ArmSoM platform reference preserving the full Rockchip technical source. Verify board, SoC, SDK/BSP, kernel and audio hardware/libraries; no universal board support is claimed. Source results/logs are not ArmSoM tests. No commands or hardware validation performed.
Source V1.0.0 covers Rockchip Linux PulseAudio functionality, driver development and debugging for RK series Linux4.19/Linux5.10. Only a Chinese PDF exists; translations use its original figure. Debian10/11 and PulseAudio versions are the source environment, not current-version recommendations.
1. Linux PulseAudio introduction
PulseAudio (formerly Polypaudio) is a cross-platform network-capable audio service, generally used on Linux and FreeBSD. Further introduction and usage: https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/PulseAudio and https://www.freedesktop.org/wiki/Software/PulseAudio/Documentation/User/Modules/
2. PulseAudio control UI: pavucontrol
pavucontrol selects device inputs/outputs and controls volume and other settings.
3. PulseAudio configuration
3.1 ucm2 configuration
Debian11 with pulseaudio-14.2 uses ucm2. Configuration:
3588/debian/overlay/etc/pulse$ tree
.
├── daemon.conf
└── default.pa
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share$ tree
.
├── alsa
│ └── ucm2
│ ├── README.md
│ ├── rockchip-es8388
│ │ ├── HiFi.conf
│ │ └── rockchip-es8388.conf
│ ├── rockchip-hdmi0
│ │ ├── Hdmi.conf
│ │ └── rockchip-hdmi0.conf
│ ├── rockchip-hdmi1
│ │ ├── Hdmi.conf
│ │ └── rockchip-hdmi1.conf
│ └── ucm.conf
rockchip-hdmi0 configuration:
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share/alsa/ucm2/rockchip-hdmi0$ cat rockchip-hdmi0.conf
Syntax 2
Comment "Rockchip HDMI card"
SectionUseCase."HDMI" {
File "Hdmi.conf"
Comment "HDMI/Display Port 1 Stereo"
}
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share/alsa/ucm2/rockchip-hdmi0$ cat Hdmi.conf
# Usecase for device HDMI0/Display Port stereo playback on rockchip platforms
# For Audio in I2S mode
SectionDevice."HDMI0" {
Comment "HDMI/Display Port 1 Stereo"
Value {
PlaybackPriority 300
PlaybackPCM "hw:${CardId}"
If.1 {
Condition {
Type ControlExists
Control "iface=CARD,name='rockchip-hdmi0 Jack'"
}
True {
JackControl "rockchip-hdmi0 Jack"
}
False {
JackControl "rockchip-hdmi0 Jack"
}
}
}
}
JackControl “rockchip-hdmi0 Jack” is the standard Linux jack-detection mechanism. Corresponding configuration: arch/arm64/boot/dts/rockchip/rk3588-evb.dtsi.
hdmi0_sound: hdmi0-sound {
status = "disabled";
compatible = "rockchip,hdmi";
rockchip,mclk-fs = <128>;
rockchip,card-name = "rockchip-hdmi0";
rockchip,cpu = <&i2s5_8ch>;
rockchip,codec = <&hdmi0>;
rockchip,jack-det;
};
The driver is sound/soc/rockchip/rockchip_hdmi.c. rockchip,jack-det enables Jack support; jack name is rockchip,card-name. The following is the rockchip-es838 configuration (source spelling):
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share/alsa/ucm2/rockchip-es8388$ ls
HiFi.conf rockchip-es8388.conf
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share/alsa/ucm2/rockchip-es8388$ cat rockchip-es8388.conf
Syntax 2
Comment "Rockchip ES8388 card"
SectionUseCase."HiFi" {
File "HiFi.conf"
Comment "Default"
}
~/3588/debian/overlay/usr/share/alsa/ucm2/rockchip-es8388$ cat HiFi.conf
SectionVerb {
Value {
MinBufferLevel "512"
}
EnableSequence [
cset "name='Speaker Switch' off"
cset "name='Headphone Switch' off"
cset "name='Headset Mic Switch' off"
cset "name='Main Mic Switch' off"
cset "name='Speaker Switch' off"
cset "name='Headphone Switch' off"
cset "name='Headset Mic Switch' off"
cset "name='Main Mic Switch' off"
cset "name='PCM Volume' 192"
cset "name='Output 1 Playback Volume' 27"
cset "name='Output 2 Playback Volume' 27"
cset "name='Capture Digital Volume' 192"
cset "name='Left Channel Capture Volume' 3"
cset "name='Right Channel Capture Volume' 3"
cset "name='Left Mixer Left Playback Switch' on"
cset "name='Right Mixer Right Playback Switch' on"
cset "name='Capture Mute' off"
cset "name='Right PGA Mux' DifferentialR"
cset "name='Left PGA Mux' DifferentialL"
]
}
SectionDevice."Speaker" {
Comment "Speaker"
ConflictingDevice [
"Headphones"
]
Value {
PlaybackPriority 100
PlaybackPCM "hw:${CardId}"
}
EnableSequence [
cset "name='Speaker Switch' on"
]
DisableSequence [
cset "name='Speaker Switch' off"
]
}
SectionDevice."Mic" {
Comment "Internal Microphone"
ConflictingDevice [
"Headset"
]
Value {
CapturePriority 100
CapturePCM "hw:${CardId}"
}
EnableSequence [
cset "name='Differential Mux' Line 2"
cset "name='Main Mic Switch' on"
]
DisableSequence [
cset "name='Main Mic Switch' off"
]
}
SectionDevice."Headphones" {
Comment "Headphones"
ConflictingDevice [
"Speaker"
]
Value {
PlaybackPriority 200
PlaybackPCM "hw:${CardId}"
JackControl "Headphone Jack"
JackHWMute "Speaker"
}
EnableSequence [
cset "name='Headphone Switch' on"
]
DisableSequence [
cset "name='Headphone Switch' off"
]
}
SectionDevice."Headset" {
Comment "Headset Microphone"
ConflictingDevice [
"Mic"
]
Value {
CapturePriority 200
CapturePCM "hw:${CardId}"
JackControl "Headset Mic Jack"
JackHWMute "Mic"
}
EnableSequence [
cset "name='Differential Mux' Line 1"
cset "name='Headset Mic Switch' on"
]
DisableSequence [
cset "name='Headset Mic Switch' off"
]
}
Two jacks are configured: “Headphone Jack” detects headphones to select speaker/headphone playback; “Headset Mic Jack” detects the headset microphone to select onboard/headset recording. Corresponding configuration:
es8388_sound: es8388-sound {
status = "okay";
compatible = "rockchip,multicodecs-card";
rockchip,card-name = "rockchip-es8388";
hp-det-gpio = <&gpio1 RK_PD5 GPIO_ACTIVE_LOW>;
io-channels = <&saradc 3>;
io-channel-names = "adc-detect";
keyup-threshold-microvolt = <1800000>;
poll-interval = <100>;
spk-con-gpio = <&gpio1 RK_PD3 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
hp-con-gpio = <&gpio1 RK_PD2 GPIO_ACTIVE_HIGH>;
rockchip,format = "i2s";
rockchip,mclk-fs = <256>;
rockchip,cpu = <&i2s0_8ch>;
rockchip,codec = <&es8388>;
rockchip,audio-routing =
"Headphone", "LOUT1",
"Headphone", "ROUT1",
"Speaker", "LOUT2",
"Speaker", "ROUT2",
"Headphone", "Headphone Power",
"Headphone", "Headphone Power",
"Speaker", "Speaker Power",
"Speaker", "Speaker Power",
"LINPUT1", "Main Mic",
"LINPUT2", "Main Mic",
"RINPUT1", "Headset Mic",
"RINPUT2", "Headset Mic";
pinctrl-names = "default";
pinctrl-0 = <&hp_det>;
play-pause-key {
label = "playpause";
linux,code = <KEY_PLAYPAUSE>;
press-threshold-microvolt = <2000>;
};
};
| Property | Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| hp-det-gpio | phandle | Headphone-detection pin; interrupts detect insertion/removal |
| spk-con-gpio | phandle | Amplifier/speaker control pin |
| hp-con-gpio | phandle | Headphone control pin |
| io-channels | phandle | ADC detection channel for 3-/4-contact headsets and headset buttons |
| poll-interval | int | ADC polling interval, default 100ms |
| keyup-threshold-microvolt | int | ADC button voltage |
| play-pause-key | phandle | Defines play/pause; other buttons may be defined as required |
| rockchip,audio-routing | string | Sound-card routing |
gpio1_d5 low detects headphone insertion; gpio1_d2 enables headphones; gpio1_d3 high enables the speaker. adc3 distinguishes 3-/4-contact headsets and supports the inline play/pause button. Headphone maps to es8388 LROUT1, with Headphone Power controlling gpio1_d2. Speaker maps to LROUT2, with Speaker Power controlling gpio1_d3. LINPUT maps to Main Mic and RINPUT to Headset Mic.
3.2 ucm configuration
Debian10 with pulseaudio-13.99.x uses ucm. Configuration:
alsa$ tree
.
├── ucm
│ ├── rockchip,hdmi
│ │ ├── HDMI.conf
│ │ └── rockchip,hdmi.conf
│ ├── rockchip,rk618-hdmi
│ │ ├── HDMI.conf
│ │ └── rockchip,rk618-hdmi.conf
│ ├── rockchip,rk809-codec
│ │ ├── HiFi.conf
│ │ └── rockchip,rk809-codec.conf
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,hdmi/rockchip,hdmi.conf
SectionUseCase."HDMI" {
File "HDMI.conf"
Comment "Rockchip HDMI/Display Port Stereo."
}
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,hdmi/HDMI.conf
# Use case for devices on rockchip,hdmi card.
SectionDevice."HDMI1" {
Comment "Rockchip HDMI/Display Port Stereo"
EnableSequence [
]
DisableSequence [
]
Value {
PlaybackPCM "hw:rockchiphdmi"
PlaybackChannels "2"
PlaybackPriority "5800"
JackControl "rockchip,hdmi Jack"
}
}
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,rk618-hdmi/rockchip,rk618-hdmi.conf
SectionUseCase."HDMI" {
File "HDMI.conf"
Comment "RK618 HDMI/Display Port Stereo."
}
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,rk618-hdmi/HDMI.conf
# Use case for devices on rockchip,rk618-hdmi card.
SectionDevice."HDMI2" {
Comment "RK618 HDMI/Display Port 2 Stereo"
EnableSequence [
]
DisableSequence [
]
Value {
PlaybackPCM "hw:rockchiprk618hd"
PlaybackChannels "2"
PlaybackPriority "5900"
JackControl "rockchip,rk618-hdmi Jack"
}
}
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,rk809-codec/rockchip,rk809-codec.conf
SectionUseCase."HiFi" {
File "HiFi.conf"
Comment "Play HiFi quality Music."
}
alsa$ cat ucm/rockchip,rk809-codec/HiFi.conf
# Use case for devices on rockchip,rk809-codec card.
SectionVerb {
EnableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
]
DisableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
]
}
SectionDevice."Headphone" {
Comment "Headphones Playback"
EnableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Playback Path' HP"
]
DisableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Playback Path' OFF"
]
Value {
PlaybackPCM "hw:rockchiprk809co"
PlaybackChannels "2"
PlaybackPriority "1"
JackControl "Headphones Jack"
JackHWMute "Speaker"
}
}
SectionDevice."Speaker" {
Comment "Speaker Playback"
EnableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Playback Path' SPK"
]
DisableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Playback Path' OFF"
]
Value {
PlaybackPCM "hw:rockchiprk809co"
PlaybackChannels "2"
PlaybackPriority "2"
}
}
SectionDevice."Headset" {
Comment "Headset Mic"
ConflictingDevice [
"MainMic"
]
EnableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Capture MIC Path' Hands Free Mic"
]
DisableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Capture MIC Path' MIC OFF"
]
Value {
CapturePCM "hw:rockchiprk809co"
CaptureChannels "2"
JackControl "Mic Jack"
JackHWMute "MainMic"
}
}
SectionDevice."MainMic" {
Comment "Main Mic"
ConflictingDevice [
"Headset"
]
EnableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Capture MIC Path' Main Mic"
]
DisableSequence [
cdev "hw:rockchiprk809co"
cset "name='Capture MIC Path' MIC OFF"
]
Value {
CapturePCM "hw:rockchiprk809co"
CaptureChannels "2"
}
}
4. Checking JACK status
Use cat to obtain the card ID, then amixer -c id contents to inspect jack status. Example:
root@linaro-alip:/# cat /proc/asound/cards
0 [rockchipes8388 ]: rockchip-es8388 - rockchip-es8388
rockchip-es8388
1 [rockchiphdmiin ]: rockchip_hdmiin - rockchip,hdmiin
rockchip,hdmiin
2 [rockchiphdmi0 ]: rockchip-hdmi0 - rockchip-hdmi0
rockchip-hdmi0
3 [rockchiphdmi1 ]: rockchip-hdmi1 - rockchip-hdmi1
rockchip-hdmi1
Example: no HDMI0 connection on rockchip-hdmi0:
root@linaro-alip:/# amixer -c 2 contents
numid=2,iface=CARD,name='rockchip-hdmi0 Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=off
Example: the following rockchip-es8388 status indicates both Headphone and Headset Mic are inserted.
root@linaro-alip:/# amixer -c 0 contents
numid=26,iface=CARD,name='Headphone Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on
numid=27,iface=CARD,name='Headset Mic Jack'
; type=BOOLEAN,access=r-------,values=1
: values=on