Topic: C-Media USB Driver CM106 CM6206 annoyances-Fixes (a closer look)

[Alfa Romeo]

Hi everyone!

Just thought I would pass along my findings/fixes on this C-MEDIA USB DAC annoyances..

Problems:
I has serious beam left on issues that flat out pissed me off!! contacted hyena and drlava, we tried a couple things, still not fixed.

When I hot plugged in the usb dac, the dam thing wuld not go back to the settings i had (8CH) before i unplugged it. It initialized at 2ch mode!! which meant the remaining uninitialized outputs were at +5v not zero. Beams on when you hot plugged!!

While looking into this, I also discovered how to eliminate the redirected output on ch 7 and 8.

BOTTOM LINE ---- C-Media Driver and settings!!

Here is my fix, please double check/comment on this....

1. Beam left on issues:
Fixed with a simple driver change. use Audio Driver Version v5.12.08.1803 (Lib v76.2)
not a single beam left on issue, for version driver.

2. Hot Plugging:
Tell the driver its only an 8 channel version!!!! dump 2,4,6,Head Phone channels in the cm106.ini file during install. Then when the DAC initializes it only has one choice, 8CH!!

3. Redirected Output on Channels 7,8:
Turn it off in cm106.ini file during install


Details:

here is my contents of the file cm106.ini (you must create this file) located in the install folder:
\XP\Driver\INI\cm106.ini

:START
; Copyright 1999-2007, C-Media Inc.
; C-MEDIA USB Audio Device.

[VERSION]
CMEDIA=120

[CMEDIA]
PCI\VEN_0D8C&DEV_0006&SUBSYS_00000000 = WDM_CMUDAUDEF
PCI\VEN_0D8C&DEV_0102&SUBSYS_00000000 = WDM_CMUDAUDEF
PCI\VEN_1B80&DEV_D715&SUBSYS_00000000 = WDM_CMUDAUDEF
PCI\VEN_152A&DEV_8040&SUBSYS_00000000 = WDM_CMUDAUDEF
PCI\VEN_0D7D&DEV_AC01&SUBSYS_00000000 = WDM_CMUDAUDEF

[WDM_CMUDAUDEF]
DisableSpdifOut       =0x00000001
DisableSpdifIn        =0x00000001
DisableLineIn         =0x00000001
DisableRecord         =0x00000001
KaraokeSupport        =0x00000000
MagicVoiceSupport     =0x00000000
DisableCommSpk        =0x3F
DisableXearSpk        =0x3F
SpeakerConfig         =0x00000007

[OtherSetting]
EnableXear3D          =0x00000000
HideBassEnhance       =0x00000001
SendSurroundToBackIn6ChannelMode = 0x00000000
;END FILE



Some more detailed info:

Setting 0x3F will show only 1 choice, 8CH. 0x37 shows 6 and 8 channel choices
Setting 0x00000007 will set mode to 8CH. setting to 0x00000006 sets mode to 6CH.
DisableCommSpk        =0x3F
DisableXearSpk        =0x3F
SpeakerConfig         =0x00000007

Setting the output redirect to 0, should shutdown the ch7,8 issue. need this checked to see if it does what it says! or is it a 6CH not 8CH issue.
SendSurroundToBackIn6ChannelMode = 0x00000000

Other settings i just put in there to shut down some unused features.
FYI do a search for cm106.ini on the web for more detailed info


Basic procedure:

1. unplug usb DAC
2. uninstall software from add/remove software in control panel
3. reboot
4. plug in usb dac
5. install new driver after you add the cm106.ini file you created from above example, to the \XP\Driver\INI folder
6. reboot
7. check that settings are OK in the audio control panel
8. that's it.


Reference posts:     

USB DAC WARNING !!! 
(hot Plugging)   
http://akrobiz.com/laserboy/forum/index.php/topic,105.0.html

8 channel DAC MUST READ !!! 
(output on channels 7,8 and it might leave some of the colors on) 
http://akrobiz.com/laserboy/forum/index.php/topic,115.0.html

Additional info:

Note this, that Driver version v6.xx does not exist!! why would they label it as such!! v6.xx is really v5.xx after checking cm106.sys files.

Do not believe the cm106.inf file for version number, check cm106.sys. But finally check audio control panel!!

CM106 v6.12.8.2111 (v5.12.8.2111) is the problem drivers version

CM106_L_v5.12.08.0628 is actually v5.12.08.1803, This is the one we want!!!

The cm106.ini has many more settings available. IE: output level settings

Out of box this cm106.ini file for xp driver does not exist in the \XP\Driver\INI folder.



I am sure there is more/corrections to add to this. Pls feel free..
hope this helps someone (by letting their hair grow back!)
comments?

Pat Allen

[drlava]

Pat, thank you for putting effort into this and digging up a solution!  We all appreciate it greatly.  After doing this, does the wav volume level also stay at the 100% level after hot plugging and/or rebooting?

[Alfa Romeo]

Thanks,
I have not seen the wav or master change in the past or knew it was an issue.
Confirmed: hot plugged just tested. The levels (wav,master) in mixer cp at max still.
reboot without usb plugged in. then hot plugged in,  shows no change in volume for main or wav.


pat allen

[meandean]

  Thanks for taking such an interest in this subject, Pat! It's too bad that C-Media has nothing to offer on this product on their own website; it's as if the thing doesn't even exist (perhaps I should learn Japanese). Had you tried using it in Vista 32bit?

[Alfa Romeo]

So far i have tried it on 32bit xp pro and home.  I have 64bit vista and 64bit xp pro but have not tried yet. I am setting up 32 bit windows 7 now to see what it does.

pat allen

[James]

It sound like you went to no small effort to figure all of this out.

Thanks!

This pretty much takes all of the guesswork out of using a C-Media DAC!

James. 

[meandean]

 I think you'll like Win7, I'm running the 32bit rev on one of my machines; it comes with a plain driver for the USB card that does not include the hi-end 3D soundfield controller app (it actually appears to behave like a simple dumb DAC!), and its Media Player can play 6 & 8 ch wave just fine. Oh, and let's not forget that the computer itself runs good, too.

[Agent C]

Since I'm moving over to windows and using EzAudDac, I would like to know where to download the correct version of the cm106 driver.

Happy Thanksgiving!

~C

ps> When calling EzAudDacWriteFrame, it's important to remember that the pps parameter should be 48000, not 48

[James]

Take a look here:

http://hacylon.case.edu/laser/LaserBoy/

I'm not sure how fresh these are, but there's one for the CM106L and one for the CM6206.

48 samples per second would make for a very laid-back show.

James. 

[James]

What's the word on the C-Media DAC driver in Windows 7 - 64bit ?

James. 

[no-esc]

I got a shiny new Soundcard DAC with a Correction Amp from james yesterday and I cannot get it recognized correctly on my laptop running windows 7 64bit.


Anyone have any hints as to

-A new or old driver file that works?
-Do I not load any driver at all and see if windows 7 will recognize it?

I will try uninstalling the drivers and just pluggin it in...

Hoping someone out there has run into this already.

thanks

len

[James]

Try this:

(ASOUND USB 7.1CH driver for XP, Vista, Windows 7  QFC - 106540)

http://www.asound.com/download/CM6206-Driver-090514.rar

And let us all know how it goes! 

James. 

[no-esc]

Ok I can select the icon for the 7.1 now and it will open volume control.  I can select configure to 7.1 but I do not have individual speaker volume control anywhere.

[BlinkenLights]

screenshots might help us help u

[no-esc]

When I select the ICON for the Soundcard the select open... it never opens and computer locks up.