How to program alsa?

[lugoteehalt]

Cannot, despite much searching, find how to write stuff for alsa. All that:

pcm:smegma {
    ttable 1.4 1
    ]
    distribute {
        smegma
    }

etc. stuff. Such as in /etc/asound.conf is it?

Is there somewhere, preferably in terms real cretins can understand, where the commands are described?

While we're at it how do you put a delay in one particular channel? Thanks any help.

[wje_lf]

despite much searching

You probably haven't been using the right search terms. Try these. I found some resources by doing using them.

ALSA development

[clickit]

Not sure whether you are looking for general info or for how to setup Alsa or what?
Sorry problem probably on this end. Have you looked here:
[Chapter 14] Programming /dev/dsp

Have a program I use with this input info:
1) List loaded sound modules 2) List soundcard information
3) List soundcard 0 information 4) List soundcard 1 information
5) List sound device information 6) Hear 2 Test Sounds (wav & au)
7) List /etc/modules.conf List /etc/asound.state

List mixer information for:
M) Master N) Master Mono P) PCM
E) Line L) Line-In C) CD
K) Mic (Mic, As Center, Boost, Select)
S) PC Speaker A) Aux T) Capture
O) Mono Output X) Mix (Mix, Mix Mono)
Q) Quit Z) List all mixer values
if that would help.

If looking to display alsa try:
amixer | egrep -i "simple|%" | sed s/Left:/"Left: "/ | sed s/Mono:/"M
ono: "/ | sed s/control/" control"/ | sed s/"\'\(*\)\'"/"\'^[[1m^[[34
m\1^[[0m\'"/
Hope it helps.