While trying to install alsa from source, it asks me to install my kernel source. O.K., no big deal, I've done this many times on 9.1.
Well, there is no kernel source package on the discs. I tried package removal utility to see if was already installed, but nothing shows up. Must you d/l the source? Am I missing something? Is someone laughing at my expense?
When I first came to linux, I had one task: Find out how linux' audio recording stacks up against cool edit pro, fruity loops, etc.
That was 6 months ago, and the most advanced program I've heard make a peep is audacity, which though easy and quick to use for messing around, leaves much to be desired for music production.
Every program I've found that looked adequate (Ardour, Rosegarden4, Hydrogen) look great, but prove completely non functional on mandrake (Both 9.1 and 9.2).
The jack audio connection kit is required for any decent sound program, but it only comes with a two line manual:

1 Start jack with: jackd -d alsa -d hw:0
2 If that doesn't work, bend over, grab the desk, and grit your teeth.

Can someone recommend me a distro that works (That doesn't take 4 days to install like gentoo) for audio? I'm running a soundblaster 16 card, which runs great though arts, while alsa lays there like a dead fish.

Thanks in advance.

what kind sound card do you have? is it onboard or pci card? i say the best was redhatlinux 9.0

Make sure you have a ".asoundrc" file in your root and home directory. Also make sure you have edited it as per the read me for your sound card and you have edited your modules.conf as per the read me as well. Turn off the arts sound server too.

Jack Audio Connection kit won't work unless you have "low latency" compiled into the kernel. I went through all of this with RH9. I did get it to work and i did use Ardour with Jack. It's worth the effort.

http://www-ccrma.stanford.edu/planetccrma/software/

Read through there.

Unless you have low-latency compiled into the kernel, there is no point in configuring Jack with ALSA.