After reading 3 guides none of what reach the end without something not working correctly.

Someone please help.

edmaul69

@xeon it would help to know what you have tried.

Xeon

I tried http://www.sudomod.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144

We can change and force the system to load the sound cards in a different order by creating a sound configuration file. Create the file by using the command below:
CODE: SELECT ALL
pi@retropie:~ $ sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
You will then enter the Nano editor environment and type the following lines:
CODE: SELECT ALL
options snd_usb_audio index=0
options snd_bcm2835 index=1
options snd slots=snd-usb-audio,snd-bcm2835
Afterwards, press Ctrl+X to exit and answer Yes when prompted to save. <<< ** wont save**

I also tried
https://github.com/RetroPie/RetroPie-Setup/issues/1312
once again... "error wwriting /ectsound/asound.conf; no such file in dirrectory"

Xeon

sudo makes no difference.

Xeon

How do i change the mixer device to Speaker?

Xeon

Still no luck.

Xeon

I don't know what i'm doing wrong.

Please help.

tonythetiger

yo may of already checked it, but ive installed alot of linux over the years, and they often come muted by default, try muting and then unmuting, if not "alsa sound mixer terminal" is what to search for. But honestly some sort of on off thing with mute usually works.

Hex

@Xeon When you say audio doesnt work, which part are you referring to? Video screensaver/preview or Emulator?

Xeon

@hex Everything.
because there is nowhere i can select it as the primary audio device.

Hex

@Xeon Have you tried Sound settings in ES? It has an option to change your device: "OMX PLAYER AUDIO DEVICE". Try both the alsa options. one of them will work.

Xeon

@hex Where do i do this? google has failed me.

Xeon

Does this function work or is it just shrouded in confusion?

Hex

@Xeon Wait I shall get something up soon.

Xeon

@hex thanks

Hex

@Xeon Ok so I tested videos and i got it working. SSh into your pi and try aplay -l and post the output.

Xeon

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA], device 0: bcm2835 ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA]
Subdevices: 8/8
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Subdevice #1: subdevice #1
Subdevice #2: subdevice #2
Subdevice #3: subdevice #3
Subdevice #4: subdevice #4
Subdevice #5: subdevice #5
Subdevice #6: subdevice #6
Subdevice #7: subdevice #7
card 0: ALSA [bcm2835 ALSA], device 1: bcm2835 ALSA [bcm2835 IEC958/HDMI]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Device [USB PnP Sound Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Natron

@xeon I just fixed this on mine, actually. The problem is that most tutorials for this are old, showing you how to reconfigure an ALSA.conf file that's missing because they moved it when Raspbian switched to Jessie from Wheezy. The new config file is located at /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf and the file is structured differently. I got mine working by doing the following:

Get into your terminal and type:
sudo nano /usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf

Near the middle of this file there are two entries to change. They look like this:
defaults.ctl.card 0
defaults.pcm.card 0

Just change the zeroes to ones like this:
defaults.ctl.card 1
defaults.pcm.card 1

Then save the file (overwrite).

This worked for me, but I do get a small error telling me that it couldn't find mixing levels or something when I transition into configuration files in Retropie, but I DO get sound, which is the main thing.

Hopefully this does it for you!

Xeon

@natron said in Rpi USB audio woes and other zombies.:

defaults.ctl.card 0

You my friend are a legend.

This worked.
Afterward I updated to latest build via the retro pie script.
Made the changes again.

Selected Speaker in emustation 'not possible on stock image' and increased the volume.

This works! :)

Natron

Awesome! This was quite the head-scratcher, so I'm glad I could help!