How to set 7.1 sound card to work in 5.1 mode

[markbuntu]

Edit the file
/etc/pulse/daemon.conf

find the line:
default-sample-channels=2

change it to 6 for 5.1 surround

[gutko]

It didnt work. I just removed pulse completly. Problem seems to be somewhere in wow/wine/alsa. Volume control applet shows 8 channels. I was looking for some options for snd-virtuoso module and poking in /proc/asound - no clue

[markbuntu]

Yes, I know wine has some issues with pulseaudio. You can try running wine with aoss so it uses the alsa wrapper. That might work. I don't use wine myself so cannot be sure.