How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Still new to all of this? Feel free to post in any of the subforums on this site, but in this subforum newbie questions are especially encouraged!

Moderators: MattKingUSA, khz

Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

(Best to probably read this forum first: https://forum.cockos.com/showthread.php?t=254563)

I'm working REAPER, and I can't get it to recognize my Behringer UMC1820 interface. I'm also working on a Chromebook, and so am using crouton to switch between Chrome OS and Ubuntu. I believe it is a problem with using the Chromebook/both systems, but I have no clue. I just want to be able to record my piano :( .
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

Looks like I have more ideas after all. Try this:

shutdown the Chromebook and power down the UMC
unplug the USB cable from the UMC at the Chromebook
start the Chromebook - go all of the way into Ubuntu
plug the USB cable back in - power up the UMC

If you want to open any ALSA tools do so in a Ubuntu terminal.
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

How would I go about finding ALSA controls in the terminal? Typing in "alsamixer"? Can you explain that in a bit better fashion?
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

Does REAPER "see" the UMC now?

open a Terminal window in Ubuntu
type "alsamixer" at the Terminal prompt
press the "Enter" key - https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/Alsamixer
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

The UMC is recognized alright, but I still can't get it to work as an audio interface in REAPER. The soundcard is there, I can make it be recognized in REAPER, but every time I try and use ALSA as a sound device I get the error
~~~
There was an error opening the audio hardware.

ALSA: error opening input device
~~~
And yes, Pulseaudio is suspended.
User avatar
Largos
Established Member
Posts: 616
Joined: Mon Oct 05, 2020 12:21 pm
Has thanked: 70 times
Been thanked: 179 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Largos »

I know you said you don't want to use JACK but does it connect with it?
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

"every time I try and use ALSA as a sound device"
What exactly do you do to throw the error and where does it appear?

If the error occurs when you select "ALSA" from the Audio System picklist (Audio device settings in REAPER) are there any other choices available in the picklist?
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

There's pulse (which I can't really use for multiple inputs), dummy audio (which doesn't work), ALSA, and JACK.

I can try and use JACK, but can someone give me an updated command line strip/instructions to install it? The last three times I've tried installing it/making it work, it's taken the whole day and just been a total headache with no results.
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

OK. I've been trying to avoid CRAS https://www.chromium.org/chromium-os/ch ... dio-server
but I now think it's unavoidable.

On the Crouton site I suggested you reinstall Ubuntu with minimal targets. Now I recommend you add the audio target to your Ubuntu chroot.
sudo crouton -t audio -u -n focal

After rebooting (not necessary to unplug/replug the UMC) see if CRAS is available as a Audio System in REAPER; if so select it.

If you need to open alsamixer you should do so from the Chrome OS BASH - not from a Terminal in Ubuntu. The Chrome OS BASH is where you enter the crouton commands.
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

Well I did everything... and it didn't work. I still only have the four as possible audio devices. I can open alsamixer from the terminal in Chrome OS BASH, but I don't know what to do with that.
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

What happens if you select ALSA in REAPER now? Do you get an error?
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

Yep. Still get the error unfortunately.
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

Is JACK installed? If so and you don't want to use it I'd try removing it.
Unanamis
Established Member
Posts: 8
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:57 am

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by Unanamis »

JACK is not currently installed. But at this point, it's looking like I might need to use it.
BobUnderwood
Established Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Thu Jul 01, 2021 7:04 pm
Been thanked: 9 times

Re: How to Make ALSA a Working Audio Device w/ Interface in REAPER

Post by BobUnderwood »

I agree. JACK may be the only way to get it working.
Post Reply