Advanced Linux Sound Architecture - Driver ========================================== FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions Q: My card is not detected at all and is ISA based - non Plug & Play. Can I try something? A: If you have compiled driver with the ISA PnP support, you must force the detection of non-PnP version of your card with some drivers (use snd_isapnp=0 parameter - check the INSTALL file). This problem may occur mostly in portable computers where vendors suppressed the ISA PnP extension of sound chips. Q: When I play something and I try to play something other the second attempt will not fail but instead it hangs waiting for the completion of the first sound. A: This is definitely the standard behaviour as described in many official documents that now ALSA follows. There is no reasons to complain about that for the following reasons: - it's the right (standard) way - the application that want a different behaviour can open the device in O_NONBLOCK mode - all modern OSS drivers in mainstream kernel (cmpci, es1370, es1371, esssolo1, maestro, sonicvibes, vwsnd) works in the same ways and the others have to be intended buggy - we want you ask to broken applications author to fix them ;-) Q: The driver is installed and successfully loaded in the runtime kernel, but it does not produce any sound. What's wrong? A: You should raise the volume for mixer channels and/or unmute mixer channels. Look for the alsa-utils package at http://www.alsa-project.org. There are native mixers. Q: How can I store and restore mixer settings? A: Use the native alsactl program (strongly preferred) or an another ALSA mixer program. Q: The driver is loaded, but OSS programs say: Can't open /dev/mixer. What is wrong? A: The OSS compatible mixer emulation comes as an add-on module which is not loaded by default. If you have got modified /etc/conf.module as suggested in the INSTALL file, it should be loaded with kerneld or kmod. Check it - if this method for some reason doesn't work - you need to insert the 'snd-mixer-oss' module manually. Q: The driver is loaded, but OSS programs say: Can't open /dev/dsp. What is wrong? A: The OSS compatible PCM (digital audio) emulation comes as an add-on module which is not loaded by default. If you have got modified /etc/conf.module as suggested in the INSTALL file, it should be loaded with kerneld or kmod. Check it - if this method for some reason doesn't work - you need to insert the 'snd-pcm-oss' module manually. Q: Can I specify which DMA channel will be used for a specific direction with Sound Blaster 16/AWE soundcards? A: Yes, you may change the default settings (which is auto) through alsactl utility. Look for "DMA 16-bit" switch in the alsactl.conf file. Q: Noises in X-win? A: Try comment out line in your XF86Config file: #Option "pci_retry" # faster, but problematic for ISA/PCI soundcards More information: http://www.xfree86.org/3.3.3.1/S39.html