http://groups.google.com/groups?selm=pooopa.n65.ln%40127.0.0.1

Newsgroups: alt.os.linux.mandrake
Date: 2002-10-30 07:14:05 PST

> I downloaded and tried it, without success. The wav file was created,
> but no sound.

I've got a 1371, but they're probably similar… Maybe not. Looking through your list, I don't see a "gain" control.

On my ens1371, there's a channel called IGain in kmix…

Let me verify… Yes. No IGain, no sound. I have to have that turned up to record anything on any channel.

(You might check out "Sound Studio." It's a nifty front-end for sox that works pretty well. It has a VU meter, which is what I just used to check this. Instant feedback… If the meter isn't moving, you're not recording.)

Um, you have these channels (filtering out all the crap):

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
Simple mixer control 'Master Mono',0
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
Simple mixer control 'PCM',1
[...]

> Let's look.  You're running the OSS/Free kernel module, which hasn't changed
> since 1-31-2001...  It says:
>
>  * Module command line parameters:
>  *   joystick if 1 enables the joystick interface on the card; but it still
>  *            needs a driver for joysticks connected to a standard IBM-PC
>  *        joyport. It is tested with the joy-analog driver. This
>  *        module must be loaded before the joystick driver. Kmod will
>  *        not ensure that.
>  *   lineout  if 1 the LINE jack is used as an output instead of an input.
>  *            LINE then contains the unmixed dsp output. This can be used
>  *            to make the card a four channel one: use dsp to output two
>  *            channels to LINE and dac to output the other two channels to
>  *            SPKR. Set the mixer to only output synth to SPKR.
>  *   micbias  sets the +5V bias to the mic if using an electretmic.
>
> I don't actually know how you'd make use of this information.  One of the
> things I've never really had to do.  I think you can pass these parameters
> to the driver via /etc/modules.conf somehow.  BUT none of the parameters
> are likely to do you any good anyway, so that's a dead end.
>
>  > I'm at the end of the road. It looks like the card will have to join
> > my 'Can't use with linux' stockpile, which now consists of a scanner
> > and webcam,...and soundcard.
>
> I still say you need to turn up the input gain.  It's almost definitely the
> problem, but I don't know what else to suggest.

Unbelievable. adding this to /etc/modules.conf got it going

options es1370 joystick=1 micbias=1

micbias=1 is supposed to be an option for an 'Electretmic', whatever that is. Talk about fickle ! Anyway, I'm pleased as punch ! Thanks all for helping me work this through

Mark

A final note in case anyone else uses this posting to troubleshoot.

My card is a Creative Esoniq AudioPCI, not a SB which some of the es1370's are based.

Using the es1370 module means using oss. Anything I tried with Alsa snd-ens1370 didn't enable sound recording, though I'm still on the lookout for a fix there.

Mark

> Unbelievable.
> adding this to /etc/modules.conf got it going
> options es1370 joystick=1 micbias=1

I have tones of 1370's and they work fine, even with microphones.

> micbias=1 is supposed to be an option for an 'Electretmic', whatever that is.

An "electretmic" sounds like they mean a carbon microphone - one that works by changing resistence or some other electric characteristic (dielectric .) in response to sound, and doesn't generate electricity of its own. Yes, you would need to add a bias voltage! Otehrwise you would get sound causing 1% variations in 0V.

Get a proper microphone?

Peter

> An "electretmic" sounds like they mean a carbon microphone - one that

I have an "electret" mic, and it takes a battery. No battery, no sound. It also works about 1000 times better than any "condenser" mic I've ever used, even though it's just some cheap POS from Ripoff Shark (where you can buy yesterday's technology at tomorrow's prices, and if you stop in to buy some diodes they won't let you leave until you buy three cellular phones and satellite TV…)

Michael McIntyre