Sound Server vs. Other Solutions?

[thully at umich.edu]

I do know esd has a function to release /dev/dsp after a set amount of time -
could this be used?  Also, for some reason libesd0 is used instead of
libesd-alsa0 - why is this (since Ubuntu uses ALSA).
Quoting Jerry Haltom <wasabi at larvalstage.net>:

> That was pretty slick, my 2 conditions. I meant 3 of course.
>
> On Wed, 2004-12-15 at 19:16 -0600, Jerry Haltom wrote:
> > The need for a sound server will always be present as two conditions
> > hold true:
> >
> > 1) All supported hardware is not multichannel.
> > 2) Multiple software wants to play sounds at the same time.
> > 3) Alsa doesn't do in-kernel mixing.
> >
> > As of right now, all those conditions exist. Because of this, a sound
> > server is necessary.
> >
> > Most Gnome applications are programed to use the sound server in order
> > to mix their audio. While this sound server is running it is using the 1
> > audio channel mentioned above. When other non-ESD software comes along
> > and decides not to use the provided sound server, and breaks because of
> > it... what can we do? Reprogram that software? Tell the user to disable
> > the sound server? Yeah, those are pretty much the options.
> >
> > One obvious solution would be for ESD to shut itself off when it's not
> > being used. This solution ignores the fact that audio needs to play when
> > commanded to, and the startup time will introduce a delay in the audio.
> > Bad.
> >
> > On a brighter note, a replacement for ESD is being considered:
> > polypaudio. It is ESD compatible. It probably won't solve your problems
> > though.
> >
> > What do you suggest be done about this?
> >
> > The real solution is to introduce a common audio API that uses a server
> > when and only when it is required. This API is most likely GStreamer. If
> > somebody would go and fix all these "unsupported" applications to use
> > GStreamer, the world would be a much happier place. ;)
> >
> > On Wed, 2004-12-15 at 19:51 -0500, thully at umich.edu wrote:
> > > I realize that Ubuntu uses the GNOME sound server to allow multiple
> programs
> > > to use the sound device at once.  However, this does have problems with
> many
> > > programs not in the main distribution.  Yes, I realize these are
> unsupported,
> > > but
> > > many people use them and want to be able to use them.  Is it possible for
> an
> > > alternate solution, which doesn't interfere with third party programs as
> much,
> > > to be used in Hoary?  I know of dmixer and some other similar things that
> allow
> > > multiple sounds, why not use something like this which is compatible with
> more
> > > applications?
> > >
> > >
> > --
> > Jerry Haltom <wasabi at larvalstage.net>
> >
> >
> --
> Jerry Haltom <wasabi at larvalstage.net>
>
>
>
>