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Software-Audio for Linux?

Posted by Cliff on from the winsoundboards-anyone? dept.

Oscarfish asks: "A pattern I'm seeing in newer PC motherboard chipsets is integrated audio, usually through a software-only solution. I know it's not an option for power users, but do OEMs have any hope of using a soft-audio setup for prebuilt Linux machines? It's usually an AC97 audio codec that's being used, popular in both Intel's i820 (Camino) and Via's Apollo Pro 133A chipsets, often complimented with an AMR (audio-modem riser) slot. What's the driver situation under Linux, and will this ever be of practical use? Unfortunately it seems like an audio version of a Winmodem to me...but aren't there beta Linux drivers for those now?"

1 of 4 comments (clear)

  1. Sound isn't as complicated as a modem. by SwellJoe · · Score: 3
    A sound card in it's most basic sense simply shoots some bits through a Digital to Analog convertor. There is no way this can be done "in software". As long as the method for sending data to these sound interfaces is available, (and even if it's not...a reverse enigineering job should be as easy as they come) there is nothing preventing sound drivers being written.

    If you want 3D and reverb and whatever other shoddy DSP stuff they put into audio cards these days, then it is most likely not a feature built into the hardware. Good riddance, I say. A well written software solution is my preference any day.

    Really, the only problem I foresee with these interfaces is that they might sound really bad. But maybe they'll be Ok. Regardless, if you do audio work you're going to need a proper sound card anyway, not anything that will come by default in a standard desktop PC. These days you can get an 8 channel 24/96 (24 bit 96kHz) board for under a grand. If you need great audio, professional quality is only a few bucks away. If you need sound for Quake ]|[ use your built in audio and enjoy.

    In short, sound cards generally cannot be like "WinModems" because sound cards just aren't that complicated. If our heroes at ALSA can figure out how to talk to the card, it will work just fine.