optical sound output, can hear in AV wizard but no where else

[krys]

I have a sound card that I added with an optical out, during the AV wizard I selected SPDIF optical, on the stereo test I heard no sound, on the dolby test I heard the sound, on the DTS i didnt hear anything. When I go to play any audio/video files in LMCE I have no sound whatsoever... any ideas?

[indulis]

Likely your alsa default voume is not turned on.

Open a terminal window (KDE desktop- System- Konsole)

Code:

alsamixer

Now play with the settings until you get some sounds.  To test you can use System Settings from KDE desktop main menu (K at bottom LH  of screen), then Sound System, and Test Sound.  Press Esc key to exit alsamixer.  If you can't get a sound there is something else wrong.

Then

Code:

sudo alsactl store

Now the system *should* pick up the stored defaults at reboot.  It stores the file with the settings in
/var/lib/alsa/asound.state

Luck!

[krys]

I went into alsamixer and unmuted everything still no sound when I hit the test button... .any other ideas?

[krys]

is it possible that LMCE only associates this output with Dolby digital sound? Is there any way to tell it to use this output for all sound?

[indulis]

Yes- using alsamixer you should see a control that is called IEC958.  It is a "switch", cursor across to it, press M to switch it on and off.  Turn all other volume controls to full.  If below the slider there is an "M" the channel is muted, so unmute all channels.

As you change the IEC958 switch from Muted to On, you can actually see the laser switch on and off.  Do *NOT* stare into the digital optical output from the motherboard to check.  You can just put some paper over the laser output socket (SPDIF socket), or even your finger.

[krys]

Yeah, I finally got this card working properly last night, It was just a matter of having the volume on all the unmuted channels at 100%. Now I get to listen to my lmce in full Dolby surround.
Thanks Guys

[seth]

 
I figured that is what it was. When I first tried it, I forgot to unmute the +5 volt one, so my red light didn't come on, but I do have everything at 100%.

Glad you got it sorted.

Regards,

Seth