"Randolph S. Kahle" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> --snip-- <
Thank you.
If I want to focus on learning one thing related to sound (that will be
valid now and for the future), I should focus on ALSA, even if it means
a little extra work right now.
Thank you -- Randy
Randy,
I am afraid it won't be quite so easy :(
First of all, the difference in "learning" between OSS and ALSA,
involves learning how to compile the ALSA source code for your system,
because the necessary modules are NOT included in any Debian package I
have seen. In the case of OSS, the needed modules to make it work are
included in the kernel. As others have mentioned, this will most
probably change in future kernels....probably in the 2.5 series
(developmental), which just got started up a few weeks ago. This series
will be HIGHLY unstable for a while, I am afraid.
Second, the SB-64 AWE card poses some "special" problems that you will
have to deal with no matter what system you choose. I have two of them
here that I just got going on two different computers using the OSS
driver modules. There is a HOWTO at the Linux Documentation Project for
this card. It is quite helpful, but is somewhat dated. It ONLY deals
with the current kernel's built-in & pre-compiled sound modules. It
does NOT cover ALSA.
The FIRST hurdle you will have to overcome is that it is an ISA-PnP
card. You will have to either use the built-in PnP capabilities of the
2.4.X series kernels, or use the isapnp-tools package with the 2.2.X
kernels that appear to be the Debian "standard" right now. This process
is quite well documented in the HOWTO. Pay particular attention to
enabling the extra TWO data channels so you will be able to use the Wave
Table capability of this card. (You really want to do this if you are
interested in playing MIDI files, otherwise you can ignore it.)
The second hurdle is getting the proper modules loaded. Again, these
are quite well documented in the HOWTO.
The third, and IMHO the biggest hurdle is enabling the Wave Table
synthesis capability. If you play MIDI files you really want this! The
FM Synthesis is horrible! The necessary packages to do this are NOT
part of the "routine" Debian install, but are available from the Debian
FTP site. Also, you will have to get some Wave Table files from the
SB-64 AWE "WINDOWS" install disk to make it work. The necesary extra
packages were not "in synch" when I installed mine, so I had to do a bit
of de-bugging to get them to work. Rather than going into all the
details here, just drop me a note via E-Mail & I will attempt to walk
you through this part ... if you are interested.
I hope my remarks have not scared you off. I just didn't want you to
get the idea thea this would be a 10-minute project <g>. I spent about
6 months on getting these cards working (without any outside help...I AM
sort of "dense" <g>) . Most of the time was spent on figuring out the
Wave-Table Synthesis part. BTW, I have a SB-128 PCI card that I have
been working on for over TWO years to get the MIDI part working, so the
SB-64 AWE was a "piece of cake" <grin>. I have learned through bitter
experience that there is no "free lunch" when it comes to sound
cards.... Getting the CD playing, and playing WAVs, MP3s, etc seems to
be easy BUT getting the MIDI part is what seems to be hard for me.
Cheers,
-Don Spoon-