USB capture card not recognized on 1 computer

n_spect_r

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I am running 2 computers, both have the same flavor of Mint 20 XFCE. Both are HP, a laptop and a desktop. They do have different software installed. I am trying to capture video with the desktop. I have a Macrosilicon USB HDMI capture device. It works on the laptop, on the desktop it is not recognized. lsusb on the desktop shows the device ID (534d:2109) but no name. On the laptop the name is also shown. Could I be missing a module, and is there a way to determine what driver/module is loaded on the laptop?
 


If you want to find out what module's are being used on the laptop open the terminal and run:

lsmod

To make stereo capture work with Linux you need a very recent kernel that contains an ALSA configuration quirk. Without this the device is detected as a 16 bit 96000 mono capture device. The quirk has been added to the 5.8 kernel and if I understand correctly will also be backported to LTS kernels.


To use a higher version of the kernel in Mint go into your Update Manager and look under kernels.

This article is for the exact capture card you have and how it relates to Ubuntu. Mint is based on Ubuntu so I'm thinking if it's now working on your desktop than yes, you probably need to try kernel 5.8 and if that doesn't work than look for a Linux driver.


Is your laptop newer than your desktop?

Did your usb capture device come with a little book?
 
Thanks for the reply, I searched last night for several hours for some page like the one you linked, thank you. uname -r shows 5.4.0-47 on both machines. My update manager isn't showing any kernel updates. I will look into trying to upgrade to a 5.8 kernel. I think the laptop is a bit newer than the desktop, maybe a year. I got the device from a third party, no box or book.
 
You're welcome.
When I have more time tomorrow I'll look for instructions for a newer kernel for your Mint.
 
Played with this for a while last night, still no luck. The link that refers to the 5.8 kernel is also a raspberry pi, don't know much about that, is it the same Linux? Also the other site has a table showing a driver listing or output, how did he get that? Ran lsmod, can't say that I understand what I'm looking at. It appears the drivers are uvcvideo, and videobuf2_v4l2. As far as I can tell all of these files are on both computers. It's a bit frustrating as both were set up with the same OS from the same flash drive about a week apart. Laptop was first. I don't think it's a hardware thing, the desktop will recognize the device from windows (yuck).
 
Played with this for a while last night, still no luck. The link that refers to the 5.8 kernel is also a raspberry pi, don't know much about that, is it the same Linux? Also the other site has a table showing a driver listing or output, how did he get that? Ran lsmod, can't say that I understand what I'm looking at. It appears the drivers are uvcvideo, and videobuf2_v4l2. As far as I can tell all of these files are on both computers. It's a bit frustrating as both were set up with the same OS from the same flash drive about a week apart. Laptop was first. I don't think it's a hardware thing, the desktop will recognize the device from windows (yuck).
Raspberry pi is a credit card size computer.

If I had to guess the module that your capture card is using is uvcvideo or videobuf2_v412.

Linux is different from Windows so you'll probably need a higher version of the kernel on the desktop.

First open your Update Manager and look up in the right hand corner where is shows File, Edit, etc.
Click on View> Linux Kernels. In the drop down menu you should see "kernels" listed, click on that.
It will give you a warning click ok and it should take you to a listing of your current kernel that is already installed and the newest kernel as well.

If you don't have what I have described above than you'll have to follow these instructions to install a new kernel.


I don't think it's a hardware issue either. I just think that your capture card is newer than your hardware on your motherboard and needs a higher version of the kernel to work. If a higher version of the kernel doesn't help your capture card to work than you'll have to search for a Linux driver for your exact capture card.
 
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Run this command and tell me what is the kernel at the very top of the output?
inxi -Fxz
 
Played with this Friday for awhile. Noted that my laptop has USB 3.0 and desktop did not. Added a PCIe 3.0 card, didn't help. The kernel on both machines is Kernel: 5.4.0-47-generic x86_64. I don't care if I get audio, the raspberry pi site was referring to mono vs stereo sound. I just need video to work.
 
Played with this Friday for awhile. Noted that my laptop has USB 3.0 and desktop did not. Added a PCIe 3.0 card, didn't help. The kernel on both machines is Kernel: 5.4.0-47-generic x86_64. I don't care if I get audio, the raspberry pi site was referring to mono vs stereo sound. I just need video to work.

Please, open your 'Update Manager' and Go to View> Linux Kernels

What is the highest kernel listed in your Update Manager?
 
After all that I've read about your situation and the capture card that you have you need kernel 5.8.
Now if a higher version of the kernel doesn't help than I honestly don't know what else you could try.
This is where my knowledge and experience with Linux ends.



Here's the instructions for kernel 5.8.


Kernel 5.8.9 is listed here:
 
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New kernel did not have any effect. I'm thinking maybe I could write a udev rule.
 
New kernel did not have any effect. I'm thinking maybe I could write a udev rule.
Sorry to hear that a new kernel did not help.

I looked online and could not find a driver for your capture card.

How involved is writing a udev rule for a device?
 
I don't know much about udev rules, I just know that I had to write a rule for my Linuxcnc machine in order to use the Shuttle Express control.
 
Very weird, I have this as well, worked for months on my laptop, suddenly doesn't work anymore since kernel updates.
 
Very weird, I have this as well, worked for months on my laptop, suddenly doesn't work anymore since kernel updates.
If it stopped working after a kernel update that tells me that the kernel before only had support for the device.

Sounds and looks like the newer kernel doesn't have support for that capture card.

What kernel were you running before the kernel update?
 
I don't know much about udev rules, I just know that I had to write a rule for my Linuxcnc machine in order to use the Shuttle Express control.
I've never had to write a udev rule for a usb device so I know as much as you. lol

Once you know the rules it seems pretty straight forward.

What I'd really like to know is what is it that your laptop has that your desktop doesn't have to work with the capture card?

And if it's not a kernel support issue than is it a missing driver or library?
(thinking outloud)
 

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