Sennheiser GSX 1000/1200 on Linux

sennheiser.md

UPDATE: this is out of date and although it worked for me at the time, there is a better solution to make it work: https://github.com/evilphish/sennheiser-gsx-1000

In order to make the Sennheiser amplifier GSX 1000/1200 work on Linux as a 7.1 device it is needed to change a configuration file of pulseaudio. Execute this command to identify the output sound cards:

aplay -l

This is a sample output

card 1: Audio [GSX 1000 Main Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Audio [GSX 1000 Main Audio], device 1: USB Audio [USB Audio #1]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

To identify the input sound cards:

arecord -l

This is a sample outuput

card 1: Audio [GSX 1000 Main Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

For the playback, subdevice 1/1 is the 7.1 playback device ("Speakers" equivalent on Windows) and the subdevice 0/1 should be the "Headset earphone". Edit /etc/pulse/default.pa, uncomment the lines below and set the correct device:

load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0    # capture device, card 1, subdevice 0
load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,1 channels=8    # playback device, card 1, subdevice 1, 7.1 channels

Information taken from here

Hi thanks for this gist. Have you fixed the problem where the multimedia keys for volume do not change the display volume of GSX 1000 ?

@skibyte Unfortunately no

I cant get this to work @augustocdias
My gsx1000 gets still recognized as mono audio device... do you have a idea what could be the issue?

#Fixxed it, i think your comments behind the line were the issue :D

Is this tweak required for the GSX1000 volume knob to work with PulseAudio's master/default volume or does the knob already work on detection as a 2.0 audio device?

Anyone found a solution to change the volume with the knob? @augustocdias @donjoe0

Also, use 'pulseaudio -k' to reload the default.pa settings without restarting.

So you actually get the benefit of HRTF/etc. on this DAC? If so, I think I'll actually want to buy it. Or is there a way for a Xonar DX to work with some configuration changes in PA/Alsa as well?

Can now confirm. You can fully use it, but pay close attention to the aplay -l output.

I got the Sennheiser amplifier GSX 1000 and had some problems getting surround to work. Turns out alsa will default to device 0 that is mono. I did try hw 3.1 with a error, the fix was to change the number of channel in DMIX to 8. I am now enjoying full surround in headphones. Speaker-test clearly shows that HRTF is fully working in this device. :-D

How can I use my GSX1000 on Linux Mint 19 with 7.1 Sound ?

Karte 1: Audio [GSX 1000 Main Audio], Gerät 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Sub-Geräte: 1/1
Sub-Gerät #0: subdevice #0
Karte 1: Audio [GSX 1000 Main Audio], Gerät 1: USB Audio [USB Audio #1]
Sub-Geräte: 1/1
Sub-Gerät #0: subdevice #0

I change the setting in etc/Pulse to:
#load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0 # capture device, card 1, subdevice 0
#load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,1 channels=8 # playback device, card 1, subdevice 1, 7.1 channels

but nothing change !

Thx

I change the setting in etc/Pulse to:
#load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0 # capture device, card 1, subdevice 0
#load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,1 channels=8 # playback device, card 1, subdevice 1, 7.1 channels

Remove the # before load and remove also everything after the other # include himself
exemple :

load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0 
load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,1 channels=8

It works !!!
Thank you..

Greetings guys, I created a udev / pulseaudio device config version of this and in addition I also got the seperate output for the chat function working. You can basically patch mumble into the second output and control the offset volume in regard to the base volume with the small knob on the right. That version should also be invariant towards sound card changes in your system. Feel free to check it out https://github.com/evilphish/sennheiser-gsx-1000.

Thanks @evilphish works very nice. Your files should be shipped along with pulseaudio.

HI i cant get my to work at all, THis is what the termanal in Ubuntu says, Could you please advise me thank you

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Audio_1 [GSX 1200 Pro Main Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Audio_1 [GSX 1200 Pro Main Audio], device 1: USB Audio [USB Audio #1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Audio [Rift Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC1220 Analog [ALC1220 Analog]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 1: ALC1220 Digital [ALC1220 Digital]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: NVidia [HDA NVidia], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]

The GSX1200 plays on the head phones, but when I click the switch between headphones and speakers the audio drops out completely.
If I turn the volume dial the volume only goes down. Running kubuntu 19.10 with a GSX 1200 as well. Not sure how to translate the aplay -l output to the stanza /etc/pulse/default.pa.
The sections related to the GSX 1200 are:
Output:
card 1: Audio [GSX 1200 Pro Main Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Audio [GSX 1200 Pro Main Audio], device 1: USB Audio [USB Audio #1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
Input:
card 1: Audio [GSX 1200 Pro Main Audio], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

What is currently in my file:
load-module module-alsa-source device=hw:1,0 # capture device, card 1, subdevice 0
load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:1,1 channels=8 # playback device, card 1, subdevice 1, 7.1 channels

@evilphish Mate, your solution is the only one that worked! Thanks for posting that. Ran your shell script, installed pavucontrol and everything works now. The only thing I needed to do even after following your instructions was to set my GSX 1000 Main Audio main output as the fallback device by clicking on the green check next to it in Pulseaudio Volume Control because otherwise it was still redirecting all the sound to my headphones (the chat output).

Edit:
Note to future self - I didn't keep any of the lines described in this original gist, they didn't work no matter what I did.

@evilphish, thank you very much. Your solution is working for me. Very happy you did this!!