Skip to main content

Notice

Please note that most of the software linked on this forum is likely to be safe to use. If you are unsure, feel free to ask in the relevant topics, or send a private message to an administrator or moderator. To help curb the problems of false positives, or in the event that you do find actual malware, you can contribute through the article linked here.
Topic: [Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet (Read 131873 times) previous topic - next topic
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

If you want the USB audio enabled on any Android 4.0 device via official firmware/kernel, please vote (aka star) here:
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/detail?id=24614

Star: Vote by clicking on the star



According to Android 3.1 specifications, Android 4.0 devices could support the USB audio feature, i.e. Android 4.0 devices and USB_CLASS_AUDIO compliant devices like standard USB DAC could interoperate:
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/usb/index.html
http://developer.android.com/reference/and...bConstants.html

USB_CLASS_AUDIO compliant devices like standard USB DAC don’t need a special USB device driver.  Instead, they use an operating system standard driver. 
The Android standard USB audio driver is the generic USB Audio Driver for ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture).
And the latest Android 4.0 includes “card.c“, the USB Audio Driver for ALSA which should be compliant with USB audio class 2 devices allowing for 24 bits / 192 kHz.
https://bitbucket.org/paulobrien/android_ke...ound/usb/card.c



Android relies on Linux version 2.6 for core system services such as security, memory management, process management, network stack, and driver model. The Linux kernel also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and the rest of the software stack.
Thus Android handles all the things that Linux is really good at such as a vast array of device drivers, which take the pain out of interfacing to peripheral hardware.


The official Android with USB audio enabled should be used by most people, who don’t want to mod their device.

Android kernel modders have already enabled the USB audio feature on Nook Color tablets which are powered by Android 2.3 Gingerbread.
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #1
All it takes is a custom kernel to enable USB audio. I have a Motorola Atrix. I can, in theory, do this, but I haven't bothered yet. It's not well-supported in software either.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #2
I think we should just ignore the second half of this post because I'd still really like to see this enabled by default on all Android devices in the next release.  I've gone and starred that task, and encourage anyone else who'd be interested in using Android (or rockbox on android  ) as a media platform to do the same.  Its a really useful feature and its silly that Google overlooked this in Android 4.0.  It should be available to everyone, not just people who feel like hacking the linux kernel on Android.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #3
What is the point of that? I don't get it, what would it do?
Error 404; signature server not available.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #4
It would let you plug any Android phone into the USB port of any USB audio compliant DAC, car stereo, receiver, etc. and play audio over the speakers while charging the device without need for an AUX jack and cable.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #5
Oh, I thought it already can do that. My mistake.
Error 404; signature server not available.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #6
Oh, I thought it already can do that. My mistake.


Yeah, its kind of ridiculous, but right now almost no Android devices can do this.

 

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #7
First post is kind of spammy (googled for specific phrases, many forum posts come up). So probably the OP isn't coming back.

It would let you plug any Android phone into the USB port of any USB audio compliant DAC, car stereo, receiver, etc. and play audio over the speakers while charging the device without need for an AUX jack and cable.

Does USB power go both ways? Cause in this case, shouldn't the Android device be powering the DAC/speakers?

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #8
Does USB power go both ways? Cause in this case, shouldn't the Android device be powering the DAC/speakers?


I doubt the phone can provide any power.  It probably negotiates such that the external device is powering the bus.  IIRC this wasn't permitted in the original USB spec, but was added a few years back in one of the USB OTG or USB charger specifications. 

That said, I'm not USB expert, so please don't quote me as an authority.   

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #9
Actually, google turns up some people using USB > SD adapters with Android phones, so perhaps they can provide the minimum level (IIRC 100 mA?).

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #10
I think iPads can power USB speakers and headphones.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #11
I think iPads can power USB speakers and headphones.


By default an ipod accessory gets 5mA at 3.3v, but it can request that the ipod provide up to 100 mA at 3.3v provided it authenticates with the ipod's encryption chip.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #12
What I'd like to know:

Is it necessary for the phone to support USB host to achieve this?
AFAIK USB_CLASS_AUDIO as source is possible with both host and device configurations.

Does anyone know how common USB DAC's behave in this respect?
The request remains rather unspecific in terms of technical details.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #13
You are new here. Please re-read our Terms of Service, paying attention to point 8. You have violated it repeatedly in your first post.

Please read again, I use conditional sentences.

Firstly, I want to gather a maximum of votes to request Google and therefore Android device manufacturers to support and enable USB audio.

Secondly, as Android modders are trying to enable the USB audio on the Galaxy Nexus smartphone, I take this opportunity to push them to explore the OS audio tweaked theory mentioned on Assylum. 
The second part of my first post is aimed to collect these “tweaked” parameters.
It won’t harm to try and test.

Anyway, I am willing to remove the second part of my first post.
How can I remove it?
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #14
I think we should just ignore the second half of this post because I'd still really like to see this enabled by default on all Android devices in the next release.  I've gone and starred that task, and encourage anyone else who'd be interested in using Android (or rockbox on android  ) as a media platform to do the same.  Its a really useful feature and its silly that Google overlooked this in Android 4.0.  It should be available to everyone, not just people who feel like hacking the linux kernel on Android.

Thanks!

The USB audio request is currently ranked 50, and there are 17542 requests.
In fact, it is ranked in top 10 among one-year-old requests.


According to Android specifications, USB audio is included in Android 3.1 or newer platforms.
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/usb/index.html
http://developer.android.com/reference/and...bConstants.html

It is up to Google for its reference Nexus devices and the other Android device manufacturers to support or enable the USB audio feature on their devices.

Example: The Android 3.2 powered Archos G9 tablet interworks with a USB DAC/amp FiiO E17
http://www.jbmm.fr/2012/01/utiliser-le-dac...vec-son-archos/ http://www.archos.com/products/gen9/archos...=us&lang=en http://update.archos.com/9/gen9/changes_fi...ndroid_gen9.htm

"Version 3.2.22 - September 2nd, 2011": no USB audio support!
"Initial Honeycomb 3.2 firmware release

Version 3.2.77 - December 6th, 2011
Accessories: external USB audio cards (DAC) support has been added"



Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #15
What I'd like to know:

Is it necessary for the phone to support USB host to achieve this?
AFAIK USB_CLASS_AUDIO as source is possible with both host and device configurations.

Does anyone know how common USB DAC's behave in this respect?
The request remains rather unspecific in terms of technical details.

As far as I understand, almost all current USB DAC (which are compliant with PC, Mac and hopefully Android smartphones/tablets with USB audio enabled) act as USB devices, while PC act as USB hosts.

Some rare USB DAC, which are compliant with iPods/iPhones/iPads, are USB hosts, while iPods/iPhones/iPads are USB devices.





And these USB DAC have to include also an Apple authentication coprocessor.
http://www.xmos.com/products/development-kits/ipod-dock

However, an iPad can connect to a common USB DAC via an Apple Camera Connection Kit which switches the iPad into USB host mode.
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #16
You are new here. Please re-read our Terms of Service, paying attention to point 8. You have violated it repeatedly in your first post.

Please read again, I use conditional sentences.


Yes, but you're still bullshitting us.  The problem isn't the way you said it, its that what you said is ignorant.  The reason we have rules against this is to keep people from coming in and throwing out a bunch of nonsense about jitter without understanding what they are saying. 

Firstly, I want to gather a maximum of votes to request Google and therefore Android device manufacturers to support and enable USB audio.


The way to do that isn't to imply that the uses of these changes involve a lot of ignorant nonsense.  Thats going to convince people that these things aren't useful to informed people. 

Which isn't true!    Anyone who thinks OS scheduling impacts audio quality is an absolute idiot, and no one who knows what jitter is cares about it on a cell phone.  Instead of those imaginary reasons dreamed up by some fool you found on the internet, this stuff is useful because it will allow using Android devices with all kinds of other electronics.  Stereos, external DACs, digital headphone amps, etc.  Those are real advantages and a great reason for everyone here to support this.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #17
Anyway, I am willing to remove the second part of my first post.
How can I remove it?
You don't. Edits are disabled after a period here, due to abuse. I've removed the objectionable content for you, so we can continue to focus on the good parts of your post.

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #18
Thank you!
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #19
Instructions for enabling USB audio on Ainol Novo 7 Advanced Allwinner tablet:
http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/29289-usb-...ivers-and-libs/


The official USB audio request is currently ranked 26 of 17969.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/de...Summary%20Stars

In fact, it is ranked in top 3 of less than one-year-old requests.

Vote: Click on the star

Thank you for your votes!
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #20
"[64GB + 64GB] #GalaxySIII includes an USB driver named "snd-usb-audio" [ALSA USB audio driver]. Only testing will tell if it means USB DAC are supported out of the box." [Supercurio]
https://twitter.com/#!/supercurio/statu...218860128780289


The Google issue "Enable USB audio", requesting Google to standardize USB audio on Android smartphones/tablets, is currently ranked 12 of 21,436.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/de...Summary%20Stars

It is ranked in top 2 of less than one-year-old requests.

Vote: Click on the star (it appears after signing in)
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #21
USB audio is enabled on Texas Instruments Blaze tablet, which is targeted at developers.
http://omappedia.org/wiki/USB_on_Blaze_Tablet_with_ICS
http://www.svtronics.com/products/5-blaze-...opment-platform

"The two HS USB ports are the standard High Speed Host ports and are used for connecting devices like Mouse, Keyboard, USB stick, Camera, USB audio Headset/speakers etc. Also, many customers use the EHCI interface for Modem Connection. If you connect a camera to this port, you can browse the pics on the SD card in camera in the gallery using the PTP daemon in ICS. Also, you can connect USB Headset or speakers and play audio over USB."

"On Blaze if you plug in a USB audio device, all audio will be routed to the device."
http://music.columbia.edu/pipermail/andrau...ril/000614.html


The Google issue "Enable USB audio", requesting Google to standardize USB audio on Android smartphones/tablets, is currently ranked 11 of 22,586.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/de...Summary%20Stars

Vote: Click on the star (it appears after signing in)
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #22
Quote
"[64GB + 64GB] #GalaxySIII includes an USB driver named "snd-usb-audio" [ALSA USB audio driver]. Only testing will tell if it means USB DAC are supported out of the box." [Supercurio]
https://twitter.com/#!/supercurio/statu...218860128780289


"The Samsung Galaxy S III: AndroidNZ goes hands-on, brings you our thoughts and exclusive details
...and what about those USB audio drivers?

Anyone with a passing familiarity with me will know this was one of the questions I most wanted an answer to. You see Supercurio was able to ascertain that USB audio drivers are present on the S3, only there was no way for him to know whether they work out of the box.

Sadly it seems they do not.
To my great disappointment there was no audio output on connecting my FiiO E17 USB DAC and headphone amplifier. I guess we'll just have to keep waiting for some enterprising developer to make use of those orphaned drivers that are just sitting there on the S3..."
http://www.androidnz.net/2012/05/samsung-g...oidnz-goes.html


The Google request "Enable USB Audio" has reached the Top 10 of the Google issue rankings.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/de...Summary%20Stars

Vote: Click on the star (it appears after signing in)
Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #23
Like the overwhelming majority of factory or stock Android devices, with the exception of the Archos G9 tablet and the developer-targeted Texas Instruments Blaze tablet, the factory Linux-powered Logitech Squeezebox Touch does not support USB DACs.

The USB audio is enabled manually on Squeezebox Touch.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net.au/index...queezebox-touch

The latest method uses an applet which allows a custom kernel to be installed and provides menus to select the audio output device.
This custom kernel can support 24-bit/192KHz USB DACs. It can also support asynchronous USB DACs.
http://www.digitalaudioreview.net.au/index...queezebox-touch
http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.p...ity-impressions

The Google request "Enable USB Audio" has reached the Top 9 of the Google issue rankings.
http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/li...amp;sort=-stars

Android & standard USB audio: It’s up to us!

[Tell Google to] Enable USB audio on any Android 4.0 smartphone/tablet

Reply #24
What, the Archos G9 has the USB audio enabled? Wow, looks like is finally the time to ditch my GTablet...