You can not select more than 25 topics
Topics must start with a letter or number, can include dashes ('-') and can be up to 35 characters long.
459 lines
15 KiB
459 lines
15 KiB
Introduction Notes on Modular Sound Drivers and Soundcore
|
|
Wade Hampton
|
|
2/14/2001
|
|
|
|
Purpose:
|
|
========
|
|
This document provides some general notes on the modular
|
|
sound drivers and their configuration, along with the
|
|
support modules sound.o and soundcore.o.
|
|
|
|
Note, some of this probably should be added to the Sound-HOWTO!
|
|
|
|
Note, soundlow.o was present with 2.2 kernels but is not
|
|
required for 2.4.x kernels. References have been removed
|
|
to this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Copying:
|
|
========
|
|
none
|
|
|
|
|
|
History:
|
|
========
|
|
0.1.0 11/20/1998 First version, draft
|
|
1.0.0 11/1998 Alan Cox changes, incorporation in 2.2.0
|
|
as Documentation/sound/oss/Introduction
|
|
1.1.0 6/30/1999 Second version, added notes on making the drivers,
|
|
added info on multiple sound cards of similar types,]
|
|
added more diagnostics info, added info about esd.
|
|
added info on OSS and ALSA.
|
|
1.1.1 19991031 Added notes on sound-slot- and sound-service.
|
|
(Alan Cox)
|
|
1.1.2 20000920 Modified for Kernel 2.4 (Christoph Hellwig)
|
|
1.1.3 20010214 Minor notes and corrections (Wade Hampton)
|
|
Added examples of sound-slot-0, etc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Modular Sound Drivers:
|
|
======================
|
|
|
|
Thanks to the GREAT work by Alan Cox (alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk),
|
|
|
|
[And Oleg Drokin, Thomas Sailer, Andrew Veliath and more than a few
|
|
others - not to mention Hannu's original code being designed well
|
|
enough to cope with that kind of chopping up](Alan)
|
|
|
|
the standard Linux kernels support a modular sound driver. From
|
|
Alan's comments in linux/drivers/sound/README.FIRST:
|
|
|
|
The modular sound driver patches were funded by Red Hat Software
|
|
(www.redhat.com). The sound driver here is thus a modified version of
|
|
Hannu's code. Please bear that in mind when considering the appropriate
|
|
forums for bug reporting.
|
|
|
|
The modular sound drivers may be loaded via insmod or modprobe.
|
|
To support all the various sound modules, there are two general
|
|
support modules that must be loaded first:
|
|
|
|
soundcore.o: Top level handler for the sound system, provides
|
|
a set of functions for registration of devices
|
|
by type.
|
|
|
|
sound.o: Common sound functions required by all modules.
|
|
|
|
For the specific sound modules (e.g., sb.o for the Soundblaster),
|
|
read the documentation on that module to determine what options
|
|
are available, for example IRQ, address, DMA.
|
|
|
|
Warning, the options for different cards sometime use different names
|
|
for the same or a similar feature (dma1= versus dma16=). As a last
|
|
resort, inspect the code (search for module_param).
|
|
|
|
Notes:
|
|
|
|
1. There is a new OpenSource sound driver called ALSA which is
|
|
currently under development: http://www.alsa-project.org/
|
|
The ALSA drivers support some newer hardware that may not
|
|
be supported by this sound driver and also provide some
|
|
additional features.
|
|
|
|
2. The commercial OSS driver may be obtained from the site:
|
|
http://www.opensound.com. This may be used for cards that
|
|
are unsupported by the kernel driver, or may be used
|
|
by other operating systems.
|
|
|
|
3. The enlightenment sound daemon may be used for playing
|
|
multiple sounds at the same time via a single card, eliminating
|
|
some of the requirements for multiple sound card systems. For
|
|
more information, see: http://www.tux.org/~ricdude/EsounD.html
|
|
The "esd" program may be used with the real-player and mpeg
|
|
players like mpg123 and x11amp. The newer real-player
|
|
and some games even include built-in support for ESD!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Building the Modules:
|
|
=====================
|
|
|
|
This document does not provide full details on building the
|
|
kernel, etc. The notes below apply only to making the kernel
|
|
sound modules. If this conflicts with the kernel's README,
|
|
the README takes precedence.
|
|
|
|
1. To make the kernel sound modules, cd to your /usr/src/linux
|
|
directory (typically) and type make config, make menuconfig,
|
|
or make xconfig (to start the command line, dialog, or x-based
|
|
configuration tool).
|
|
|
|
2. Select the Sound option and a dialog will be displayed.
|
|
|
|
3. Select M (module) for "Sound card support".
|
|
|
|
4. Select your sound driver(s) as a module. For ProAudio, Sound
|
|
Blaster, etc., select M (module) for OSS sound modules.
|
|
[thanks to Marvin Stodolsky <stodolsk@erols.com>]A
|
|
|
|
5. Make the kernel (e.g., make bzImage), and install the kernel.
|
|
|
|
6. Make the modules and install them (make modules; make modules_install).
|
|
|
|
Note, for 2.5.x kernels, make sure you have the newer module-init-tools
|
|
installed or modules will not be loaded properly. 2.5.x requires an
|
|
updated module-init-tools.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plug and Play (PnP:
|
|
===================
|
|
|
|
If the sound card is an ISA PnP card, isapnp may be used
|
|
to configure the card. See the file isapnp.txt in the
|
|
directory one level up (e.g., /usr/src/linux/Documentation).
|
|
|
|
Also the 2.4.x kernels provide PnP capabilities, see the
|
|
file NEWS in this directory.
|
|
|
|
PCI sound cards are highly recommended, as they are far
|
|
easier to configure and from what I have read, they use
|
|
less resources and are more CPU efficient.
|
|
|
|
|
|
INSMOD:
|
|
=======
|
|
|
|
If loading via insmod, the common modules must be loaded in the
|
|
order below BEFORE loading the other sound modules. The card-specific
|
|
modules may then be loaded (most require parameters). For example,
|
|
I use the following via a shell script to load my SoundBlaster:
|
|
|
|
SB_BASE=0x240
|
|
SB_IRQ=9
|
|
SB_DMA=3
|
|
SB_DMA2=5
|
|
SB_MPU=0x300
|
|
#
|
|
echo Starting sound
|
|
/sbin/insmod soundcore
|
|
/sbin/insmod sound
|
|
#
|
|
echo Starting sound blaster....
|
|
/sbin/insmod uart401
|
|
/sbin/insmod sb io=$SB_BASE irq=$SB_IRQ dma=$SB_DMA dma16=$SB_DMA2 mpu_io=$SB_MP
|
|
|
|
When using sound as a module, I typically put these commands
|
|
in a file such as /root/soundon.sh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MODPROBE:
|
|
=========
|
|
|
|
If loading via modprobe, these common files are automatically loaded
|
|
when requested by modprobe. For example, my /etc/modprobe.conf contains:
|
|
|
|
alias sound sb
|
|
options sb io=0x240 irq=9 dma=3 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x300
|
|
|
|
All you need to do to load the module is:
|
|
|
|
/sbin/modprobe sb
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound Status:
|
|
=============
|
|
|
|
The status of sound may be read/checked by:
|
|
cat (anyfile).au >/dev/audio
|
|
|
|
[WWH: This may not work properly for SoundBlaster PCI 128 cards
|
|
such as the es1370/1 (see the es1370/1 files in this directory)
|
|
as they do not automatically support uLaw on /dev/audio.]
|
|
|
|
The status of the modules and which modules depend on
|
|
which other modules may be checked by:
|
|
/sbin/lsmod
|
|
|
|
/sbin/lsmod should show something like the following:
|
|
sb 26280 0
|
|
uart401 5640 0 [sb]
|
|
sound 57112 0 [sb uart401]
|
|
soundcore 1968 8 [sb sound]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Removing Sound:
|
|
===============
|
|
|
|
Sound may be removed by using /sbin/rmmod in the reverse order
|
|
in which you load the modules. Note, if a program has a sound device
|
|
open (e.g., xmixer), that module (and the modules on which it
|
|
depends) may not be unloaded.
|
|
|
|
For example, I use the following to remove my Soundblaster (rmmod
|
|
in the reverse order in which I loaded the modules):
|
|
|
|
/sbin/rmmod sb
|
|
/sbin/rmmod uart401
|
|
/sbin/rmmod sound
|
|
/sbin/rmmod soundcore
|
|
|
|
When using sound as a module, I typically put these commands
|
|
in a script such as /root/soundoff.sh.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Removing Sound for use with OSS:
|
|
================================
|
|
|
|
If you get really stuck or have a card that the kernel modules
|
|
will not support, you can get a commercial sound driver from
|
|
http://www.opensound.com. Before loading the commercial sound
|
|
driver, you should do the following:
|
|
|
|
1. remove sound modules (detailed above)
|
|
2. remove the sound modules from /etc/modprobe.conf
|
|
3. move the sound modules from /lib/modules/<kernel>/misc
|
|
(for example, I make a /lib/modules/<kernel>/misc/tmp
|
|
directory and copy the sound module files to that
|
|
directory).
|
|
|
|
|
|
Multiple Sound Cards:
|
|
=====================
|
|
|
|
The sound drivers will support multiple sound cards and there
|
|
are some great applications like multitrack that support them.
|
|
Typically, you need two sound cards of different types. Note, this
|
|
uses more precious interrupts and DMA channels and sometimes
|
|
can be a configuration nightmare. I have heard reports of 3-4
|
|
sound cards (typically I only use 2). You can sometimes use
|
|
multiple PCI sound cards of the same type.
|
|
|
|
On my machine I have two sound cards (cs4232 and Soundblaster Vibra
|
|
16). By loading sound as modules, I can control which is the first
|
|
sound device (/dev/dsp, /dev/audio, /dev/mixer) and which is
|
|
the second. Normally, the cs4232 (Dell sound on the motherboard)
|
|
would be the first sound device, but I prefer the Soundblaster.
|
|
All you have to do is to load the one you want as /dev/dsp
|
|
first (in my case "sb") and then load the other one
|
|
(in my case "cs4232").
|
|
|
|
If you have two cards of the same type that are jumpered
|
|
cards or different PnP revisions, you may load the same
|
|
module twice. For example, I have a SoundBlaster vibra 16
|
|
and an older SoundBlaster 16 (jumpers). To load the module
|
|
twice, you need to do the following:
|
|
|
|
1. Copy the sound modules to a new name. For example
|
|
sb.o could be copied (or symlinked) to sb1.o for the
|
|
second SoundBlaster.
|
|
|
|
2. Make a second entry in /etc/modprobe.conf, for example,
|
|
sound1 or sb1. This second entry should refer to the
|
|
new module names for example sb1, and should include
|
|
the I/O, etc. for the second sound card.
|
|
|
|
3. Update your soundon.sh script, etc.
|
|
|
|
Warning: I have never been able to get two PnP sound cards of the
|
|
same type to load at the same time. I have tried this several times
|
|
with the Soundblaster Vibra 16 cards. OSS has indicated that this
|
|
is a PnP problem.... If anyone has any luck doing this, please
|
|
send me an E-MAIL. PCI sound cards should not have this problem.a
|
|
Since this was originally release, I have received a couple of
|
|
mails from people who have accomplished this!
|
|
|
|
NOTE: In Linux 2.4 the Sound Blaster driver (and only this one yet)
|
|
supports multiple cards with one module by default.
|
|
Read the file 'Soundblaster' in this directory for details.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sound Problems:
|
|
===============
|
|
|
|
First RTFM (including the troubleshooting section
|
|
in the Sound-HOWTO).
|
|
|
|
1) If you are having problems loading the modules (for
|
|
example, if you get device conflict errors) try the
|
|
following:
|
|
|
|
A) If you have Win95 or NT on the same computer,
|
|
write down what addresses, IRQ, and DMA channels
|
|
those were using for the same hardware. You probably
|
|
can use these addresses, IRQs, and DMA channels.
|
|
You should really do this BEFORE attempting to get
|
|
sound working!
|
|
|
|
B) Check (cat) /proc/interrupts, /proc/ioports,
|
|
and /proc/dma. Are you trying to use an address,
|
|
IRQ or DMA port that another device is using?
|
|
|
|
C) Check (cat) /proc/isapnp
|
|
|
|
D) Inspect your /var/log/messages file. Often that will
|
|
indicate what IRQ or IO port could not be obtained.
|
|
|
|
E) Try another port or IRQ. Note this may involve
|
|
using the PnP tools to move the sound card to
|
|
another location. Sometimes this is the only way
|
|
and it is more or less trial and error.
|
|
|
|
2) If you get motor-boating (the same sound or part of a
|
|
sound clip repeated), you probably have either an IRQ
|
|
or DMA conflict. Move the card to another IRQ or DMA
|
|
port. This has happened to me when playing long files
|
|
when I had an IRQ conflict.
|
|
|
|
3. If you get dropouts or pauses when playing high sample
|
|
rate files such as using mpg123 or x11amp/xmms, you may
|
|
have too slow of a CPU and may have to use the options to
|
|
play the files at 1/2 speed. For example, you may use
|
|
the -2 or -4 option on mpg123. You may also get this
|
|
when trying to play mpeg files stored on a CD-ROM
|
|
(my Toshiba T8000 PII/366 sometimes has this problem).
|
|
|
|
4. If you get "cannot access device" errors, your /dev/dsp
|
|
files, etc. may be set to owner root, mode 600. You
|
|
may have to use the command:
|
|
chmod 666 /dev/dsp /dev/mixer /dev/audio
|
|
|
|
5. If you get "device busy" errors, another program has the
|
|
sound device open. For example, if using the Enlightenment
|
|
sound daemon "esd", the "esd" program has the sound device.
|
|
If using "esd", please RTFM the docs on ESD. For example,
|
|
esddsp <program> may be used to play files via a non-esd
|
|
aware program.
|
|
|
|
6) Ask for help on the sound list or send E-MAIL to the
|
|
sound driver author/maintainer.
|
|
|
|
7) Turn on debug in drivers/sound/sound_config.h (DEB, DDB, MDB).
|
|
|
|
8) If the system reports insufficient DMA memory then you may want to
|
|
load sound with the "dmabufs=1" option. Or in /etc/conf.modules add
|
|
|
|
preinstall sound dmabufs=1
|
|
|
|
This makes the sound system allocate its buffers and hang onto them.
|
|
|
|
You may also set persistent DMA when building a 2.4.x kernel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Configuring Sound:
|
|
==================
|
|
|
|
There are several ways of configuring your sound:
|
|
|
|
1) On the kernel command line (when using the sound driver(s)
|
|
compiled in the kernel). Check the driver source and
|
|
documentation for details.
|
|
|
|
2) On the command line when using insmod or in a bash script
|
|
using command line calls to load sound.
|
|
|
|
3) In /etc/modprobe.conf when using modprobe.
|
|
|
|
4) Via Red Hat's GPL'd /usr/sbin/sndconfig program (text based).
|
|
|
|
5) Via the OSS soundconf program (with the commercial version
|
|
of the OSS driver.
|
|
|
|
6) By just loading the module and let isapnp do everything relevant
|
|
for you. This works only with a few drivers yet and - of course -
|
|
only with isapnp hardware.
|
|
|
|
And I am sure, several other ways.
|
|
|
|
Anyone want to write a linuxconf module for configuring sound?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Module Loading:
|
|
===============
|
|
|
|
When a sound card is first referenced and sound is modular, the sound system
|
|
will ask for the sound devices to be loaded. Initially it requests that
|
|
the driver for the sound system is loaded. It then will ask for
|
|
sound-slot-0, where 0 is the first sound card. (sound-slot-1 the second and
|
|
so on). Thus you can do
|
|
|
|
alias sound-slot-0 sb
|
|
|
|
To load a soundblaster at this point. If the slot loading does not provide
|
|
the desired device - for example a soundblaster does not directly provide
|
|
a midi synth in all cases then it will request "sound-service-0-n" where n
|
|
is
|
|
|
|
0 Mixer
|
|
|
|
2 MIDI
|
|
|
|
3, 4 DSP audio
|
|
|
|
|
|
For example, I use the following to load my Soundblaster PCI 128
|
|
(ES 1371) card first, followed by my SoundBlaster Vibra 16 card,
|
|
then by my TV card:
|
|
|
|
# Load the Soundblaster PCI 128 as /dev/dsp, /dev/dsp1, /dev/mixer
|
|
alias sound-slot-0 es1371
|
|
|
|
# Load the Soundblaster Vibra 16 as /dev/dsp2, /dev/mixer1
|
|
alias sound-slot-1 sb
|
|
options sb io=0x240 irq=5 dma=1 dma16=5 mpu_io=0x330
|
|
|
|
# Load the BTTV (TV card) as /dev/mixer2
|
|
alias sound-slot-2 bttv
|
|
alias sound-service-2-0 tvmixer
|
|
|
|
pre-install bttv modprobe tuner ; modprobe tvmixer
|
|
pre-install tvmixer modprobe msp3400; modprobe tvaudio
|
|
options tuner debug=0 type=8
|
|
options bttv card=0 radio=0 pll=0
|
|
|
|
|
|
For More Information (RTFM):
|
|
============================
|
|
1) Information on kernel modules: manual pages for insmod and modprobe.
|
|
|
|
2) Information on PnP, RTFM manual pages for isapnp.
|
|
|
|
3) Sound-HOWTO and Sound-Playing-HOWTO.
|
|
|
|
4) OSS's WWW site at http://www.opensound.com.
|
|
|
|
5) All the files in Documentation/sound.
|
|
|
|
6) The comments and code in linux/drivers/sound.
|
|
|
|
7) The sndconfig and rhsound documentation from Red Hat.
|
|
|
|
8) The Linux-sound mailing list: sound-list@redhat.com.
|
|
|
|
9) Enlightenment documentation (for info on esd)
|
|
http://www.tux.org/~ricdude/EsounD.html.
|
|
|
|
10) ALSA home page: http://www.alsa-project.org/
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contact Information:
|
|
====================
|
|
Wade Hampton: (whampton@staffnet.com)
|
|
|
|
|