Hello,

My setup:
SuSE 9.0
KDE 3.2.1 - SuSE's build
Kernel 2.6.5 - vanilla, customized:
- alsa compiled in
- emu10k1 driver compiled in
arts 1.2.1-4 - from KDE3.2.1 installation
alsa-lib 1.0.3a from source
alsa-utils 1.0.3 from source

the problem:
Everything works fine when i initially boot my system into text mode. Using alsamixer, I can turn up the required volumes, and then use mpg321 to play audio files. Because of this, I know my hardware and alsa drivers work just fine.
Then i type startx to launch a KDE session. As KDE loads, my soundcard starts hissing or producing static. It's not like KDE turned up a volume control that had static on it, because I don't hear any sound at all when sounds (such as warning beeps) should be playing. The nearest I can come to understanding this is to blame it on aRts. i have tried telling aRts to use ALSA devices (in KDE Control center) to no effect, things still work when i boot but stop when KDE loads.

Any advice/thoughts? or, can I run KDE without aRts somehow?

Thanks,
Colin