Creative ZXR 5.1 headphone channel mappings messed up

Support Sound
1

*** see later posts ***

hello

i’ve been trying to confirm Pipewire is routing 5.1 audio channels to my SoundBlaster ZXR’s DAC for headphone DSP processing.

After checking aplay -L and with some help from ChatGPT, it suggested the following:

  • All of the surround outputs (2.1 → 7.1) are mapped through DEV=0 — meaning the only accessible DAC is hw:0,0

  • There’s no separate device shown for headphones, which is surprising, because:

  • The ZxR has a dedicated headphone amp/DAC

  • PipeWire (via ALSA) is only exposing one physical output path — likely the line-out path — even if you plug in headphones.

  • So even if you’re playing 5.1 through surround51:CARD=Creative,DEV=0, you’re not sending audio through the ZxR’s headphone HRTF processing path.

  • That’s why your headphones don’t sound spatial — the DSP path is bypassed entirely.

pw-top shows a 6 channel input from videos when playing a 5.1 test video, then a 2 channel output.

Are those 2 channels the final output from the hardware DAC, or is that the channel count being passed to the ZXR by Pipewire?

2

I’m sure someone will help when the are able.

In the meantime, please provide system information as described (below) to allow others to identify other possible contributors.

Regards.

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3 
System:
  Kernel: 6.14.0-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1
    clocksource: tsc avail: hpet,acpi_pm
    parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-6.14-x86_64
    root=UUID=6dc4658b-4d38-49df-8bea-c71ea78bd7c1 rw quiet splash apparmor=1
    security=apparmor udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: GNOME v: 48.0 tk: GTK v: 3.24.49 wm: gnome-shell
    tools: gsd-screensaver-proxy dm: GDM v: 48.0 Distro: Manjaro
    base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: ASUS product: N/A v: N/A serial: <superuser required>
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG STRIX B650E-F GAMING WIFI v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required>
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 3057 date: 10/29/2024
Battery:
  Message: No system battery data found. Is one present?
Memory:
  System RAM: total: 32 GiB available: 30.49 GiB used: 3.12 GiB (10.2%)
  Message: For most reliable report, use superuser + dmidecode.
  Array-1: capacity: 128 GiB slots: 4 modules: 2 EC: None
    max-module-size: 32 GiB note: est.
  Device-1: Channel-A DIMM 0 type: no module installed
  Device-2: Channel-A DIMM 1 type: DDR5 detail: synchronous unbuffered
    (unregistered) size: 16 GiB speed: spec: 4800 MT/s actual: 6000 MT/s
    volts: note: check curr: 1 min: 1 max: 1 width (bits): data: 64 total: 64
    manufacturer: Corsair part-no: CMK32GX5M2B6000Z30 serial: N/A
  Device-3: Channel-B DIMM 0 type: no module installed
  Device-4: Channel-B DIMM 1 type: DDR5 detail: synchronous unbuffered
    (unregistered) size: 16 GiB speed: spec: 4800 MT/s actual: 6000 MT/s
    volts: note: check curr: 1 min: 1 max: 1 width (bits): data: 64 total: 64
    manufacturer: Corsair part-no: CMK32GX5M2B6000Z30 serial: N/A
PCI Slots:
  Permissions: Unable to run dmidecode. Root privileges required.
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 9 7900X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 4 gen: 4
    level: v4 note: check built: 2022+ process: TSMC n5 (5nm) family: 0x19 (25)
    model-id: 0x61 (97) stepping: 2 microcode: 0xA601209
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 2 clusters: 2x1 cores: 12 threads: 24 tpc: 2
    smt: enabled cache: L1: 768 KiB desc: d-12x32 KiB; i-12x32 KiB L2: 12 MiB
    desc: 12x1024 KiB L3: 64 MiB desc: 2x32 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3007 min/max: 545/5737 boost: disabled scaling:
    driver: amd-pstate-epp governor: powersave cores: 1: 3007 2: 3007 3: 3007
    4: 3007 5: 3007 6: 3007 7: 3007 8: 3007 9: 3007 10: 3007 11: 3007 12: 3007
    13: 3007 14: 3007 15: 3007 16: 3007 17: 3007 18: 3007 19: 3007 20: 3007
    21: 3007 22: 3007 23: 3007 24: 3007 bogomips: 225599
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    x2avic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveerptr xsaveopt xsaves xtopology
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: gather_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: ghostwrite status: Not affected
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: reg_file_data_sampling status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_rstack_overflow mitigation: Safe RET
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced / Automatic IBRS; IBPB:
    conditional; STIBP: always-on; RSB filling; PBRSB-eIBRS: Not affected;
    BHI: Not affected
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Raphael vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-2 code: Navi-2x process: TSMC n7 (7nm)
    built: 2020-22 pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-1
    empty: HDMI-A-1,Writeback-1 bus-ID: 0b:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:164e
    class-ID: 0300 temp: 40.0 C
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
    compositor: gnome-shell driver: gpu: amdgpu display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-1 model: AOC Q27G2SG4 serial: <filter> built: 2023
    res: 2560x1440 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2 chroma: red: x: 0.678 y: 0.310 green:
    x: 0.267 y: 0.663 blue: x: 0.149 y: 0.051 white: x: 0.314 y: 0.329
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 2560x1440, 1920x1200, 1920x1080, 1600x1200, 1280x1440, 1680x1050,
    1280x1024, 1440x900, 1280x800, 1280x720, 1024x768, 832x624, 800x600,
    720x576, 720x480, 640x480, 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi
    device: 1 drv: swrast gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi
    wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.0.2-arch1.2
    glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon Graphics (radeonsi
    raphael_mendocino LLVM 19.1.7 DRM 3.61 6.14.0-1-MANJARO)
    device-ID: 1002:164e memory: 500 MiB unified: no display-ID: :0.0
  Info: Tools: api: eglinfo,glxinfo x11: xprop
Audio:
  Device-1: Creative Labs CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D /
    Z-Series BlasterX AE-5 Plus] driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 1102:0012 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Rembrandt Radeon High
    Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie:
    gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0b:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:1640
    class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.0-1-MANJARO status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off tools: N/A
  Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.4.1 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I225-V vendor: ASUSTeK driver: igc v: kernel pcie:
    gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: N/A bus-ID: 06:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:15f3
    class-ID: 0200
  IF: eno1 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  IP v4: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: <filter>
  IP v6: <filter> type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
  IP v6: <filter> type: noprefixroute scope: link
  Device-2: MEDIATEK MT7922 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter
    vendor: Foxconn driver: mt7921e v: kernel pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s
    lanes: 1 bus-ID: 07:00.0 chip-ID: 14c3:0616 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp7s0 state: down mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
  WAN IP: <filter>
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Foxconn / Hon Hai Wireless_Device driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB
    rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-11:5
    chip-ID: 0489:e0e2 class-ID: e001 serial: <filter>
  Report: rfkill ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running
    rfk-block: hardware: no software: yes address: see --recommends
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Message: No RAID data found.
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 465.76 GiB used: 16.52 GiB (3.5%)
  SMART Message: Required tool smartctl not installed. Check --recommends
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 970 EVO 500GB
    size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 2B2QEXE7 temp: 31.9 C
    scheme: GPT
  Message: No optical or floppy data found.
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 465.47 GiB size: 457.09 GiB (98.20%)
    used: 16.52 GiB (3.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2 maj-min: 259:2
    label: N/A uuid: 6dc4658b-4d38-49df-8bea-c71ea78bd7c1
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 288 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1 maj-min: 259:1 label: N/A
    uuid: DECD-757C
Swap:
  Alert: No swap data was found.
Unmounted:
  Message: No unmounted partitions found.
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 12 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s (57.2 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 chip-ID: 1d6b:0002
    class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-3:2 info: Yubicom Yubikey 4/5 OTP+U2F+CCID
    type: keyboard,HID,smart card driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 3
    rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s (1.4 MiB/s) lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 power: 30mA
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  Device-2: 1-7:3 info: ASUSTek AURA LED Controller type: HID
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  Hub-2: 1-8:4 info: Genesys Logic Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0
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  Device-1: 1-11:5 info: Foxconn / Hon Hai Wireless_Device type: bluetooth
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  Device-2: 1-12:6 info: China Resource Semico USB Keyboard
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  Device-1: 5-2.4:3 info: Razer USA HyperPolling Wireless Dongle
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Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 42.4 C mobo: 32.2 C gpu: amdgpu temp: 40.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1282 libs: 359 tools: gnome-software,pamac
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    44: https://mirrors.up.pt/pub/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    45: https://quantum-mirror.hu/mirrors/pub/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    46: https://nnenix.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    47: https://forksystems.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    48: https://cofractal-ewr.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
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    50: https://ohioix.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
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    53: https://southfront.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    54: https://mirror.xenyth.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    55: https://mnvoip.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    56: https://nocix.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    57: https://mirrors.gigenet.com/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    58: https://volico.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    59: http://mirror.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    60: https://muug.ca/mirror/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    61: https://mirror.csclub.uwaterloo.ca/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    62: https://irltoolkit.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    63: https://mirror.truenetwork.ru/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    64: https://ziply.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    65: https://codingflyboy.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    66: https://opencolo.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    67: https://repo.ialab.dsu.edu/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    68: https://ridgewireless.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    69: https://ba.mirror.garr.it/mirrors/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    70: https://edgeuno-bog2.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    71: https://mirror.freedif.org/Manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    72: https://manjaro.mirror.liquidtelecom.com/stable/$repo/$arch
    73: https://repo.iut.ac.ir/repo/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    74: http://mirror.xeonbd.com/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    75: http://ossmirror.mycloud.services/os/linux/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    76: https://mirrors.sonic.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    77: http://kartolo.sby.datautama.net.id/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    78: https://manjarolinux-mirror.cloud.mu/stable/$repo/$arch
    79: http://manjaro.grena.ge/stable/$repo/$arch
    80: https://mirrors.ocf.berkeley.edu/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    81: http://ftp.riken.jp/Linux/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    82: https://bd.mirror.vanehost.com/Manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    83: https://gsl-syd.mm.fcix.net/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    84: http://mirror.is.co.za/mirrors/manjaro.org/stable/$repo/$arch
    85: https://mirror.ufro.cl/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    86: https://mirror.kku.ac.th/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    87: https://mirror.aarnet.edu.au/pub/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    88: https://manjaro.c3sl.ufpr.br/stable/$repo/$arch
    89: https://mirror.ufam.edu.br/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    90: https://mirror.phoepsilonix.love/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    91: https://mirrors.tuna.tsinghua.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    92: https://mirror.archlinux.tw/Manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    93: https://mirror.2degrees.nz/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    94: https://mirror.dc.uz/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    95: https://manjaro.repo.cure.edu.uy/stable/$repo/$arch
    96: https://mirrors.ustc.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    97: http://ftp.tsukuba.wide.ad.jp/Linux/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    98: https://mirror.nyist.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    99: http://free.nchc.org.tw/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    100: https://mirrors.sjtug.sjtu.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    101: https://mirror.hostiko.network/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    102: https://mirrors.atlas.net.co/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    103: https://linorg.usp.br/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
Processes:
  CPU top: 5 of 494
  1: cpu: 100% command: ps pid: 3499 mem: 3.98 MiB (0.0%)
  2: cpu: 16.5% command: firefox pid: 2984 mem: 519.4 MiB (1.6%)
  3: cpu: 7.9% command: totem pid: 2851 mem: 342.6 MiB (1.0%)
  4: cpu: 5.9% command: gnome-shell pid: 1673 mem: 314.3 MiB (1.0%)
  5: cpu: 4.8% command: firefox pid: 3397 mem: 253.0 MiB (0.8%)
  Memory top: 5 of 494
  1: mem: 519.4 MiB (1.6%) command: firefox pid: 2984 cpu: 16.5%
  2: mem: 342.6 MiB (1.0%) command: totem pid: 2851 cpu: 7.9%
  3: mem: 314.3 MiB (1.0%) command: gnome-shell pid: 1673 cpu: 5.9%
  4: mem: 253.0 MiB (0.8%) command: firefox pid: 3397 cpu: 4.8%
  5: mem: 227.3 MiB (0.7%) command: firefox pid: 3293 cpu: 2.5%
Info:
  Processes: 494 Power: uptime: 3m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep
    avail: s2idle wakeups: 0 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot,
    suspend, test_resume image: 12.17 GiB services: gsd-power,
    power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257 default: graphical
    tool: systemctl
  Compilers: clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 14.2.1 Shell: Bash v: 5.2.37
    running-in: gnome-terminal inxi: 3.3.37
4

Please post more information about ALSA mixer controls for Creative card

amixer -c0 info; amixer -c0
5 
> Card sysdefault:0 'Creative'/'HDA Creative at 0xf6904000 irq 24'
>   Mixer name	: 'Creative Sound Blaster ZxR'
>   Components	: 'HDA:11020011,11020033,00100918'
>   Controls      : 53
>   Simple ctrls  : 32
> Simple mixer control 'Master',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 99
>   Mono: Playback 80 [81%] [-19.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Bass Redirection',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Bass Redirection Crossover',0
>   Capabilities: volume volume-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Capture channels: Mono
>   Limits: 1 - 100
>   Mono: 1 [0%]
> Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 255
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 251 [98%] [-0.80dB]
>   Front Right: Playback 251 [98%] [-0.80dB]
> Simple mixer control 'Front',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 99
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Surround',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
>   Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 99
>   Mono:
>   Front Left: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Surround Channel Config',0
>   Capabilities: enum
>   Items: '2.0' '2.1' '4.0' '4.1' '5.1'
>   Item0: '5.1'
> Simple mixer control 'Center',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 99
>   Mono: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'LFE',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 99
>   Mono: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
>   Capabilities: cenum
>   Items: '0 dB' '10 dB' '20 dB' '30 dB'
>   Item0: '0 dB'
> Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
>   Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 99
>   Front Left: Capture 99 [100%] [9.00dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Capture 99 [100%] [9.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Enable InFX',0
>   Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
>   Capture channels: Mono
>   Mono: Capture [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Enable OutFX',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Crystalizer',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Dialog Plus',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [off]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Equalizer Preset',0
>   Capabilities: enum
>   Items: 'Flat' 'Acoustic' 'Classical' 'Country' 'Dance' 'Jazz' 'New Age' 'Pop' 'Rock' 'Vocal'
>   Item0: 'Flat'
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Mic SVM',0
>   Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
>   Capture channels: Mono
>   Mono: Capture [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Noise Reduction',0
>   Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
>   Capture channels: Mono
>   Mono: Capture [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Smart Volume Setting',0
>   Capabilities: enum
>   Items: 'Normal' 'Loud' 'Night'
>   Item0: 'Normal'
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Surround',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 100 [100%] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: Voice Focus',0
>   Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined
>   Capture channels: Mono
>   Mono: Capture [on]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 0 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 0 [0%] [off]
> Simple mixer control 'FX: X-Bass Crossover',0
>   Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Limits: Playback 1 - 100
>   Mono: Playback 1 [0%]
> Simple mixer control 'Full-Range Front Speakers',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
> Simple mixer control 'Full-Range Rear Speakers',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
> Simple mixer control 'HP/Speaker Auto Detect',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [off]
> Simple mixer control 'Output Select',0
>   Capabilities: enum
>   Items: 'Speakers' 'Headphone'
>   Item0: 'Headphone'
> Simple mixer control 'VoiceFX',0
>   Capabilities: cenum
>   Items: 'Neutral' 'Female2Male' 'Male2Female' 'ScrappyKid' 'Elderly' 'Orc' 'Elf' 'Dwarf' 'AlienBrute' 'Robot' 'Marine' 'Emo' 'DeepVoice' 'Munchkin'
>   Item0: 'Neutral'
> Simple mixer control 'What U Hear',0
>   Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
>   Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
>   Limits: Capture 0 - 99
>   Front Left: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
>   Front Right: Capture 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [on]
> Simple mixer control 'ZxR: 600 Ohm Gain',0
>   Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
>   Playback channels: Mono
>   Mono: Playback [on]
7

Don’t worry about this

Looks like i just hadn’t set the output correctly.

Looks like Gnome Settings → Sound → Output Device needs to be set to Line Out / Headphones, then Configuration needs to be set to Analog Surround 5.1.

8

This topic was automatically closed 3 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.

9

i’ve played around and it looks to me like Creatives ZXR is close to working; but then i don’t know anything about Pipewire or ALSA

pretty sure Gnome needs to be set like this for the DSP to work properly

problem is the channel mappings are completely messed up:

FL and FR are mapped properly, but:

  • FC comes from FL
  • Sub comes from FR
  • RL and RR comes from FC

if i load up Helvum and play some test tones, it shows what you’d expect to see, but seriously, the mappings are screwed

since i only have headphones I can’t test the mappings with 5.1 speakers

thb, all i really know is, Creative’s ZXR DSP prefers 6 channels

load up a game with Gnome set to stereo output, and that’s all you’ll get from the game

10

You do know that your post and description is still a riddle for anyone?

Unless, of course, someone recognizes having had your issue and is able and willing to tell how it was solved.

It is almost certainly not specific to Arch/Manjaro.

11

i was trying to think up a joke starting with “riddle me this…”, but all i could think was to literally riddle myself the question of how to be more articulate…

guess what i’m trying to say is, if i press the little speaker icon for the top left output test, the resulting test sound comes from the top left (aka FL; front left), same for the top right speaker icon; everything else though is not producing the test sounds you’d expect them to produce

like i said: don’t know alsa or pipewire

with Gnome set to stereo output, if i play a video with 6 channels, and enable Creative’s DSP, it does sound spatial. Makes me wonder at what point in the signal chain Creative’s DSP does it’s processing

if i load pw-top, i can see Video’s inputting 6 channels of audio, then the actual device outputting stereo; has Creative’s DSP done it’s thing something in-between the input and output?

Screenshot From 2025-04-11 00-02-35
Screenshot From 2025-04-11 00-02-351033×171 8.94 KB

my understanding of alsa and pipewire is that pipewire sits above alsa and does it’s thing, then outputs to alsa, which in turn talks to the actual hardware

if i switch Gnome to:

  • Output device: Line Out / Headphones
  • Configuration: Analog Surround 5.1 Output

then play the same video and monitor pw-top, i see:

Screenshot From 2025-04-11 00-04-30
Screenshot From 2025-04-11 00-04-301081×168 9.12 KB

looks to me like 6 channels are being sent to alsa, then on to the ZXR

at this point though, it all goes a bit wrong

typically in films the FC (front centre) channel is used for speech, so you’d expect to hear voices centrally, however all speech is coming from FL (front left)

since the ZXR’s hardware DSP supports 6 channels at up to 96Khz/24bit, and uses that data for it’s HRTF’s, i’m guessing you want 6 channels going from pipewire, through alsa, then into the hardware

i agree with you when you say this is most likely not an issue with Manjaro, but then i have no idea who i’d ask

for my sins, just switched from Windows

12

Merged new thread into original thread, which had been automatically closed after OP marked the issue had been solved.

13

Pipewire - Incorrect mapping to 5.1 channels

Does this archwiki help?
https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Advanced_Linux_Sound_Architecture/Configuration_examples

keyword audio channel swap,remap

Side note:: maybe, remap that you can remap with mpv,vlc.
vlc remap.

Screenshot from 2025-04-11 09-13-19
Screenshot from 2025-04-11 09-13-191192×1222 136 KB

#mpv
[ 0.140924] cplayer: AO: [pipewire] 48000Hz 5.1 6ch floatp

my mpv setting part. Original text . Five years ago.

Click 
# audio-spdif=ac3, dts, dts-hd, eac3, truehd

audio-samplerate=48000
ao=pipewire # ao=alsa #jack #Also supports JACK. #ao=pulse #
#MEMO --audio-device=help
#pipewire/alsa_output.pci-0000_0e_00.4.analog-stereo
# audio-device=alsa/sysdefault:CARD=Generic #Also near field
# audio-device=alsa/front:CARD=Generic,DEV=0 #Near field
# audio-device=alsa/iec958:CARD=Generic,DEV=0 #Optical (HD-Audio Generic, ALC1220 Digital/IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output)

volume-max=300 #150 # maximum volume in %, everything above 100 results in amplification
volume=80 #80 #100 #90 # default volume, 100 = unchanged
audio-file-auto=fuzzy # external audio doesn't have to match the file name exactly to autoload
audio-buffer=1.0 #Double (0 to 10) (default: 0.200000)

audio-channels=5.1 #auto #2.0 #auto #2.0 #audio-channels=2.1 #

audio-pitch-correction=yes # automatically insert scaletempo when playing with higher speed

audio-wait-open=3 # It's better to put in wait. Recommended. secs

I haven’t even turned it on lately.

I have a YAMAHA with atmos 9.1 AV reciever and a SONY surround headphone. I’ve been using them for several generations.

I’ve never had any trouble with the settings in Manjaro. But it took me dozens of hours to make sure I was satisfied with all the sound effects. lol)

In my case, I can check that the output signal is multi-channel on the final output machine. If the Front Center is nonsense, you can tell by ear. It’s only natural that you’re confused.

I once thought about buying that sound card, but it has a slightly unusual configuration, so it may seem like a small mystery to those who are not familiar with this field. There is no one in this world who knows everything. You may be told some exclusive words. Still, it is a topic that I like, so I am paying attention to it. I can’t be of any help to you, though.

14

Please post more information about PipeWire sink outputs

pactl list sinks

Default channel map works for Intel High Definition Audio devices
front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe
but Creative Labs cards have a different surround sound channel map

Information in PipeWire issue #1707 suggests card should be remapped to:
rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe,front-left,front-right

PipeWire Wiki - Migrate PulseAudio - module-remap-sink
This module is supported in pipewire-pulse so you can do:

pactl load-module module-remap-sink  <properties>

PulseAudio - Modules - module-remap-sink

15

we’re all looking at the same thing i think, but as i’ve literally just switched to Linux, i’ve gotten confused

the correct channel map according to #1707 is:

[“audio.channel-map”] = “rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe,front-left,front-right”,

ChatGPT says it’s:

[“audio.channel-map”] = “front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right”,

:man_shrugging:

I asked ChatGTP how to apply this custom mapping, and it points to LUA scripts, but then i’ve read the man page for the lastest versions of Pipewire and Wireplumber, the article says they’ve moved away from LUA scripts; even some of the directories mentioned have changed

i tried following this fix in the Pipewire discussion, but it crashes something and Gnome settings shows no audio devices until the change is reverted

this post looks like the right thing to do, but i’m still not 100% sure how to achieve this tbh

my understanding of Pipewire is: global conf is located in /etc/pipewire/, with override conf’s going in /etc/pipewire/pipewire.conf.d/?

then there’s the migration notes for Wireplumber 0.5

i get that sample conf’s are located in /usr/share/pipewire/ and /usr/share/wireplumber/

so i’m guessing i need to create a conf for Wireplumber and place it in either ~/.config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/ for per user configuration, or /etc/wireplumber/ for global?

16

Previous suggested channel map was based on table of connections in original issue report

They are mapped as following, according to the Gnome audio settings:

pactl command allows the remap virtual sink to be loaded temporarily to check if new channel map is correct

To load the remap module needs the SINK_NAME from pactl list sinks

To remap channels to “rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe,front-left,front-right”

pactl load-module module-remap-sink master=(SINK_NAME) channels=6  channel_map=front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe master_channel_map=rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe,front-left,front-right remix=no

Or use pw-loopback

pw-loopback --capture-props='media.class=Audio/Sink node.name=remap audio.position=[FL FR RL RR FC LFE]' --playback-props='audio.position=[RL RR FC LFE FL FR]'`

Virtual devices - Remap Sink - PipeWire Wiki

Once the correct remap has been found the channel map can be used in a custom configuration

17

sorry if i’m missing something, but i cannot see specifically SINK_NAME in any of this:

Sink #61
	State: IDLE
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.1.hdmi-stereo
	Description: Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller Digital Stereo (HDMI)
	Driver: PipeWire
	Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 4294967295
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 26214 /  40% / -23.88 dB,   front-right: 26214 /  40% / -23.88 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.1.hdmi-stereo.monitor
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY SET_FORMATS 
	Properties:
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.components = "HDA:1002aa01,00aa0100,00100800"
		alsa.device = "3"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.id = "HDMI 0"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf6d80000 irq 109"
		alsa.mixer_name = "ATI R6xx HDMI"
		alsa.name = "Q27G2SG4"
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xf6d80000 irq 109"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
		api.alsa.path = "hdmi:1"
		api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
		api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
		audio.channels = "2"
		audio.position = "FL,FR"
		card.profile.device = "2"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
		device.id = "51"
		device.profile.description = "Digital Stereo (HDMI)"
		device.profile.name = "hdmi-stereo"
		device.routes = "1"
		factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
		iec958.codecs = "[\"PCM\"]"
		media.class = "Audio/Sink"
		device.description = "Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
		node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_0b_00.1.hdmi-stereo"
		node.nick = "Q27G2SG4"
		node.pause-on-idle = "false"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:Generic:2:playback"
		port.group = "playback"
		priority.driver = "696"
		priority.session = "696"
		factory.id = "19"
		clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
		client.id = "48"
		node.driver = "true"
		node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
		library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
		object.id = "35"
		object.serial = "61"
		node.max-latency = "16384/44100"
		api.alsa.period-size = "1024"
		api.alsa.period-num = "32"
		api.alsa.headroom = "0"
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "1"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0b:00.1"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0b_00.1"
		device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
		device.plugged.usec = "5038647"
		device.product.id = "0x1640"
		device.product.name = "Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0b:00.1/sound/card1"
		device.vendor.id = "0x1002"
		device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
		spa.object.id = "4"
		device.string = "1"
	Ports:
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, availability group: Legacy 1, available)
	Active Port: hdmi-output-0
	Formats:
		pcm

Sink #344
	State: IDLE
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51
	Description: CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] Analog Surround 5.1
	Driver: PipeWire
	Sample Specification: s32le 6ch 44100Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe
	Owner Module: 4294967295
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB,   front-right: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB,   rear-left: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB,   rear-right: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB,   front-center: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB,   lfe: 16678 /  25% / -35.66 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 46396 /  71% / -9.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51.monitor
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.components = "HDA:11020011,11020033,00100918"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.id = "CA0132 Analog"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Creative at 0xf6904000 irq 24"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Creative Sound Blaster ZxR"
		alsa.name = "CA0132 Analog"
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA Creative at 0xf6904000 irq 24"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HDA Creative"
		api.alsa.path = "surround51:0"
		api.alsa.pcm.card = "0"
		api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
		audio.channels = "6"
		audio.position = "FL,FR,RL,RR,FC,LFE"
		card.profile.device = "9"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
		device.id = "50"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Surround 5.1"
		device.profile.name = "analog-surround-51"
		device.routes = "2"
		factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
		media.class = "Audio/Sink"
		device.description = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus]"
		node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51"
		node.nick = "CA0132 Analog"
		node.pause-on-idle = "false"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:Creative:9:playback"
		port.group = "playback"
		priority.driver = "1009"
		priority.session = "1009"
		factory.id = "19"
		clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
		client.id = "48"
		node.driver = "true"
		node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
		library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
		object.id = "47"
		object.serial = "344"
		node.max-latency = "16384/44100"
		api.alsa.period-size = "1024"
		api.alsa.period-num = "32"
		api.alsa.headroom = "0"
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "0"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.0"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.0"
		device.nick = "HDA Creative"
		device.plugged.usec = "6182294"
		device.product.id = "0x0012"
		device.product.name = "CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus]"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/0000:01:00.0/0000:02:08.0/0000:04:00.0/sound/card0"
		device.vendor.id = "0x1102"
		device.vendor.name = "Creative Labs"
		spa.object.id = "2"
		device.string = "0"
	Ports:
		analog-output-lineout;output-speaker: Line Out / Speaker (type: Line, priority: 9010, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
		analog-output-lineout;output-headphones: Line Out / Headphones (type: Line, priority: 9009, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
	Active Port: analog-output-lineout;output-headphones
	Formats:
		pcm
18

When the remap virtual sink has been loaded, use pactl list sinks to check the channel map

Sink #344

	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51
	Description: CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series / Sound BlasterX AE-5 Plus] Analog Surround 5.1

	Channel Map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe

SINK_NAME = alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51

22

PulseAudio - Modules - module-remap-sink

channel_map
List of the channels that this sink will accept.

master_channel_map
The channels in the master sink, where the channels listed in channel_map will be relayed to. channel_map and master_channel_map must have equal number of channels listed, because the channels will be mapped based on their position in the list, i.e. the first channel in channel_map will be relayed to the first channel in master_channel_map and so on.

I would set the channel_map to be the same as the channel map used by the PipeWire sink

pactl load-module module-remap-sink master=alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51 channels=6  channel_map=front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right,front-center,lfe master_channel_map=(REMAP)

Then only unknown parameter is the REMAP for master_channel_map

23

i’ve found it difficult to know what to expect tbh

played around with pactl to temporarily adjust remaps

pactl load-module module-remap-sink master=alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51 channels=6 channel_map=front-left,front-right,front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right, master_channel_map=front-center,lfe,rear-left,rear-right,front-left,front-right remix=no

correct FL FC FR, but RL RR sound more like SL SR respectively

got rid of of the pactl remap, and tried wireplumber with the following:

monitor.alsa.rules = [
 {
  matches = [
   {
    node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.0.analog-surround-51"
   }
  ]
  actions = {
   update-props = {
    api.alsa.use-chmap = true
   }
  }
 }
]

sounds the same as the pactl remap, so guess api.alsa.use-chmap = true does something; but RL RR really don’t sound like they’re coming from behind

24

That is the same remap as the issue report to PipeWire

7.1 surround systems use Side Left (SL) and Side Right (SR)

ITU-R BS.775-4 recommendation uses Left Surround (LS) and Right Surround (RS)

ANSI/CEA-863-A specification and ZxR User Manual use Left Rear (LR) and Right Rear (RR) to identify rear/surround speakers