Can't get music output to S/PDIF working.

[rubeast]

Hello!

I know a little of linux but decided I wanted to learn more. So I installed Xubuntu.
On Windows I used Winamp and had it setup so all my audio would go through S/PDIF to my audio receiver of my surround system.
ALL other audio from other applications would just go to my speakers that are connected with a jack port.
This worked perfect.

I want the same functionality in gmusicbrowser, but I can't get it working.

I went to Settings > Audio > Output device
Here I changed the setting to alsa and changed the advanced settings to hw:0,1 since this is the SPDIF output.


But I can't hear anything this way.
When I change the setting to hw:0,0 the sound works perfect through the jack output.

I also know that SPDIF should work, because when I change it in the PulseAudio settings like here:

It works, but in this case the sound for the whole system is changed to SPDIF.

This is the output of aplay -l:

Code Select Expand

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 0: VT2020 Analog [VT2020 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 1: VT2020 Digital [VT2020 Digital]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: SB [HDA ATI SB], device 2: VT2020 HP [VT2020 HP]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0


Can anyone guide my in the right direction? :)

[rubeast]

Can I assume this is not possible?

[VastOne]

Have you heard anything through SPDIF yet?  I would use alsamixer or pulseaudio controls to setup SPDIF and make sure they are not muted.  I generally have to do this on every install to enable SPDIF sound

[rubeast]

Thanks for the reply. I know SPDIF works.
I can change the settings in pulseaudio to SPDIF (see screenshot above), but that is for the audio for the whole system.
In that case audio through gmusicbrowser works when I select "Auto Detect".
Problem is that all other sound (youtube, single video/audio files, system sound,....) should work through the normal output.

[rubeast]

Seemed like you were right!!
I was able to change the settings in "alsamixer -c 1"



Works now!!

[VastOne]

Good to hear that...

I am a fan of pulseaudio but it is touchy IMO and I always rely on alsamixer

[rubeast]

I don't really understand the difference.
Should I see it like 2 different software handlers for the sound?
Seems like I had both pulseaudio and alsamixer on my system?
Is it better to remove pulseaudio in that case? (Maybe best to leave it alone since it works now :) )

[VastOne]

Pulseaudio uses alsa in a sink ... Here is a wiki that explains it quite well

You can keep both, it should not be an issue..  It is good to have both tools if needed. 

I used to use pulseaudio just for a mixer that worked with it. I no longer use that mixer and therefor no longer use pulseaudio but I have not uninstalled it

It is entirely up to you

[rubeast]

Alright. Thx again!