Background info on linux sound systems?

[kai12]

Hey all,

I keep having problems with sound applications (for example no sound in the midi application rosegarden, or no sound and no recording in audacity), and I would like to improve my understanding of how the various linux sound systems work to the point where I can fix such issues.

Can anyone recommend some good introductory and advanced reading on the topic?

Things I would like to know are: the differences between ALSA, OSS, Jack; how does the gstreamer framework fit in; why is there sometimes a problem with multiple applications accessing the sound device and sometime no, can any application work with any sound system, ...

cheers, kai

[atreyu]

Hi,

I would start with the wikipedia entry for ALSA, it is pretty good:

Advanced Linux Sound Architecture - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Related to that, the OSS entry:

Open Sound System - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

From all I've read and remember: OSS = earlier;legacy ALSA = newer;current

Here's an unofficial ALSA take on JACK:

JACK - ALSA wiki

[kai12]

Thanks atreyu! I'll look into it.

[atreyu]

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