SB X-Fi Xtreme Audio CA0110-IBG linux drivers

I use an X-Fi XTreme Gamer card. I've managed to install it using the official Sound Blaster drivers found on Sound Blaster's site (follow the instructions that come with the driver).

Have you gone to SB's site and downloaded this driver yet? Try to do that and see if it works. Then select the appropriate drivers in SYSTEM > PREFERENCES > SOUND. Use "Test" to find the correct driver for each. The "Mixer" on the bottom is key. Make sure this is set to X-Fi with all of the proper channels.

I also recommend you install a utility to select your default sound card. Go to Synaptic, or the command-line, and get the package: asoundconf-gtk

This will enable you to go to SYSTEM > PREFERENCES > DEFAULT SOUND CARD and be presented with a dialog to select your default sound card. This does require a reboot after selecting.

Remember:
1) Install driver (will require make / make install from command line)
2) Select driver from Sound Preferences in all 5 boxes, and ensure the "Test" beep works.
3) Install (apt-get or use GUI) asoundconf-gtk
4) Run Default Sound Card utility to select X-Fi.
5) Reboot.

Sincerely,

Craig H.

Hello,
Thanks for the quick answer. Unfortunately this precise model : vendor:1102 device:0009 subv:1102 subd:0018

is not supported by the creative driver (I got 1.18, I think that's the latest).

The creative site said :
"This download is intended for the following audio devices only:

    * Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Elite Pro
    * Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Platinum
    * Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty®
    * Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeGamer
    * Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic"

The last update has been done roughly a year ago. Apparently, I got to wait the next release :-(

Thanks Craig,

Actually, I think I'll listen to your wise advice : try another device instead of spending more hours of unsuccefull seeks over the web. :-( Waiting for a brand new driver that could make it works.

Linux is really a good OS, it's just missing a little more involvement of hardware providers... Sic!

Sincerely,

Yoann

It's missing involvement from the vendors (like Sound Blaster, in this case). "Linux," and the other open source teams, such as ALSA, do everything they can to keep up with demand. However, when proprietary software is in the mix it makes it much harder.

I hope the USB card works out. As I said, don't spend too much -- $20 - $35 will most likely do.

ALSA is working very hard on a fix for this problem and I hope Creative can hurry it up as well.

Sincerely,

Craig

I really think we need to keep pestering those hardware manufacturers that wont invest in OpenSource driver development. Cash, hardware but most importantly information to develop just 1 OpenSource driver would soon cover all the linux distros and Mac too. Paying Windows developers to write a proprietary driver for just 1 distro is such a waste of resources and seems completely mad but at least it'd be better than nothing.

I like the chap that took his brand new laptop back to the shop a couple of weeks ago and told them he wanted his money back because it didn't support Linux!! Wow, i wish more of us were able to do this sort of thing. I just try to have a rant at one manufacturer about once a week but more like once a month, usually i try a different one each time and i include Games Industry people too - basically just like that first paragraph but a bit watered down as that was written for fellow-sufferers

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

And the United Kingdom has the right idea as well pressing for more open source (and Linux) everywhere.

We'll get there eventually. Just hang on and keep pressing those manufacturers for open source drivers (i.e. NVidia, Creative, ATI, etc.). This is what will help get *you* -sound- faster. ;-)

Cheers,

Craig

It's good to have a sound expert in here at last. One less gap in the areas of knowledge in here :) I'm not sure what my speciality is apart from annoying people lol

On IRC, Tom? Your public profile is so mysterious. It even howls.

lol, i used telnet once but irc sound tricky. I made my first torrent yday to support my favourite tiny distro and their new beta release. It's all very exciting and seems to have stirred up a storm in some places. :)

Craig, I almost have the same card as you, except it's the extreme audio. I have not been able to find any thing remotely related to a linux driver on creative site. Now my sub and front speakers are working, but my rears are not. can you post the link where you D/L the driver? I'm installing the asound-gtk package now. Any help would be great. I'm on Ubuntu 8.10

Craig here is some update info, the device listed in the sound preferences is CA0106. I think this is the old sound card I had in there, an older sound blaster live! card. Anyways, when I go to sound preferences the only time i can actually here any of the test sounds is when using auto detect, if I select ALSA, I get an error:
 audiotestsrc wave-sine freq=512! audioconvert! Could not open audio device for playback.

Please re-post this as a new question. We are volunteers answering questions in here and have to fit this in around our other commitments. There is usually someone at the front desk which is the most likely place to get answers from
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+addquestion

The only thing i can immediately suggest is
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/SoundTroubleshooting
but i doubt it'd be really helpful. I'm not sure when Chris is likely to be around next, it could be quite some time. In the mean-time try the front desk team by adding your own question.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

I think ATI are one of the better hardware-manufacturers. At least they apparently are prepared to supply information allowing OpenSource developers to work on the drivers for free, which benefits ATI and it would be nice to know if they stepped it up and helped financially and/or with access to hardware. I mean it's very nice of them to let our developers to work for them for free, it's a lot more than other companies allow!

Ooops, sorry Craig - i dunno why i keep calling you Chris! lol, apols for that :)

For a Newbie, reading " Install driver (will require make / make install from command line)"

I maddening. So many assumptions are being made here. How about explanations which
go into precise detail ? Or are they Old-Fashioned these days ?

Wells,

Do you mind opening a new question?

Thanks,

C

USE THE LATEST VERSION OF ALSA:
http://monespaceperso.org/blog-en/2009/05/09/upgrade-alsa-1020-on-ubuntu-jaunty-904/

THEN LOAD THE XFI DRIVER:
http://wiki.debian.org/X-Fi OR http://www.kernel.org/pub/linux/kernel/people/tiwai/snapshot/

NOW I AM GETTING 7.1 SURROUND ON UBUNTU 9.04!!!