[SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-15 18:57:05

$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Device [USB PnP Sound Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24C650]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC256 Analog [ALC256 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

I added the following to ~/.asoundrc, in connection with a new Devuan Excalibur install:

pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}

ctl.!default {
    type hw
    card 2
}

This appears to set the desired card to default:

$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Device [USB PnP Sound Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24C650]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC256 Analog [ALC256 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Everything looks good, but I am not getting any audio out, neither with alsa:

$ speaker-test -c 0

speaker-test 1.2.14

Playback device is default
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
Channels count (1) not available for playbacks: Invalid argument
Setting of hwparams failed: Invalid argument

YouTube in librewolf, firefox and waterfox don't output anything either.

I am trying to keep this system as KISS as possible, as problems can sometimes appear as is, when I use websites that I need, that use midi over web and webgl.

Any ideas?

igorzwx · 2026-01-15 20:22:00

Try to read this:
ALSA software mixer enabled by default in Debian/Devuan
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7587
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7605
_https://dev1galaxy.org/viewtopic.php?id=7142

sudo /etc/init.d/alsa-utils force-reload

man alsamixer

speaker-test --channels=2

fuser -av $(find /dev/snd -type c 2>/dev/null)

inxi -Axxx

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-16 03:12:12)

greenjeans · 2026-01-16 01:41:21

If your chosen DE already has a mixer, then .asoundrc won't help you. What DE or window manager are you running?

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-16 08:15:14

I am currently using LXDE, but I want to just use a window manager.

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-16 08:51:18

On a reboot, looks like the order is moving around:

$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24C650]
  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
card 2: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC256 Analog [ALC256 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

$ fuser -av $(find /dev/snd -type c 2>/dev/null)
                     USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC2:
/dev/snd/controlC1:
/dev/snd/pcmC1D0c:
/dev/snd/pcmC1D0p:
/dev/snd/hwC2D0:
/dev/snd/pcmC2D2c:
/dev/snd/pcmC2D0c:
/dev/snd/pcmC2D0p:
/dev/snd/controlC0:
/dev/snd/hwC0D0:
/dev/snd/pcmC0D3p:
/dev/snd/seq:
/dev/snd/timer:

$ inxi -Axxx
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Renoir Radeon High Definition
    Audio driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 08:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1637 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Audio Coprocessor driver: N/A pcie:
    speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 08:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h/1ah HD Audio
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16
    bus-ID: 08:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: Intel USB PnP Sound Device
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s
    lanes: 1 bus-ID: 3-1:2 chip-ID: 8086:0808 class-ID: 0300
  API: ALSA v: k6.12.63+deb13-amd64 status: kernel-api

So, according to the nomenclature of inxi, I am trying to set Device-4 as default.

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Generic        ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c8000 irq 81
 1 [Device         ]: USB-Audio - USB PnP Sound Device
                      C-Media Electronics Inc. USB PnP Sound Device at usb-0000:08:00.3-1, full speed
 2 [Generic_1      ]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic
                      HD-Audio Generic at 0xd05c0000 irq 82

Shows what I want as the default as what is now card 1.

I have now changed ~/.asoundrc to read as follows:

defaults.pcm.!card Device
defaults.ctl.!card Device

I will see what happens after a reboot...

devuan_dk_fan · 2026-01-16 08:55:12

Success. First time I have been able to get audio on this computer with Devuan. Thanks.

greenjeans · 2026-01-16 16:28:03

Bro you should try AlsaTune, it's basically made for what you're trying to do, and you can switch soundcards/devices right from the GUI. Plus you get a custom (if you want it) .asoundrc that provides basic mixing functions, and you also get a global 10-band EQ (provided by libasound-plugins-equal). All native alsa with no Pulse or Pipe.

igorzwx · 2026-01-16 18:19:44

Using a software equalizer to aggressively compensate for hearing loss can potentially exacerbate existing hearing issues. Here's why you might want to consider alternative solutions:

Boosting high frequencies without proper safety mechanisms can increase the overall sound pressure level reaching your ears, which may further damage delicate hair cells in the cochlea.
Blasting the 10kHz to 20kHz range is effectively the audio equivalent of staring directly into a laser to "see better."
Biological Limits: The ears are remarkably unforgiving when subjected to high-intensity high-frequency noise.
Unlike medical hearing aids, software equalizers often lack features like dynamic range compression and peak limiters, which are designed to protect your hearing from sudden loud noises.
Extreme equalization can introduce digital distortion, resulting in an unpleasant listening experience and potentially harmful artifacts.

If you are experiencing hearing loss, consulting with an audiologist or hearing healthcare professional is the best course of action. They can provide a proper diagnosis and recommend safe and effective solutions tailored to your specific needs.

Last edited by igorzwx (2026-01-16 18:51:46)

greenjeans · 2026-01-16 19:39:05

That's nonsense.
1. Nobody uses an EQ like that, it's an equalizer not a dedicated booster, it's just as easy to lower the annoyingly loud frequencies as it is to boost up the ones we can't hear so well.
2. Flat response sounds like shit to everyone's ears, especially on a laptop, it's just awful.

Last edited by greenjeans (Yesterday 16:46:15)

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#1 2026-01-15 18:57:05

[SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#2 2026-01-15 20:22:00

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#3 2026-01-16 01:41:21

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#4 2026-01-16 08:15:14

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#5 2026-01-16 08:51:18

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#6 2026-01-16 08:55:12

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#7 2026-01-16 16:28:03

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#8 2026-01-16 18:19:44

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

#9 2026-01-16 19:39:05

Re: [SOLVED] Devuan Excalibur Alsa audio with multiple sound cards.

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