From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 Return-Path: Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org via listexpand id ; Tue, 19 Feb 2002 04:03:24 -0500 Received: (majordomo@vger.kernel.org) by vger.kernel.org id ; Tue, 19 Feb 2002 04:03:15 -0500 Received: from mta05-svc.ntlworld.com ([62.253.162.45]:25048 "EHLO mta05-svc.ntlworld.com") by vger.kernel.org with ESMTP id ; Tue, 19 Feb 2002 04:03:04 -0500 Date: Tue, 19 Feb 2002 09:03:03 +0000 From: Peter Christy To: linux-kernel Subject: via686/AD1886/Soundmax drivers Message-Id: <20020219090303.4d5ef5f3.christy@attglobal.net> X-Mailer: Sylpheed version 0.6.5 (GTK+ 1.2.10; i686-pc-linux-gnu) Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: linux-kernel-owner@vger.kernel.org X-Mailing-List: linux-kernel@vger.kernel.org There was a thread running a month or so back concerning problems getting the via686/AD1886 combination up and running (this chipset combination seems to be mostly used on laptops). The original thread concerned Compaq laptops, but I have a FIC A360+ which uses the same chipset and am having the same problems. The original thread seemed to fizzle out with no real solution found. To summarize the issue: None of the available drivers work with this chipset combination. The kernel driver fails to recognize the AD1886 correctly, the drivers on the Via website just don't work, and the Alsa drivers recognize the mixer correctly, but still produce no sound. The original thread seemed to suggest that the mixer was not being initialized correctly, resulting in very faint or no sound output. I am not a serious programmer (I peaked with 6502s and haven't done any machine level stuff since!), but following hints in the earlier threads I added the following lines to the kernel source ac97_codec.c file: {0x41445361, "Analog Devices AD1886", &default_ops}, {0x41445461, "Analog Devices AD1886", &default_ops}, I added both lines as I had conflicting information as to the 0x4144 numbers. After re-compiling the kernel, the kernel driver now correctly identifies the mixer. Using Kmix from KDE, if I open up the mic channel, I can get howl round. I can play cds at normal volume. In other words, the mixer appears to be working. However, I cannot get any wav or midi files to play. ie "computer generated" sounds, as opposed to "peripheral" devices, don't get through. This contradicts conclusions reached in earlier threads suggesting that the mixer was muting the audio output. I use the via686 kernel drivers on my desktop without problems. But my investigations make me think it is the Via686 bit which is not working rather than the AD1886. The only difference I can see is that the laptop chipset is a via686b rather than a via686a. I have now reached the limits of my knowledge on what to try next. Any suggestions gratefully received. Please CC to christy@attglobal.net -- Pete christy@attglobal.net