speakers and sound with Asus ROG G14

[papapenguin]

I have an Asus ROG GA401QH laptop. I'm having some issues with ALSA, JACK and Ardour. It seems that I have 4 speakers, but I may have 2 tweeters and 2 subwoofers. Nevertheless, my system settings defaults to 'Analog Surround 4.0 + Analog Stereo Input'. Speaker Test shows 4 speakers, but I only hear sound from Rear Left and Rear Right

This becomes a problem when running JACK and Ardour, as I have to select channels 3 & 4, instead of the default 1 & 2. Plugins that default to channels 1 & 2 are inaudible.

$ lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne Root Complex
00:00.2 IOMMU: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne IOMMU
00:01.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:01.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir PCIe GPP Bridge
00:02.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:02.2 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne PCIe GPP Bridge
00:02.4 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne PCIe GPP Bridge
00:08.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir PCIe Dummy Host Bridge
00:08.1 PCI bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir Internal PCIe GPP Bridge to Bus
00:14.0 SMBus: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH SMBus Controller (rev 51)
00:14.3 ISA bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] FCH LPC Bridge (rev 51)
00:18.0 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 0
00:18.1 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 1
00:18.2 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 2
00:18.3 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 3
00:18.4 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 4
00:18.5 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 5
00:18.6 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 6
00:18.7 Host bridge: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Cezanne Data Fabric; Function 7
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation TU117M [GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile / Max-Q] (rev a1)
01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation Device 10fa (rev a1)
02:00.0 Network controller: MEDIATEK Corp. MT7921 802.11ax PCI Express Wireless Network Adapter
03:00.0 Non-Volatile memory controller: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd NVMe SSD Controller 980
04:00.0 VGA compatible controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Cezanne (rev c5)
04:00.1 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI] Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller
04:00.2 Encryption controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) Platform Securit
y Processor
04:00.3 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne USB 3.1
04:00.4 USB controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Renoir/Cezanne USB 3.1
04:00.5 Multimedia controller: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Raven/Raven2/FireFlight/Renoir Audio Process
or (rev 01)
04:00.6 Audio device: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD] Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller
​

any ideas as to how I can either get audio out on all 4 channels, or resort to stereo default?

[claydoh]

What are your other choices in the drop-down besides the one you show?

I have no clues about Ardour, let alone Jack audio, that is for the pros
If using Jack, do you need to disable pulseaudio/etc?

You might need to peek at full hardware info (aplay -l) and maybe see what is available via alsmamixer settings

[papapenguin]

The other choices in the drop down menu are:

Analog Stereo Input, Analog Stereo Output, Analog Stereo Duplex, Analog Surround 4.0 Output, Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input, Off

aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Generic_1 [HD-Audio Generic], device 0: ALC285 Analog [ALC285 Analog]
 Subdevices: 1/1
 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

​

I guess my main goal is to understand and integrate the onboard sound so that it works with JACK. Secondarily, I'd like to make the Surround 4.0 work, if that's really what this computer is capable of...

[ShadYoung]

You are probably Analog Stereo. I suspect that you simply have 2 channels with 2-way speakers (woofer, tweeter and crossover) that should only be seen as a single speaker per channel. For recording in Ardour with onboard sound, you will want to set it to stereo unless you move to an external multi-channel audio interface (I use an FTP Pro with two XLR combo in, and four 1/4" TSR/ two RCA out - I have not quite figured out how to get it to output to four channels simultaneously though as it sees it as two banks).

The audio stack is as follows: Alsa, Pulse, Pipewire. Your low level is ALSA. You can check your Pulse audio sinks with "pacmd list sinks". That will give you a readout of all connected devices and app, and their current settings (bit depth, sample rate, hooks and so on). For example, I have 4 audio interfaces (2 via GPU, the USB, and the OB). It can get a little intimidating. In ardour and other audio apps, you can choose ALSA/Pulse/Pipe/Jack/ as your inputs and outputs. Its more about making sure jack is communicating with the rest of the audio stack properly, and that is a challenge.

Audio is a convoluted mess in Linux and I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around it.

[papapenguin]

...and here I thought I was the only one who didn't understand Linux audio...

[papapenguin]

jeez...this produced quite a readout. It does seem that alsa may see that 2 tweeters and 2 subwoofers creates 4.0. I'm not sure if that's exactly what's happening, but it seems likely. One thing I did learn from the readout is that I'm using powerdevil, but that's for another problem/post regarding CPU scaling.

You're right, the main issue is making sure JACK is communicating...

pacmd list sinks
Memory blocks currently allocated: 2, size: 75.4 KiB.
Memory blocks allocated during the whole lifetime: 2174718, size: 3.3 GiB.
Memory blocks imported from other processes: 0, size: 0 B.
Memory blocks exported to other processes: 0, size: 0 B.
Total sample cache size: 11.5 KiB.
Default sample spec: float32le 2ch 44100Hz
Default channel map: front-left,front-right
Default sink name: alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-surround-40
Default source name: alsa_input.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-stereo
Memory blocks of type POOL: 2 allocated/1503250 accumulated.
Memory blocks of type POOL_EXTERNAL: 0 allocated/3665 accumulated.
Memory blocks of type APPENDED: 0 allocated/0 accumulated.
Memory blocks of type USER: 0 allocated/0 accumulated.
Memory blocks of type FIXED: 0 allocated/332944 accumulated.
Memory blocks of type IMPORTED: 0 allocated/338524 accumulated.
27 module(s) loaded.
   index: 0
       name: <module-device-restore>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Automatically restore the volume/mute state of devices"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 1
       name: <module-stream-restore>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Automatically restore the volume/mute/device state of streams"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 2
       name: <module-card-restore>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Automatically restore profile of cards"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 3
       name: <module-augment-properties>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Augment the property sets of streams with additional static information"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 4
       name: <module-switch-on-port-available>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "David Henningsson"
               module.description = "Switches ports and profiles when devices are plugged/unplugged"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 5
       name: <module-switch-on-connect>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Michael Terry"
               module.description = "When a sink/source is added, switch to it or conditionally switch to it"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 6
       name: <module-udev-detect>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Detect available audio hardware and load matching drivers"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 7
       name: <module-alsa-card>
       argument: <device_id="0" name="pci-0000_01_00.1" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1" namereg_fail=f
alse tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_p
roperties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1">
       used: 0
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "ALSA Card"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 8
       name: <module-alsa-card>
       argument: <device_id="1" name="pci-0000_04_00.1" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.1" namereg_fail=f
alse tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_p
roperties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1">
       used: 0
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "ALSA Card"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 9
       name: <module-alsa-card>
       argument: <device_id="2" name="pci-0000_04_00.6" card_name="alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.6" namereg_fail=f
alse tsched=yes fixed_latency_range=no ignore_dB=no deferred_volume=yes use_ucm=yes avoid_resampling=no card_p
roperties="module-udev-detect.discovered=1">
       used: 0
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "ALSA Card"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 10
       name: <module-jackdbus-detect>
       argument: <channels=2>
       used: -1
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "David Henningsson"
               module.description = "Adds JACK sink/source ports when JACK is started"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 11
       name: <module-bluetooth-policy>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Frédéric Dalleau, Pali Rohár"
               module.description = "Policy module to make using bluetooth devices out-of-the-box easier"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 12
       name: <module-bluetooth-discover>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "João Paulo Rechi Vita"
               module.description = "Detect available Bluetooth daemon and load the corresponding discovery m
odule"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 13
       name: <module-bluez5-discover>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "João Paulo Rechi Vita"
               module.description = "Detect available BlueZ 5 Bluetooth audio devices and load BlueZ 5 Blueto
oth audio drivers"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 14
       name: <module-native-protocol-unix>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Native protocol (UNIX sockets)"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 15
       name: <module-gsettings>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Sylvain Baubeau"
               module.description = "GSettings Adapter"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 16
       name: <module-default-device-restore>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Automatically restore the default sink and source"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 17
       name: <module-always-sink>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Colin Guthrie"
               module.description = "Always keeps at least one sink loaded even if it's a null one"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 18
       name: <module-intended-roles>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Automatically set device of streams based on intended roles of devices"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 19
       name: <module-suspend-on-idle>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "When a sink/source is idle for too long, suspend it"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 20
       name: <module-systemd-login>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Create a client for each login session of this user"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 21
       name: <module-position-event-sounds>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Position event sounds between L and R depending on the position on scree
n of the widget triggering them."
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 22
       name: <module-role-cork>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Mute & cork streams with certain roles while others exist"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 23
       name: <module-snap-policy>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Canonical Ltd"
               module.description = "Ubuntu Snap policy management"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 24
       name: <module-filter-heuristics>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Colin Guthrie"
               module.description = "Detect when various filters are desirable"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 25
       name: <module-filter-apply>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: yes
       properties:
               module.author = "Colin Guthrie"
               module.description = "Load filter sinks automatically when needed"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
   index: 35
       name: <module-cli-protocol-unix>
       argument: <>
       used: -1
       load once: no
       properties:
               module.author = "Lennart Poettering"
               module.description = "Command line interface protocol (UNIX sockets)"
               module.version = "15.99.1"
1 sink(s) available.
 * index: 18
       name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-surround-40>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
       state: SUSPENDED
       suspend cause: IDLE
       priority: 9039
       volume: front-left: 62055 /  95% / -1.42 dB,   front-right: 62259 /  95% / -1.34 dB,   rear-left: 6205
5 /  95% / -1.42 dB,   rear-right: 62259 /  95% / -1.34 dB
               balance 0.00
       base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
       volume steps: 65537
       muted: no
       current latency: 0.00 ms
       max request: 0 KiB
       max rewind: 0 KiB
       monitor source: 22
       sample spec: s32le 4ch 48000Hz
       channel map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right
                    Surround 4.0
       used by: 0
       linked by: 0
       configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 1837.50 ms
       card: 2 <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.6>
       module: 9
       properties:
               alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
               device.api = "alsa"
               device.class = "sound"
               alsa.class = "generic"
               alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
               alsa.name = "ALC285 Analog"
               alsa.id = "ALC285 Analog"
               alsa.subdevice = "0"
               alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
               alsa.device = "0"
               alsa.card = "2"
               alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc5c0000 irq 77"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.6"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.6/sound/card2"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "1022"
               device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
               device.product.id = "15e3"
               device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller"
               device.string = "surround40:2"
               device.buffering.buffer_size = "1411200"
               device.buffering.fragment_size = "470400"
               device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
               device.profile.name = "analog-surround-40"
               device.profile.description = "Analog Surround 4.0"
               device.description = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Surround 4.0"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
       ports:
               analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
       active port: <analog-output-speaker>
2 source(s) available.
 * index: 10
       name: <alsa_input.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-stereo>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
       state: SUSPENDED
       suspend cause: IDLE
       priority: 9039
       volume: front-left: 10388 /  16% / -48.00 dB,   front-right: 10388 /  16% / -48.00 dB
               balance 0.00
       base volume: 6554 /  10% / -60.00 dB
       volume steps: 65537
       muted: no
       current latency: 0.00 ms
       max rewind: 0 KiB
       sample spec: s32le 2ch 44100Hz
       channel map: front-left,front-right
                    Stereo
       used by: 0
       linked by: 0
       configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 4000.36 ms
       card: 2 <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.6>
       module: 9
       properties:
               alsa.resolution_bits = "32"
               device.api = "alsa"
               device.class = "sound"
               alsa.class = "generic"
               alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
               alsa.name = "ALC285 Analog"
               alsa.id = "ALC285 Analog"
               alsa.subdevice = "0"
               alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
               alsa.device = "0"
               alsa.card = "2"
               alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc5c0000 irq 77"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.6"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.6/sound/card2"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "1022"
               device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
               device.product.id = "15e3"
               device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller"
               device.string = "front:2"
               device.buffering.buffer_size = "1411328"
               device.buffering.fragment_size = "705664"
               device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
               device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
               device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
               device.description = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Stereo"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
       ports:
               analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (priority 8900, latency offset 0 usec, availabl
e: unknown)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
               analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
       active port: <analog-input-internal-mic>
   index: 22
       name: <alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-surround-40.monitor>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY DYNAMIC_LATENCY
       state: SUSPENDED
       suspend cause: IDLE
       priority: 1030
       volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   rear-left: 65536
/ 100% / 0.00 dB,   rear-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
               balance 0.00
       base volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
       volume steps: 65537
       muted: no
       current latency: 0.00 ms
       max rewind: 0 KiB
       sample spec: s32le 4ch 48000Hz
       channel map: front-left,front-right,rear-left,rear-right
                    Surround 4.0
       used by: 0
       linked by: 0
       configured latency: 0.00 ms; range is 0.50 .. 1837.50 ms
       monitor_of: 18
       card: 2 <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.6>
       module: 9
       properties:
               device.description = "Monitor of Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Surrou
nd 4.0"
               device.class = "monitor"
               alsa.card = "2"
               alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc5c0000 irq 77"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.6"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.6/sound/card2"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "1022"
               device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
               device.product.id = "15e3"
               device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller"
               device.string = "2"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
9 client(s) logged in.
   index: 0
       driver: <module-systemd-login.c>
       owner module: 20
       properties:
               application.name = "Login Session 3"
               systemd-login.session = "3"
   index: 1
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "Plasma PA"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.id = "org.kde.plasma-pa"
               application.icon_name = "audio-card"
               application.process.id = "1726"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "plasmashell"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 2
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "Firefox"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "33"
               application.process.id = "1893"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "firefox"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 6
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "QPulse"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.process.id = "1863"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "kdeconnectd"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 7
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "Firefox"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "33"
               application.icon_name = "firefox"
               application.version = "104.0.2"
               application.process.id = "1893"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "firefox"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 10
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "libcanberra"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.version = "0.30"
               application.id = "org.freedesktop.libcanberra"
               application.process.id = "1726"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "plasmashell"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 13
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "Kontact"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.id = "org.kde.kontact"
               application.icon_name = "kontact"
               application.process.id = "2015"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "kontact"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 23
       driver: <protocol-native.c>
       owner module: 14
       properties:
               application.name = "KDE Power Management System"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.id = "org.kde.org_kde_powerdevil"
               application.icon_name = ""
               application.process.id = "1770"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "org_kde_powerdevil"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
   index: 26
       driver: <cli.c>
       owner module: 35
       properties:
               application.name = "UNIX socket client"
3 card(s) available.
   index: 0
       name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_01_00.1>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       owner module: 7
       properties:
               alsa.card = "0"
               alsa.card_name = "HDA NVidia"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HDA NVidia at 0xfc080000 irq 74"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:01:00.1"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.1/0000:01:00.1/sound/card0"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "10de"
               device.vendor.name = "NVIDIA Corporation"
               device.product.id = "10fa"
               device.string = "0"
               device.description = "HDA NVidia"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
       profiles:
               output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5900, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
               output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available: no
)
               output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (priority 600, available:
no)
               output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available: no
)
               output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 600, available:
no)
               output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5700, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 600, available: no
)
               output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 600, available:
no)
               off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
       active profile: <off>
       ports:
               hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "video-display"
               hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "video-display"
               hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "video-display"
               hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "video-display"
   index: 1
       name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.1>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       owner module: 8
       properties:
               alsa.card = "1"
               alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc5c8000 irq 76"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.1"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.1/sound/card1"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "1002"
               device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
               device.product.id = "1637"
               device.product.name = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
               device.string = "1"
               device.description = "Renoir Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
       profiles:
               output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5900, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
               output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 800, available: no)
               off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
       active profile: <off>
       ports:
               hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "video-display"
   index: 2
       name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_04_00.6>
       driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
       owner module: 9
       properties:
               alsa.card = "2"
               alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
               alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc5c0000 irq 77"
               alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
               device.bus_path = "pci-0000:04:00.6"
               sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:04:00.6/sound/card2"
               device.bus = "pci"
               device.vendor.id = "1022"
               device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
               device.product.id = "15e3"
               device.product.name = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller"
               device.string = "2"
               device.description = "Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller"
               module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
               device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
       profiles:
               input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 32833, available: unknown)
               output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 39268, available: unknown)
               output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 39333, available: unk
nown)
               output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (priority 33968, available: unknown)
               output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Inpu
t (priority 34033, available: unknown)
               off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
       active profile: <output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo>
       sinks:
               alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-surround-40/#18: Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Cont
roller Analog Surround 4.0
       sources:
               alsa_input.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-stereo/#10: Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller
Analog Stereo
               alsa_output.pci-0000_04_00.6.analog-surround-40.monitor/#22: Monitor of Family 17h (Models 10h
-1fh) HD Audio Controller Analog Surround 4.0
       ports:
               analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (priority 8900, latency offset 0 usec, availabl
e: unknown)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
               analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
               analog-output-speaker: Speakers (priority 10000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
               analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
                       properties:
                               device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
0 sink input(s) available.
0 source output(s) available.
1 cache entrie(s) available.
   name: <audio-volume-change>
       index: 0
       sample spec: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
       channel map: front-left,front-right
                    Stereo
       length: 11776
       duration: 0.1 s
       volume: n/a
               balance 0.00
       lazy: no
       filename: <n/a>
       properties:
               media.role = "event"
               event.id = "audio-volume-change"
               event.description = "Volume Control Feedback Sound"
               media.name = "audio-volume-change"
               media.filename = "/usr/share/sounds/freedesktop/stereo/audio-volume-change.oga"
               application.name = "libcanberra"
               native-protocol.peer = "UNIX socket client"
               native-protocol.version = "35"
               application.version = "0.30"
               application.id = "org.freedesktop.libcanberra"
               application.process.id = "1726"
               application.process.user = "donald"
               application.process.host = "donald-X"
               application.process.binary = "plasmashell"
               application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
               window.x11.display = ":0"
               application.process.machine_id = "0d270a7dd6174bbabe92144e4c1de3cd"
               application.process.session_id = "3"
​

[ShadYoung]

...and here I thought I was the only one who didn't understand Linux audio...

LOL - nope... I usually consider myself a smart person, but Linux audio makes me feel stupid. I am glad you posted this actually, because I need to tackle many audio related lessons to actually accomplish more than basic tasks in Audacity, but it is so intimidating I balk and go play a game. :-D

I am too used to Windows and the Sonar/Pro Tools way of doing things. I am still figuring out how to route buses.

[ShadYoung]

OK, no... Asus does in fact call it a quad speaker system, not a two way.... so, yes, you have 4.0. I suspect the reason you are not hearing anything when you test the speakers is because the rear volume is so low. I have this problem with the OB 7.1. Rear volume us unusably low.

There should be a mixer in settings that allows you to adjust the 4 channels independently. Turn the rears to max and you should be able to hear some sound from the tests. However, if you are like me, this will not translate to an increase in volume outside the test, and the relative volume settings do not persist beyond the next volume change. It is very frustrating.

Do you get full range sound from the laptop, even when its in Analog Stereo? Are all four speakers working? The ASUS website says you have two tweeters on the front and two woofers on the bottom.

[papapenguin]

Maybe we can solve something here with 7.1 and 4.0...

in my 4.0 system when I raise the Front Left and Right to 150%, I still hear nothing. I have also noticed that when I plug or unplug headphones, the levels sometimes change to somewhat random settings. At times, one channel will stay at the automatic headphone level change (when you plug in headphones, the level drops considerably, thereby protecting your ears) and the other will return to the level set before the headphones are plugged in. This is true when I use the 1/8" jack at any time, whether I plug in my studio system or my headphones.

I haven't experimented with using anything but the onboard sound, as I'd like to 'solve' this issue as best as I can and not rely on an external audio interface. In other words, does the ASUS system allow for quad outputs in any way?

The goal is to fully implement this laptop with JACK.

[Snowhog]

The Audio Specs for the 2021 ROG Zephyrus G14 GA401 show:

Audio

Smart Amp Technology
Dolby Atmos
AI noise-canceling technology
Built-in array microphone
2x 0.7W tweeter
2x 2.5W speaker with Smart Amp Technology

So two tweeters (L/R) and two main (L/R). That says stereo, not quad (to me).