A Sound Server For X

An anonymous reader writes "X.org, the organization that governs the evolution of the X11R6 specifications, has released a sound server for X, called MAS. According to their site: 'MAS integrates with a compatible X11 server on your desktop. It processes graphic information locally, alleviating the need for network transmission of uncompressed graphical content. Graphic events are easily synchronized with audio events for professional-quality multimedia and accessibility-enabled applications.'" The X.org site describes MAS as an "affiliated technology" rather than "official," but it is released under the same license. "MAS" stands for "Media Application Server," and it's developed by Shiman Associates.

Comments

I'll have to see the bandwidth tests first.

[FreeLinux]

It processes graphic information locally, alleviating the need for network transmission of uncompressed graphical content.

Since it relies on X11 I suspect the bandwidth requirements are going to be really high. X11 over the network is a bandwidth hog, that's all there is to it. Now they're adding sound?

X11 needs a new protocol. Graphical applications run across the network consume ridiculous amounts of bandwidth. If you want to do a test try running the XMMS gui across the network via X11. The last time I did it, XMMS was using 11 megabits per second. It would really suck to try that over a modem or a 64K frame-relay link.

Re:I'll have to see the bandwidth tests first.

[aardvarkjoe]

Your problem is that you're trying to use a program that relies on eye-candy over the network. (At least, I think that's the idea. I can't imagine any other reason for the incredibly bizarre interface of XMMS.) Of course it's going to be slow without a fast link. How is a "new protocol" going to help?

This will essentially be the same as streaming audio from the network. (You might be able to cache some sounds locally, for improvement, but for playing music or whatever that's probably not much of an option.) No, the modem users probably won't find this useful. But those of us with a fast connection to the other computer can benefit greatly.

Re:Virtual Environments - Network Monitors

[Greedo]

You're talking about Peep, right?