I'm getting the following error message *sometimes* when I try to play an mp3 through XMMS:

"Couldn't Open Audio."
Please check that:
1. You have the correct output plugin selected.
2. No othe rprograms is blocking the soundcard.
3. Your soundcard is configured properly.

I'm getting this right now, and just a little while ago I was able to listen to mp3s alright. This happens every once in a while and I strongly susepct that the culprit is #2.

Is there any way to reset the soundcard, or check what programs are using it? Or, better yet, is there any way that I can allow to programs to simultaneously access the soundcard? I used to do this in Windows so I imagine there is a (probably better) Linux way of doing things.

I am using RH9... On board nvidia soundcard.

Thank you,
dave

if you're in KDE, choose xmms arts output, if your in gnome use esd output.

I managed to find the program that was tying up my soundcard. I am still curious though-- is there anyway to allow two programs to play sounds at the same time?

-dave

Now that's what I'd like to know,too.Tried so far OSS with intel driver - sucks big times.Alsa with intel driver - works for one app.Alsa with via driver (because I got something about a via multimedia chip in lspci) - doesn't work at all.Nvidia driver - doesn't work at all.Dammit - my SIS board did better than this.