cannot open audio device

deus_machinarum · 06-20-2005, 12:37 PM

hi
i updated from suse 9.2 to suse 9.3, since then whenever i try to open audio files using the realplayer 10 i get the error message: "cannot open audio device. another application may be using it." Does anybody know what might be the cause of this problem?

any help is greatly appreciated
thx

acid_kewpie · 06-20-2005, 01:25 PM

it's not using the right audio output method, if possible, tell it to use arts, faling that, under KDE, use arts, under gnome use esd.

deus_machinarum · 06-20-2005, 02:00 PM

how can i change the audio output method under fluxbox? probably using the console?

thx for your reply

acid_kewpie · 06-20-2005, 02:03 PM

no, this is a realplayer issue, not WM specific.

deus_machinarum · 06-20-2005, 02:35 PM

ok, so i can tell it to use arts under KDE and then log in again using fluxbox and it will still work correctly?

most important thing: HOW do I tell it to use arts?

thx for your help

acid_kewpie · 06-20-2005, 04:08 PM

you just change the setting for that app... just like you do on windows yeah? Tools... Options etc...

deus_machinarum · 06-20-2005, 04:30 PM

hmm....well, in the tools....preferences....hardware menu I've got three "driver options":
disable 16 bit sound
disable custom sampling rates
use XVideo

none of these seem to be relevant for my problem so....where could I tell it to use arts?

sorry if my questions sound stupid

any help definitely appreciated

deus_machinarum · 06-20-2005, 04:44 PM

alright, i started yast2, clicked on sound, it said there was something wrong, and asked whether to try to fix
i said yes and I can now open files in the realplayer, it plays them and displays as it moves forward but I can't actually hear the sound....
kind weird

just wanted to update you

acid_kewpie · 06-20-2005, 04:44 PM

hmm, ok. well i've not loaded up realplayer for quite some time... seems they've really done a number of it and helix... looks good, but the major reconstruction apparently has left it with very limited output support, only supporting OSS after all. my apologies i guess.... having said that though, you should actually BE using oss, more that you should be using alsa with OSS emulation running on top of it. I don't see any reason a well configured defaul tversion of alsa wouldn't still support this, but there are docs out there to explicitly sort this out.... http://alsa.opensrc.org/index.php?page=DmixPlugin not for the easily put off though. :-s

seems that the Helix / Real developers are certainly doing the right thing, but with more limited support in the meantime.