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Operating Systems => Linux and UNIX => Topic started by: flap on 21 August 2004, 06:24

Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 21 August 2004, 06:24
Does anyone else here use ALSA? And, if so, have you had any problems with it? It refuses to be usable for me.
Title: ALSA
Post by: insomnia on 21 August 2004, 07:09
quote:
Originally posted by flap:
Does anyone else here use ALSA? And, if so, have you had any problems with it? It refuses to be usable for me.


I only had some minor problems using ALSA as a module.
Once it was build in the kernel(default for 2.6) I never had any problems with it.  
(I still prefer OSS for modular use.)

What kind of problems do you mean?

[ August 20, 2004: Message edited by: insomnia ]

Title: ALSA
Post by: WMD on 21 August 2004, 08:46
Slackware 10.0 has ALSA as default.  If you have the hotplug script set to run at bootup, the modules get loaded automatically (provided you have them built).  I have an onboard AC97/Intel i810 card, and it works perfectly with 2.4.26/27 (but no mixing, due to it not having hardware mixing).

What's it doing to you, flap?
Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 21 August 2004, 15:39
Well the first problem, with which I can just about live, is that there's a very noticeable delay in XMMS when seeking. But the thing that's made me ditch it and go back to OSS again (this is the second time I've tried to start using ALSA) is the occasional choppiness of the sound when the system is under heavy load.
This is using an audigy, Slack 10, 2.4.27.
Title: ALSA
Post by: insomnia on 21 August 2004, 18:06
quote:
Originally posted by flap:
But the thing that's made me ditch it and go back to OSS again (this is the second time I've tried to start using ALSA) is the occasional choppiness of the sound when the system is under heavy load.


The 'heavy load' problem is normal.
This is why it's now build-in.
I only recommend ALSA for 2.6.

[ August 21, 2004: Message edited by: insomnia ]

Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 21 August 2004, 18:40
Do you get the delay when seeking in xmms (if you use that)?
Title: ALSA
Post by: insomnia on 22 August 2004, 01:41
quote:
Originally posted by flap:
Do you get the delay when seeking in xmms (if you use that)?


I think that's a Slack problem.
Well, not really...
Slackware just uses more defaults than other distros.
To make ALSA work you need to tune it a little.
Do give Linux 2.6 a try with ALSA.
Unlike others, I don't agree it was a good move to keep 2.4 as default.
ALSA works better than OSS could ever do in 2.6(that is, kernel build-in).
Title: ALSA
Post by: KernelPanic on 22 August 2004, 02:26
quote:
Originally posted by flap:
Do you get the delay when seeking in xmms (if you use that)?


Tried upping the buffer?
Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 22 August 2004, 23:20
Yes, it doesn't make any difference. I'll just stick with OSS while i'm still using 2.4.
Title: ALSA
Post by: mobrien_12 on 26 August 2004, 11:41
Did you install and configure the ALSA output plugin for XMMS?

I've been using ALSA with a Soundblaster Live! value for months with my 2.4 kernel.

[ August 26, 2004: Message edited by: M. O'Brien ]

Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 26 August 2004, 15:10
Well presumably I wouldn't have sound at all idf I didn't have the ALSA plugin. Actually I didn't need to install/configure it separately as it 'worked' (I use the term loosely) out of the box.
Title: ALSA
Post by: mobrien_12 on 27 August 2004, 02:19
quote:
Originally posted by flap:
Well presumably I wouldn't have sound at all idf I didn't have the ALSA plugin. Actually I didn't need to install/configure it separately as it 'worked' (I use the term loosely) out of the box.


No, that is not true.  ALSA has a compatibility layer for OSS.  The OSS output plugin, the ESD output plugin, the aRTS output plugin all use OSS interfaces.  Only the ALSA output plugin will use the naitive ALSA API.  

Unless you have set XMMS to use the ALSA output plugin, you are using a compatibility layer.
Title: ALSA
Post by: flap on 27 August 2004, 02:26
Ok. Well it was set up to use the ALSA player.