Lexicon Omega

[danilospada]

Hi all.
I'm a new user of AVLinux-Squeeze (not of Debian) and I just bought a Omega Lexicon USB since I found it works out of the box.

In synthesis:
I can see the omega (DigiTech) attached via usb
QJackd see it (in preferences -> interface)
I changed the default WM with Gnome, but I cannot access and use the audio-card with both.

###
root@x41:~# lsusb
Bus 005 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 004 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 003 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 1210:0002 DigiTech
Bus 001 Device 008: ID 1267:0201 Logic3 / SpectraVideo plc A4Tech SWOP-3 Mouse
Bus 001 Device 007: ID 046d:c312 Logitech, Inc. DeLuxe 250 Keyboard
Bus 001 Device 006: ID 0451:1446 Texas Instruments, Inc. TUSB2040/2070 Hub
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 04f2:b086 Chicony Electronics Co., Ltd
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 04b3:4484 IBM Corp.
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
###
AND
###
root@x41:~# cat /proc/asound/cards
 0 [Omega          ]: USB-Audio - Lexicon Omega
                      Lexicon Lexicon Omega at usb-0000:00:1d.7-1.1, full speed
 2 [Modem          ]: ICH-MODEM - Intel ICH6 Modem
                      Intel ICH6 Modem at irq 23
 3 [ICH6           ]: ICH4 - Intel ICH6
                      Intel ICH6 with AD1981B at irq 22
29 [ThinkPadEC     ]: ThinkPad EC - ThinkPad Console Audio Control
                      ThinkPad Console Audio Control at EC reg 0x30, fw 75HT19WW-1.01
###

Could I do something to get the Omega work ?

Thank you very much for the attention,
Danilo

[GMaq]

Hi,

I'm afraid I have no experience with the Omega nor do I have one to test, when you say it works out of the box do you mean with pure Debian? It is odd that it shows up in Qjackctl and doesn't work, are you using it with MIDI? Does it work with any audio applications as a playback device?

[danilospada]

Hi GMaq.

Yes, the Lexicon Omega is declared to be supported by the last Debian's releases; in fact, essentially by Alsa (http://www.alsa-project.org/main/index.php/Matrix:Vendor-Lexicon).
Unfortunately it seems that there are difficulties with the actual-squeeze version of alsa (1.0.23).
The device is recognized by any audio application for playback; but there's no mixer and Ardour cannot record single channels through each of the four (since it's a USB 1) buses. [see the attachment]

It has been suggested to compile and install a more recent version of Alsa  (sorry, this is an Italian forum http://forum.debianizzati.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=43489#p132125 but I think the commands are quite self-explanatory).

I'm going to try such a solution... hoping the best.

"See" you soon,
Danilo

[GMaq]

Hi,

For the record AV Linux 5.0.3 has ALSA 1.0.24 from Debian Testing. It likes like you are using an earlier version than that, If you are comfortable building ALSA from source than that should help hopefully, if not you could try the AV Linux 5.0.3 LiveDVD and see if that works for you.

[danilospada]

Dear GMaq,
thank you very much for your suggestion (the compilation of sources isn't so comfortable).
I'll download the new release 5.0.3 immediately and give you a feedback.
Keep in touch,
Danilo

[danilospada]

So here I am back, with a fresh AVLinux-5.0.3 installation.
The software usb-mixer continue to be blank but I'm finally able to record all the four buses through jackd. So: that's ok for me. Again, thank you very much for your suggestion (and for ALL YOUR WORK!).
Unfortunately I get a strange error when I start qsynth: 'urb status -32', and jackd immediately crashes. Up to now the only chance to stop it is rebooting the system. I'm looking for a solution.

[danilospada]

After some testing here there are my conclusions.

The Omega definitely works as expected (even more).
Just avoid alsa-1.0.23. Changing to the release '.24' (contained in AVLinux 5.0.3) was the solution.
I found a pragmatic solution to the error 'urb status -32': connect the usb audio device before booting.

Two observations: I can't refer to the (system)-software-mixer but
1. when I need a software mixer there's Jackd; and
2. I simply changed my perspective: now I have a hardware mixer.

Thank you very much and
have a good musical fly you all,
Danilo