When I try to play an mp3 with xmms (package is xmms-1.2.8-1), it just runs through the mp3 at a very high speed. The visualization's equalizer bars are jumping like normal, but there is no sound and it goes through a 3 minute mp3 in about 3 seconds.

A little history on the issue - I have RH9, so when I first installed the OS, xmms refused to play mp3s. I tried to remove the xmms rpm, but I think there was some dependency issue, so I just added -f to the command and removed it. Then I installed the new xmms rpm and now it will open an mp3, but it will act as described above. What should I do?

Check the plugins section of XMMS (properties > plugins). Make sure you are not using the disk writer output plugin.

As benjithegreat98 suggested, it sounds more like a plugin problem. I don't know if you already knew it, but since Redhat 8.0, Redhat Linux does not have mp3 plugin right out of the box. I do, realise (and kinda feel sorry) that when using something free (Linux) along with something that is not (mp3) can lead to problems... but Redhat should have put a link or a warning to the users about this issue and a way for fixing it... anyway, here is the link:

Redhat 8.0:
ftp://194.199.20.114/linux/freshrpms...-13.p.i386.rpm

Redhat 9.0:
ftp://194.199.20.114/linux/freshrpms...p.fr1.i386.rpm

EDIT: if the links above doesn't work, go into here:
http://www.rpmfind.net/linux/RPM/index.html

and search after xmms-mp3

Regards.

1) I was, indeed using the Diskwriter plug. I changed to the only other option (OSS Driver) and I got an error instead - "Please check that: 1. You have the correct plugin selected 2. No other programs is blocking the soundcard 3. Your soundcard is configured properly". I ran xmms out of a shell and when I did this the shell gave this error message - "** WARNING **: oss_open(): Failed to open audio device (/dev/dsp): Permission denied".

2) I checked the bottom link you gave for the xmms-mp3 plugin and searched for it, and didn't find it. I have an mp3 plugin listed in my plugins window, though.

3) Just FYI, I can play sounds successfully with other programs and such.


Thanks for the help. And thanks in advance for any additional help you may have for me.

Problem solved! By default the permissions were 700 on the soundcard (/dev/dsp)... I figured that error message was erroneous because I wouldn't expect that to be default, but it is! W00t! Thanks for the help!

It just occurred to me that I can play other sounds with the 700 permissions, but I have to have more permissions than that in order to play sounds through xmms. Why is this? Should I not change the permissions of the device to 777 for some reason?

Is there a plugin for the eSound Output Plugin? That is what I use in XMMS and I haven't had to change any permissions.

Nope, the only two plugins for sound output are the OSS driver and the Diskwrite driver. Are your permissions for your sound card 700?

[benji@benfedora dev]$ ls dsp -l
crw------- 1 benji root 14, 3 Sep 15 08:40 dsp

That would be 600.

I am not a sound server expert, but, since I am using a sound server, I believe that means I can use more than 1 app at time that uses my sound output. Whille I am using XMMS I can click an icon an it will make the noise that I clicked it. When I changed to the oss plugin, I was not longer able to hear any thing besides xmms.

Also, are you getting an error message or can you just not hear? Have you checked all your volume levels? even in xmms?

Here is a link that may help: http://www.xmms.org/download.php There is a link to esound output. You may have to get a plugin for it as well. I'm not sure but you may already have esound. I really have no idea.