alsa sound system question

dive · 10-02-2006, 03:10 PM

I don't use skype so I've no idea on specifics but most apps have some options to use either art, oss, esd or alsa.

crisostomo_enrico · 10-02-2006, 03:19 PM

Neither last version of skype 4 linux has the possibility to use arts: it can just use oss or alsa. I experienced your problem with a soundcard which supports hw mix and only shutting arts down solved my skype problem.

BTW, there's a program which wraps a program which is not arts-aware: it's called artsdsp, check your manual to see how it works. I don't like arts and I don't use it any more, but fyi I had skype running through artsdsp for some time.

dive · 10-02-2006, 07:20 PM

Yes try 'artsdsp skype' ina terminal to see if that fixes it. If it works modify your menu/desktop shortcut.

tramni1980 · 10-03-2006, 03:48 AM

Thank you very much indeed. artdsp worked with all other sound applications except realplayer. If I am playing noatun or xine or whatever but realplayer, skype can call and receive calls. But if I am listnenig to radio online with realplayer or I am just playing something on my computer with realplayer, then skype and all other sound applications are again silent. Have you got some idea how to disable that overwhelming property of realplayer?

crisostomo_enrico · 10-03-2006, 03:57 AM

I don't have a slackware at hand here at work (grrrrrrrrr) but do the same you did for skype. Look at realplayer sound-related options and look which backend it does support (and choose alsa)... If it doesn't work look at this:ç
http://ubuntuforums.org/archive/index.php/t-7017.html
It should help you set up alsa sw mix.

Bye,
Enrico.

tramni1980 · 10-03-2006, 01:23 PM

Thank you very much indeed for your responsiveness

I browsed the GUI menu of realplayer but I found alsa mentioned nowhere. If you have realplayer I would be thankful if you give me e hint where to change that setting. Probably I should directly modify some configuration file used by realplayer?

Eternal_Newbie · 10-03-2006, 03:16 PM

I would start try starting realplayer with the artsdsp wrapper as well.

EDIT: Realplayer 8 works fine with artsdsp as far as I can tell, I think with Realpayer 10 you need to do this first:

Code:

export HELIX_LIBS=<path to your helix libs>

Or just add that path to your .bash_profile PATH, it might be easier.

In both cases you need to use the full path to the realplayer binary as far as I can tell, eg:

Code:

artsdsp /usr/local/RealPlayer8/realplay

tramni1980 · 10-03-2006, 03:45 PM

I see, but the problem is that realplayer is started automatically by mozilla when I listen to an internet radio online. Besides so long as I know the artsdsp deteriorates sound quality ...

Eternal_Newbie · 10-03-2006, 03:58 PM

Well it's cold comfort, but seeing as OSS is now deprecated in the kernel, hopefully the next release of programs like RealPlayer and Skype will support alsa, gstreamer and arts properly. Thats the problem, the proper multimedia frameworks are there, but windows-centric companies insist on using only OSS.

EDIT Its a bit like releasing a media player for WinXP that uses the WIN3.1 sound system. It might theoretically work, but it will play havoc with your other programs that use sound

tramni1980 · 10-03-2006, 04:03 PM

probably I shoud make script containing "artsdsp /usr/bin/realplay" and make a symlink to it in /usr/bin, named realplay?

tramni1980 · 10-04-2006, 03:46 AM

no, neither that nor some other tricks i tried work. I wonder if enabling sound mixing with .asoundrc will work? It seems tha realplay overwhelms the whole sound system and that sound mixing will not make it possible for me to receive skype calls while playing realplayer. What do you think? I currently use skype under artsdsp and my sound card is Intel 82801DB-ICH4 with AD1981B at 0xffa7f800