kde's aRts is hogging /dev/dsp

LavaDevil94 · 12-05-2003, 06:11 PM

the system sounds (like when i close a window) are alright, but when i start a game, there isnt any sound and i have to kill aRts to get sound. i cant disable aRts because then the sound acts weird. anyone?

PS: i have tried pointing aRts to /dev/sound/audio and /dev/sound/dsp, and it hasnt solved the problem.

megaspaz · 12-05-2003, 09:46 PM

try running your games through artsdsp. basically instead of using something like

/usr/local/games/ut2003_demo/ut2003_demo

for starting up your games from the console or from your link, use instead this in the cli or as the command to execute in your shortcuts:

artsdsp /usr/local/games/ut2003_demo/ut2003_demo

LavaDevil94 · 12-06-2003, 11:09 AM

i tried that (i tried it with rtcw, since i dont have ut2003), and the game inited alright, but there was no sound. after looking at the console output, i saw "your soundcard cant do this". without using artsd, the game plays fine with sound, so i dont think its my soundcard (which, btw, is a c-media 8738). if i init wolfsp normally with artsd on without using artsdsp, the game just hangs at the sound init and i have to kill it, which is because its waiting for a vacancy in /dev/dsp (at least thats my best guess).

GrapeApe · 12-06-2003, 12:18 PM

i believe there are two different drivers that are compatible with the c-media 8738:
snd-cmipci and cmpci. you may want to try switching by using the config tool in harddrake. for some reason i could only hear system sounds (many games hanged at init) until i switched. i believe you have to re-boot after the switch for it to take effect.

LavaDevil94 · 12-06-2003, 12:57 PM

i tried both. cmpci doesnt give me any system sounds (like when i get email), but it gives me sound in games.

bareego · 12-06-2003, 05:48 PM

I found the best for me is to turn off the arts server in the control panel to get
sound working in most games.

Since I use xfce4 instead of kde I don't have such problems anymore

I also found that "wrapping" a program with artsdsp like described further up often either doesn't work or can lead to delayed sound.

IMHO if you want to play games on linux, turns arts off.

cheers
Bareego

LavaDevil94 · 12-07-2003, 10:06 AM

arts IS off, its just other sounds like when a window closes are choppy or delayed. plus, alsa hogs /dev/dsp itself, it doesnt multichannel.