Cirrus Logic Sound Fusion CS4280, CS461x, CS462x, CS463x devices

This page describes the state of support for sound devices based on CS46xx chipsets on Debian systems.

?TableOfContents(3)

snd-cs46xx is a kernel module supporting Cirrus Logic's Sound Fusion CS46xx audio controllers. It is an ["ALSA"] driver provided in Linux 2.6 mainline kernels.

In [wiki:src:linux-2.6 linux-2.6] 2.6.23-1, the binary-only firmware in this driver was removed (see the [http://packages.debian.org/changelogs/pool/main/l/linux-2.6/linux-2.6_2.6.26-13/changelog#versionversion2.6.23-1 package changelog]), due to discovered [:KernelFirmwareLicensing:firmware licensing issues]. The driver was disabled at this time. Firmware was also removed from the alsa-source package to resolve bug 483918.

The firmware is unable to be distributed by the Debian project, as the snd-cs46xx driver has no license?FootNote([http://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=10750 CS46xx sound driver carries no license] - Kernel Bug Tracker Bug 10750). A free redistribution license has been requested from Cirrus Logic?FootNote([wiki:Self:KernelFirmwareLicensing#head-3565057df6494cdf78b26fb1f0875d032b54c167 cs46xx_image.h (sound/pci/cs46xx)] - ["KernelFirmwareLicensing"]).

Installation

Lenny

The snd-cs46xx module is not present within 2.6.26 Debian kernel images. See Debian bug 464197 and ["KernelFirmwareLicensing"].

Etch

2.6.18 kernel

The snd-cs46xx module is included within 2.6.18 Debian kernel images.

2.6.24 kernel

The following procedure can be used to provide the snd-cs46xx module, using an alsa-source package generated from a deprecated [wiki:src:alsa-driver alsa-driver] version.

Install the build-essential, debconf-utils, devscripts, fakeroot, relevant linux-headers and module-assistant packages:

$ su
# aptitude update
# aptitude install build-essential debconf-utils devscripts fakeroot linux-headers-$(uname -r) module-assistant

Add the [:Backports:Debian Backports] repository to /etc/apt/sources.list, for example:

# Backported packages for Debian Etch
deb http://www.backports.org/debian etch-backports main

Update the list of available packages and install the etch-backports/debian-backports-keyring package:
```
# aptitude update
# aptitude -t etch-backports install debian-backports-keyring
```
As your system does not yet have the GnuPG archive key of the backports.org repository installed, you will be asked to confirm installation of a package from an untrusted repository. Enter Yes when prompted.
Install the etch-backports/debhelper and etch-backports/quilt packages:
```
# aptitude -t etch-backports install debhelper quilt
$ exit
```

Acquire a deprecated [wiki:src:alsa-driver alsa-driver] source package:

$ dget -x http://snapshot.debian.net/archive/2008/04/07/debian/pool/main/a/alsa-driver/alsa-driver_1.0.16-1.1.dsc

Build the binary packages:

$ cd alsa-driver-1.0.16
$ dpkg-buildpackage -b -uc -rfakeroot

Install the alsa-source package:

$ cd ..
$ su
# dpkg -i ./alsa-source*deb
$ exit

Build an alsa-modules-* package for your system:
```
$ m-a -u /tmp build alsa
```
Install the alsa-modules-* package:
```
$ su
# dpkg -i /tmp/alsa-modules*deb
```
If not already performed, install the alsa-base and alsa-utils packages:
```
# aptitude install alsa-base alsa-utils
```
Reload the ALSA modules and load the snd-cs46xx module:
```
# invoke-rc.d alsa reload
# modprobe snd-cs46xx
```
If not already performed, add your user account to the audio group, then log out and log back into your system:
```
# adduser yourusername audio
# exit
$ exit
```
Run [http://manpages.debian.net/man/1/alsamixer alsamixer], unmute channels and raise sound levels:
```
$ alsamixer
```

Test your sound device:

$ aplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Noise.wav

Supported Devices

The page ["HowToIdentifyADevice/PCI"] explains how to identify a PCI device.

The following list is based on the alias fields of modinfo snd-cs46xx on Etch.

PCI: 1013:6001 Cirrus Logic CS 4610/11 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator]
PCI: 1013:6003 Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator]
PCI: 1013:6004 Cirrus Logic CS 4614/22/24 [CrystalClear SoundFusion Audio Accelerator]

snd-cs46xx