Enable S/PDIF PCM with JACK Audio by adding IEC958 in KMix
Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 5:21 am
By default in this version of KXStudio (and in many other distibutions) the S/PDIF (or SPDIF) jack on the back of so many computers nowadays is inoperable, even though the "Digital" device appears in Jack's output choices -- but there is no sound even though programs act as if they are succeeding in sending data - meters bounce around, etc. (I thought I must be missing a driver or have lost it in a recent Kernel update, but it is much simpler!)
Here is how to enable it.
After selecting the digital device in JACK's output settings (for instance, mine is a Realtek card listed as hw:SB,1[ALC888-VD Digital], type in "KMix" into the application search.
EDIT-Better yet, scroll down a bit and read Todd's post about using alsamixer instead!)
From your audio card's tab (mine was listed as HDA ATI SB but it was obvious which one it was!), click on the little wrench icon on the bottom right. A dialog pops up allowing you to add more device sliders to the mixer.
Scroll down to the bottom on the right-hand column and highlight "IEC958" and then click the green left-arrow to move IEC958 to the left-hand column of active devices. You are almost done!
Close the dialog, and you will see there is no actual slider for the IEC968 device, but there IS a speaker-mute button, and by default it will be set to be muted. Un-mute it, and you'll instantly see the PCM indicator on your receiver or home-theater pre-amp light up showing that it is receiving a signal now.
That's it!
The IEC958 item is a protocol that drives S/PDIF and PCM output through it, among other things. Basically, it is what allows the hardware to "talk" to that output jack.
I'm certain this will be helpful to those who use their KXStudio or other similar setup even in their main listening environment!
Terry
Here is how to enable it.
After selecting the digital device in JACK's output settings (for instance, mine is a Realtek card listed as hw:SB,1[ALC888-VD Digital], type in "KMix" into the application search.
EDIT-Better yet, scroll down a bit and read Todd's post about using alsamixer instead!)
From your audio card's tab (mine was listed as HDA ATI SB but it was obvious which one it was!), click on the little wrench icon on the bottom right. A dialog pops up allowing you to add more device sliders to the mixer.
Scroll down to the bottom on the right-hand column and highlight "IEC958" and then click the green left-arrow to move IEC958 to the left-hand column of active devices. You are almost done!
Close the dialog, and you will see there is no actual slider for the IEC968 device, but there IS a speaker-mute button, and by default it will be set to be muted. Un-mute it, and you'll instantly see the PCM indicator on your receiver or home-theater pre-amp light up showing that it is receiving a signal now.
That's it!
The IEC958 item is a protocol that drives S/PDIF and PCM output through it, among other things. Basically, it is what allows the hardware to "talk" to that output jack.
I'm certain this will be helpful to those who use their KXStudio or other similar setup even in their main listening environment!
Terry