[pulseaudio-discuss] 'Failed to find a working profile' for firewire sound devices

[Takashi Sakamoto]

Hi Raymond,

 > How accurate are the hwptr playback/capture position ?

It's enough accurate.

...But the position don't show the position in DMA buffer for 'actual 
hardware'. Let me describe later.


 > SNDRV_PCM_INFO_BATCH mean hwptr only update in period boundary

This flag is appropriate.

snd_pcm_period_elapsed() is called when 'hwptr' cross boundary of period.

See: in 'amdtp.c'
handle_out_packet()/handle_in_packet()
->update_pcm_pointers()
->tasklet_hi_schedule() - pcm_period_tasklet()
->snd_pcm_period_elapsed()


 > Why period min =1 if it need double buffering ?

The drivers don't use 'double buffering'.

...But I don't understand correctly what you said 'double buffering' in 
this context. So here, let me describe how the drivers use buffer.

In brief:
[PCM playback] The drivers generate IEC 61883-1/6 packets from PCM 
samples in 'struct snd_pcm_runtime.dma_area'. And the drivers write 
these packets on DMA buffer for OHCI 1394 host controller.
[PCM capture] The drivers handle IEC 61883-1/6 packets on DMA buffer for 
OHCI 1394 host controller. And the drivers pick up PCM samples, write 
the samples on 'struct snd_pcm_runtime.dma_area'.

The functionality to packetize is on 'snd-firewire-lib'. Please see 
'amdtp.c' in detail.

Please inform me if I cannot clear your concern.


 > The best choice should be jackd instead of pulseaudio
 > If the hardware must use 10 or more channels and used
 > for studio production

Yes. I think so. But let me describe two points.

Current PulseAudio re-tries to detect the profile when the system probe 
the devices. This corresponds snd_pcm_open() and snd_pcm_close(). So the 
drivers handle many open()/close() as long as the devices are connected. 
This is a waste because the drivers generate a few transactions between 
hardware when open().

And many of the devices which the drivers support have 4 or 6 in/out 
ports and better for daily use. But PulseAudio don't handle such devices.


Thanks

Takashi Sakamoto