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[pepar]

Just deployed my first client, an NUC running Debian Stretch as a source on my 7.1 receiver/system. Configured as default played a 5.1 hi-res music file and got only stereo. The Stretch/MC23 installation (which is now the Server) I cloned to this box was configured to output the source content for both audio and video. For the client I poked around audio output selections and was overwhelmed by the options displayed. A few each of ALSA, HDMI, hw and others.

My connection is HDMI and I want the native file to stream to the receiver. Where can I find info on these options?

Jeff

[JimH]

On the server, make sure conversion is set to "Original" in Media Network > DLNA Servers.

On the clienet, set MC to do bitstreaming.

[pepar]

The setting requires me to select an output dev. That seems like something other than a format setting.

[pepar]

One more detail, I (think) I have the settings so that the “local” file is what is played on the client streaming from my unRAID.

[robt]

Have you thought of something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-8-channel-simultaneous-recording-equipment/dp/B01HM5KP5A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Works with my NUC via usb and then via optical to my AV receiver.

[pepar]

Have you thought of something like this?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CSL-8-channel-simultaneous-recording-equipment/dp/B01HM5KP5A/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

Works with my NUC via usb and then via optical to my AV receiver.

Why, no, I haven’t.

I have enough hardware ... just need to dive into Linux audio and figure out wth is going on. All this Linux cr@p to avoid buying a Windows 7 license. They are dirt cheap now. <sigh>

[pepar]

On the server, make sure conversion is set to "Original" in Media Network > DLNA Servers.

On the clienet, set MC to do bitstreaming.

Got all that set correct. Apparently there are different drivers (?) and output devices even though there is only an HDMI out. Good grief.

[pepar]

Bump

On the library server I have DLNA enabled with all A/V settings to default. (This device only runs the Library.) On my only client (so far) I have A/V set to Original/no conversion. But this box requires the output device to be selected. And that's where I am gummed up. I did select one that seems to have worked correctly, but I'd like to confirm it.

The next problem is with JRemote. "Player" shows as an alternative to "This Device" and that has a familiar list of output device options, but nothing I do works for getting content from the attached system.

Jeff

[mattkhan]

It isn't entirely clear what you are asking. Are you trying to understand alsa device names?

JRemote should just show the same zone list you see in MC itself so if MC works then jremote should also work

[pepar]

Yes, trying to make sense of it. A lot of choices with none being in English. Many had the recognizable “HDMI” in the name, but again “many” had HDMI in them.

[mattkhan]

It's certainly true that ALSA is not so friendly

MC provides a util called alsacap that summarises some info about what is available. If I run this on a system with an hdmi output then I get a bunch of HDMI devices listed.

Code: [Select]

/usr/lib/jriver/Media\ Center\ 24/alsacap
*** Scanning for playback devices ***
Card 0, ID `NVidia', name `HDA NVidia'
  Device 3, ID `HDMI 0', name `HDMI 0', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2..8 channels, sampling rates 32000, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'
  Device 7, ID `HDMI 1', name `HDMI 1', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2..8 channels, sampling rates 32000, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'
  Device 8, ID `HDMI 2', name `HDMI 2', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2..8 channels, sampling rates 32000, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'
  Device 9, ID `HDMI 3', name `HDMI 3', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2..8 channels, sampling rates 32000, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 176400, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'
Card 1, ID `Generic', name `HD-Audio Generic'
  Device 0, ID `ALC887-VD Analog', name `ALC887-VD Analog', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2 channels, sampling rates 44100, 48000, 96000, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'
  Device 1, ID `ALC887-VD Digital', name `ALC887-VD Digital', 1 subdevices (1 available)
    2 channels, sampling rates 32000, 44100, 48000, 88200, 96000, 192000 Hz
    Sample formats: S16_LE, S32_LE
      Subdevice 0, name `subdevice #0'

If you look at the output of aplay -l then you'll see this is like a richer version of that

Code: [Select]

matt@uridium:~$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC887-VD Analog [ALC887-VD Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 1: ALC887-VD Digital [ALC887-VD Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

If I look in the MC Audio options though then I get another long list (see pic), this one is more like the output from aplay -L

Code: [Select]

$ aplay -L
default
    Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=0
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=1
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=2
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    HDMI Audio Output
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 0
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 1
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 2
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9
    HDA NVidia, HDMI 3
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=Generic
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Front speakers
surround21:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Digital
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Direct sample mixing device
dmix:CARD=Generic,DEV=1
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Digital
    Direct sample mixing device
dsnoop:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Direct sample snooping device
dsnoop:CARD=Generic,DEV=1
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Digital
    Direct sample snooping device
hw:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
hw:CARD=Generic,DEV=1
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Digital
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Generic,DEV=0
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Analog
    Hardware device with all software conversions
plughw:CARD=Generic,DEV=1
    HD-Audio Generic, ALC887-VD Digital
    Hardware device with all software conversions

the nvidia docs on this decode this further as per https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/gpu-hdmi-audio-document/#_alsa_device_numbering

i.e. 4 devices are reported because there is 1 per physical connector (DP or HDMI) on the board so the right one to use depends on which physical port I am using.

The hdmi vs hw/plughw is a logical name (hdmi) provided by the nvidia driver vs the generic device names used by alsa (where hw = direct access to the hardware, plughw = allows for things like upsampling and so on in alsa before it hits the hardware).

Is this the sort of thing you're seeing and confused by? If so, if you can reproduce similar info as above and can point out which bits are confusing then we can probably help decode what your hardware can do

alternatively just iterate through them until you find a working one

[pepar]

Thanks. Is alsacap part of MC or do I need to download it somewhere? I see my Stretch installation includes alsa-utils and not installed but available, alsa-tools and alsa-tools-gui. Might one of those help me with identifying the correct selection?

Jeff

[mattkhan]

alsacap is part of MC

I don't think you need alsa-tools or alsa-tools-gui

[pepar]

I see what you show in your screencap (Options|Audio|Audio Device) but can't find where to access alsacap to obtain the additional enlightenment you show, apparently, from your Linux terminal.

[mattkhan]

I see what you show in your screencap (Options|Audio|Audio Device) but can't find where to access alsacap to obtain the additional enlightenment you show, apparently, from your Linux terminal.

it is at the start of the code section, so for you it should be /usr/lib/jriver/Media\ Center\ 23/alsacap

[pepar]

Doh!

Thanks, with that info I can parse the device list and select the correct entry. Basically, Card 0 gets me HDA Intel HDMI and Device 7 is the 8 channel. Card 0, Dev 3 is 2 channel and Card 1, Dev 0 is also 2 channels analog.

Jeff