Sound blaster z not working

I have a sound blaster z sound card that works fine in windows so I can rule out a hardware issue. The card did show up once but then just disappeared from the audio selection in the audio settings. Shows up in alsamixer just fine, don’t know if I’m missing some configuration or smth. Any help is appreciated.

update: I just went into alsamixer again and when I switched between the speaker and headphone output options I could hear my headphones “engaging” like making a short pop sound. Sadly I couldn’t get the speaker-test working tho. I tried the command “speaker-test -Dsysdefault:Creative” and couldn’t hear anything.

Here is some debugging info:

$ sudo alsa-info.sh --upload
http (remove this) ://alsa-project.org/db/?f=1055c1f6919d02e27cc82e81573b3ba64dd06794

$ inxi -Ax

Audio:
  Device-1: Intel 100 Series/C230 Series Family HD Audio
    vendor: Micro-Star MSI driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 00:1f.3
  Device-2: NVIDIA GP106 High Definition Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 01:00.1
  Device-3: Creative Labs CA0132 Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D /
    Z-Series BlasterX AE-5 Plus] driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel
    bus-ID: 02:00.0
  Sound API: ALSA v: k6.1.11-1-MANJARO running: yes
  Sound Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.21 running: no
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 16.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.65 running: yes

$ sudo dmesg | grep snd

[    3.109788] snd_hda_intel 0000:01:00.1: Disabling MSI
[    3.109793] snd_hda_intel 0000:01:00.1: Handle vga_switcheroo audio client
[    3.109856] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[    3.109911] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Disabling MSI
[    3.109913] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Force to non-snoop mode
[    3.192278] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1: autoconfig for Sound Blaster Z: line_outs=3 (0xb/0x11/0x10/0x0/0x0) type:line
[    3.192284] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    3.192287] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    hp_outs=1 (0xf/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    3.192289] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    mono: mono_out=0x0
[    3.192290] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    dig-out=0xc/0xd
[    3.192292] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    inputs:
[    3.192293] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:      Mic=0x12
[    3.192295] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:      Line=0x13
[    3.192296] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1:    dig-in=0xe
[    3.220346] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: ALC1150: SKU not ready 0x00000000
[    3.222605] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for ALC1150: line_outs=4 (0x14/0x15/0x16/0x17/0x0) type:line
[    3.222609] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    3.222612] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    hp_outs=1 (0x1b/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    3.222614] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    mono: mono_out=0x0
[    3.222616] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    inputs:
[    3.222617] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Front Mic=0x19
[    3.222619] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Rear Mic=0x18
[    3.222620] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Line=0x1a
[    3.789923] snd_hda_codec_ca0132 hdaudioC2D1: ca0132 DSP downloaded and running
[  281.265856] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=529152
[  281.327054] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=2116608, period=1058304
[  281.386255] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=40704
[  281.449950] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=3174912, period=1058304
[  281.518060] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=4194048, period=2097024
[  281.582498] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=529152
[  281.644177] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=2116608, period=1058304
[  281.702739] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=40704
[  281.766507] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=3174912, period=1058304
[  281.834308] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=4194048, period=2097024
[  281.895658] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=529152
[  281.956672] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=2116608, period=1058304
[  282.014393] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=40704
[  282.075944] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=3174912, period=1058304
[  282.145122] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=4194048, period=2097024
[  282.209747] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=529152
[  282.270863] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=2116608, period=1058304
[  282.329667] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=1058304, period=40704
[  282.393569] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=3174912, period=1058304
[  282.460694] snd_hda_intel 0000:02:00.0: Too many BDL entries: buffer=4194048, period=2097024

$ aplay --list-devices

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC1150 Analog [ALC1150 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [SAMSUNG]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [U28E590]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [DELL G3223D]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Creative [HDA Creative], device 0: CA0132 Analog [CA0132 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Creative [HDA Creative], device 1: CA0132 Digital [CA0132 Digital]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

alsa-info.sh data includes !!Amixer output that shows !!-------Mixer controls for card Creative

Front channel for audio playback is muted [off]

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] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 90 [91%] [0.00dB] [off]

to unmute mixer control:

amixer --card=2 sset 'Front' unmute

Output Select is set to use Speaker jack socket rather than headphone jack socket

Simple mixer control 'Output Select',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Speakers' 'Headphone'
  Item0: 'Speakers'

To change mixer control to use Headphone jack socket

amixer --card=2 sset 'Output Select' Headphone

Surround Channel Config is set to stereo (2.0)

Simple mixer control 'Surround Channel Config',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: '2.0' '2.1' '4.0' '4.1' '5.1'
  Item0: '2.0'

But in other topic, PulseAudio Profile is set to 5.1 surround output

Realtek audio not showing up in audio settings / can't be selected - #3 by SE_Lain
$ pactl list sinks

Card #1
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_02_00.0

        Properties:
                alsa.card = "2"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"

Active Profile: output:analog-surround-51

I suggest either change PulseAudio Profile to stereo output

pactl set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_02_00.0 output:analog-stereo

Or if you want 5.1 surround audio playback:

  • sudo alsamixer --card=2 to view/adjust audio playback controls
  • Unmute and turn up mixer controls for channels Surround , Centre and LFE
  • Change Surround Channel Config from 2.0 to 5.1

I tried the commands, last one

pactl set-card-profile alsa_card.pci-0000_02_00.0 output:analog-stereo

made the card appear in the audio gui, after selecting it I still couldn’t hear anything. It seemed like a phantom device. After selecting anything but stereo (still gui) the device disappeared again. Using the command again made it reapper.

here the relevant outputs:

$sudo alsa-info.sh --upload

http://alsa-project.org/db/?f=7ab7171cf492d8edb3431e45de436dc589e8353f

$pactl list cards

Card #2
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_02_00.0
        Driver: module-alsa-card.c
        Owner Module: 8
        Properties:
                alsa.card = "2"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Creative"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Creative at 0xdf204000 irq 16"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:02:00.0"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1c.0/0000:02:00.0/sound/card2"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.vendor.id = "1102"
                device.vendor.name = "Creative Labs"
                device.product.id = "0012"
                device.product.name = "Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx)"
                device.string = "2"
                device.description = "Sound Core3D [Sound Blaster Recon3D / Z-Series] (SB1570 SB Audigy Fx)"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        Profiles:
                input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 32833, available: yes)
                input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 32823, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 39268, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 39333, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 39323, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-21: Analog Surround 2.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 34068, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34133, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-21+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34123, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 33968, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34033, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-40+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34023, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-41: Analog Surround 4.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 34068, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34133, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-41+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34123, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-50: Analog Surround 5.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 33968, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34033, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-50+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34023, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-51: Analog Surround 5.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 34068, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34133, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 34123, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 38268, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 38333, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 38323, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 300, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 33133, available: yes)
                output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (IEC958/AC3) Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 33123, available: yes)
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
        Active Profile: output:analog-stereo
        Ports:
                analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, available)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
                analog-input-linein: Line In (type: Line, priority: 8100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:analog-stereo
                iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-21+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-41+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-50+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-ac3-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo
                analog-output-lineout: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-21, output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-21+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-40, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-41, output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-41+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-50, output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-50+input:iec958-stereo, output:analog-surround-51, output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo
                analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, available)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): output:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo

ALSA mixer control for Front channel is still shown as muted [off], so it seems the first command suggested in post#2 did not work
(terminal response should have either confirmed mixer control was [off] or responded with error message)

I suggest you try to unmute mixer control in alsamixer

sudo alsamixer --card=2

Use arrow keys to select Front mixer control

and M to toggle mute state from muted/off [MM] to unmuted/on [OO]