graeme@Linux1 ~ $ sudo apt-get xawtv-tools
[sudo] password for graeme:
E: Invalid operation xawtv-tools
graeme@Linux1 ~ $
ok I’ve installed xawtv-tools
Sorry, I was going to build on this while the USB thingy is getting sorted :-[
Actually this tool might not be that useful afterall.
You could uninstall it with:
sudo apt-get remove xawtv-tools
When you ready to try agan could you post the output:
xawtv -debug 255 -hwls
Well I have the VCR connected to the pci card so can we stick with this for now ?
See my edit above.
xawtv -debug 255 -hwls
It’s not possible to give you that output because it continually writes
blit: putframe
v4l2: ok
v4l2: ok
over and over so I can’t copy it
Try the following line:
ls /dev/snd
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ ls /dev/snd
by-path controlC0 hwC0D0 pcmC0D0c pcmC0D0p pcmC0D2c seq timer
graeme@Linux1 ~ $
Try this:
xawtv -nodga -noxv -dspdev /dev/snd
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ xawtv -nodga -noxv -dspdev /dev/snd
This is xawtv-3.102, running on Linux/i686 (3.5.0-17-generic)
xinerama 0: 1600x900+0+0
vid-open-auto: using analog TV device /dev/video0
WARNING: No DGA direct video mode for this display.
WARNING: keeping fbuf pitch at: 6400, as no base addr was detected
WARNING: couldn't find framebuffer base address, try manual
configuration ("v4l-conf -a <addr>")
v4l2: WARNING: framebuffer base address mismatch
v4l2: me=(nil) v4l=(nil)
Alsa devices: cap: (null) (/dev/video0), out: default
oss: can't use format 8bit mono
xawtv opens up and plays audio & video ok, clicking to record shows the last line in the terminal output
FYI … I’ve already tried ALL the devices in /dev/snd using the -dspdev option … and xawtv always returns
oss: can’t use format 8bit mono
Thanks for that Mark 
grasping at straws here:
xawtv -nodga -noxv -dspdev plughw:Intel
currently grasping at the same straws 
According to this site oss-compat is available for Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS
This package ensures that Open Sound System support is provided in some way. On Linux, it enables the ALSA compatibility modules. On other kernels where OSS is the default interface, no action is taken.The purpose of this package is for applications that only support OSS
to depend on it, hence preventing common “/dev/dsp not found” errors that would confuse unexperienced users.
sudo apt-get install oss-compat
After that (may requre a reboot) run:
xawtv -nodga -noxv
then try to record
Hi SeZo
I felt so confident that would work but alas
graeme@Linux1 ~ $ xawtv -nodga -noxv
This is xawtv-3.102, running on Linux/i686 (3.5.0-17-generic)
xinerama 0: 1600x900+0+0
vid-open-auto: using analog TV device /dev/video0
WARNING: No DGA direct video mode for this display.
WARNING: keeping fbuf pitch at: 6400, as no base addr was detected
WARNING: couldn't find framebuffer base address, try manual
configuration ("v4l-conf -a <addr>")
v4l2: WARNING: framebuffer base address mismatch
v4l2: me=(nil) v4l=(nil)
Alsa devices: cap: (null) (/dev/video0), out: default
oss: open /dev/dsp: No such file or directory
I’m sorry you’re having all this grief this must be getting you down but I appreciate your persistence
Graeme
I was too, but hey it is just another way that it does not work. 
Also it is possible that it was/is a non starter as there is no internal output from your card,hence no /dev/dsp.
There is another option, to kill PulseAudio and then try it again (it might be a long shot)
sudo killall pulseaudio
After that I think I will be ready to throw in the towel.
Not stepping on SeZo’s toes … but …
If I were you I’d remove oss-compat … every time I’ve installed it, it plays havoc with the PulseAudio controls
Not to mention oss-compat CANNOT work without loading snd-pcm-oss (the driver they’ve removed from the kernel) to provide /dev/dsp :
<— this is the EXACT reason I don’t think you’ll get xawtv to work, as CAPTURING from OSS’s /dev/dsp seems hardcoded into xawtv.
Actually … thinking about it, it may not have been oss-compat, it may have been oss4-base (tried that too) … but as I said oss-compat is broken in recent versions of Ubuntu/Mint/Peppermint anyway, so no point in having it installed.
All I’m saying is if you notice any audio problems, try removing oss-compat which is broken anyway.
Yeh that’s what it’s SUPPOSED to do : … but it can’t provide /dev/dsp without first modprobe-ing the snd-pcm-oss (and if wanted snd-mixer-oss and snd-seq-oss) kernel module … which doesn’t exist :
Try doing:
modinfo snd-pcm-oss
you’ll see what I mean … the other 2 still exist, but thanks (sarcasm) to the people at Ubuntu, the important one (the one that makes oss-compat work) doesn’t.
.
There is another option, to kill PulseAudio and then try it again (it might be a long shot)
I tried that didn’t work
After that I think I will be ready to throw in the towel.
I don’t blame you but no one can fault you for effort
From what Mark is saying it looks like xawtv is not gonna work no matter what we do which is frustrating because we’re so close, I don’t know if you and Mark think it’s worthwhile exploring other options with this card, if not I’ll understand and thank you both for your efforts
Many thanks
Graeme
Give me a day or two to test other distros, and/or look for a kernel with snd-pcm-oss compiled in.
That’s the ONLY way (AFAIK) to get) oss-compat to work … and therefore xawtv.
(on either card)
ok no problem but just out of curiosity what about Cheese or guview would getting either of them to work be an easier solution. I’m not double guessing you Mark, I’m just curious
Graeme