[GUIDE] ALC889a (with analog 5.1 surround)

[Snow]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone has 5.1 sound working in Snow (or Leo for that matter)
Not digital out but normal surround via the 3 analog ports.
If so could you share the method please (DSDT, kext)

Thx in advance

UPDATE: Solved thx to all for your input, especially Mormegil, thx a lot bro for the guidance and files!

- Update on Sep 14 2009: I'm providing my modded AppleHDA kext for comparison or it might even work for some people without re-modding to their own hardware.

http://www.mediafire.com/?f0mmm25zrja

- Update on Sept 8 2009: Mormegil has created a guide to mod your Leopard AppleHDA kext to Snow Leopard: http://www.infinitemac.com/f57/guide...a-to-sl-t3981/

- Update on Sept 4 2009: Alright, since a lot of fello ALC889a users have issues I thought it would be only fair to post my steps to get audio fully working. This is based on my rig of course.

START

First grab these files which are:

iaslme to unpack your dsdt.aml file: http://www.mediafire.com/?jnjrdtmfm3k
kextutility in case you haven't got it yet: http://www.mediafire.com/?njgtzhzwm0j

For comparison:

my dsdt.aml without the audio mod: http://www.mediafire.com/?xm2yn2xguyo
my dsdt.aml with the audio mod: http://www.mediafire.com/?zzgmmgmhdbo

Credit goes to Mormegil for patience and support, respect bro!

PART I: Patching DSDT

- Slide your dsdt.aml file over the iaslme icon to decompile it to a dsdt.dsl file.
- Open the dsl file with texteditor
- Apple + F to open the search tab and fill in AZAL
- Change AZAL into HDEF

In my case:

From

Notify (\_SB.PCI0.AZAL, 0x02)

To

Notify (\_SB.PCI0.HDEF, 0x02)

- Search again for AZAL and this time the item “Device” should show up (at least in my case)

Change this:

Device (AZAL)
            {
                Name (_ADR, 0x001B0000)
                Method (_PRW, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Return (Package (0x02)
                    {
                        0x0D, 
                        0x05
                    })
                }
            }

            Name (BUFA, ResourceTemplate ()
            {
                IRQ (Level, ActiveLow, Shared, )
                    {3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15}
            })
            Name (BUFB, ResourceTemplate ()
            {
                IRQ (Level, ActiveLow, Shared, )
                    {}
            })
            CreateWordField (BUFB, One, IRQV)
            Device (LNKA)
            {
                Name (_HID, EisaId ("PNP0C0F"))
                Name (_UID, One)
                Method (_STA, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    And (PIRA, 0x80, Local0)
                    If (LEqual (Local0, 0x80))
                    {
                        Return (0x09)
                    }
                    Else
                    {
                        Return (0x0B)
                    }
                }

                Method (_PRS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Return (BUFA)
                }

                Method (_DIS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Or (PIRA, 0x80, PIRA)
                }

                Method (_CRS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    And (PIRA, 0x0F, Local0)
                    ShiftLeft (One, Local0, IRQV)
                    Return (BUFB)
                }

                Method (_SRS, 1, NotSerialized)
                {
                    CreateWordField (Arg0, One, IRQ1)
                    FindSetRightBit (IRQ1, Local0)
                    Decrement (Local0)
                    Store (Local0, PIRA)
                }
            }

Into this:

Device (HDEF)
            {
                Name (_ADR, 0x001B0000)
                Method (_DSM, 4, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Store (Package (0x04)
                        {
                            "layout-id", 
                            Buffer (0x04)
                            {
                                0x0C, 0x00, 0x00, 0x00
                            }, 

                            "PinConfigurations", 
                            Buffer (Zero) {}
                        }, Local0)
                    DTGP (Arg0, Arg1, Arg2, Arg3, RefOf (Local0))
                    Return (Local0)
                }
            }

            Name (BUFA, ResourceTemplate ()
            {
                IRQ (Level, ActiveLow, Shared, )
                    {3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,14,15}
            })
            Name (BUFB, ResourceTemplate ()
            {
                IRQ (Level, ActiveLow, Shared, )
                    {}
            })
            CreateWordField (BUFB, One, IRQV)
            Device (LNKA)
            {
                Name (_HID, EisaId ("PNP0C0F"))
                Name (_UID, One)
                Method (_STA, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    And (PIRA, 0x80, Local0)
                    If (LEqual (Local0, 0x80))
                    {
                        Return (0x09)
                    }
                    Else
                    {
                        Return (0x0B)
                    }
                }

                Method (_PRS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Return (BUFA)
                }

                Method (_DIS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    Or (PIRA, 0x80, PIRA)
                }

                Method (_CRS, 0, NotSerialized)
                {
                    And (PIRA, 0x0F, Local0)
                    ShiftLeft (One, Local0, IRQV)
                    Return (BUFB)
                }

                Method (_SRS, 1, NotSerialized)
                {
                    CreateWordField (Arg0, One, IRQ1)
                    FindSetRightBit (IRQ1, Local0)
                    Decrement (Local0)
                    Store (Local0, PIRA)
                }
            }

PART II: Patching AppleHDA

- Copy your AppleHDA.kext from System/Library/Extensions to your desktop
- Right click the kext and select ShowPackage, then browse to Content/Contents/Plugins
- Right click AppleHDAHardwareConfigDriver.kext and again Show Package Contents
- Browse to Contents and replace info.plist with this one (just slide it in and confirm replace)

http://www.mediafire.com/?rttltqjqxn4

Go back to the Plugins folder and this time Show Package Content of AppleHDAPlatformDriver.kext
Browse to Contents and replace info.plist with this one

http://www.mediafire.com/?zhnmdm0izzy

- Close all windows and then slide the modded AppleHDA.kext on the Kextutility icon.
- Reboot and repair permissions again with Kextulility, Terminal or Disk Utility just to make sure.
- If SL starts to behave badly and post a kernel panic you might want to boot into 32bit safe mode (-x -x32) and then run kextutility

Audio should be working now

PART III: Configuring 5.1

- Spotlight "AUDIO/MIDI-configuration" prefs
- Click + left bottom
- Double click name and rename it to ALC889a
- In the right panel select the 3 built-in line streams
- To adjust or correct volume expand ALC889a and use the sliders in the right tab for all 3 line-outs:



In my case they were minus 12db if I remember correctly.

- Click speaker configuration bottom right
- Select Multichannel tab and next to it select 5.1 surround from the menu
- Check All streams at top and then start configuring the streams (in my case I had to switch 5 & 6 to left and right rear and 3 & 4 to center and sub respectively)
- Confirm with bottom buttons and go check a 5.1 movie in quicktimeX
- You might want to install Perian (http://perian.org/) and set Audio Output to: Mutli-Channel Output

I think that's about it, everything should be working, if not, it's probably because you have a completely different system then mine or your dsdt isn't properly patched or you just messed up on the way.

Good luck!

THE END

[vista00]

Hi Snow
Here an interested guide to modify your dsdt and add audio. Take a look:
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=d...5965eaa7bc68bc

[DocShadow]

Hmmmm ... very detailed.

I tried the HDEF patch in the dsdt but had no luck. I think I'll try this one out and see if I have more luck.

Thanks for the heads up.

[Snow]

Thx for the guide m8 but all I really want to know is if 5.1 is possible with ALC889a via analog.
I wont enable the onboard unless it's possible.
If not, I will wait for KX driver to go 64bit and use my Presonus 1394 for now (stereo)

[mormegil]

I don't think real macs support analog 5.1 audio. So I think the only way to go is digital.

Got my onboard ALC888 running using this guide: http://www.projectosx.com/forum/inde...t=0&#entry1993

Front analog, Digital out, Mic and Line In working so far. I've a Z5500 system so it's all good. Been watching HD movies with AC3/DTS no problem.

[Snow]

Argh ok, bad news then. KX drivers for my Audigy 2 ZS support 5.1 and with superior quality compared to ALC889a. I think it'll take a long time though for 64bit support, hence I'm hunting for ALC889a 5.1.

[mormegil]

Yeah too bad no kx support for my X-fi I wouldn't have bothered with tweaking my onboard otherwise. I've never ever enabled it in bios since I got this motherboard and tbh I was quite surprised by the quality of the digital output.

[mormegil]

I take back my word. Got full analog 5.1 to work on my onboard alc888!

1. Tweak AppleHDA.kext to detect 3 Line Outputs: Green, Black, Orange.
2. Run Audio Midi Setup
3. Add new Aggregate Device
4. Click on the 3 check boxes corresponding to the 3 Line outs
5. Click on Configure Speakers
6. Select all 3 streams
7. Select Multichannel 5.1
8. Make sure all channels are properly mapped
9. Select Aggregate Device as output under System Preferences>Sound
10. Done



Here's my modified AppleHDA.kext as reference

[hops]

Originally Posted by mormegil I take back my word. Got full analog 5.1 to work on my onboard alc888! 1. Tweak AppleHDA.kext to detect 3 Line Outputs: Green, Black, Orange. 2. Run Audio Midi Setup 3. Add new Aggregate Device 4. Click on the 3 check boxes corresponding to the 3 Line outs 5. Click on Configure Speakers 6. Select all 3 streams 7. Select Multichannel 5.1 8. Make sure all channels are properly mapped 9. Select Aggregate Device as output under System Preferences>Sound 10. Done Here's my modified AppleHDA.kext as reference

Thank you so much for posting this! I had not been able to get the ALC888 chipset on my Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3 to work under 10.5. All I had to do was drop your kext onto the Kext Utility, reboot, and now I have sound under 64-bit 10.6. Your work is appreciated!

[Cee]

Originally Posted by mormegil I take back my word. Got full analog 5.1 to work on my onboard alc888! Here's my modified AppleHDA.kext as reference

Can you / or anyone else upload this AppleHDA.kext again ?
I tried to unzip it on 4 machines ( 3 macs , pc ) and all of them failed