| 1 | <?xml version='1.0' encoding="UTF-8"?> |
1 | <?xml version='1.0' encoding="UTF-8"?> |
| 2 | <!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml,v 1.76 2007/04/16 05:39:54 nightmorph Exp $ --> |
2 | <!-- $Header: /var/cvsroot/gentoo/xml/htdocs/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml,v 1.77 2007/05/03 06:21:01 nightmorph Exp $ --> |
| 3 | |
3 | |
| 4 | <!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> |
4 | <!DOCTYPE guide SYSTEM "/dtd/guide.dtd"> |
| 5 | |
5 | |
| 6 | <guide link="/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml"> |
6 | <guide link="/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml"> |
| 7 | <title>Gentoo Linux ALSA Guide</title> |
7 | <title>Gentoo Linux ALSA Guide</title> |
| 8 | |
8 | |
| 9 | <author title="Author"> |
9 | <author title="Author"> |
| 10 | <mail link="fox2mike@gentoo.org">Shyam Mani</mail> |
10 | <mail link="fox2mike@gentoo.org">Shyam Mani</mail> |
| 11 | </author> |
11 | </author> |
| 12 | <author title="Author"> |
12 | <author title="Author"> |
| 13 | <mail link="nightmorph@gentoo.org">Joshua Saddler</mail> |
13 | <mail link="nightmorph@gentoo.org">Joshua Saddler</mail> |
| 14 | </author> |
14 | </author> |
| 15 | <author title="Contributor"> |
15 | <author title="Contributor"> |
| 16 | <mail link="flameeyes@gentoo.org">Diego Pettenò</mail> |
16 | <mail link="flameeyes@gentoo.org">Diego Pettenò</mail> |
| 17 | </author> |
17 | </author> |
| 18 | |
18 | |
| 19 | <abstract> |
19 | <abstract> |
| 20 | This document helps a user setup ALSA on Gentoo Linux. |
20 | This document helps a user setup ALSA on Gentoo Linux. |
| 21 | </abstract> |
21 | </abstract> |
| 22 | |
22 | |
| 23 | <!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license --> |
23 | <!-- The content of this document is licensed under the CC-BY-SA license --> |
| 24 | <!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> |
24 | <!-- See http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5 --> |
| 25 | <license/> |
25 | <license/> |
| 26 | |
26 | |
| 27 | <version>2.19</version> |
27 | <version>2.20</version> |
| 28 | <date>2007-04-15</date> |
28 | <date>2007-05-02</date> |
| 29 | |
29 | |
| 30 | <chapter> |
30 | <chapter> |
| 31 | <title>Introduction</title> |
31 | <title>Introduction</title> |
| 32 | <section> |
32 | <section> |
| 33 | <title>What is ALSA?</title> |
33 | <title>What is ALSA?</title> |
| 34 | <body> |
34 | <body> |
| 35 | |
35 | |
| 36 | <p> |
36 | <p> |
| 37 | ALSA, which stands for <e>Advanced Linux Sound Architecture</e>, provides |
37 | ALSA, which stands for <e>Advanced Linux Sound Architecture</e>, provides |
| 38 | audio and MIDI (<e>Musical Instrument Digital Interface</e>) functionality to |
38 | audio and MIDI (<e>Musical Instrument Digital Interface</e>) functionality to |
| 39 | the Linux operating system. ALSA is the default sound subsystem in the 2.6 |
39 | the Linux operating system. ALSA is the default sound subsystem in the 2.6 |
| 40 | kernel thereby replacing OSS (<e>Open Sound System</e>), which was used in the |
40 | kernel thereby replacing OSS (<e>Open Sound System</e>), which was used in the |
| 41 | 2.4 kernels. |
41 | 2.4 kernels. |
| 42 | </p> |
42 | </p> |
| 43 | |
43 | |
| … | |
… | |
| 70 | <title>Installing ALSA</title> |
70 | <title>Installing ALSA</title> |
| 71 | <section> |
71 | <section> |
| 72 | <title>Options</title> |
72 | <title>Options</title> |
| 73 | <body> |
73 | <body> |
| 74 | |
74 | |
| 75 | <warn> |
75 | <warn> |
| 76 | The methods shown below are mutually exclusive. You cannot have ALSA compiled |
76 | The methods shown below are mutually exclusive. You cannot have ALSA compiled |
| 77 | in your kernel and use <c>media-sound/alsa-driver</c>. It <e>will</e> fail. |
77 | in your kernel and use <c>media-sound/alsa-driver</c>. It <e>will</e> fail. |
| 78 | </warn> |
78 | </warn> |
| 79 | |
79 | |
| 80 | <p> |
80 | <p> |
| 81 | The two options are : |
81 | The two options are : |
| 82 | </p> |
82 | </p> |
| 83 | |
83 | |
| 84 | <ol> |
84 | <ol> |
| 85 | <li>Use ALSA provided by your kernel.</li> |
85 | <li> |
|
|
86 | Use ALSA provided by your kernel. This is the preferred/recommended method. |
|
|
87 | </li> |
| 86 | <li>Use Gentoo's <c>media-sound/alsa-driver</c> package.</li> |
88 | <li>Use Gentoo's <c>media-sound/alsa-driver</c> package.</li> |
| 87 | </ol> |
89 | </ol> |
| 88 | |
90 | |
| 89 | <p> |
91 | <p> |
| 90 | The in-kernel drivers and the <c>alsa-driver</c> package can vary a little; it's |
92 | The in-kernel drivers and the <c>alsa-driver</c> package can vary a little; it's |
| 91 | possible that features and fixes found in one might not yet be incorporated into |
93 | possible that features and fixes found in one might not yet be incorporated into |
| 92 | the other. The upstream developers are aware of this, but the two drivers are |
94 | the other. The upstream developers are aware of this, but the two drivers are |
| 93 | effectively separate branches of the ALSA project; they are not entirely |
95 | effectively separate branches of the ALSA project; they are not entirely |
| 94 | identical. You should be aware that they might function slightly differently, so |
96 | identical. You should be aware that they might function slightly differently, so |
| 95 | if one doesn't work for you, try the other! We shall take a peek into both |
97 | if one doesn't work for you, try the other! We shall take a peek into both |
| 96 | before finally deciding on one. |
98 | before finally deciding on one. |
| 97 | </p> |
99 | </p> |
| 98 | |
100 | |
| 99 | <p> |
101 | <p> |
| 100 | If you were to use ALSA provided by the kernel, the following are the pros and |
102 | If you were to use ALSA provided by the kernel, the following are the pros and |
| … | |
… | |
| 111 | <ti> |
113 | <ti> |
| 112 | No need to emerge yet another package; drivers are integrated into kernel. |
114 | No need to emerge yet another package; drivers are integrated into kernel. |
| 113 | </ti> |
115 | </ti> |
| 114 | </tr> |
116 | </tr> |
| 115 | <tr> |
117 | <tr> |
| 116 | <th>+</th> |
118 | <th>+</th> |
| 117 | <ti>One shot solution, no repeating emerges.</ti> |
119 | <ti>One shot solution, no repeating emerges.</ti> |
| 118 | </tr> |
120 | </tr> |
| 119 | <tr> |
121 | <tr> |
| 120 | <th>-</th> |
122 | <th>-</th> |
| 121 | <ti>Might be a slightly different version than <c>alsa-driver</c>.</ti> |
123 | <ti>Might be a slightly different version than <c>alsa-driver</c>.</ti> |
| 122 | </tr> |
124 | </tr> |
| 123 | </table> |
125 | </table> |
| 124 | |
126 | |
| 125 | <p> |
127 | <p> |
| 126 | And, if you were to use alsa-driver, |
128 | And, if you were to use <c>alsa-driver</c>, |
| 127 | </p> |
129 | </p> |
| 128 | |
130 | |
| 129 | <table> |
131 | <table> |
| 130 | <tr> |
132 | <tr> |
| 131 | <th>alsa-driver</th> |
133 | <th>alsa-driver</th> |
| 132 | <th>Pros and Cons</th> |
134 | <th>Pros and Cons</th> |
| 133 | </tr> |
135 | </tr> |
| 134 | <tr> |
136 | <tr> |
| 135 | <th>+</th> |
137 | <th>+</th> |
| 136 | <ti>Possibly the latest drivers from the ALSA Project.</ti> |
138 | <ti>Possibly the latest drivers from the ALSA Project.</ti> |
| 137 | </tr> |
139 | </tr> |
| 138 | <tr> |
140 | <tr> |
| 139 | <th>+</th> |
141 | <th>+</th> |
| 140 | <ti>Useful if you intend to develop audio drivers.</ti> |
142 | <ti>Useful if you intend to develop audio drivers.</ti> |
| 141 | </tr> |
143 | </tr> |
| … | |
… | |
| 146 | <tr> |
148 | <tr> |
| 147 | <th>-</th> |
149 | <th>-</th> |
| 148 | <ti>Needs certain kernel config options disabled to work correctly.</ti> |
150 | <ti>Needs certain kernel config options disabled to work correctly.</ti> |
| 149 | </tr> |
151 | </tr> |
| 150 | </table> |
152 | </table> |
| 151 | |
153 | |
| 152 | </body> |
154 | </body> |
| 153 | </section> |
155 | </section> |
| 154 | <section> |
156 | <section> |
| 155 | <title>So...</title> |
157 | <title>So...</title> |
| 156 | <body> |
158 | <body> |
| 157 | |
159 | |
| 158 | <p> |
160 | <p> |
| 159 | The differences between <c>alsa-driver</c> and the in-kernel ALSA drivers are |
161 | The differences between <c>alsa-driver</c> and the in-kernel ALSA drivers are |
| 160 | quite subtle, as mentioned earlier. Since there are not any huge differences, |
162 | quite subtle, as mentioned earlier. Since there are not any huge differences, |
| 161 | this guide will go through the process of using the ALSA provided by the kernel |
163 | you are encouraged to go through the process of using the ALSA provided by the |
| 162 | <e>first</e> for ease of use. However, if you run into problems, try switching |
164 | kernel <e>first</e> for ease of use. Before reporting any sound related issues |
| 163 | to <c>alsa-driver</c>. Before reporting any sound related issues to <uri |
|
|
| 164 | link="https://bugs.gentoo.org">Gentoo Bugzilla</uri>, please try to reproduce |
165 | to <uri link="https://bugs.gentoo.org">Gentoo Bugzilla</uri>, please try to |
| 165 | them using <c>alsa-driver</c> and file the bug report no matter what the |
166 | reproduce them using <c>alsa-driver</c> and file the bug report no matter what |
| 166 | result. |
167 | the result. |
| 167 | </p> |
168 | </p> |
| 168 | |
169 | |
| 169 | </body> |
170 | </body> |
| 170 | </section> |
171 | </section> |
| 171 | <section id="lspci"> |
172 | <section id="lspci"> |
| 172 | <title>Before you proceed</title> |
173 | <title>Before you proceed</title> |
| 173 | <body> |
174 | <body> |
| 174 | |
175 | |
| 175 | <p> |
176 | <p> |
| 176 | Whichever method of install you choose, you need to know what drivers your |
177 | Whichever method of install you choose, you need to know what drivers your |
| 177 | sound card uses. In most cases, sound cards (onboard and otherwise) are PCI |
178 | sound card uses. In most cases, sound cards (onboard and otherwise) are PCI |
| 178 | based and <c>lspci</c> will help you in digging out the required information. |
179 | based and <c>lspci</c> will help you in digging out the required information. |
| 179 | Please <c>emerge sys-apps/pciutils</c> to get <c>lspci</c>, if you don't have it |
180 | Please <c>emerge sys-apps/pciutils</c> to get <c>lspci</c>, if you don't have it |
| 180 | installed already. In case you have a USB sound card, <c>lsusb</c> from |
181 | installed already. In case you have a USB sound card, <c>lsusb</c> from |
| 181 | <c>sys-apps/usbutils</c> <e>might</e> be of help. For ISA cards, try using |
182 | <c>sys-apps/usbutils</c> <e>might</e> be of help. For ISA cards, try using |
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