Hi
Can someone help me set up a sound card?
Creative Sound Blaster Recon3D. As far as I can see, the system detects and installs the driver for it without any errors.
Works perfectly fine with jack plug, but no sound with optical cable. Unfortunately, I have recently switched to linux, so I want to switch over, so I don’t know how to use the system.
I’ve disabled the internal soundcard inside of my UEFI to reduce the confusion. Only the HDMI output from the Nvidia card and the SB are present now. I could see that it’s not muted.
Is there a simple solution or a complicated fix?
Sorry for not giving any details but I’m really a beginner and don’t know what would be needed? I am currently writing from windows 10, it works here.
Thank you very much for your help and understanding!
You may can try via terminal and open alsamixer.
Just type alsamixer and you see a little interface where you can choose between your soundcards and switch other options but with the F6 Key you can choose the soundcard.
With Space Key or arrow Keys you can change features.
Which desktop you using could help too. I only have experience with KDE btw.
Hi Kobold!
I started the live system, checked it:
I guess I should look at s/pdif.
I can’t set anything on it.
s/pdif 00
s/pdif default pcm ( off ) mm
S/PDIF mixer controls have a switch to mute [MM] or unmute [OO] output
Use M on keyboard to set mute state to [OO] for S/PDIF and S/PDIF Default PCM
Hi nikgnomic!
I switched both s-pdif. Now they both show 00. I have got this far, but unfortunately still no sound.
What I also noticed is that the end of the optical cable does not light up red, it’s like it disables this output completely. The cable is brand new, I replaced it because I thought it was bad and that’s why there is no sound. I have win10 up now and running so there is no way it is a cable or hardware problem.
I’m sorry for causing so many problems, but I really want to switch to Manjaro, but listening to music is the only way I can manage and that’s why I’m having problems with it.
Did you choosed your Soundcard?
Im using Creative AE-5 (non Plus) btw. i can listen my Music/Media with Headphones or 5.1 Surround Sound with 3x3,5mm Jack… sometimes my center box is muted and will only work after a cold PC start, if there are temporary issue… Creative Soundblaster Drivers are reverse Engineered (same as nouveau/free nvidia drivers) as far as i know.
And for that case, they working still pretty good i would say… Atleast Headphones are working perfect.
Im actually not using Optical anymore since i switched from Windows to Linux, so i have no idea if this Output will work or not… for 3D gaming the 3,5mm Jacks are better for Dynamic Sound…
I think Optical is mainly for Dolby Digital 5.1 Sources the perfect choice… sometimes i miss this options.
Maybe upload some screenshots from your Alsamixer options.
Do you rely on this Output and can’t use another way to connect your Sound Devices?
You still missed to tell us, which desktop you are using.
I want to connect my PC to an amplifier with the optical cable. Unfortunately, there is no other way.
I’m running KDE at the moment.
I may give up, unfortunately I am not good at it and can’t solve it, I was hoping there was a simple solution.
I uploaded some pictures, but the forum won’t let me link to them. I registered yesterday, probably because…
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [S24D390]
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: Creative [HDA Creative], device 0: CA0132 Analog [CA0132 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Creative [HDA Creative], device 1: CA0132 Digital [CA0132 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
- index: 9
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.iec958-stereo>
index: 11
name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo>
2 card(s) available.
index: 0
name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 6
properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xf3080000 irq 17"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.1/sound/card0"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "10de"
device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
device.product.id = "0e0b"
device.product.name = "GK106 HDMI Audio Controller"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "GK106 HDMI Audio Controller"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
profiles:
output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 38668, available: unknown)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 600, available: no)
off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <output:hdmi-stereo>
sinks:
alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo/#11: GK106 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)
sources:
alsa_output.pci-0000_01_00.1.hdmi-stereo.monitor/#28: Monitor of GK106 HDMI Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)
ports:
hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
device.product.name = "S24D390
"
hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
index: 1
name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.0>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 7
properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Creative at 0xf3104000 irq 17"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.5/0000:04:00.0/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "1102"
device.vendor.name = "Creative Labs"
device.product.id = "0012"
device.product.name = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus]"
device.string = "1"
device.description = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus]"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
profiles:
input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 32833, available: unknown)
input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 32823, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6500, available: no)
output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6565, available: unknown)
output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 6555, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 38268, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 38333, available: unknown)
output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (priority 38323, available: unknown)
output:iec958-ac3-surround-51: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output (priority 300, available: unknown)
output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 33133, available: unknown)
output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 33123, available: unknown)
off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <output:iec958-stereo>
sinks:
alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.iec958-stereo/#9: CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] Digital Stereo (IEC958)
sources:
alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.iec958-stereo.monitor/#26: Monitor of CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] Digital Stereo (IEC958)
ports:
analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:
analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority 9000, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
properties:Here in KDE, you also have pavucontrol you reach this option from system settings or right click on the bottom right speaker in the taskbar >configure audio devices…
I give you some likes that you able to post screenshots in this forum.
If you compare this options together with alsa, i think the chances are good to solve this problem.
I don’t have the same options as you in the sound settings ( bar above ).
I don’t know why. You are very nice to torment me so much. Thank you!
No problem,
I found out a while ago, that KDE Desktop has a bug in pavucontrol that won’t showed the correct sound card… you see your soundcard named only Digital Output, while mine (in my last screenshot) shows also the Creative Chip.
It sounds strange, this can be fixed (temporary) with pressing the Powerbutton from your Monitor, you may also close the Audio Window before Power Off the Monitor… i think that bug is may related to HDMI Output but im not sure… anyways after waiting a little and power on the Monitor again you should see the Audio settings identify your correct Soundcard now, the HDMI Output will also shows up btw.
Try switching across all Digital Profiles, maybe the other profiles are working now.
Possible it could help to disable HDMI Output there now.
If this not working maybe go in alsamixer and mute some Analog features…
Maybe only activate 1 of the 2 SPDIF Channels and vice versa?
If someone else would response here if SPDIF Output should be working in Linux would be a good info. It could be also a problem with compatibility and your Soundcard/Linux…
Offtopic,
Its not good idea to put all channels to 100% Volume, you overdrive the channels then and the best Qualitäty should archive around 50-80% anyways or better reduce it to 50% and balance it with your amplifier. I also destroyed one of my Creative X-Fi channel because of my behaviour 
I also have alot more adjustments in Alsa, no idea if this is normal.
Hi Kobold!
I turned it off and back on but nothing. In alsa I have switched everything on and off but no change.
I was thinking of taking the sound card out of the computer and reinstalling Manjaro and when done I’ll just put it back in to see if I can get the system to give me a signal to the optical cable. I was thinking of taking the nvidia out but the problem with that is that the motherboard only has a dsub connector and that is not on the monitor.
Unfortunately, I can’t find anything about this problem on the net, I don’t know if it’s worth bothering with it or if it’s a bad pairing between this card and linux.
Because it recognizes, prints out what card just as if it does not give out a signal from itself, at least that’s what I see ( no light at the end of the cable )
Maybe it would just be a push of a button and it would fix it but I’m lame and don’t know what to look for… 
Off: I overdrew the channels just to get some sound, crackle or whatever, but nothing. Thanks for the warning, if I can get it to work I will do as you recommended.
I hope you see the difference after Monitor off/on with my system:
Before (only Line Out) :
https://forum.manjaro.org/uploads/default/original/3X/8/5/85cf6f5d0b9a9db9b0634f78166dfc92e3198337.png
After (then the name changed):
https://forum.manjaro.org/uploads/default/original/3X/b/4/b43d575cedc1ef0fa2769171840e1ce51cbc65ee.jpeg
I took the card out, reinstalled the system, updated, put it back in and nothing. I turn on the monitor and nothing changes, for example I don’t even have a port selector.
Screenshots in post 8 & 10 are showing KDE audio controls not PulseAudio Volume Control
I suggest you install pavucontrol-qt to work around any potential bug in KDE audio controls
Yeah, i did this already and its propably the reason why i no longer has the wrong soundcard detection in pavucontrol, Monitor on/off was working for me in the past…
Maybe it helps @Seth85 to install pavucontrol-qt also.
I think the last option is to buy another soundcard or amplifier… if no one else has a idea, to get this running.
Thank you very much for the ideas, tips and help. Unfortunately, I have not solved the problem! No matter what I adjust, no sound comes out of the optics.