Debian Sarge,
Sound Blaster Live Value(oem, the one with the digital output)
digital speakers
Alsa 1.0.3

here's the deal:
I can't get kde system notifications to play, but nearly everything else will play. i read somewhere it might be because of adsp0. so i tested adsp0.

running cat /dev/urandom >/dev/dsp0 plays static.

# cat /dev/urandom >/dev/adsp0
bash: /dev/adsp0: No such device

would this be why i can't get the system notifications to work? is this because oss emulation is not working?

in addition to this, my mixer settings are very touchy, i need to have IEC958 Optical Raw muted, and SB Live Analog/Digital Output Jack unmuted to hear sound.

Sorry about the long question

Thanks!

adsp0 would be for alsa digital signal processor 0, but I don't think they use that device node any longer, wherever you read that may indeed be old info.

KDE typically uses the aRts sound daemon for system sounds, is that up and running?

Cheers,

Finegan

yes it is. i actually had it running, but after restarting alsa it stopped.