desperate to get S/PDIF output working on Xonar SE sound card
by mstrimel from LinuxQuestions.org on (#5H9RS)
Hello,
I purchased an Asus Xonar SE sound card and I specifically needed the S/PDIF output to work. I've worked really hard but can't seem to get it going. Can anyone help? Forgive the length of this post but I'm going to try and provide all relevant info along with everything I've tried.
Distribution: Linux mint
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ uname -r
5.8.0-50-genericCard info [NOTE: it is a pci card but for some reason reports as a USB card. But the analog speaker out works, so this anomaly doesn't seem like the problem?]
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lsusb
* * *
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0b05:189d ASUSTek Computer, Inc. Xonar SoundCardOnboard sound info [this is NOT the card I'm worried about, but I'm providing the info in case it's somehow relevant]:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lspci
0b:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Device 1637sinks info, this seems to look like the port is active:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
* index: 6
name: <alsa_output.usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00.iec958-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: RUNNING
suspend cause: (none)
priority: 9048
volume: front-left: 67624 / 103% / 0.82 dB, front-right: 67624 / 103% / 0.82 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 20.22 ms
max request: 4 KiB
max rewind: 4 KiB
monitor source: 12
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 1
linked by: 3
configured latency: 23.22 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00>
module: 7
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "Xonar SoundCard"
alsa.long_card_name = "ASUSTeK Xonar SoundCard at usb-0000:01:00.0-1, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.0-usb-0:1:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.1/0000:01:00.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/sound/card1"
udev.id = "usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0b05"
device.vendor.name = "ASUSTek Computer, Inc."
device.product.id = "189d"
device.product.name = "Xonar SoundCard"
device.serial = "ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard"
device.string = "iec958:1"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
device.description = "Xonar SoundCard Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <iec958-stereo-output>Controls (look at NUMID=19)
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ amixer -c 1 contents
numid=10,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 21 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=15,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 22 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=18,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 23 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=30,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 24 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=35,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 25 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=16,iface=CARD,name='Headphone - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=off
numid=19,iface=CARD,name='IEC958 In - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=36,iface=CARD,name='Keep Interface'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=24,iface=CARD,name='Line - Input Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=20,iface=CARD,name='Mic - Input Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=31,iface=CARD,name='Mic - Input Jack',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=off
numid=11,iface=CARD,name='Speaker - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch',index=2
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=6,min=0,max=87,step=0
: values=66,87,84,69,81,74
| dBminmax-min=-65.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=87,step=0
: values=74,74
| dBminmax-min=-65.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Source'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw------,values=1,items=3
; Item #0 'Mic'
; Item #1 'Line'
; Item #2 'Mixer'
: values=0
numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Line Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='Line Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=23,step=0
: values=0,0
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=32,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Switch',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=33,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Volume',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Auto Gain Control'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=34,iface=MIXER,name='Auto Gain Control',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='Input Gain Pad Control'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=1,min=0,max=2,step=0
: values=2
numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Input Gain Pad Control',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=2,min=0,max=1,step=0
: values=1,1
numid=5,iface=PCM,name='Capture Channel Map'
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=1,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map'
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=6,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0,0,0,0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR,FC,LFE,SL,SR
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR,RL,RR
numid=6,iface=PCM,name='Capture Channel Map',device=1
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=2,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=1
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=3,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=2
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=4,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=3
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FRdmesg:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ dmesg | grep snd
[ 7.416094] snd_hda_intel 0000:0b:00.1: Handle vga_switcheroo audio client
[ 7.430707] snd_hda_intel 0000:0b:00.1: bound 0000:0b:00.0 (ops amdgpu_dm_audio_component_bind_ops [amdgpu])
[ 7.631468] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audiolsmod:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 61440 1
snd_usb_audio 282624 2
snd_usbmidi_lib 36864 1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hda_intel 53248 2
snd_intel_dspcfg 24576 1 snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec 139264 2 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_core 94208 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_hwdep 20480 2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 114688 5 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_core
snd_seq_midi 20480 0
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 36864 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_usbmidi_lib
snd_seq 69632 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
mc 57344 2 videodev,snd_usb_audio
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
snd_timer 40960 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 94208 19 snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
soundcore 16384 1 snd.asound.rc
Code:pcm.!default {
type plug
slave { pcm "jack" }
}
pcm.jack {
type jack
playback_ports {
0 alsa_pcm:playback_1
1 alsa_pcm:playback_2
}
capture_ports {
0 alsa_pcm:capture_1
1 alsa_pcm:capture_2
}
}
ctl.mixer0 {
type hw
card 0
}
Things I have tried: raising all volumes to maximum in qasmixer and alsamixer (after selecting the correct card); turning off pulseaudio with "pulseaudio -k"; turning off pulsaudio by moving the /usr/bin program then restarting the machine and trying all mixer controls; turning off onboard sound in bios; looking for entries in bios that would enable the spdif on my sound card (didn't find any); typing "iecset audio on" from a terminal as recommended in the Arch Linux manual (I'm really disappointed that didn't work!); setting framerate to 48000 (I don't remember where), using "amixer cset" command to try to adjust the settings for numid=19 which looks like the correct output, and the permissions appear to be read-only which seems like a clue. I'm not really sure I need to adjust these permissions but when I try, I get:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ amixer -c 1 cset numid=19,iface=CARD,name=IEC958 In - Output Jack,type=BOOLEAN,access=rw----R--
amixer: Control hw:1 element write error: Operation not permittedCan anyone save me from having to return this sound card and pay all the restocking fees, etc.? :)
I purchased an Asus Xonar SE sound card and I specifically needed the S/PDIF output to work. I've worked really hard but can't seem to get it going. Can anyone help? Forgive the length of this post but I'm going to try and provide all relevant info along with everything I've tried.
Distribution: Linux mint
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ uname -r
5.8.0-50-genericCard info [NOTE: it is a pci card but for some reason reports as a USB card. But the analog speaker out works, so this anomaly doesn't seem like the problem?]
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lsusb
* * *
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0b05:189d ASUSTek Computer, Inc. Xonar SoundCardOnboard sound info [this is NOT the card I'm worried about, but I'm providing the info in case it's somehow relevant]:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lspci
0b:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Device 1637sinks info, this seems to look like the port is active:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ pacmd list-sinks
1 sink(s) available.
* index: 6
name: <alsa_output.usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00.iec958-stereo>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
state: RUNNING
suspend cause: (none)
priority: 9048
volume: front-left: 67624 / 103% / 0.82 dB, front-right: 67624 / 103% / 0.82 dB
balance 0.00
base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
volume steps: 65537
muted: no
current latency: 20.22 ms
max request: 4 KiB
max rewind: 4 KiB
monitor source: 12
sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
channel map: front-left,front-right
Stereo
used by: 1
linked by: 3
configured latency: 23.22 ms; range is 0.50 .. 2000.00 ms
card: 0 <alsa_card.usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00>
module: 7
properties:
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.name = "USB Audio"
alsa.id = "USB Audio"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "Xonar SoundCard"
alsa.long_card_name = "ASUSTeK Xonar SoundCard at usb-0000:01:00.0-1, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.0-usb-0:1:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.1/0000:01:00.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/sound/card1"
udev.id = "usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0b05"
device.vendor.name = "ASUSTek Computer, Inc."
device.product.id = "189d"
device.product.name = "Xonar SoundCard"
device.serial = "ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard"
device.string = "iec958:1"
device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
device.profile.name = "iec958-stereo"
device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
device.description = "Xonar SoundCard Digital Stereo (IEC958)"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
ports:
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
active port: <iec958-stereo-output>Controls (look at NUMID=19)
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ amixer -c 1 contents
numid=10,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 21 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=15,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 22 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=18,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 23 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=30,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 24 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=35,iface=CARD,name='Clock Source 25 Validity'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=16,iface=CARD,name='Headphone - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=off
numid=19,iface=CARD,name='IEC958 In - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=36,iface=CARD,name='Keep Interface'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=24,iface=CARD,name='Line - Input Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=20,iface=CARD,name='Mic - Input Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=31,iface=CARD,name='Mic - Input Jack',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=off
numid=11,iface=CARD,name='Speaker - Output Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=7,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=12,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=17,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Switch',index=2
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=8,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=6,min=0,max=87,step=0
: values=66,87,84,69,81,74
| dBminmax-min=-65.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=13,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Playback Volume',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=87,step=0
: values=74,74
| dBminmax-min=-65.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=29,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Source'
; type=ENUMERATED,access=rw------,values=1,items=3
; Item #0 'Mic'
; Item #1 'Line'
; Item #2 'Mixer'
: values=0
numid=27,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=28,iface=MIXER,name='PCM Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=25,iface=MIXER,name='Line Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=26,iface=MIXER,name='Line Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=23,step=0
: values=0,0
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=0.00dB
numid=21,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Switch'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=32,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Switch',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=on
numid=22,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Volume'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=33,iface=MIXER,name='Mic Capture Volume',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw---R--,values=2,min=0,max=63,step=0
: values=23,23
| dBminmax-min=-17.25dB,max=30.00dB
numid=23,iface=MIXER,name='Auto Gain Control'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=34,iface=MIXER,name='Auto Gain Control',index=1
; type=BOOLEAN,access=rw------,values=1
: values=off
numid=9,iface=MIXER,name='Input Gain Pad Control'
; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=1,min=0,max=2,step=0
: values=2
numid=14,iface=MIXER,name='Input Gain Pad Control',index=1
; type=INTEGER,access=rw------,values=2,min=0,max=1,step=0
: values=1,1
numid=5,iface=PCM,name='Capture Channel Map'
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=1,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map'
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=6,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0,0,0,0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR,FC,LFE,SL,SR
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR,RL,RR
numid=6,iface=PCM,name='Capture Channel Map',device=1
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=2,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=1
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=3,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=2
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FR
numid=4,iface=PCM,name='Playback Channel Map',device=3
; type=INTEGER,access=r----R--,values=2,min=0,max=36,step=0
: values=0,0
| container
| chmap-fixed=FL,FRdmesg:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ dmesg | grep snd
[ 7.416094] snd_hda_intel 0000:0b:00.1: Handle vga_switcheroo audio client
[ 7.430707] snd_hda_intel 0000:0b:00.1: bound 0000:0b:00.0 (ops amdgpu_dm_audio_component_bind_ops [amdgpu])
[ 7.631468] usbcore: registered new interface driver snd-usb-audiolsmod:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ lsmod | grep snd
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 61440 1
snd_usb_audio 282624 2
snd_usbmidi_lib 36864 1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hda_intel 53248 2
snd_intel_dspcfg 24576 1 snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_codec 139264 2 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hda_core 94208 3 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec
snd_hwdep 20480 2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 114688 5 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_core
snd_seq_midi 20480 0
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 36864 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_usbmidi_lib
snd_seq 69632 2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
mc 57344 2 videodev,snd_usb_audio
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
snd_timer 40960 2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd 94208 19 snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_timer,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
soundcore 16384 1 snd.asound.rc
Code:pcm.!default {
type plug
slave { pcm "jack" }
}
pcm.jack {
type jack
playback_ports {
0 alsa_pcm:playback_1
1 alsa_pcm:playback_2
}
capture_ports {
0 alsa_pcm:capture_1
1 alsa_pcm:capture_2
}
}
ctl.mixer0 {
type hw
card 0
}
Things I have tried: raising all volumes to maximum in qasmixer and alsamixer (after selecting the correct card); turning off pulseaudio with "pulseaudio -k"; turning off pulsaudio by moving the /usr/bin program then restarting the machine and trying all mixer controls; turning off onboard sound in bios; looking for entries in bios that would enable the spdif on my sound card (didn't find any); typing "iecset audio on" from a terminal as recommended in the Arch Linux manual (I'm really disappointed that didn't work!); setting framerate to 48000 (I don't remember where), using "amixer cset" command to try to adjust the settings for numid=19 which looks like the correct output, and the permissions appear to be read-only which seems like a clue. I'm not really sure I need to adjust these permissions but when I try, I get:
Code:mary@mythbox:~$ amixer -c 1 cset numid=19,iface=CARD,name=IEC958 In - Output Jack,type=BOOLEAN,access=rw----R--
amixer: Control hw:1 element write error: Operation not permittedCan anyone save me from having to return this sound card and pay all the restocking fees, etc.? :)