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Linux Audio Development

Posted by Hemos on from the building-it-all-out dept.

JulesVD writes "There is an article from Linux Journal about the latest plans for Linux audio functionality from the first developer's conference in Germany. Developers from more than a dozen countries attended this successful conference, representing organizations such as SuSE, Linux Audio Systems, Stanford University, IRCAM and Centro Tempo Reale. Topic discussions included in-depth presentations of the rapidly evolving Linux sound system, a look at the details of programming for professional audio standards and a survey of recent applications and audio-centric Linux distributions." Mmm...interesting reading (blantant plug for cool program), but I think the most important question is will it make Scrubby happy?

5 of 184 comments (clear)

  1. the drivers need to work. period. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Anything less than complete parity with Windows drivers FEATURE FOR FEATURE is unacceptable. Linux is STILL not there.

    I installed Windows XP after 9 years of running Linux (various distros) because I was tired of only being able to use half the features of my hardware.

    1. Re:the drivers need to work. period. by QuackQuack · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I get around this problem by buying only well supported hardware.

      But what's really annoying is when features aren't supported on Linux for non-technical reasons. For example, Matrox has written Linux drivers for their graphics cards, but the Linux drivers don't support TV-out. Why?

      It's apparently because Linux doesn't have Macrovision support, and I guess Matrox doesn't want to be sued by the MPAA for releasing drivers that "enable piracy". So Linux users can't have a feature that has many legitimate uses, just because someone might tape a DVD onto a VHS tape with it.

      --
      By reading this sig, you agree to the terms of my sig license.
  2. Drivers? by Drathus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Isn't the largest issue with any support on Linux still the fact that very few companies are willing to put in the time to create Linux drivers let alone have have the decency to release the information on the chipsets to the public to allow 3rd party drivers to be created?

    Maybe what should be looked into is the creation of a vested interest just to deal with sound card companies and try and negotiate accessability to chipset information to create drivers for their cards for other OSes than they're willing to develop for in-house.

  3. After dealing with Linux sound for 3 years..... by mao+che+minh · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Topic discussions included in-depth presentations of the rapidly evolving Linux sound system..."

    I hope so. After working with Linux for three years I have come to expect little in terms of audio. Hell, I was taken completely by suprise when the Redhat 8.0 install actually had a "play sample sound" button. It was like first time I witnessed scaling effects on the SNES. Inspiring.

  4. Mixing... by ElGuapoGolf · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I may be wrong, but whatever. It seems to me that Linux *really* needs a decent stream mixer.

    I hate not being able to play more than 2 sounds at once (and that's only because that's supported in hardware by my card, my old card could only play 1). Neither esd (does anyone use this anymore) or artsd cut it. They're too laggy to be usable for games, and in order to increase their response time, you have to increase their priority, thus slowing everything else down.

    Say what you want about Windows, but at least it gets this right.

    So, anyone know a soundcard that will let me play mutiple streams WITHOUT having to use esd/artsd, and is decently well supported under Linux? Anyone? BTW, can we keep it under $100 (USD) if possible?