Hi,
My OS is Mint 17.1. The X7 sometimes worked with Linux; I am trying again to get it working without faffing plugging thing in and out and switching them on and off which got old really fast the last time. Pulse Volume Control shows audio in the display bar in the Playback tab and I can adjust it. The X7 is listed in Output Device but there is no sound registering in the display bar when I switch to it. If I launch ALSA from the command line all devices other than the X7 work; if I navigate to the X7 and select it I get a broken pipe message. Since I’ve been getting sound sometimes there must be a way to get it at all times. Can anyone help? Tah muchly in advance, Steve.
So the device is being detected and drivers loaded ?
Unplug the soundblaster … wait 5 seconds … replug it … then post the output from:
dmesg | tail -n 40
and
lsusb
and
sudo lshw -C multimedia
and
lsmod
in fact, also run this command
wget -O alsa-info.sh http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-info.sh && chmod +x ./alsa-info.sh && ./alsa-info.sh
When prompted hit the “O” key to select … then hit the “U” key to select <UPLOAD/SHARE> … Then hit the the “N” key to select
You should be back in the terminal with some output similar to this:-
Your ALSA information is located at [b]http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=43c4acefe916af4857c21068abef65e5d9106e47[/b]Please inform the person helping you.
Can you post the link (highlighted in red) back here.
ALSA information is located at http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=986e34f057706cea448fd1f0db983b12d3aa55c4
I think I am going to learn a lot even if my problem isn’t resolved! 
Thanks for your help, knowledge, and patience. Why is rhe first warbling about nss-myhostname, is that something necessary, or pertinent? Tah.
deadtroopers@deadtroopers-System-Product-Name ~ $ dmesg | tail -n 40
[ 5097.587625] ata6: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[ 5097.587645] ata6: hard resetting link
[ 5102.955728] ata6: link is slow to respond, please be patient (ready=0)
[ 5132.596625] ata6: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[ 5132.596633] ata6: hard resetting link
[ 5137.624867] ata6: COMRESET failed (errno=-16)
[ 5137.624875] ata6: reset failed, giving up
[ 5137.624880] ata6: EH complete
[ 6115.651645] systemd-hostnamed[3699]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
[ 8339.483404] systemd-hostnamed[3916]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
[ 9213.998860] systemd-hostnamed[4301]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
[10628.351903] perf samples too long (2507 > 2500), lowering kernel.perf_event_max_sample_rate to 50000
[13715.685791] systemd-hostnamed[4663]: Warning: nss-myhostname is not installed. Changing the local hostname might make it unresolveable. Please install nss-myhostname!
[19185.878366] usb 2-1.4: USB disconnect, device number 6
[19204.766102] usb 2-1.4: new full-speed USB device number 8 using ehci-pci
[19204.859190] usb 2-1.4: New USB device found, idVendor=1b1c, idProduct=0a03
[19204.859193] usb 2-1.4: New USB device strings: Mfr=3, Product=1, SerialNumber=0
[19204.859194] usb 2-1.4: Product: Corsair Vengeance 1500
[19204.859195] usb 2-1.4: Manufacturer: Corsair Components, Inc.
[19204.891021] input: Corsair Components, Inc. Corsair Vengeance 1500 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.4/2-1.4:1.3/input/input26
[19204.891287] hid-generic 0003:1B1C:0A03.0007: input,hidraw5: USB HID v1.00 Device [Corsair Components, Inc. Corsair Vengeance 1500] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.4/input3
[19577.314329] usb 2-1.3: USB disconnect, device number 5
[19577.315052] cannot submit urb (err = -19)
[19577.315057] cannot submit urb (err = -19)
[19577.316061] cannot submit urb (err = -19)
[19577.316064] cannot submit urb (err = -19)
[19592.105796] usb 2-1.3: new high-speed USB device number 9 using ehci-pci
[19592.199397] usb 2-1.3: New USB device found, idVendor=041e, idProduct=323a
[19592.199405] usb 2-1.3: New USB device strings: Mfr=1, Product=2, SerialNumber=3
[19592.199409] usb 2-1.3: Product: Sound Blaster X7
[19592.199413] usb 2-1.3: Manufacturer: Creative Technology Ltd
[19592.199417] usb 2-1.3: SerialNumber: 000000QV
[19592.256349] input: Creative Technology Ltd Sound Blaster X7 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1d.0/usb2/2-1/2-1.3/2-1.3:1.4/input/input27
[19592.256726] hid-generic 0003:041E:323A.0008: input,hidraw4: USB HID v1.11 Device [Creative Technology Ltd Sound Blaster X7] on usb-0000:00:1d.0-1.3/input4
[19592.291550] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
[19592.315772] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
[19592.332539] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
[19592.348413] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
[19592.366150] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
[19592.386296] cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3
deadtroopers@deadtroopers-System-Product-Name ~ $ lsusb
Bus 002 Device 007: ID 0b05:179c ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
Bus 002 Device 008: ID 1b1c:0a03 Corsair
Bus 002 Device 009: ID 041e:323a Creative Technology, Ltd
Bus 002 Device 004: ID 1b1c:1b09 Corsair
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 1532:0042 Razer USA, Ltd
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 006 Device 002: ID 2109:0810 VIA Labs, Inc. VL81x Hub
Bus 006 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 005 Device 002: ID 2109:3431 VIA Labs, Inc. Hub
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 2433:b200
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 8087:0024 Intel Corp. Integrated Rate Matching Hub
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
deadtroopers@deadtroopers-System-Product-Name ~ $ sudo lshw -C multimedia
[sudo] password for deadtroopers:
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: Hawaii HDMI Audio
vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
physical id: 0.1
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.1
version: 00
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm pciexpress msi bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
resources: irq:95 memory:fbe60000-fbe63fff
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: C600/X79 series chipset High Definition Audio Controller
vendor: Intel Corporation
physical id: 1b
bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
version: 06
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=snd_hda_intel latency=0
resources: irq:94 memory:fbf20000-fbf23fff
deadtroopers@deadtroopers-System-Product-Name ~ $ lsmod
Module Size Used by
bnep 19624 2
rfcomm 69160 8
binfmt_misc 17468 1
snd_usb_audio 153899 6
snd_usbmidi_lib 29215 1 snd_usb_audio
joydev 17381 0
eeepc_wmi 13151 0
asus_wmi 24191 1 eeepc_wmi
sparse_keymap 13948 1 asus_wmi
video 19476 1 asus_wmi
dm_multipath 22873 0
fglrx 11076428 721
scsi_dh 14882 1 dm_multipath
btusb 32412 0
bluetooth 391136 22 bnep,btusb,rfcomm
snd_hda_codec_hdmi 46368 1
intel_rapl 18773 0
x86_pkg_temp_thermal 14205 0
snd_hda_codec_realtek 65580 1
intel_powerclamp 14705 0
kvm_intel 143109 0
kvm 451552 1 kvm_intel
crct10dif_pclmul 14289 0
crc32_pclmul 13113 0
ghash_clmulni_intel 13216 0
aesni_intel 55624 0
aes_x86_64 17131 1 aesni_intel
lrw 13286 1 aesni_intel
gf128mul 14951 1 lrw
glue_helper 13990 1 aesni_intel
ablk_helper 13597 1 aesni_intel
cryptd 20359 3 ghash_clmulni_intel,aesni_intel,ablk_helper
snd_hda_intel 56451 8
serio_raw 13462 0
sb_edac 22344 0
edac_core 62291 1 sb_edac
snd_hda_codec 192906 3 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 13602 2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
amd_iommu_v2 19054 1 fglrx
snd_pcm 102099 9 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
mei_me 18627 0
snd_page_alloc 18710 2 snd_pcm,snd_hda_intel
snd_seq_midi 13324 0
snd_seq_midi_event 14899 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 30144 2 snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 61560 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_device 14497 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer 29482 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd 69322 36 snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_usb_audio,snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_seq_midi
mei 82276 1 mei_me
lpc_ich 21080 0
soundcore 12680 1 snd
mac_hid 13205 0
parport_pc 32701 0
ppdev 17671 0
nct6775 55222 0
hwmon_vid 12783 1 nct6775
coretemp 13435 0
lp 17759 0
parport 42348 3 lp,ppdev,parport_pc
dm_mirror 22135 0
dm_region_hash 20862 1 dm_mirror
dm_log 18411 2 dm_region_hash,dm_mirror
hid_generic 12548 0
usbhid 52659 0
hid 106148 2 hid_generic,usbhid
mxm_wmi 13021 0
e1000e 254433 0
psmouse 106678 0
ahci 25819 6
ptp 18933 1 e1000e
libahci 32716 1 ahci
pps_core 19382 1 ptp
wmi 19177 2 mxm_wmi,asus_wmi
The:-
cannot get ctl value: req = 0x81, wValue = 0x0, wIndex = 0x1600, type = 3errors [u]may[/u] be workaround-able by adding
snd-usb-audio ignore_ctl_error=1
to the end of
/etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf
as indicated here:
for the Sonar U7 which seems to have te same chipset as the X7
But first, I take it the X7 will always be plugged into this PC when it’s booted ?
Does having your Corsair Vengence 1500 headset unplugged at boot make any difference to whether the X7 works or not ?
How is the headset attached, via a separate USB port, or via a USB hub ?
libnss-myhostname is not required this is just a “warning” that if you ever changed the hostname of your PC it may become unresolvable.
This warning has since been quietened in systemd-hostnamed just to stop people thinking there’s a problem where there isn’t.
You have 3 options
a) ignore the warning (this is what I’d do, it’s only a warning not an error)
b) install libnss-myhostname
c) silence the message as shown here:
Can I also ask why you’re on Mint 17 (Ubuntu 14.04 based) instead of Mint 18 (16.04 based) ?
And have you tried the X7 under Mint 18 (or any other 16.04 based distro) ?
Thanks for this. I had already added options snd-usb-audio ignore_ctl_error=1 to alsa.conf, it doesn’t seem to have any effect. The Vengeance is on a rear usb socket next to the sound blaster; I only plugged it in to see if the sound was actually being switched, I don’t use it that often if at all these days. Whether it is plugged in or not the Soundblaster still misbehaves 
I’m not on Mint 18 because my storage is a mess and I’ve mislaid the media with 17.3 on to upgrade how I’d prefer to. I’ll actully probably build a new rig before I rationalise and upgrade this one. I probably have Ubuntu 16.04 live media knocking about but I hate that distro. I will dig it out and see what happens but I find live distros too dissimilar to installs. Invariably there’ll be hardware/software that plays nice with one and not the other. The X7 works well with Windows (I dual boot) so it is always plugged in; I usually keep the power brick unplugged though on Linux. There were a couple of things I wanted to listen to but my Cloud headset was a little under driven. That’s why I’ve been giving the X7 another bash, it drives the Cloud really well. The Vengeance is louder but muddy.
That’s handy, I’ve just laid my hands on 16.04 and 16.10 looking for some thing else ::). I’ll send this, log off and give them a whirl. Thanks again for your help, I’ll be back in an hour or two.