jbuckley2004 Posted October 14, 2005 Report Share Posted October 14, 2005 I'm not certain how to catogorized this problem. I'm using a SB 16 sound card with ALSA, and often listen to streaming audio (and vidio) and straming MP3 using RealPlayer under 2005 LE. Works fine. But after 6 months, I just discovered how to turn on system sounds. Cute. Love 'em. But when they're on I can't connect to the streaming audio without a 'device busy' error from RealPlayer. Sigh. I realize that the system can only play from one process at a time, but doesn't an application (as an example) release the sound device when it's done? Am I missing something here, or is it *not* possible to even have system sounds turned on and use RealPlayer (and I imagine, Timidity, Kaffine, etc) at the same time? Advice or pointers to any HowTos are appreciated! [moved from Software by spinynorman] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DragonMage Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Soundblaster 16, being an old card it is, doesn't support multi-channel mixing. That means, only one application can take control of the sound card at the same time. Now, there is a way around it. Arts (the sound daemon in KDE) supports software mixing. This way, multiple apps can take control of the sound card, as long as it is routed to arts. Now since you have system sounds turned on in KDE, that means arts is turned on. Now the solution, as far as I can see are these. 1. Open KControl (Start Menu -> System -> Configuration -> Configure My Desktop). Then go to Sound -> Sound System. The number in the field Auto Suspend should be set to 1 second. This way if arts is finished playing the sound, it will automatically let go after 1 second. 2. Use soundwrapper for other sound applications so that it is routed into arts. For example realplayer, open a konsole, then type soundwrapper realplayer Then test playing realplayer while the system sound is on. If it works, edit the menu using menudrake to reflect on the changes to the command. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aomighty Posted October 15, 2005 Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Also, substitute soundwrapper in "soundwrapper realplayer" for "artsdsp realplayer". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbuckley2004 Posted October 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2005 Many thanks, Gents. Worked like a champ. Aomighty, I have a question, though. Changing the auto-suspend time and invoking realplayer through soundwrapper seems to accomplish what I intended. But I see no reference to artsdsp anywhere (yet, except indirectly, now that i know KDE is using it for system sounds). In other words, I didn't route realplayer through artsdsp to start with, but I think that's what you meant. Am I confused about something else now? Or am I reading what you posted incorrectly? Again, thanks for any clarification (and thanks for the answers). J Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.