How to Install, Setup & Use Ventrilo windows client under Linux using Point to Play

Pre-requisites

Working Graphical installation of Linux 2.4.26 or later.
Working ALSA sound with OSS modules (installed by default)
Working copy of Point 2 Play under Cedega 4.1
Copy of Ventrilo 2.1.0 winclient - later versions will not connect to most Ventrilo servers used by clans.
A working WinXP installation to copy one file from.

This HowTo refers to my hardware which is,

AthlonXP2400 with a bucket of RAM
NVidia FX5600 using NVidia driver 5336 - later versions conflict with MOHAA.
NForce2 controlled Via VT82C686B sound running under ALSA with OSS modules - installed by default.

First Install Ventrilo.....

Fire up P2P as usual and use the INSTALL button to initialise the process. Navigate the GUI to your copy of Ventrilo and use a nice obvious name like ventrilo ;-). I ticked the RUN DIRECTORY box on a hunch but it worked so you may as well too.
Let it do it's thing and you should end up with a nice new executable program with a chap wearing shades as the icon.

Next Configure P2P......

Highlite your new Vent icon and click CONFIGURE. In my case I use Slackware 10 so your mileage may vary slightly here but only in respect to pthreads and the video stuff. Make sure that the following are ticked or selected -only the CRITICAL stuff is shown here, leave everything else as is.

Managed, Desktop (NO), Use XVid Mode, DX Grab, Sound System to use (OSS), Path to dsp (/dev/dsp), Path to mixer (/dev/mixer), Use MMap, Full Duplex, WinVer (WinXP), Pthreads (NO).

Apply your changes and your done in here.

Using Konqueror or similar, navigate to the fake Windows files used by P2P for Ventrilo. In my case this is,

/home/user/.point2play/Ventrilo/c_drive/windows

Open up the system.ini file using your favourite text editor (KEdit) and add the following line to the bottom of the script in the Drivers 32 section,

MSACM.msgsm610=msgsm32.acm

You have just told Ventrilo to use the MicroSoft GSM610 codec file called msgsm32.acm - this file won't have shipped with your Linux distro so go rob it from somewhere and copy it to,

/home/user/.point2play/Ventrilo/c_drive/windows/system32

Your done in here so save and close all those windows.

Now Configure Linux......

Specifically, configure KDE in my case but I'm sure any Gnomes will be able to follow me. In KDE go to SETTINGS->CONTROL PANEL->SOUND&MULTIMEDIA->SOUND SYSTEM. Select the Hardware tab and ensure ALSA is selected. Test your sound just to make sure that it works. Now select the General tab and untick that lil box labelled Enable Sound System. Basically, TURN OFF ANY SOUND MANAGERS. Easy huh?

Apply and you're done. Nearly finished now.

Next, Configure ALSA.....

Plug in your speakers, headphones & microphone or whatever you are using. Make sure they are plugged in the right holes, turned on & turned up. If your mic already produces sound via your speakers then skip to the next section.

In a Console type,

alsamixer

and right-arrow along making sure that your appropriate channels are unmuted (m) and turned up. In my case, beside the main volume, MIC is set at top of green, MIC AS C is OFF (muted with m at the top), MIC BOOST is ON (not muted - no colours in bar and no 'm' at the top), and MIC SELECT is set to MIC 2. That last bit took me ages to work out. As soon as you select the right MIC, yours will start working so make sure you're reciting' "Mary had a little lamb" ;-).

When it's working, press ESC to escape and then store your settings (as root) with,

alsactl store

Close all that 'cos you're one step away from completion.

Finally, Configure Ventrilo.....

Fire up Vent from your new P2P shades icon. Everything should start without error and present you with Vent's window. Click the SETUP button and make sure that the options on the RHS of the window match up to your hardware. In my case its,

Output Device CS4236/37/38
Input Device OpenSoundSystem WAVIN Driver
Mixer WINE OSS Mixer
Mux rec
Line mic

Make sure that the ENABLE OUTGOING COMMS on the LHS is ticked.
Select GSM6.10 as the codec but leave the Format as 8000Hz, 16 Bit. Anything else causes problems for me...maybe not for you. Your sliders should all be about halfway up.

Set silence time to 2.5 seconds and use a sensitivity of about 70. You can use a push to talk hot key if you want but I prefer not to.

Push the big Test button and say something. You should get BEGIN and then END appear in the white column. All is well young padowan.

Stick in your connection setings and go chat :-)

It is important that any server you connect to uses Codec 0 & Format 0 (GSM 8000Hz 16 bit) or the client will lockup after the first Tx.

Other Codecs will probably work using the same idea as the M$ GSM file.

On some servers I need to select 'DEFAULT WAVE MAPPER' on both input and output device to connect. Dunno why some need this and some don't but it could save you some grief trying to find a solution.