# Using external usb soundcard **URL:** \ **Category:** GNU Radio\ **Created:** [August 11, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971 "2015-08-11T19:31:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sadaf\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/858c86/32.png) [@Sadaf\_N](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/Sadaf_N)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/1 "2015-08-11T19:31:50Z")
Hi, i want to use an external usb sound device. It works without any problems when playing back music. I dont know how the audio sink block or gnuradio works with this extern sound device. Howto tell gnuradio to read all possible sample rate values and use this device ? Andy ---
**Author:** ![andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas_l)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/2 "2015-08-11T19:44:42Z")
Hi Andy, assuming a modern linux. In the Audio sink/source, you can enter the device name; potential names can be found by running aplay -L GNU Radio doesn’t know anything about the supported rates of sound cards; you will need to try that one out beforehand. As far as I know, ALSA applications also simply try until they get no error. 44.1kHz is universally supported; haven’t met a proper sound card that couldn’t work with it. Best regards, Marcus ---
**Author:** ![andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas_l)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:17pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/3 "2015-08-11T20:17:25Z")
Hi Marcus, > Hi Andy, > assuming a modern linux. > Ubuntu 14, yes i think this is a modern linux. > In the Audio sink/source, you can enter the device name; potential names > can be found by running > aplay -L > > GNU Radio doesn’t know anything about the supported rates of sound > cards; you will need to try that one out beforehand. As far as I know, > ALSA applications also simply try until they get no error. > 44.1kHz is universally supported; haven’t met a proper sound card that > couldn’t work with it. > Yes, the “sound” playback works know. My soundcard support sample rates up to 192khz. So iam asking me how this sample rate could be set manual or the automatic selected samplerate could be veryfied. In the audio sink block max. 48khz could be set. > Best regards, > Marcus > Thank you, > Andy ---
**Author:** ![andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas_l)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:19pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/4 "2015-08-11T20:19:45Z")
> Ubuntu 14, yes i think this is a modern linux. > let’s not start a discussion about favourite linux distros 😉 > My soundcard support sample rates up to 192khz. So iam asking me how > this sample rate could be set manual or the automatic selected > samplerate could be veryfied. In the audio sink block max. 48khz could > be set. What device name are you using? If you happen to use “” or “default”, it’s probably the pulse audio server in between you and the ALSA device making it impossible to use that rate. Best regards, Marcus ---
**Author:** ![andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas_l)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 8:57pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/5 "2015-08-11T20:57:45Z")
Hi Marcus > > My soundcard support sample rates up to 192khz. So iam asking me how > > this sample rate could be set manual or the automatic selected > > samplerate could be veryfied. In the audio sink block max. 48khz could > > be set. > > What device name are you using? If you happen to use “” or “default”, > it’s probably the pulse audio server in between you and the ALSA device > making it impossible to use that rate. > i use the device name: front:HD,0 aplay -L: sysdefault:CARD=HD AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Default Audio Device front:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Front speakers surround40:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio 4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers surround41:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio 4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers surround50:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio 5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers surround51:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio 5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers surround71:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio 7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers iec958:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output dmix:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Direct sample mixing device dmix:CARD=HD,DEV=1 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #1 Direct sample mixing device dmix:CARD=HD,DEV=2 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #2 Direct sample mixing device dsnoop:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Direct sample snooping device dsnoop:CARD=HD,DEV=1 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #1 Direct sample snooping device dsnoop:CARD=HD,DEV=2 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #2 Direct sample snooping device hw:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Direct hardware device without any conversions hw:CARD=HD,DEV=1 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #1 Direct hardware device without any conversions hw:CARD=HD,DEV=2 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #2 Direct hardware device without any conversions plughw:CARD=HD,DEV=0 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio Hardware device with all software conversions plughw:CARD=HD,DEV=1 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #1 Hardware device with all software conversions plughw:CARD=HD,DEV=2 AUREON XFIRE8.0 HD, USB Audio #2 Hardware device with all software conversions cheers, Andy ---
**Author:** ![andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@andreas\_l](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/andreas_l)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2015, 9:38pm UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/using-external-usb-soundcard/242971/6 "2015-08-11T21:38:04Z")
can you try any of the hw names? Other than that, this might just be ALSA strangeness; as far as I have had a glimpse at the code, about 2 years back, the audio blocks don’t do anything “special”.