setting alsa as software mixer?
 

hi folks. :)

i have read on several threads that alsamixer can be setup to act as a software mixer where snd cards can't do it via hardware. however, i don't see anyone with instructions on how to do this. currently, i am running a SB pci 128 using the en1371 driver through alsamixer and i have sound (thanx to the folks who took time enough to post detailed instructions). at the same time though, i only have sound for one app and i understand it's because the snd card doesn't support multiple apps. so here is my Q:

how does one go about setting up alsa to act as a software mixer? understand that i use kde and have disabled artsd.

if there is a thread out there that i am missing because of poor search strings please simple point me in the right direction.

as always, thanx in advance.

I'm not exactly sure about alsamixer, I thought its only used for adjusting volumes etc.
But in order to do software mixing you need a sound server, such as artsd, the catch is that the applications you use has to support output through arts.

ah! ok... and most of what ppl use doesn't support arts. ok thank you that helps a lot.

i'll look up sound server now. thanx again. :)

Yeah exactly, as far as I'm aware of there aren't many games(if any) out there that support arts output besides ones that come with KDE. Sure mplayer, xmms etc does, but who the hell listens to more than 2 mp3s or watches 2 movies at the same time.
I think there's a way to route the audio through arts regardless of whether the application supports it. IIRC its
Though I could never get it to work properly.
Permanent solution is to get yourself a cheap soundblaster live, which is capable of hardware mixing.

thanx demonbane. i have resigned myself to that just after my last reply. :(