Comments on: KDE’s default sound system is in the stone ages! http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/ On Mac, Linux, Grid, Virtualization and Software Technology Fri, 27 May 2011 07:08:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Mitch 74 http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-643 Mitch 74 Wed, 04 Jul 2007 13:15:17 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-643 aRts was created at a time when the only sound subsystem provided by Linux was OSS (which required applications to hit a device through /dev/dsp, take control of that file/device, and release it when done). OSS was still based on the old paradigm of cards that had limited sound mixing capabilities, and which were unable to mix sounds on varying frequencies and sampling (e.g. 22050 Hz in 8-bit from a single application, ending and releasing /dev/dsp, then 16-bit 44100 Hz from another app). aRts allowed KDE to take control of /dev/dsp, and then KDE apps would hit aRts so that aRts would resample those sound samples and send it to the card as if all aRts-using apps were a single app. It meant that no other app could access /dev/dsp while KDE was playing back sound (you could program KDE to release the sound device after a fraction of a second, or never), and vice-versa. Since then, Linux has gained ALSA (with OSS emulation). ALSA allows more modern hardware (able to mix from different sources, with different samplings and rates) to be hit by different apps at the same time, making aRts redundant, within the limits of the hardware (but since most AC'97 codecs can still support more than 32 simultaneous channels, good luck in saturating those). Skype for Linux now uses ALSA; the only way you could hit a snag is when two apps require simultaneous access to the OSS emulation layer. However, most maintained applications now use ALSA (yes, even XMMS, KDE, Xine and mplayer - but you may need to configure those to use ALSA over OSS). aRts was created at a time when the only sound subsystem provided by Linux was OSS (which required applications to hit a device through /dev/dsp, take control of that file/device, and release it when done).
OSS was still based on the old paradigm of cards that had limited sound mixing capabilities, and which were unable to mix sounds on varying frequencies and sampling (e.g. 22050 Hz in 8-bit from a single application, ending and releasing /dev/dsp, then 16-bit 44100 Hz from another app).
aRts allowed KDE to take control of /dev/dsp, and then KDE apps would hit aRts so that aRts would resample those sound samples and send it to the card as if all aRts-using apps were a single app.

It meant that no other app could access /dev/dsp while KDE was playing back sound (you could program KDE to release the sound device after a fraction of a second, or never), and vice-versa.

Since then, Linux has gained ALSA (with OSS emulation). ALSA allows more modern hardware (able to mix from different sources, with different samplings and rates) to be hit by different apps at the same time, making aRts redundant, within the limits of the hardware (but since most AC’97 codecs can still support more than 32 simultaneous channels, good luck in saturating those).

Skype for Linux now uses ALSA; the only way you could hit a snag is when two apps require simultaneous access to the OSS emulation layer. However, most maintained applications now use ALSA (yes, even XMMS, KDE, Xine and mplayer – but you may need to configure those to use ALSA over OSS).

]]> By: Matthew Flaschen http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-653 Matthew Flaschen Sun, 24 Jun 2007 04:06:01 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-653 Okay, my mistake. It still seems (from what I'm reading) that arTs can do mixing, even if it's not working in your scenario. Okay, my mistake. It still seems (from what I’m reading) that arTs can do mixing, even if it’s not working in your scenario.

]]> By: irfanhab http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-648 irfanhab Sun, 24 Jun 2007 03:35:09 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-648 @Matthew I've already said, that Xine does not have the same problem as aRts. By default Kaffeine uses Xine. Amarok can be configured, and in my installation it came configured with Xine. @Matthew

I’ve already said, that Xine does not have the same problem as aRts.
By default Kaffeine uses Xine. Amarok can be configured, and in my installation it came configured with Xine.

]]> By: Matthew Flaschen http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-652 Matthew Flaschen Sun, 24 Jun 2007 03:23:53 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-652 As far as I can tell, it is false that arTs can not play multiple streams at a time. I have arTs enabled (though "Enable the sound system" checkbox") am currently playing two songs (as an experiment) using Kaffeine and Amarok. It doesn't sound great, but it certain works fine. Wikipedia says of arts, "A key component of aRts is the sound server which mixes several sound streams in realtime." So I don't know what problem you're having, but it's not as fundamental a defect as you make it out to be. As far as I can tell, it is false that arTs can not play multiple streams at a time. I have arTs enabled (though “Enable the sound system” checkbox”) am currently playing two songs (as an experiment) using Kaffeine and Amarok. It doesn’t sound great, but it certain works fine. Wikipedia says of arts, “A key component of aRts is the sound server which mixes several sound streams in realtime.” So I don’t know what problem you’re having, but it’s not as fundamental a defect as you make it out to be.

]]> By: João Matos http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-647 João Matos Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:41:41 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-647 i don't think that the problem here is with arts but with the way that programs like java or skype access the sound card. you may access the sound system or access the sound card if an aplication tries to access a sound card wich is busy with the sound system then it will be obvious that it won't work. They must talk with the sound system!! I don't think that any sound system can handle this bad programming behaviour i don’t think that the problem here is with arts but with the way that programs like java or skype access the sound card.

you may access the sound system or access the sound card if an aplication tries to access a sound card wich is busy with the sound system then it will be obvious that it won’t work. They must talk with the sound system!!

I don’t think that any sound system can handle this bad programming behaviour

]]> By: irfanhab http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-645 irfanhab Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:49:55 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-645 As I have already mentioned, I use OpenSUSE 10.2, and it overrides the KDE Control Center. And I've havent seen anywhere where your could disable arts. As I have already mentioned, I use OpenSUSE 10.2, and it overrides the KDE Control Center. And I’ve havent seen anywhere where your could disable arts.

]]> By: आशीष शुक्ल http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-646 आशीष शुक्ल Sat, 23 Jun 2007 14:14:02 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-646 If you want to disable aRts using KDE Control Centre, choose "Sound & Multimedia" -> "Sound System", from there uncheck "Enable the sound system" check box. If you want to disable aRts using KDE Control Centre, choose “Sound & Multimedia” -> “Sound System”, from there uncheck “Enable the sound system” check box.

]]> By: irfanhab http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-651 irfanhab Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:48:55 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-651 How do you configure Java SDK to output directly to ALSA? And What about Skype? And the opensuse's YaST replaces the good old KDE control center, and I've been searching, in vain, for a way to disable aRTs. How do you configure Java SDK to output directly to ALSA? And What about Skype?

And the opensuse’s YaST replaces the good old KDE control center, and I’ve been searching, in vain, for a way to disable aRTs.

]]> By: Spiros http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-650 Spiros Sat, 23 Jun 2007 09:12:36 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-650 What works for me is to completely disable the aRts (control center, sound system)and have every application configured to output sound directly to ALSA. aRts can be bypassed for the KDE system notifications also by using a custom player (ie /usr/bin/play in control center, system notifications, player settings). HTH What works for me is to completely disable the aRts (control center, sound system)and have every application configured to output sound directly to ALSA. aRts can be bypassed for the KDE system notifications also by using a custom player (ie /usr/bin/play in control center, system notifications, player settings).

HTH

]]> By: Kamran http://irfanhabib.com/blog/2007/06/22/kdes-default-sound-system-is-in-the-stone-ages/comment-page-1/#comment-644 Kamran Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:59:14 +0000 http://irfan.phantomos-vi.com/?p=128#comment-644 I feel your pain brother. I feel your pain brother.

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