How do I get /dev/sequencer
 

I am running OSS on Debian Sarge with the standard 2.4 kernel. When I try to play a midi file with Kmid I get the error "Could not open /dev/sequencer. Probably another program is using it".
Apparently this is a common error as there are other threads on it, but no one has come up with a solution as far as I can see.
The nearest I can get is that I need to load the sequencer module. However, I can't find out what it's called. One thread suggested OSS_SEQUENCER_API but I get the error "cannot locate OSS_SEQUENCER_API". I've tried this in lower case but get the same error.
Does anyone know the name of the module or how I can find out?

Try:
It should be already compiled since you use the default kernel.

modprobe snd-seq-oss gives the error: "modprobe: Can't locate module snd-seq-oss"

Are you sure you use OSS? Try: to see if you can load the alsa module. Also what midi player are you using? Cause doing a little search it seems to be a common problem of kmid. Take a look here for more info.

Regards

I don't have ALSA installed so I think I must be using OSS. I tried modprobe snd-seq but get the same error message. The sequencer module seems to be missing.

I've tried using kmid, playmidi, rosegarden and timidity. None of them work.

It is a common problem but there is no definitive answer on any of the threads. Occasionally, one of the suggestions will work for somebody but I've tried them all without success.

I'm thinking of either 1) recompiling my kernel with ALSA and sequencer support
or 2) installing the 2.6 kernel.

I would then install ALSA and see if I could get that to work. However, I am conscious of the fact that some of the users having this problem are already using ALSA, so even that may not solve it!

I perhaps should mention that midi files play OK in Windoze on my PC so I know the sound chip is midi compatible.

Many thanks

Mikie

AFAIU /dev/sequenser is the device for your soundcards midi support. Most modern soundcards however doesn't have any hardware midi support but fakes it in the (windows) drivers.

If you want software midi with OSS you should look into Timidity.
ALSA does have a software midi module if I understood it correctly.

timidity works fine, but playmidi doos not. what is the reason?
Tahnks