SBLive rear speakers -- help

[TonyB]

Hello,
I can't seem to get my rear speakers working. Here is what I have done.
Downloaded emu-tools, installed tools/driver. edited emu10k1.conf see below:

##
## This file is used to configure emu10k1's emu-script
##

CARD_IS_5_1=yes
USE_DIGITAL_OUTPUT=yes
ENABLE_TONE_CONTROL=yes

# Note, it's safe to say yes to the next option even if you're not going
# to use it. When this option is enabled, the driver can autodetects AC3
# data and behaves normally with normal audio.
# (Saying yes causes some of the soundcard's resourses to be used up)
AC3PASSTHROUGH=yes

# Change this to yes to enable the Livedrive midi port and IR remote
# control.
ENABLE_LIVEDRIVE_IR=no

# Most Lives have their analog front signals inverted. If you have
# problems with your setup (low bass), try changing this to 'yes'. (This
# option has no effect with digital setups)
INVERT_REAR=no

#Multichannel playback (for 4 - 6 channel setups)
MULTICHANNEL=yes

# On 5.1 cards in multichannel mode, should the multichannel data be fed
# to the sub as well? You probably don't want this if you have a
# speaker set like the DTT2200 which already feeds all channels to the
# sub in hardware.
ROUTE_ALL_TO_SUB=no

# By default, the front analog channels have a +12dB boost applied to
# them by the AC'97 mixer. If you encounter clipping, or find that the
# volume of the front speakers is too high in a multichannel setup, try
# changing this to 'no'.
ANALOG_FRONT_BOOST=no



# Surround
##################

# Some wavs, or mp3 are surround sound encoded the next two
# options can be used to decode these in hardware.
# (select one or the other, NOT BOTH)

# passive matrix surround decoder
SURROUND=no

# Active matrix surround decoder
PROLOGIC=yes


# Extra Inputs
#################

## This connector is mounted on the card itself
# Volume control is 'Digital1' in aumix/gmix/kmix
ENABLE_CD_Spdif=yes

# The next four inputs are found on Livedrives, some of these may also
# be inputs on the older add-on daughter cards.

ENABLE_OPTICAL_SPDIF=no # Volume control is 'Digital2'
ENABLE_LINE2_MIC2=no # Volume control is 'Line2'
ENABLE_RCA_SPDIF=no # Volume control is 'Digital3'
ENABLE_RCA_AUX=no # Volume control is 'line3'

I have changed most of the settings at some point.
----------------------------------------------------------------
/etc/modules.conf

probeall scsi_hostadapter ide-scsi
alias eth0 3c59x
above snd-emu10k1 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-slot-0 emu10k1
probeall usb-interface usb-uhci

The rear speakers do work when plugged into the center port. What am I missing? ALSO, I tried Win98, the result is the same, no rear speakers. I read somewhere, the cable from the CD to the SBLive card must be 4 conductor for digital output, mine has 3 wires in a plug that can have 4...Is/could this be the problem?

My OS=Mandrake9.0, no updates. emu-tools=newest version. My speakers are digital and sound good now, but I would like to figure this out....

TIA

[psi42]

To get my rear speakers working in mdk 9.0, I had to install alsamixergui and alsa-utils. Then run alsamixergui, lock the "SB live analog output" and increase the volume for "wave surround."

I believe in win, you need to enable "digital output only" in the volume mixer thing.



hope this helps
~psi42

[TonyB]

OK, thanks for the reply. I think I tried alsamixergui, but I will try again.

TIA

[TonyB]

OK, I tried alsamixergui. I get the error:
alsamixer: function snd_ctl_open failed for default: No such file or directory.

I think alsamixergui only works when the default snd-emu10k1 drivers are loaded. With emu-tools, this driver is replaced. I use aumix to set volume levels etc, and the utility emu-script to turn on digital output....

edit:

I tried a new cable, no luck. Should I redirect the output from the front speakers to the rear?

[TonyB]

I loged onto windows and played with the creative software. If 'digital' is turned on I can hear a 'hiss' . I got the rears to work by editing the emu-config script.

I turned everything OFF/NO in the script except
CARD_IS_5_1=yes
USE_DIGITAL_OUTPUT=no
MULTICHANNEL=yes
ENABLE_TONE_CONTROL=yes
SURROUND=no

They work, don't know why!!