Re: Multichannel audio playback
On Sat 01 May 2021 at 08:28:44 (+), Rodolfo Medina wrote: > David Wright writes: > > > In terms of this computer, all those input and output sockets are the > > equivalent of my little 3.5mm jacks (but with phantom power), and the gain > > knobs are alsamixer sliders. > > > > [...] > > > > And so, by the sounds of the OP's solution post, the only functionality of > > the Behringer being used is the four better quality DACs (rather than my > > two), with four balanced outputs (rather than my two unbalanced ones through > > a 3.5mm jack). > > > > [...] > > > > Would it help to see what kind of difference there is between a > > sophisticated card like the Behringer and a run-of-the-mill soundcard, by > > listing the ALSA Controls with amixer -c 2 scontents as I asked about > > earlier? > > > What is specifically your audio set, much simpler as you say? It varies from computer to computer, but in no case is there a significant external device beyond an adapter, and there are never more than two channels. My near-defunct laptop has HDMI output, and I have an HDMI→VGA adaptor that has 3.5mm output (avoiding its combination one). The tower mentioned below has DVI and 2xDisplayPort, so I think I can get at least HMDI out of one of the latter, with an adaptor. The AiO, which I work on at present, has no video out, but does have a separate headphone output. > I'm also interested in what you are wondering... about possibly having the > same functionalities with much a simpler arrangement... https://lists.debian.org/debian-user/2021/03/msg01322.html explains how I record sound that is being played by one of my computers, ie capturing the output from its sound mixer using just settings in the sound card. Most computers can't do that. Fortunately, I acquired this 2011-built Dell tower to replace my previous minitower that had this ability but had just died. I repeat here the sound card control that this depends on: Simple mixer control 'Input Source',0 Capabilities: cenum Items: 'Mic' 'Line' 'Stereo Mix' Item0: 'Stereo Mix' On past form, I might get five to ten years use out of this Dell, so I'm always on the lookout for other methods of performing this enviable and, to some, incredible task. An exterior soundcard device would have the advantage that it's transferable to other computers. So I take an interest in devices like yours, and in what controls are made available to alsamixer. (AIUI the chips themselves usually have this capability, and others, but only some functions are made available in different computers by their mobos.) Cheers, David.
Re: Multichannel audio playback
David Wright writes: > In terms of this computer, all those input and output sockets are the > equivalent of my little 3.5mm jacks (but with phantom power), and the gain > knobs are alsamixer sliders. > > [...] > > And so, by the sounds of the OP's solution post, the only functionality of > the Behringer being used is the four better quality DACs (rather than my > two), with four balanced outputs (rather than my two unbalanced ones through > a 3.5mm jack). > > [...] > > Would it help to see what kind of difference there is between a > sophisticated card like the Behringer and a run-of-the-mill soundcard, by > listing the ALSA Controls with amixer -c 2 scontents as I asked about > earlier? Thanks, David. What is specifically your audio set, much simpler as you say? I'm also interested in what you are wondering... about possibly having the same functionalities with much a simpler arrangement... Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback
On Fri 30 Apr 2021 at 09:24:53 (-0400), Dan Ritter wrote: > David Wright wrote: > > On Wed 28 Apr 2021 at 18:21:27 (+), Rodolfo Medina wrote: > > > Now it works: > > > > > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsaplugin,2,0 > > > ** > > > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > > > ** > > > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > > > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient > > > privileges > > > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > > > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > > > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > > > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > > > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > > > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > > > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > > > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > > > - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] > > > - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- > > > - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- > > > > > > - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- > > > - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- > > > - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- > > > - [ Engine exiting ] - > > > (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". > > > > > Let's try to go to problem 2). > > > > It's difficult to know what you've actually done from this description. > > I know nothing about the UMC404HD apart from the two downloaded PDFs, > > 8849567252510.pdf and download_259085.pdf. I know nothing about Ecasound. > > > > Let me first reveal my ignorance by asking: does Ecasound run on your > > computer, or on the Behringer? > > The Behringer is a USB-attached sound card. It happens to have > four inputs and four outputs. This is not particularly unusual. Ah, I see. When you put it like that, it throws a different light on what the box really is. In terms of this computer, all those input and output sockets are the equivalent of my little 3.5mm jacks (but with phantom power), and the gain knobs are alsamixer sliders. > > I'm going to assume the former, that you're playing a file on the > > computer in Ecasound, which then enters the Behringer via the USB > > connection. > > Correct. And so, by the sounds of the OP's solution post, the only functionality of the Behringer being used is the four better quality DACs (rather than my two), with four balanced outputs (rather than my two unbalanced ones through a 3.5mm jack). > > How are these loudspeakers connected to the Behringer: which type of > > connectors are used, in which sockets, and what's the pinout at each > > end of the cables? What type of input do these loudspeakers expect > > to be driven by: presumably not an unbalanced 50W into 8Ω! > > Completely irrelevant. The Behringer produces four single > channel outputs at line level suitable for an amp or preamp. We > can assume that the original questioner has things hooked up > properly. I didn't assume that because the OP wrote on Tuesday: "on the back of Behringer there are two groups of `playback outputs': group A and group B. Each of the two groups has 4 holes: 2 black 6.35mm, one red RCA and one white RCA. Please help also to understand how to use them for my special purpose. Besides, on Behringer's back there is one more group of outputs called `Main Out' and including two 6.35mm and two XLR." > > > Actually, the Behringer seems to behave in > > > stereo mode. That, and didier's post, made me think the OP might have been using the two Main outputs rather than three of the four playback outputs (where playback here means Play). > > Do you mean that all three channels have been mixed into two channels, > > and this is what you hear on your loudspeakers 1 and 2? > > > > Isn't that what these lines might indicate: > > > > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > > > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > >↑ > > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > > > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > > Yes, this means that ecasound is writing 2 channels, which is > what the question is all about. As it turns out, yes. I presume the previous command (which "worked":
Re: Multichannel audio playback
David Wright wrote: > On Wed 28 Apr 2021 at 18:21:27 (+), Rodolfo Medina wrote: > > > Now it works: > > > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsaplugin,2,0 > > ** > > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > > ** > > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > > - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] > > - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- > > - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- > > > > - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- > > - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- > > - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- > > - [ Engine exiting ] - > > (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". > > > Let's try to go to problem 2). > > It's difficult to know what you've actually done from this description. > I know nothing about the UMC404HD apart from the two downloaded PDFs, > 8849567252510.pdf and download_259085.pdf. I know nothing about Ecasound. > > Let me first reveal my ignorance by asking: does Ecasound run on your > computer, or on the Behringer? The Behringer is a USB-attached sound card. It happens to have four inputs and four outputs. This is not particularly unusual. > I'm going to assume the former, that you're playing a file on the > computer in Ecasound, which then enters the Behringer via the USB > connection. Correct. > How are these loudspeakers connected to the Behringer: which type of > connectors are used, in which sockets, and what's the pinout at each > end of the cables? What type of input do these loudspeakers expect > to be driven by: presumably not an unbalanced 50W into 8Ω! Completely irrelevant. The Behringer produces four single channel outputs at line level suitable for an amp or preamp. We can assume that the original questioner has things hooked up properly. > > Actually, the Behringer seems to behave in > > stereo mode. > > Do you mean that all three channels have been mixed into two channels, > and this is what you hear on your loudspeakers 1 and 2? > > Isn't that what these lines might indicate: > > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). >↑ > > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. Yes, this means that ecasound is writing 2 channels, which is what the question is all about. The questioner wants ecasound to write 4 channels, which could be: ecasound using the wrong ALSA output or ALSA not presenting an acceptable 4 channel output, so ecasound falls back. -dsr-
Re: Multichannel audio playback
On Wed 28 Apr 2021 at 18:21:27 (+), Rodolfo Medina wrote: > Now it works: > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsaplugin,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] > - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- > - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- > > - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- > - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- > - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- > - [ Engine exiting ] - > (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". > Let's try to go to problem 2). It's difficult to know what you've actually done from this description. I know nothing about the UMC404HD apart from the two downloaded PDFs, 8849567252510.pdf and download_259085.pdf. I know nothing about Ecasound. Let me first reveal my ignorance by asking: does Ecasound run on your computer, or on the Behringer? I'm going to assume the former, that you're playing a file on the computer in Ecasound, which then enters the Behringer via the USB connection. > The above command properly sends channel 1 to > loudspeaker 1 and channel 2 to loudspeaker 2, but it doesn't manage to send > channel 3 into loudspeaker 3. How are these loudspeakers connected to the Behringer: which type of connectors are used, in which sockets, and what's the pinout at each end of the cables? What type of input do these loudspeakers expect to be driven by: presumably not an unbalanced 50W into 8Ω! > Actually, the Behringer seems to behave in > stereo mode. Do you mean that all three channels have been mixed into two channels, and this is what you hear on your loudspeakers 1 and 2? Isn't that what these lines might indicate: > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). ↑ > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. ↑ Then the two channels exit the computer through: 2 [U192k ]: USB-Audio - UMC404HD 192k BEHRINGER UMC404HD 192k at usb-:00:12.0-1.2, high speed as channels 1 and 2. (I told you I was ignorant.) > But the strange thing is that outputs `B' (i.e. 3 and 4) do not > work at all and seems to be dead. So please help: how can I - if ever > possible > - send channel 3 to loudspeaker 3? And, more in general: is it possible, even > with some other device, to achive what I want? I can only guess, because I know so little about the Behringer. Here are questions I'd want to find the answers to by experimentation. Your sound source is the computer? Do the three channels become "inputs", controlled by those Gain knobs, or do those only function with instruments/microphones (plugged in). Do any of the SIG LEDs light up? What's the effect of the Stereo/Mono button on your sound channels? What's the effect of rotating the Mix (IN/PB) knob? Are you also monitoring through the headphones? If so, what's the effect of MONITOR A/B? I won't ask about the Inserts, unless you say you're using them. OK, my guess is that you're feeding the Behringer with two sound channels, mixed by Ecasound on your computer, into its 1 and 2, and that's what you're hearing played. Your feedback might completely change my mind. BTW would it help to see what the output of $ amixer -c 2 scontents shows, ie the capabilities of the USB sound card. It sould be more informative than cat /proc/asound/cards. Cheers, David.
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Le 29/04/2021 à 14:56, Rodolfo Medina a écrit :
[...]
Actually I don't even know if that's ever
possible with Behringer or with any other device...
- What you want is to play multiple channels: of course it is possible.
Surround sound is one of the use cases:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surround_sound
and it is commonly managed ("edited" is probably the correct word) on a DAW
- is it possible with your Behringer interface? As Jeremy Nicoll has
judisciouly stated earlier, this interface is sold as a 4 inputs and 4
outputs one (an information that I had overlooked), so I am almost sure
it is possible (maybe I am wrong but Ias I see it, the only potential
obstacle being limitations by the interface in certain use-cases and the
need to do the routing on the PC)
Re: Multichannel audio playback
didier gaumet writes: > Did you adjust the volume of output 3 and 4 in alsa? if you are lucky, the > routing is correct and these outputs are only muted. > > But I think (no pun intended) that in your present case, you need to learn > about: - mixing and mastering (partcularly routing) - particular abilites or > limitations of your Behringer interface - linux low-level tools if that is > what you want to use That's why I suggested you to use GUI tools, because, > while perhaps sometimes bloated or in certains cases not offering certains > options that a CLI tool proposes sometimes, GUI tools are more intuitive. And > it's easier to learn only mixing/mastering than mixing/mastering and linux > audio internals at the same time. > > As a starting point a tutorial about audio routing could be of use to > activate outputs 3&4 and chose what to feed them in (sorry if this is not a > correct sentence, I'm french). There is the routing chapter of Ardour > tutorial: > http://brunoruviaro.github.io/ardour4-tutorial/understanding-routing/ but the > whole tutorial could be of interest Yes, thanks, it is necessary to learn, beacuse noone replied who already did it or knows exactly how to do it. Actually I don't even know if that's ever possible with Behringer or with any other device... Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Did you adjust the volume of output 3 and 4 in alsa? if you are lucky, the routing is correct and these outputs are only muted. But I think (no pun intended) that in your present case, you need to learn about: - mixing and mastering (partcularly routing) - particular abilites or limitations of your Behringer interface - linux low-level tools if that is what you want to use That's why I suggested you to use GUI tools, because, while perhaps sometimes bloated or in certains cases not offering certains options that a CLI tool proposes sometimes, GUI tools are more intuitive. And it's easier to learn only mixing/mastering than mixing/mastering and linux audio internals at the same time. As a starting point a tutorial about audio routing could be of use to activate outputs 3&4 and chose what to feed them in (sorry if this is not a correct sentence, I'm french). There is the routing chapter of Ardour tutorial: http://brunoruviaro.github.io/ardour4-tutorial/understanding-routing/ but the whole tutorial could be of interest Cheers
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Joel Roth writes: >> So we could consider problem 1) solved. >> >> Let's try to go to problem 2). The above command properly sends channel 1 >> to loudspeaker 1 and channel 2 to loudspeaker 2, but it doesn't manage to >> send channel 3 into loudspeaker 3. Actually, the Behringer seems to behave >> in stereo mode. But the strange thing is that outputs `B' (i.e. 3 and 4) do >> not work at all and seems to be dead. So please help: how can I - if ever >> possible - send channel 3 to loudspeaker 3? And, more in general: is it >> possible, even with some other device, to achive what I want? > > The soundcard capabilities that linux sees are documented > in the /proc/asound filesystem. That's worth investigating. Here's the output: $ cat /proc/asound/cards 0 [HDMI ]: HDA-Intel - HDA ATI HDMI HDA ATI HDMI at 0xfea64000 irq 38 1 [Generic]: HDA-Intel - HD-Audio Generic HD-Audio Generic at 0xfea6 irq 16 2 [U192k ]: USB-Audio - UMC404HD 192k BEHRINGER UMC404HD 192k at usb-:00:12.0-1.2, high speed It does not help me... > Here's one reference to what you can find there: > > https://www.ti.com/lit/an/sprac10/sprac10.pdf > > Another helpful source for guidance would be the Linux Audio > Users mailing list, with many knowledgeable and helpful > members. Yes, I wrote to it before buying the Behringer and I will again now. Some lister was unkind and called me ignorant... ;-) Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback
On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 06:21:27PM +, Rodolfo Medina wrote: > Joel Roth writes: > > > I don't think there is a problem with ecasound. > > For comparison, you can try > > > > aplay -D test.wav > > > > You get the device name from aplay -L. > > Please also show the output from > > > > cat /proc/asound/cards > > > > With your ecasound examples, the -a argument is not necessary, and > > selecting channels is not its purpose. > > > Now it works: > > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsaplugin,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] > - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- > - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- > > - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- > - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- > - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- > - [ Engine exiting ] - > (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". > > > So we could consider problem 1) solved. > > Let's try to go to problem 2). The above command properly sends channel 1 to > loudspeaker 1 and channel 2 to loudspeaker 2, but it doesn't manage to send > channel 3 into loudspeaker 3. Actually, the Behringer seems to behave in > stereo mode. But the strange thing is that outputs `B' (i.e. 3 and 4) do not > work at all and seems to be dead. So please help: how can I - if ever > possible > - send channel 3 to loudspeaker 3? And, more in general: is it possible, even > with some other device, to achive what I want? The soundcard capabilities that linux sees are documented in the /proc/asound filesystem. That's worth investigating. Here's one reference to what you can find there: https://www.ti.com/lit/an/sprac10/sprac10.pdf Another helpful source for guidance would be the Linux Audio Users mailing list, with many knowledgeable and helpful members. cheers > Thanks, > > Rodolfo > -- Joel Roth
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Joel Roth writes: > I don't think there is a problem with ecasound. > For comparison, you can try > > aplay -D test.wav > > You get the device name from aplay -L. > Please also show the output from > > cat /proc/asound/cards > > With your ecasound examples, the -a argument is not necessary, and > selecting channels is not its purpose. Now it works: $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsaplugin,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsaplugin", mode "write". Format: s16_le, ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- - [ Engine exiting ] - (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". So we could consider problem 1) solved. Let's try to go to problem 2). The above command properly sends channel 1 to loudspeaker 1 and channel 2 to loudspeaker 2, but it doesn't manage to send channel 3 into loudspeaker 3. Actually, the Behringer seems to behave in stereo mode. But the strange thing is that outputs `B' (i.e. 3 and 4) do not work at all and seems to be dead. So please help: how can I - if ever possible - send channel 3 to loudspeaker 3? And, more in general: is it possible, even with some other device, to achive what I want? Thanks, Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback
On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 11:48:33AM +, Rodolfo Medina wrote: > didier gaumet writes: > > > Le 28/04/2021 à 09:37, Rodolfo Medina a écrit : > > [...] > >> First of all, problem 1): same error now with a 2-channel and a 3-channel > >> file: > > [...] > >> ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: > >> ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" > > [...] > > > > http://nosignal.fi/ecasound/Documentation/examples.html#multichannel > > > > I do not use ecasound but it seems to me that this indicates that by default > > ecasound is in a one channel (mono, channel #1) mode and that channels have > > to be specified with -a, perhaps like this: > > > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > > or perhaps > > $ ecasound -a:all -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > > > Thanks, Didier: > > it seems to work with 2 channels: > > $ ecasound -a:1,2 -i:sndfile,2canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "2canali.wav" for reading. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,2,48000 > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsahw", mode "write". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. > - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] > - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- > - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- > > - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- > - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- > - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- > - [ Engine exiting ] - > (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". > > > but not with 3: > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: > ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" > Hi Rodolfo, I don't think there is a problem with ecasound. For comparison, you can try aplay -D test.wav You get the device name from aplay -L. Please also show the output from cat /proc/asound/cards With your ecasound examples, the -a argument is not necessary, and selecting channels is not its purpose. cheers > Please help... > > Rodolfo > -- Joel Roth
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Le 28/04/2021 à 13:48, Rodolfo Medina a écrit : [...] $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 [...] I would suggest you to try here to replace alshw by alsaplugin and see if it works better If you want to use ecasound, I suggest you read the ecasound documentation (particularly but not limited to the examples): http://nosignal.fi/ecasound/Documentation/index.html I I were you (because I am not really aware of digital mixing (not even analog mixing) or low-level audio tools) I would try higher level tools, for example a GUI DAW ( digital audio workstation) like Audacity or Ardour (probably overkill). Using a CLI, one have to know what to do and how to do it while a GUI partially permits to guess this by exploring the menus, for example... Good luck :-)
Re: Multichannel audio playback
didier gaumet writes: > Le 28/04/2021 à 09:37, Rodolfo Medina a écrit : > [...] >> First of all, problem 1): same error now with a 2-channel and a 3-channel >> file: > [...] >> ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: >> ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" > [...] > > http://nosignal.fi/ecasound/Documentation/examples.html#multichannel > > I do not use ecasound but it seems to me that this indicates that by default > ecasound is in a one channel (mono, channel #1) mode and that channels have > to be specified with -a, perhaps like this: > > $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > or perhaps > $ ecasound -a:all -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 Thanks, Didier: it seems to work with 2 channels: $ ecasound -a:1,2 -i:sndfile,2canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "2canali.wav" for reading. (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,2,48000 ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). (eca-chainsetup) Opened output "alsahw", mode "write". Format: s16_le, ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved. - [ Connected chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup" ] - [ Controller/Starting batch processing ] --- - [ Engine - Driver start ] -- - [ Engine - Processing finished ] --- - [ Controller/Batch processing finished (0) ] --- - [ Controller/Processing stopped (cond) ] --- - [ Engine exiting ] - (eca-control-objects) Disconnecting chainsetup: "untitled-chainsetup". but not with 3: $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" Please help... Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback
-- --- Begin Message --- On Wed, Apr 28, 2021 at 07:37:27AM +, Rodolfo Medina wrote: > Joel Roth writes: > > > On Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 10:22:11AM -1000, Joel Roth wrote: > >> > >> ecasound -i:libsndfile,audiofile -o alsa > > > > that should be -i:sndfile > > > Thanks, Joel... > > > 2 problems seem to be involved: > > 1) make ecasound read and play the file; > > 2) properly use all those many outputs on the Behringer's back. > > (Up to now, I can't make the `B' Playback Outputs work yet. Only `A' seem to > respond.) > > First of all, problem 1): same error now with a 2-channel and a 3-channel > file: > > > $ ecasound -i:2canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,2,48000 > ... for object '2canali.wav' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "2canali.wav", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: > ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" > > > > $ ecasound -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 > ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). > (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, > ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). > ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: > ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" > > > Both files were created via `sox -M' command from respectively 2 and 3 mono > files. Ecasound can correctly identify and open the audiofile in both of your tests above, with and without libsndfile. You can see it identifies the sample rate and channel count correctly both times. The problem is with the ALSA output. Something is wrong with the soundcard device, its driver or its alsa interface via alsahw,2,0. You could try listing the sound devices. aplay -L Choose one you want and use -o alsa,DEVICENAME You can also cat /proc/asound/cards. Oh, and make sure you don't have pulseaudio running. cheers > Please help if you can. > Thanks > > Rodolfo > -- Joel Roth --- End Message ---
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Le 28/04/2021 à 09:37, Rodolfo Medina a écrit : [...] First of all, problem 1): same error now with a 2-channel and a 3-channel file: [...] ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" [...] http://nosignal.fi/ecasound/Documentation/examples.html#multichannel I do not use ecasound but it seems to me that this indicates that by default ecasound is in a one channel (mono, channel #1) mode and that channels have to be specified with -a, perhaps like this: $ ecasound -a:1,2,3 -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 or perhaps $ ecasound -a:all -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0
Re: Multichannel audio playback
Joel Roth writes: > On Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 10:22:11AM -1000, Joel Roth wrote: >> >> ecasound -i:libsndfile,audiofile -o alsa > > that should be -i:sndfile Thanks, Joel... 2 problems seem to be involved: 1) make ecasound read and play the file; 2) properly use all those many outputs on the Behringer's back. (Up to now, I can't make the `B' Playback Outputs work yet. Only `A' seem to respond.) First of all, problem 1): same error now with a 2-channel and a 3-channel file: $ ecasound -i:2canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,2,48000 ... for object '2canali.wav' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "2canali.wav", mode "read". Format: s16_le, ... channels 2, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" $ ecasound -i:sndfile,3canali.wav -o alsahw,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. (audioio_sndfile) Using libsndfile to open file "3canali.wav" for reading. (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: using existing audio parameters -f:s16_le,3,48000 ... for object 'sndfile' (tried to open with -f:s16_le,2,44100). (eca-chainsetup) Opened input "sndfile", mode "read". Format: s16_le, ... channels 3, srate 48000, interleaved (locked params). ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-ALSA: ... Channel count 2 is out of range!" Both files were created via `sox -M' command from respectively 2 and 3 mono files. Please help if you can. Thanks Rodolfo
Re: Multichannel audio playback (was: Multichannel audio listening)
Le 27/04/2021 à 22:08, Jeremy Nicoll a écrit : On Tue, 27 Apr 2021, at 19:45, didier gaumet wrote: [...] b) https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/sys_master/h7e/hfb/8849567252510.pdf your audio interface is a stereo one: it has only two channels (Left +Right) as outputs. I'm not sure that's true; [...] Even if there are 3 groups of output, they all play the same thing, a stereo signal. I think that's true of the "MAIN OUTPUT" but I'm not sure it also applies to the "PLAYBACK OUTPUTS". [...] You may well be right: reading again the pdf, I think I replied too hastily :-)
Re: Multichannel audio playback (was: Multichannel audio listening)
On Tue, Apr 27, 2021 at 10:22:11AM -1000, Joel Roth wrote: > > ecasound -i:libsndfile,audiofile -o alsa that should be -i:sndfile -- Joel Roth
Re: Multichannel audio playback (was: Multichannel audio listening)
On Tue, Apr 27, 2021, Rodolfo Medina wrote: > Four years ago this interesting thread. Now I've purchased a Behringer > UMC404HD 4-channels audio interface and finally want to do my experiment. Now > I have a 3-channel .wav file and 3 loudspeakers connected to Behringer's > output: I want to playback each channel to a different speaker. I get error: > > $ ecasound -i 3canali.wav -f:16,3,44100 -o alsahw,2,0 > ** > *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others > ** > (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" > (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges > ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, > ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. > (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. > ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-WAVE: > ... Only WAVE_FORMAT_PCM and WAVE_FORMAT_IEEE_FLOAT are supported." Hi Rodolfo, As didier gaumet writes, 3canali.wav is not one of ecasound's supported formats. You should find out what it is. Maybe try file 3canali.wav Also, ecasound can use libsndfile to expand the range of compatible audiofiles for reading and writing. ecasound -i:libsndfile,audiofile -o alsa If the extension doesn't match the file format, you can specify the file type, e.g. ecasound -i:libsndfile,audiofile,aiff -o alsa cheers -- Joel Roth
Re: Multichannel audio playback (was: Multichannel audio listening)
On Tue, 27 Apr 2021, at 19:45, didier gaumet wrote: > I might be wrong (I don't mix nor record) but I think there are two > distinct problems: > > a) the wav file you generated is not supported by ecasound because its > type (codec) is neither (L)PCM nor IEEE_FLOAT > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV > So, either you produce a wav file encoded in LPCM to use ecasound, or > you use another tool than ecasound that supports the codec you used to > produce your wav file I'd want to use some other tool - "sox" perhaps - to verify that the file really does contain three channels of audio. Can, say, the three channels be selected one at a time and played back without using the Behringer box? I'd also need to be convinced that the alsa part of the command that someone posted did actually access the correct channels and try to send them somewhere. I'd probably want to try to use something else - maybe "sox" - to send test tones to three named places (as far as alsa is concerned) on the PC before trying to find out which of those arrived properly at the audio interface. > b) https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/sys_master/h7e/hfb/8849567252510.pdf > your audio interface is a stereo one: it has only two channels (Left > +Right) as outputs. I'm not sure that's true; look at https://d1aeri3ty3izns.cloudfront.net/media/25/259085/download_259085.pdf (which is the second pdf linked to from https://www.gear4music.com/Recording-and-Computers/Behringer-U-PHORIA-UMC404HD-Audio-Interface/1WMY?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIheDYlJKf8AIVgQWiAx0ldgK6EAAYASAAEgI13fD_BwE ) which clearly states that the box can stream 4 inputs / 4 outputs. The PDF you linked to is one of those very annoying manuals that describe many different units, and it's very hard to understand what any single unit can do. Worse, there's no schematic showing where signals can flow to & from. I also looked at an Amazon listing for the box, but it had the same problem - people's comments applied to various different models. Although it does seem to support 4 separate outputs, these might be just copies of the signals supplied on the 4 mic/line inputs (so if one was using this box to record a couple of singers and guitarists - ie 4 inputs in all - copies of those signals could be played back to the performers). On the other hand there's a MIX control which appears to change how signals coming from the 4 inputs are mixed with those (from a PC?) that are being played back. Maybe if that's turned all the way to the PB position audio channels from the PC would be directed to the playback outputs? > Even if there are 3 groups of output, they all play > the same thing, a stereo signal. I think that's true of the "MAIN OUTPUT" but I'm not sure it also applies to the "PLAYBACK OUTPUTS". > As a sidenote: are we speaking of the same thing? Inputs are called > tracks. You could for example have 4 mono tracks for a rock band > (1:singer, 2:guitar, 3:bass, 4:drums) and each of these tracks are mixed > and panned to 2 outputs (Left and right) that are called channels. This unit has no pan controls, so panning the 4 inputs to positions on a stereo image must be something done by mixing software on a PC. That makes the buttons that refer to stereo/mono more confusing, as the box itself has no concept of stereo. Does it follow that the box sends 4 inputs to a PC, and the PC might send back either/both copies of those 4 inputs and a mixed stereo image? -- Jeremy Nicoll - my opinions are my own.
Re: Multichannel audio playback (was: Multichannel audio listening)
Le 27/04/2021 à 17:30, Rodolfo Medina a écrit : Joel Roth writes: On Mon, Mar 05, 2018 at 10:39:19AM +0100, Rodolfo Medina wrote: Hi all. After learning, some months ago, thanks to listers' help, how to live record into a multi channel audio file, I was wondering about the reverse problem: now I have my multi channel audio file, e.g. composed by three different channels. Is it possibile (I guess it is), and how?, to send each of the three outputs into a different loud speaker and so listen to the song...? Hi Rodolfo, Ecasound is pretty convenient for routing audio. If you connect three powered speakers to the first three channels of a (sufficiently capable) soundcard and you're using ALSA (the default low-level linux audio API), it's pretty simple: For example, ecasound -i:3ch.wav -f:16,3,44100 -o:alsa,default Four years ago this interesting thread. Now I've purchased a Behringer UMC404HD 4-channels audio interface and finally want to do my experiment. Now I have a 3-channel .wav file and 3 loudspeakers connected to Behringer's output: I want to playback each channel to a different speaker. I get error: $ ecasound -i 3canali.wav -f:16,3,44100 -o alsahw,2,0 ** *ecasound v2.9.1 (C) 1997-2014 Kai Vehmanen and others ** (eca-chainsetup) Chainsetup "untitled-chainsetup" (eca-chainsetup) NOTE: Real-time configuration, but insufficient privileges ... to utilize real-time scheduling (SCHED_FIFO). With small buffersizes, ... this may cause audible glitches during processing. (eca-chainsetup) "rt" buffering mode selected. ERROR: Connecting chainsetup failed: "Enabling chainsetup: AUDIOIO-WAVE: ... Only WAVE_FORMAT_PCM and WAVE_FORMAT_IEEE_FLOAT are supported." Please help whoever can. One more thing: on the back of Behringer there are two groups of `playback outputs': group A and group B. Each of the two groups has 4 holes: 2 black 6.35mm, one red RCA and one white RCA. Please help also to understand how to use them for my special purpose. Besides, on Behringer's back there is one more group of outputs called `Main Out' and including two 6.35mm and two XLR. Thanks in advance for any help, Rodolfo Hello Rodolfo, I might be wrong (I don't mix nor record) but I think there are two distinct problems: a) the wav file you generated is not supported by ecasound because its type (codec) is neither (L)PCM nor IEEE_FLOAT https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WAV So, either you produce a wav file encoded in LPCM to use ecasound, or you use another tool than ecasound that supports the codec you used to produce your wav file b) https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/sys_master/h7e/hfb/8849567252510.pdf your audio interface is a stereo one: it has only two channels (Left +Right) as outputs. Even if there are 3 groups of output, they all play the same thing, a stereo signal. Basically, I imagine that a typical situation would be to have a mixer or a Public Address (PA) system on MAIN, and 2 different paris of active monitors on A and B. If you want a 3 channels output, you need tou use a multichannel hardware, or tinker with 2 stereo interfaces As a sidenote: are we speaking of the same thing? Inputs are called tracks. You could for example have 4 mono tracks for a rock band (1:singer, 2:guitar, 3:bass, 4:drums) and each of these tracks are mixed and panned to 2 outputs (Left and right) that are called channels.
