It could possibly be one of these. The output from "aplay -L" would be
useful. Also, "pactl list cards" and "amixer -c0 scontrols".
The card is an ASUS Xonar SE
I also found
alsa.opensrc.org that has some helpful stuff, especially the DigitalOut section, but it's going to take me a while to understand all of it.
So "aplay -L" does actually show an iec958 device; MythTV had to be getting it from somewhere. This gives me some hope that it might be possible to eventually make this card work.
[mythtv@seveneves ~]$ aplay -L
null
Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
sysdefault
Default Audio Device
pulse
PulseAudio Sound Server
default
Default ALSA Output (currently PulseAudio Sound Server)
sysdefault:CARD=SoundCard
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
Front output / input
surround21:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
iec958:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=1
Xonar SoundCard, USB Audio #1
IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
sysdefault:CARD=PCH
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
Default Audio Device
front:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
Front output / input
surround21:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, ALCS1200A Analog
7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=0
HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 0
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=1
HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 1
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=2
HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 2
HDMI Audio Output
hdmi:CARD=PCH,DEV=3
HDA Intel PCH, HDMI 3
HDMI Audio Output
Apologies, this next one is very long:
[mythtv@seveneves ~]$ pactl list cards
Card #0
Name: alsa_card.usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 6
Properties:
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "Xonar SoundCard"
alsa.long_card_name = "ASUSTeK Xonar SoundCard at usb-0000:01:00.0-1, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.0-usb-0:1:1.0"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1b.0/0000:01:00.0/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.0/sound/card0"
udev.id = "usb-ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard-00"
device.bus = "usb"
device.vendor.id = "0b05"
device.vendor.name = "ASUSTek Computer, Inc."
device.product.id = "189d"
device.product.name = "Xonar SoundCard"
device.serial = "ASUSTeK_Xonar_SoundCard"
device.string = "0"
device.description = "Xonar SoundCard"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
Profiles:
input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 55, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6555, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-21: Analog Surround 2.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1300, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-21+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1365, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-21+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 2.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1355, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1200, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1265, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-40+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1255, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-41: Analog Surround 4.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1300, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-41+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1365, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-41+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 4.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1355, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-50: Analog Surround 5.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1200, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-50+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1265, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-50+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.0 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1255, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-51: Analog Surround 5.1 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1300, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-51+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1365, available: yes)
output:analog-surround-51+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Surround 5.1 Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1355, available: yes)
output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5500, available: yes)
output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5565, available: yes)
output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5555, available: yes)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
Ports:
analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec)
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
analog-input-linein: Line In (priority: 8100, latency offset: 0 usec)
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
iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec)
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
analog-output: Analog Output (priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec)
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
iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec)
Part of profile(s): output:iec958-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo
Card #1
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3
Driver: module-alsa-card.c
Owner Module: 7
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xb1240000 irq 146"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card1"
device.bus = "pci"
device.vendor.id = "8086"
device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
device.product.id = "a3f0"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.string = "1"
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
Profiles:
input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: no)
output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: no)
output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: yes)
output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5965, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: yes)
output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 865, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
Active Profile: output:hdmi-stereo
Ports:
analog-input-front-mic: Front Microphone (priority: 8500, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo
analog-input-rear-mic: Rear Microphone (priority: 8200, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo
analog-input-linein: Line In (priority: 8100, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo
analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority: 9000, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
device.product.name = "SAMSUNG"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo
hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo
hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority: 5600, latency offset: 0 usec, not available)
Properties:
device.icon_name = "video-display"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra3, output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra3, output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo
$ aplay -D iec958:CARD=SoundCard,DEV=0 /pub/flac/music/rock/CDs/Country_Joe/CollectedCountryJoe/CCJatFT05.wav
Playing WAVE '/pub/flac/music/rock/CDs/Country_Joe/CollectedCountryJoe/CCJatFT05.wav' : Signed 16 bit Little Endian, Rate 44100 Hz, Stereo
C^CAborted by signal Interrupt...
It looks like it's playing, in that it just sits there. If I play the same file on my laptop, it does contain sound.