YAAP - Alsa OSS is killing me too

axelmasok · Apprentice Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 171

Now someone give it to me straight. I want answers from those who have actually spent half their lives fighting Alsa/OSS.
I have used Linux for about 10 years now, Windows-less for 3.
We all know that Linux can't do the simple stuff like play audio for the ordinary user which Windows 95 did better 11 years ago and OSX can do straight outta the box.
Like thousands of others I use software like Thunderbird(notification)/amarok/kphone/kopete(notifications)/kplayer and occasionally Skype.
I'll tell you you now that I like many others have to start and stop these to use them as most of them can't use the audio devices I have at the same time. I know your nodding at me. Most of us know alsa/arts/gstreamer/jack/oss/esound. All of the above use combinations of these. I have had enough. I have a Via ac97 onboard sound device and a USB headset.

- Is it possible to actually get to the stage where all of these programs can co-exist at the same time without fighting with the sound device?
- What is it going to take to get anywhere near the target above?
- Is anyone going to actually make an effort to write or point to a complete howto to get to the target above? The Gentoo Howto/Wiki just doesn't cut it.

If I ever get reach this impossible target I swear I'll document it for all to see once and for all. No more random asoundrc files damn it!

Headrush · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 2:51 am Post subject:

Follow this: http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml

then this: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_ALSA_simple

done.

Or for a complete guide and more: http://gentoo-wiki.com/HOWTO_ALSA_sound_mixer_aka_dmix

axelmasok · Apprentice Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 171

Headrush · Posted: Wed Mar 15, 2006 3:32 am Post subject:

axelmasok · Apprentice Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 171

scorpion7700 · n00b Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 39 Location: USA

I have an Intel "High Definition Audio Controller" in my notebook

Headrush · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 3:19 am Post subject:

BitKeeper · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 5:53 am Post subject:

The ALSA homepage has info on the support of different sound cards.

http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/

You can check your sound card here to see what alsa can do with it.

BK

scorpion7700 · n00b Joined: 27 Dec 2005 Posts: 39 Location: USA

I just got it working on my machine. Thanks!

lopoetve · n00b Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 9

I hate to say it, but I'm with axel on this one...

ALSA configuration is a real PITA, especially on Gentoo. If I need sound, sadly, since the last few versions of alsa+gentoo, I install SuSE (or compile OSS and live with the limitations)

I've not been able to get ALSA and gentoo working for 6 months (with an Audigy2 ZS)... either built into the kernel (last time I tried this I ended up with an unbootable kernel), with the alsa drivers provided (just doesn't work), or with the alsa-driver package.

Hell, I've even tried downloading and installing the drivers straight from alsa-project.org, which is what ~used~ to get them working (circa a year ago or so), and that doesn't work.
_________________
why can't it just work?

Headrush · Posted: Sun Mar 19, 2006 2:06 am Post subject:

axelmasok · Apprentice Joined: 08 Oct 2003 Posts: 171

Well, here is some stuff I have found out. I have not acheived what I set out to do - still. I don't think anyone has.

Most of the good stuff lives here:
http://www.alsa-project.org/alsa-doc/doc-php/asoundrc.php

Alsa devices:
hw0:0 - 1st direct device. If you can't play more than 1 stream to this you have no hardware mixing
plughw0:0 - No idea but works like the above
dmix - the software mixing device that has been automagically setup without the need for those howtos.

So, if you point all the alsa players to the device "dmix" you might be fortunate enough to mix some audio.
Speaking of devices, there is no real way to query your system to find out what your devices are really called (well i can't find it). How good's that?
If you want to mix OSS audio then too bad, you have to read another 100 pages of howtos.
If your wondering how gstreamer and its alsasink fits in here then please tell my too. All I can work out is tell alsasink to use "dmix" too and if your lucky it will work. Same goes for xine engines etc etc.
Why can't all apps be created to use the alsa hw0 or dmix device? Who knows.
Why doesn't the Mozilla applications make use of alsa properly or at all instead of using esd? Can't help you there.
Why would the evil soundserver artsd claim to support alsa devices but not work with dmix? Haha no idea. And why would anyone seriosly have to go to the trouble of working around this by making arts use esd that then uses the alsa dmix plugin device? Say that 10 times fast.
The SIP client kphone does not support dmix and neither does it support multiple alsa devices correctly due to some wierd bugs.

Anyway, here is my config file if anyone is interested:

zsitvaij · n00b Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 74

I have no problems at all. ALSA 1.0.10. Here are a few helpful tips:
1. Without any interference, most apps will figure out to use the default device, which is, suprise, surpise, the dmix:0 one.
2. Those that don't are easily worked around:
a. mplayer: add this line in your .mplayer/config: ao=alsa:device=dmix=0
b. using gstreamer in amarok needs plug:dmix:0 as the device. But I think it defaults to that without any hassle.
c. to use artsd in full duplex mode without it hogging the device, you can tell it to use the device duplex0, if you adapt the .asoundrc below:

lopoetve · n00b Joined: 10 Feb 2005 Posts: 9

CyD · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 23 Jul 2004 Posts: 117

axelmosk, in case you're still watching, i'll note that every via onboard chipset i've worked with has a hardware mixer. The only documentation needed to properly set up sound in gentoo is the official gentoo alsa docs. please use that as reference while reading the following:

first, sync and download new kernel: