unable to set hardware parameters for device

[nnewc]

My Creative sound card plays sound in Ubuntu 22.04 when selected using the Gnome Settings app, and while Airplay will let me play music there is no sound being produced.

$ docker run -it --device /dev/snd mikebrady/sps-alsa-explore
/ # sps-alsa-explore -vvv
         0.000088160 "sps-alsa-explore.c:417" card number 3, device number: 0.
         0.000009689 "sps-alsa-explore.c:425" 1 subdevices,
         0.000005990 "sps-alsa-explore.c:451" device name: "hw:Creative"
         0.000004045 "sps-alsa-explore.c:453" card: 3, device: 0
         0.148484751 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.059750378 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.144990282 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.059034441 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.153425770 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.062595802 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.000017029 "sps-alsa-explore.c:417" card number 3, device number: 1.
         0.000007513 "sps-alsa-explore.c:425" 1 subdevices,
         0.000007128 "sps-alsa-explore.c:451" device name: "hw:CARD=Creative,DEV=1"
         0.000006475 "sps-alsa-explore.c:453" card: 3, device: 1
         0.147804170 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.000350054 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.148020595 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.000407899 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.152879337 "sps-alsa-explore.c:283" unable to set hardware parameters for device "hw:3": Invalid argument.
         0.000383982 "sps-alsa-explore.c:356" check 44100, S32_LE, result: -1.
         0.000010841 "sps-alsa-explore.c:417" card number 3, device number: 2.
         0.000005580 "sps-alsa-explore.c:421" hw:3,2): No such file or directory
         0.000227853 "sps-alsa-explore.c:583" Devices found in the sound devices directory "/dev/snd": 24, devices accessible: 24.

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the report. Could you run sps-alsa-explore -e please, and post the output? (The -vvv is very "noisy" and is really only for debugging the program itself, and the messages themselves don't convey any real information about the device itself.)

[nnewc]

My Creative device does not show up in this list:

/ # sps-alsa-explore
> Device Full Name:    "hw:PCH"
  Short Name:          "hw:0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  Possible mixers:     "Master",0              Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Headphone",0           Range:  64.00 dB
                       "PCM",0                 Range:  51.00 dB
                       "Front",0               Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Front Mic",0           Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Surround",0            Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Center",0              Range:  64.00 dB
                       "LFE",0                 Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Side",0                Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Line",0                Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Rear Mic",0            Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Front Mic Boost",0     Range:  30.00 dB
                       "Line Boost",0          Range:  30.00 dB
                       "Rear Mic Boost",0      Range:  30.00 dB
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1"
  Short Name:          "hw:0,1"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  Possible mixers:     "Master",0              Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Headphone",0           Range:  64.00 dB
                       "PCM",0                 Range:  51.00 dB
                       "Front",0               Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Front Mic",0           Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Surround",0            Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Center",0              Range:  64.00 dB
                       "LFE",0                 Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Side",0                Range:  64.00 dB
                       "Line",0                Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Rear Mic",0            Range:  46.50 dB
                       "Front Mic Boost",0     Range:  30.00 dB
                       "Line Boost",0          Range:  30.00 dB
                       "Rear Mic Boost",0      Range:  30.00 dB
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,3"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,7"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,8"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,9"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,10"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,11"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,12"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  The following rate and format would be chosen by Shairport Sync in "auto" mode:
     Rate              Format
     44100             S32_LE

[mikebrady]

Thanks for the update. My guess (I’ll check tomorrow) is that the Creative device only does frame rates of 48000 or multiples. Is that possible? If that is so, then it’s a flaw in this program that it doesn’t at least list the device. But I’ll check tomorrow.

[mikebrady]

Okay, so I think I was right – a flaw in the program means that it will not list a device if the device can not accept at least one Shairport-Sync-compatible format and if the device doesn't report an error until the format settings are actually applied.

However, using sps-alsa-explore -e will list the device.

In any case, I will update the program shortly.

[nnewc]

I'm confused. Are you saying my sound car is listed in -e output? I believe the onboard motherboard sound card is hw0, since the creative sound card shows as hw3 in the original output. I can try and confirm this by plugging speakers in the motherboard jack which I normally don't use.

[mikebrady]

Yes, I believe it should be listed when you add the -e option (you didn't use it earlier). So if you repeated whatever you did above, but just add -e to the command line, I expect that the missing device will be listed. (Not sure why it would be necessary to plug in speakers though.)

[mikebrady]

I've just pushed what I think is a fix for this flaw in the experimental branch, so it should no longer be needed to add the -e command line option to have the extra device. If you got a chance to try it out, that would be great.

Can you post the model information of the Creative card please? It might be useful for determining its capabilities.

[nnewc]

It looks like I forgot to include the -e flag in the output above. When I included the flag the Creative device showed up. Here is the extendend output:

$ docker run -it --device /dev/snd mikebrady/sps-alsa-explore
/ # sps-alsa-explore -e
> Device Full Name:    "hw:PCH"
  Short Name:          "hw:0"
    Card Name:         "HDA Intel PCH"
    Device ID:         "ALC892 Analog"
    Device Name:       "ALC892 Analog"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  Possible mixers:     "Master",0              Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Headphone",0           Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "PCM",0                 Range:  51.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -51.00 dB
                       "Front",0               Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Front Mic",0           Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Surround",0            Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Center",0              Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "LFE",0                 Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Side",0                Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Line",0                Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Rear Mic",0            Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Front Mic Boost",0     Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
                       "Line Boost",0          Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
                       "Rear Mic Boost",0      Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=PCH,DEV=1"
  Short Name:          "hw:0,1"
    Card Name:         "HDA Intel PCH"
    Device ID:         "ALC892 Digital"
    Device Name:       "ALC892 Digital"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
  Possible mixers:     "Master",0              Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Headphone",0           Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "PCM",0                 Range:  51.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -51.00 dB
                       "Front",0               Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Front Mic",0           Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Surround",0            Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Center",0              Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "LFE",0                 Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Side",0                Range:  64.00 dB, max:   0.00 dB, min: -64.00 dB
                       "Line",0                Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Rear Mic",0            Range:  46.50 dB, max:  12.00 dB, min: -34.50 dB
                       "Front Mic Boost",0     Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
                       "Line Boost",0          Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
                       "Rear Mic Boost",0      Range:  30.00 dB, max:  30.00 dB, min:   0.00 dB
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=3"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,3"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 0"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 0"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=7"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,7"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 1"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 1"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=8"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,8"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 2"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 2"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=9"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,9"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 3"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 3"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=10"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,10"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 4"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 4"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=11"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,11"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 5"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 5"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=NVidia,DEV=12"
  Short Name:          "hw:1,12"
    Card Name:         "HDA NVidia"
    Device ID:         "HDMI 6"
    Device Name:       "HDMI 6"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  This device seems suitable for use with Shairport Sync.
    No mixers usable by Shairport Sync.
    Suitable rates and formats (suggested setting first):
     Rate              Formats
     44100             S32_LE,S16_LE
     88200             S32_LE,S16_LE
     176400            S32_LE,S16_LE

> Device Full Name:    "hw:Creative"
  Short Name:          "hw:2"
    Card Name:         "HDA Creative"
    Device ID:         "CA0132 Analog"
    Device Name:       "CA0132 Analog"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  Shairport Sync can not use this device.

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=Creative,DEV=1"
  Short Name:          "hw:2,1"
    Card Name:         "HDA Creative"
    Device ID:         "CA0132 Digital"
    Device Name:       "CA0132 Digital"
    Subdevice Name:    "subdevice #0"
  Shairport Sync can not use this device.

I'd still be happy to test out this change. Why would it say Shairport Sync not be able to use this device?

EDIT: Here is the new output:

~/src/sps-alsa-explore$ ./sps-alsa-explore
...
> Device Full Name:    "hw:Creative"
  Short Name:          "hw:2"
  Shairport Sync can not use this device.

> Device Full Name:    "hw:CARD=Creative,DEV=1"
  Short Name:          "hw:2,1"
  Shairport Sync can not use this device.

[mikebrady]

Many thanks for all the information. Due to the fact that AirPlay uses 44,100 frames per second (fps) -- the CD standard -- Shairport Sync requires a device that can accept audio at 44,100 fps or a small multiple: 88,200, 176,400, 352,800. My guess is that the Creative device can't be set to 44,100 fps, (but probably can be set to 48,000 fps -- a movie standard, I believe).

[nnewc]

Many thanks for all the information. Due to the fact that AirPlay uses 44,100 frames per second (fps) -- the CD standard -- Shairport Sync requires a device that can accept audio at 44,100 fps or a small multiple: 88,200, 176,400, 352,800. My guess is that the Creative device can't be set to 44,100 fps, (but probably can be set to 48,000 fps -- a movie standard, I believe).

Shairport sync used to work with this sound card. Is there a way in shairport we could confirm this? I'd be happy to send over some logs.

[mikebrady]

It has always been the case that Shairport Sync required 44,100 or a multiple.

The ALSA sound system has plug-ins that can transcode from 44,100 to 48,000. Is it possible that Shairport Sync was outputting so another "device" that in turn was outputting to this device?
If you specify plughw:.. instead of hw:..., you get the transcoders interposed -- if you do $ aplay -L, you'll see a list. Similarly, if you were outputting to the default, it would have been including transcoders.

[mikebrady]

Here is an example of a card that can only do 48,000. It's an Apple USB-C to Audio Jack adapter. Very high audio quality, apparently. Notice the Rates: lines:

$ cat /proc/asound/card1/stream0 
Apple, Inc. USB-C to 3.5mm Headphone Jack A at usb-0000:13:00.0-2, full speed : USB Audio

Playback:
  Status: Stop
  Interface 1
    Altset 1
    Format: S24_3LE
    Channels: 2
    Endpoint: 0x02 (2 OUT) (SYNC)
    Rates: 48000 - 48000 (continuous)
    Bits: 0
    Channel map: FL FR
  Interface 1
    Altset 2
    Format: S16_LE
    Channels: 2
    Endpoint: 0x02 (2 OUT) (SYNC)
    Rates: 48000 - 48000 (continuous)
    Bits: 0
    Channel map: FL FR
$

[nnewc]

From sound card owner's manual:

Depending on your system configuration, output sampling frequencies may be available at 48 and 96
kHz.

So what sampling frequency should alsa output? 44.1?

I will look into how setup a plugin to transcode to this.

[mikebrady]

Good stuff – mystery solved.

From sound card owner's manual:
Depending on your system configuration, output sampling frequencies may be available at 48 and 96
kHz.

Using the plughw:... instead of hw:... will do the transcoding automatically, AFAIK. The transcoding should be from 44.1 to 48k or 96k, but I think it's all done automatically.

[nnewc]

Good stuff – mystery solved.

Interestingly, it looks like the ADC and digital outputs have no problem outputting 44.1kHz. What a joke...

Using the plughw:... instead of hw:... will do the transcoding automatically, AFAIK. The transcoding should be from 44.1 to 48k or 96k, but I think it's all done automatically.

Can you provide an example asound.rc? I do not understand the ALSA config format.