asoundconf is dead, long live asoundconf!

[Ghost|BTFH]

I wanted to bring up yet another ugly little hack that's required in Karmic Koala, all thanks to the failures of the PulseAudio brigade and their tomfoolery.

Now this is for those who do not believe in having PulseAudio in their cute cuddly Koala. If you have Karmic Koala, you're running ALSA and have multiple sound cards, this post is for you.

Alsa-utils no longer has asoundconf which, if you don't know, is like a car not having a transmission.

What it does: Allows the user to switch between two sound cards (for example, on-board sound and a USB headset)

When you need it: Only for certain situations where it is necessary to use a secondary sound card for specific things (Such as running a voice program in Virtualbox on a USB headset - which will not work with PulseAudio and some hardware, no matter how hard you try).

What you have to do: Cheap hacks. Let me repeat - This is a crappy little hack that should not have to be done.

Step 1: Go to http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/alsa-utils and download the alsa-utils for your version of ubuntu (i386 or amd64).

Step 2: Open a terminal and cd to the download directory and run:

sudo dpkg -i alsa-utils_1.0.18-1ubuntu11_amd64.deb

Step 3: Now, after this mess, cd to /usr/bin and use this command:

sudo cp asoundconf /usr/

Which will copy (cp) asoundconf (the file you want) to the directory /usr/

Step 4: Run:

sudo apt-get install asoundconf-gtk

This will install a very nice simple gtk frontend for the asoundconf file that is no longer in existence in our software...wait what? Yeah I know, they kept the gtk and removed the actual file the gtk uses. Go figure.

Step 5: Anyhow, next step is to run your update manager in whatever style you prefer, I just use System -> Administration -> Update manager.

This will destroy all the fine hard work you did to install asoundconf to begin with. However! All is not lost...your alsa-utils are now updated.

Step 6: cd to /usr and type:

cp asoundconf /usr/bin/

You will now have asoundconf in /usr/bin and it will work just fine.

To test this, run asoundconf-gtk and see if it comes up, if it does, everything's fine. If it doesn't, something went horribly wrong.

If it worked fine, you can now select from the detected sound cards in your system.

Step 6 most likely will have to be repeated for each alsa-utils upgrade done, but hey, it's better than not being able to swap between two or more sound cards without using PulseAudio

For those wondering why this has happened, it's because the person who was maintaining asoundconf is no longer doing so. Seriously, that's the only reason. We just need someone who knows what they're doing to maintain it again and we won't have to deal with these inglorious hacks.

Stay loud, talk hard.

Cheers,
Ghost|BTFH

[Chris Edgell]

bump

[Tumpster]

craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ cp asoundconf /usr/bin/
cp: cannot create regular file `/usr/bin/asoundconf': Permission denied
craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ sudo cp asoundconf /usr/bin/
craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ asoundconf-gtk
You need to make sure asoundconf is active!
By default, asoundconf's configuration file is ~/.asoundrc.asoundconf
and must be included in ~/.asoundrc. Open this file to make sure it is!

Why is this not working? I removed pulse audio completely and try this with running only ALSA to no success.

[Ghost|BTFH]

craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ cp asoundconf /usr/bin/
cp: cannot create regular file `/usr/bin/asoundconf': Permission denied
craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ sudo cp asoundconf /usr/bin/
craig@craig-desktop:/usr$ asoundconf-gtk
You need to make sure asoundconf is active!
By default, asoundconf's configuration file is ~/.asoundrc.asoundconf
and must be included in ~/.asoundrc. Open this file to make sure it is!

Why is this not working? I removed pulse audio completely and try this with running only ALSA to no success.

1) Did you have sound working in ALSA before you did this?

2) Did you give it a reboot after removing pulse and installing ALSA?

3) I'm presuming you did, but did you follow each step including selecting the correct version of your OS?

If yes to all, did you try doing:

asoundconf is-active

in terminal? It might be something I'd done and hadn't remembered to mention.

I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of this for you.

Cheers,
Ghost

[Tumpster]

1) Did you have sound working in ALSA before you did this?

2) Did you give it a reboot after removing pulse and installing ALSA?

3) I'm presuming you did, but did you follow each step including selecting the correct version of your OS?

If yes to all, did you try doing:

asoundconf is-active

in terminal? It might be something I'd done and hadn't remembered to mention.

I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of this for you.

Cheers,
Ghost

I never honestly checked alsa before I removed pulseaudio, I just removed pulseaudio and switched to alsa and have had no troubles with it. I did reboot after almost every major change between going from pulse to alsa and finally I input that asoundconf is-active and nothing came up just bumped to my next line. What could I be doing wrong or can I do?

[Ghost|BTFH]

If I recall correctly, just doing

asoundconf is active

should be enough to make asoundconf work.

You should have alsa properly installed, everything switched over to it and asoundconf should work.

You could test it by trying

asoundconf list

If you get a list of the sound cards you have in your system - it's working.

Otherwise, we'd have to go back to the start and see what you did to remove pulse/install alsa.

Cheers,
Ghost

[Tumpster]

If I recall correctly, just doing

asoundconf is active

should be enough to make asoundconf work.

You should have alsa properly installed, everything switched over to it and asoundconf should work.

You could test it by trying

asoundconf list

If you get a list of the sound cards you have in your system - it's working.

Otherwise, we'd have to go back to the start and see what you did to remove pulse/install alsa.

Cheers,
Ghost

I get nothing from Ubuntu when I input that. To remove Pulse I
followed this step by step:
http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/sh...73&postcount=4

[Ghost|BTFH]

I get nothing from Ubuntu when I input that. To remove Pulse I
followed this step by step:
http://ubuntu-ky.ubuntuforums.org/sh...73&postcount=4

I have no clue what could be wrong. To remove pulse, I just did the following, as I posted in this link.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...t=sound+advice

To get asoundconf working, I did exactly as I stated above, nothing else.

It worked perfectly. I'm honestly stumped as to why you would have any issue at all with it, unless you grabbed say, the amd64 file when you had i386 on your system, or vice versa.

Other than that, it does not make any logical sense that you would have any issues with this.

Cheers,
Ghost

[Tumpster]

I have no clue what could be wrong. To remove pulse, I just did the following, as I posted in this link.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.p...t=sound+advice

To get asoundconf working, I did exactly as I stated above, nothing else.

It worked perfectly. I'm honestly stumped as to why you would have any issue at all with it, unless you grabbed say, the amd64 file when you had i386 on your system, or vice versa.

Other than that, it does not make any logical sense that you would have any issues with this.

Cheers,
Ghost

Here is the output of both my asound.conf and my asound gtk:

#!/usr/bin/python

# (C) 2005 Canonical Ltd.
# Author: Martin Pitt <martin.pitt@ubuntu.com>
# License: GNU General Public License, version 2 or any later version
#
# Modified by: Thomas Hood, Daniel T Chen
#
# Get and set configuration parameters in ~/.asoundrc.asoundconf.

import sys, re, os.path

our_conf_file = os.path.expanduser('~/.asoundrc.asoundconf')
asoundrc_file = os.path.expanduser('~/.asoundrc')
predefs_file = '/usr/share/alsa/alsa.conf'

setting_re_template = '!?\s*%s\s*(?:=|\s)\s*([^;,]+)[;,]?$'

our_conf_header = '''# ALSA library configuration file managed by asoundconf(1).
#
# MANUAL CHANGES TO THIS FILE WILL BE OVERWRITTEN!
#
# Manual changes to the ALSA library configuration should be implemented
# by editing the ~/.asoundrc file, not by editing this file.
'''

asoundrc_header = '''# ALSA library configuration file
'''

inclusion_comment = '''# Include settings that are under the control of asoundconf(1).
# (To disable these settings, comment out this line.)'''

usage = '''Usage:
asoundconf is-active
asoundconf get|delete PARAMETER
asoundconf set PARAMETER VALUE
asoundconf list

Convenience macro functions:
asoundconf set-default-card PARAMETER
asoundconf reset-default-card
asoundconf set-alsa
asoundconf unset-alsa
asoundconf set-oss PARAMETER
asoundconf unset-oss
'''


needs_default_card = '''You have omitted a necessary parameter. Please see the output from `asoundconf list`, and use one of those sound card(s) as the parameter.
'''


needs_oss_dev = '''You have omitted a necessary parameter. Please specify an OSS device (e.g., /dev/dsp).
'''


superuser_warn = '''Please note that you are attempting to run asoundconf as a privileged superuser, which may have unintended consequences.
'''


def get_default_predefs():
try:
if not os.path.exists(predefs_file):
return
predefs_file_entire = open(predefs_file).readlines()
r = re.compile('^defaults')
## Between these hashes, add additional unique regexps that
## must exist at the end of the user's custom asoundrc.
s = re.compile('^defaults.namehint')
##
predefs_list = []
must_append_predefs_list = []
for i in predefs_file_entire:
if r.match(i) and not s.match(i):
predefs_list.append(str(i).strip())
elif s.match(i):
must_append_predefs_list.append(str(i).strip())
for i in must_append_predefs_list:
predefs_list.append(str(i).strip())
return predefs_list
except IOError:
pass


def ensure_our_conf_exists():
'''If it does not exist then generate a default configuration
file with no settings.

Return: True on success, False if the file could not be created.
'''

if os.path.exists(our_conf_file):
return True

try:
open(our_conf_file, 'w').write(our_conf_header)
return True
except IOError:
print >> sys.stderr, 'Error: could not create', our_conf_file
return False


def ensure_asound_rc_exists():
'''Generate a default user configuration file with only the
inclusion line.

Return: True on success, False if the file could not be created.
'''

if os.path.exists(asoundrc_file):
return True

try:
open(asoundrc_file, 'w').write('%s\n%s\n<%s>\n\n' % (asoundrc_header, inclusion_comment, our_conf_file))
return True
except IOError:
print >> sys.stderr, 'Error: could not create', asoundrc_file
return False


def sds_transition():
'''Replace the magic comments added to the user configuration file
by the obsolete set-default-soundcard program with the standard
inclusion statement for our configuration file.
'''

if not os.path.exists(asoundrc_file):
return

lines = open(asoundrc_file).readlines()

start_marker_re = re.compile('### BEGIN set-default-soundcard')
end_marker_re = re.compile('### END set-default-soundcard')

userconf_lines = []
our_conf_lines = []

# read up to start comment
lineno = 0
found = 0
for l in lines:
lineno = lineno+1
if start_marker_re.match(l):
found = 1
break
userconf_lines.append(l)

if found:
# replace magic comment section with include
userconf_lines.append('%s\n<%s>\n\n' % (inclusion_comment, our_conf_file))
else:
# no magic comment
return

# read magic comment section until end marker and add it to asoundconf
found = 0
for l in lines[lineno:]:
lineno = lineno+1
if end_marker_re.match(l):
found = 1
break
if not l.startswith('#'):
our_conf_lines.append(l)

if not found:
# no complete magic comment
return

# add the rest to user conf
userconf_lines = userconf_lines + lines[lineno:]

# write our configuration file
if not ensure_our_conf_exists():
return
try:
open(our_conf_file, 'a').writelines(our_conf_lines)
except IOError:
return # panic out

# write user configuration file
try:
open(asoundrc_file, 'w').writelines(userconf_lines)
except IOError:
pass


def is_active():
'''Check that the user configuration file is either absent, or,
if present, that it includifies the asoundconf configuration file;
in those cases asoundconf can be used to change the user's ALSA
library configuration.

Also transition from the legacy set-default-soundcard program.

Return True if the above condition is met, False if not.
'''

if not os.path.exists(asoundrc_file):
return True

sds_transition()

# check whether or not the file has the inclusion line
include_re = re.compile('\s*<\s*%s\s*>' % our_conf_file)
for l in open(asoundrc_file):
if include_re.match(l):
return True

return False

def get(prmtr):
'''Print the value of the given parameter on stdout

Also transition from the legacy set-default-soundcard program.

Return True on success, and False if the value is not set.
'''

sds_transition()

if not os.path.exists(our_conf_file):
return False

setting_re = re.compile(setting_re_template % prmtr)

try:
for line in open(our_conf_file):
m = setting_re.match(line)
if m:
print m.group(1).strip()
return True
return False
except IOError:
return False

def list():
'''Get card names from /proc/asound/cards'''

cardspath = '/proc/asound/cards'
if not os.path.exists(cardspath):
return False
procfile = open(cardspath, 'rb')
cardline = re.compile('^\s*\d+\s*\[')
card_lines = []
lines = procfile.readlines()
for l in lines:
if cardline.match(l):
card_lines.append(re.sub(r'^\s*\d+\s*\[(\w+)\s*\].+','\\1',l))
print "Names of available sound cards:"
for cardname in card_lines:
print cardname.strip()
return True

def delete(prmtr):
'''Delete the given parameter.

Also transition from the legacy set-default-soundcard program.

Return True on success, and False on an error.
'''

sds_transition()

if not os.path.exists(our_conf_file):
return False

setting_re = re.compile(setting_re_template % prmtr)
lines = []
try:
lines = open(our_conf_file).readlines()
except IOError:
return False

found = 0
for i in xrange(len(lines)):
if setting_re.match(lines[i]):
del lines[i]
found = 1
break

if found:
# write back file
try:
f = open(our_conf_file, 'w')
except IOError:
return False
f.writelines(lines)

return True


def set(prmtr, value):
'''Set the given parameter to the given value

Also transition from the legacy set-default-soundcard program.

Return True on success, and False on an error.
'''

sds_transition()

setting_re = re.compile(setting_re_template % prmtr)
lines = []

ensure_asound_rc_exists()
# N.B. We continue even if asoundrc could not be created
# and we do NOT ensure that our configuration is "active"

if not ensure_our_conf_exists():
return False

try:
lines = open(our_conf_file).readlines()
except IOError:
return False

newsetting = '%s %s\n' % (prmtr, value)

# if setting is already present, change it
found = 0
for i in xrange(len(lines)):
if setting_re.match(lines[i]):
lines[i] = newsetting
found = 1
break

if not found:
lines.append(newsetting)

# write back file
try:
f = open(our_conf_file, 'w')
except IOError:
return False
f.writelines(lines)
return True

def set_default_card(card):
clist = get_default_predefs()
sep = re.compile('\s+')
r = re.compile('^defaults.pcm.card')
s = re.compile('^defaults.ctl.card')
## !defaults.pcm.card and defaults.ctl.card should lead
## the user's custom asoundrc.
if set('!defaults.pcm.card', card) and \
set('defaults.ctl.card', card):
for i in clist:
(j, k) = sep.split(i)
if not r.match(j) and not s.match(j):
if not set(j, k):
return False
return True
else:
return False

def reset_default_card():
clist = get_default_predefs()
sep = re.compile('\s+')
for i in clist:
(j, k) = sep.split(i)
if not delete(j):
return False
return True

def delete_pcm_default():
return delete('pcm.!default')

def delete_ctl_default():
return delete('ctl.!default')

def set_alsa():
return set('pcm.!default', '{ type alsa }') and \
set('ctl.!default', '{ type alsa }')

def unset_alsa():
return delete_pcm_default() and \
delete_ctl_default()

def set_oss(device):
endbrace = ' }'
return set('pcm.!default { type oss device', device + endbrace)

def unset_oss():
return delete_pcm_default()

def exit_code(result):
'''Exit program with code 0 if result is True, otherwise exit with code
1.
'''

if result:
sys.exit(0)
else:
sys.exit(1)


##
## main
##

if os.geteuid() == 0:
print superuser_warn

if len(sys.argv) < 2 or sys.argv[1] == '--help' or sys.argv[1] == '-h':
print usage
sys.exit(0)

if sys.argv[1] == 'is-active':
exit_code(is_active())

if sys.argv[1] == 'get':
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
print usage
sys.exit(1)
exit_code(get(sys.argv[2]))

if sys.argv[1] == 'delete':
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
print usage
sys.exit(1)
exit_code(delete(sys.argv[2]))

if sys.argv[1] == 'set':
if len(sys.argv) != 4:
print usage
sys.exit(1)
exit_code(set(sys.argv[2], sys.argv[3]))

if sys.argv[1] == 'list':
exit_code(list())

if sys.argv[1] == 'set-default-card':
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
print needs_default_card
sys.exit(1)
exit_code(set_default_card(sys.argv[2]))

if sys.argv[1] == 'reset-default-card':
exit_code(reset_default_card())

if sys.argv[1] == 'set-alsa':
exit_code(set_alsa())

if sys.argv[1] == 'unset-alsa':
exit_code(unset_alsa())

if sys.argv[1] == 'set-oss':
if len(sys.argv) != 3:
print needs_oss_dev
sys.exit(1)
exit_code(set_oss(sys.argv[2]))

if sys.argv[1] == 'unset-oss':
exit_code(unset_oss())

print usage
sys.exit(1)



And my asound gtk:
#!/usr/bin/env python
# asoundconf-gtk - GTK GUI to select the default sound card
#
# (C) 2006 Toby Smithe
# asoundconf parts (C) 2005 Canonical Ltd.
# gourmet parts (C) 2005 Thomas Hinkle (and any other gourmet developers)
# Both the asoundconf and gourmet projects are also licenced under the
# GPLv2 or any later version in exactly the same way as this project.
#
# This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
# modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
# as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
# of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the
# GNU General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
# along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software
# Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301, USA.

import sys, re, os, pygtk, gtk, string

######################################
#START small block of asoundconf code#
######################################

def getcards():
cardspath = '/proc/asound/cards'
if not os.path.exists(cardspath):
return False
procfile = open(cardspath, 'rb')
cardline = re.compile('^\s*\d+\s*\[')
card_lines = []
lines = procfile.readlines()
for l in lines:
if cardline.match(l):
card_lines.append(re.sub(r'^\s*\d+\s*\[(\w+)\s*\].+','\\1',l))
return card_lines # Snipped here

####################################
#END small block of asoundconf code#
####################################

###################################
#START small block of gourmet code#
###################################

def cb_set_active_text (combobox, text, col=0):
"""Set the active text of combobox to text. We fail
if the text is not already in the model. Column is the column
of the model from which text is drawn."""
model = combobox.get_model()
n = 0
for rw in model:
if rw[col]==text:
combobox.set_active(n)
return n
n += 1
return None

#################################
#END small block of gourmet code#
#################################

asoundconf = "/usr/bin/asoundconf"

def die_on_error():
'''Kill the application if it cannot run'''
if not os.path.exists("/proc/asound/cards"):
print "You need at least one ALSA sound card for this to work!"
sys.exit(-1)
if os.system(asoundconf + " is-active"):
print "You need to make sure asoundconf is active!"
print "By default, asoundconf's configuration file is ~/.asoundrc.asoundconf"
print "and must be included in ~/.asoundrc. Open this file to make sure it is!"
sys.exit(-2)

def get(setting):
'''Get an asoundconf setting'''
cmd = asoundconf + " get " + setting
output = os.popen(cmd).readlines()
return output

def get_default_card():
'''# Get the default PCM card (but assume this is the default card for everything)
This is just a very simple wrapper for get(...) as otherwise I'd have to repeat
a load (well, two lines) of code.'''
value_raw = get("defaults.pcm.card")
if not value_raw:
return 0
value = string.strip(value_raw[0])
return value

def set_default_card(card):
'''Set the default card using asoundconf'''
call = asoundconf + " set-default-card " + card
return os.system(call)

def set_pulseaudio():
call = asoundconf + " set-pulseaudio"
return os.system(call)

def unset_pulseaudio():
call = asoundconf + " unset-pulseaudio"
return os.system(call)

class asoundconf_gtk:
def destroy(self, widget, data=None):
'''This is a stub function to allow for stuff to be done on close'''
gtk.main_quit()

def delete_event(self, widget, event, data=None):
'''Again, a stub to allow stuff to happen when widgets are deleted'''
return False

def choose(self, widget, data=None):
'''Function to set thde default card on choice'''
card = widget.get_active_text()
if card == "PulseAudio":
set_pulseaudio()
else:
unset_pulseaudio()
set_default_card(card)

def pulse(self, widget, data=None):
'''Enables/Disables PulseAudio support'''
active = widget.get_active()
if active:
value = set_pulseaudio()
else:
value = unset_pulseaudio()
return value

def reset(self, widget, data=None):
'''Reset the default card to the current default'''
if self.combo.get_active_text() == "PulseAudio":
set_pulseaudio()
else:
unset_pulseaudio()
set_default_card(get_default_card())

def __init__(self):
# Initiate the window
self.window = gtk.Window(gtk.WINDOW_TOPLEVEL)
self.window.set_title("Default Sound Card")
# Create an HBox box
self.selectionbox = gtk.HBox(False, 0)
# Create a button
self.button = gtk.Button("Quit")
self.button.connect("clicked", self.reset, None)
self.button.connect_object("clicked", gtk.Widget.destroy, self.window)
# Create combobox
self.combo = gtk.combo_box_new_text()
self.liststore = self.combo.get_model()
# Add cards to combobox liststore
cards = getcards()
if not cards:
return False
for card in cards:
self.combo.append_text(card.strip())
self.combo.connect("changed", self.choose, None)
# Create a label
self.label = gtk.Label("Select default card: ")
# Add contents to HBox "selectionbox"
self.selectionbox.pack_start(self.combo, True, True, 0)
self.selectionbox.pack_start(self.button, True, True, 0)
# Create a VBox
self.vbox = gtk.VBox(False, 0)
self.window.add(self.vbox)
self.vbox.pack_start(self.label, True, True, 0)
self.vbox.pack_start(self.selectionbox, True, True, 0)
# Create PulseAudio checkbox if ALSA PulseAudio plugin installed
if os.path.exists("/usr/lib/alsa-lib/libasound_module_pcm_pulse.so") and os.path.exists("/usr/lib/alsa-lib/libasound_module_ctl_pulse.so"):
#self.pulsecheck = gtk.CheckButton("Use _PulseAudio?")
self.combo.append_text("PulseAudio")
try: pcmDefault = get("pcm.!default")[0]
except: pcmDefault = ""
if pcmDefault == "{ type pulse }\n":
#self.pulsecheck.set_active(True)
cb_set_active_text(self.combo, "PulseAudio")
else:
# Select current default
cb_set_active_text(self.combo, get_default_card())
#self.pulsecheck.connect("toggled", self.pulse, None)
#self.vbox.pack_start(self.pulsecheck, True, True, 0)
# Connect up window events
self.window.connect("destroy",self.destroy)
self.window.connect("delete_event",self.delete_eve nt)
# Show window and contents
self.window.show_all()

def main(self):
'''Do the stuffs'''
gtk.main()

if __name__ == "__main__":
die_on_error()
aconf = asoundconf_gtk()
sys.exit(aconf.main())

[Ghost|BTFH]

Okay, asoundconf-gtk isn't going to work until asoundconf works. Simple as that.

On the asoundconf part, I'm guessing you have not done:

asoundconf list

which will tell you what cards you have in there, and then

asoundconf set-default-card (one of the selections goes here)

***Example: asoundconf list gives you SB and USB for your two options, do asoundconf set-default-card SB***

Do that, and it should straighten itself out then.

Cheers,
Ghost