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    Please do not post a support request without first reading and following the advice in https://retropie.org.uk/forum/topic/3/read-this-first

    Linux no sound retropie / emulation station HDMI or USB

    Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved Help and Support
    no soundlinuxhdmi audiousb audio
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    • T
      technicaljunky
      last edited by

      Hi all, I am trying to run retro pie on my linux pc and I have tried many things in a ton of posts and also the official help on retro pies sound page. Here are some details on my audio setup

      aplay -l
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 11: HDMI 5 [HDMI 5]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 12: HDMI 6 [HDMI 6]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 1: R41PM [R-41PM], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      card 2: Controller [Wireless Controller], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
        Subdevices: 1/1
        Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
      
      
      $ pacmd list-sinks
      1 sink(s) available.
        * index: 0
      	name: <alsa_output.usb-NAE_Technologies_Inc_R-41PM-01.iec958-stereo>
      	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
      	flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
      	state: SUSPENDED
      	suspend cause: IDLE
      	priority: 9048
      	volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
      	        balance 0.00
      	base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
      	volume steps: 65537
      	muted: no
      	current latency: 0.00 ms
      	max request: 0 KiB
      	max rewind: 0 KiB
      	monitor source: 0
      	sample spec: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
      	channel map: front-left,front-right
      	             Stereo
      	used by: 0
      	linked by: 1
      	configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 1837.50 ms
      	card: 1 <alsa_card.usb-NAE_Technologies_Inc_R-41PM-01>
      	module: 8
      	properties:
      		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
      		device.api = "alsa"
      		device.class = "sound"
      		alsa.class = "generic"
      		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
      		alsa.name = "USB Audio"
      		alsa.id = "USB Audio"
      		alsa.subdevice = "0"
      		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
      		alsa.device = "0"
      		alsa.card = "1"
      		alsa.card_name = "R-41PM"
      		alsa.long_card_name = "NAE Technologies Inc R-41PM at usb-0000:00:14.0-2, full speed"
      		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
      		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:2:1.1"
      		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.1/sound/card1"
      		udev.id = "usb-NAE_Technologies_Inc_R-41PM-01"
      		device.bus = "usb"
      		device.vendor.id = "262a"
      		device.vendor.name = "NAE Technologies Inc"
      		device.product.id = "180a"
      		device.product.name = "R-41PM"
      		device.serial = "NAE_Technologies_Inc_R-41PM"
      		device.string = "iec958:1"
      		device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
      		device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
      		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
      		device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
      		device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
      		device.description = "R-41PM Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
      		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
      		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
      	ports:
      		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
      			properties:
      				
      	active port: <iec958-stereo-output>
      
      

      In emulation station I tried to configure the sound with Default and HDMI first with no luck I get an error Mar 21 09:11:42 lvl0: VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements!

      I tried to find what I need to setup using the guide where it says you can just add your sound card to the es_settings.cfg

      I started at step 1 "Step 1: Configuring the Operating System"
      And it only has info for a pi, (Sound does work from either device HDMI or USB so I figured the OS is OK)

      Then I went to Step 2 "Step 2: Choosing the Audio Card in EmulationStation"

      aplay -L
      default
          Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
      surround21
          2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
      surround40
          4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
      surround41
          4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround50
          5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
      surround51
          5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround71
          7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
      null
          Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
      samplerate
          Rate Converter Plugin Using Samplerate Library
      speexrate
          Rate Converter Plugin Using Speex Resampler
      jack
          JACK Audio Connection Kit
      oss
          Open Sound System
      pulse
          PulseAudio Sound Server
      upmix
          Plugin for channel upmix (4,6,8)
      vdownmix
          Plugin for channel downmix (stereo) with a simple spacialization
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=2
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=4
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=5
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
          HDMI Audio Output
      hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=6
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
          HDMI Audio Output
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
          Direct sample mixing device
      dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
          Direct sample mixing device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
          Direct sample snooping device
      dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
          Direct sample snooping device
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 4
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 5
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12
          HDA NVidia, HDMI 6
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      usbstream:CARD=NVidia
          HDA NVidia
          USB Stream Output
      sysdefault:CARD=R41PM
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Default Audio Device
      front:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Front speakers
      surround21:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
      surround40:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
      surround41:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround50:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
      surround51:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround71:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
      iec958:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
      dmix:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Direct sample mixing device
      dsnoop:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Direct sample snooping device
      hw:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      plughw:CARD=R41PM,DEV=0
          R-41PM, USB Audio
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      usbstream:CARD=R41PM
          R-41PM
          USB Stream Output
      sysdefault:CARD=Controller
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Default Audio Device
      front:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Front speakers
      surround21:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
      surround40:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
      surround41:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround50:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
      surround51:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
      surround71:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
      iec958:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
      dmix:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Direct sample mixing device
      dsnoop:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Direct sample snooping device
      hw:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Direct hardware device without any conversions
      plughw:CARD=Controller,DEV=0
          Wireless Controller, USB Audio
          Hardware device with all software conversions
      usbstream:CARD=Controller
          Wireless Controller
          USB Stream Output
      usbstream:CARD=MIC
          AmazonBasics USB Gaming MIC
          USB Stream Output
      
      

      Says to choose one of the options available, and it looks like I can use
      sysdefault:CARD=R41PM
      R-41PM, USB Audio
      Default Audio Device

      So in emulation station I set sysdefault

      Then I try to check Audio Device Mixer I can use and it looks like it can't find my R41PM

      amixer scontrols -D R41PM
      ALSA lib control.c:1379:(snd_ctl_open_noupdate) Invalid CTL R41PM
      amixer: Mixer attach R41PM error: No such file or directory
      

      The next stem says if you can't find one no worries you can add one so next step I checked both default and sysdefault they both produce the same thing so I edit the cfg file

      <string name="AudioCard" value="default" />
      <string name="AudioDevice" value="IEC958" />
      

      or

      <string name="AudioCard" value="sysdefault" />
      <string name="AudioDevice" value="IEC958" />
      

      And they both give an error when I try to setup the settings in emulation station > sound settings

      Mar 21 09:41:01 lvl0: 	VolumeControl::init() - Failed to find mixer elements!
      
      amixer scontrols -D default
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',3
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',4
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',5
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',6
      
      
      amixer scontrols -D sysdefault
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',3
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',4
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',5
      Simple mixer control 'IEC958',6
      

      So I was wondering if anyone has any other ideas they could lead me to sorry for the long post!

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • mituM
        mitu Global Moderator
        last edited by

        Your system seems to be using PulseAudio as the default ALSA card. Run alsamixer and see which is the default mixer name (Master ?) and use Default/<MixerName> as audio card/device in EmulationStation.

        T 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • T
          technicaljunky @mitu
          last edited by

          @mitu Thanks I think I will install a different distro seems like I only have a choice to use pulse audio in linux mint and I can't remove it as it is part of the cinnamon desktop

          mituM 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • mituM
            mitu Global Moderator @technicaljunky
            last edited by

            @technicaljunky It's not a problem if PulseAudio is present - the only issue for you seems to be EmulationStation's audio settings, which should be solvable with the correct configuration.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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