HOWTO ALSA Complete (includes dmix)

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  # lspci | grep -i audio
  Multimedia audio controller: VIA Technologies, Inc. VT82C686 AC97 Audio Controller (rev 64).

...
USE="alsa oss ..."
...

Loadable module support  --->
    [*] Enable loadable module support

Device Drivers  --->
    Sound  --->
        <M> Sound card Support
            Advanced Linux Sound Architecture  --->
                <M> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
            Open Sound System  --->
                < > Open Sound System (Deprecated)

Loadable module support  --->
    [*] Enable loadable module support

Device Drivers  --->
    Character devices --->
        <*> Enhanced Real Time Clock Support
    Sound  --->
        <M> Sound card Support
            Advanced Linux Sound Architecture  --->
                <M> Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
                <M> Sequencer Support
                <M> OSS Mixer API
                <M> OSS PCM (digital audio) API
                <M> RTC Timer support
                [ ] Verbose printk
                [ ] Debug
                Generic Devices  --->
                PCI Devices  --->
                USB Devices  --->
            Open Sound System  --->
                < > Open Sound System (DEPRECATED)

#emerge alsa-utils alsa-oss

Loadable module support  --->
    [*] Enable loadable module support

Device Drivers  --->
    Character devices --->
        <*> Enhanced Real Time Clock Support
    Sound  --->
        <M> Sound card Support
            Advanced Linux Sound Architecture  --->
                < > Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
            Open Sound System  --->
                < > Open Sound System (DEPRECATED)

...
ALSA_CARDS="via82xx emu10k1"

#emerge alsa-lib alsa-driver alsa-oss alsa-utils

#etc-update

# Alsa 0.9.X kernel modules' configuration file.
# $Header: /home/cvsroot/gentoo-x86/media-sound/alsa-utils/files/
# alsa-modules.conf-rc,v 1.1 2003/08/05 21:07:55 johnm Exp $

# ALSA portion
alias char-major-116 snd
# OSS/Free portion
alias char-major-14 soundcore

##
## IMPORTANT:
## You need to customise this section for your specific sound card(s)
## and then run `update-modules' command.
## Read alsa-driver's INSTALL file in /usr/share/doc for more info.
##
##  ALSA portion
alias snd-card-0 snd-cmipci
## alias snd-card-1 snd-ens1371
##  OSS/Free portion
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0
## alias sound-slot-1 snd-card-1
##

# OSS/Free portion - card #1
alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss
##  OSS/Free portion - card #2
## alias sound-service-1-0 snd-mixer-oss
## alias sound-service-1-3 snd-pcm-oss
## alias sound-service-1-12 snd-pcm-oss

alias /dev/mixer snd-mixer-oss
alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss
alias /dev/midi snd-seq-oss

# Set this to the correct number of cards.
options snd cards_limit=1

alias char-major-116 snd
alias char-major-14 soundcore

alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss

options snd cards_limit=1

alias char-major-116 snd
alias char-major-14 soundcore

#Card 1
alias snd-card-0 snd-emu10k1
alias sound-slot-0 snd-card-0

alias sound-service-0-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-0-1 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-0-8 snd-seq-oss
alias sound-service-0-12 snd-pcm-oss

options snd-emu10k1 index=0

alias /dev/dsp snd-pcm-oss

#Card 2
alias snd-card-1 snd-intel8x0
alias sound-slot-1 snd-card-1

alias sound-service-1-0 snd-mixer-oss
alias sound-service-1-3 snd-pcm-oss
alias sound-service-1-12 snd-pcm-oss

options snd-intel8x0 index=1

alias /dev/dsp1 snd-pcm-oss

options snd cards_limit=2

# /etc/modules.autoload.d/kernel-2.6:  kernel modules to load when system boots.
#
# Note that this file is for 2.6 kernels.
#
# Add the names of modules that you'd like to load when the system
# starts into this file, one per line.  Comments begin with # and
# are ignored.  Read man modules.autoload for additional details.

# For example:
# 3c59x

snd-emu10k1
snd-intel8x0

#modules-update -f

#rc-update add alsasound boot

#/etc/init.d/alsasound start

#alsamixer -c 0

or 

#alsamixer -c 1

#/etc/init.d/alsasound save

or

#alsactl store

#gpasswd -a username audio

#cat /proc/asound/cards

$ emerge media-sound/mpg321

$ mpg321 somesong1.mp3 &
$ mpg321 somesong2.mp3 &
$ mpg321 somesong3.mp3 &

 aplay -D plug:dmix some_sound.wav

# ~/.asoundrc:

pcm.dsp0 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:0,0"
}
# or:
#  pcm.dsp0 pcm.default
# if "default" hasn't been redefined

ctl.mixer0 {
    type hw
    card 0
}

# emerge mpg321

# aoss mpg321 some.mp3

# ~/.asoundrc

pcm.dsp0 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "dmix"   # <-- this line has been altered!
}

# mixer0 can stay unchanged, because it isn't used anyway, I guess ;)
ctl.mixer0 {
    type hw
    card 0
}

# I also had to add/alter the following, making ALSA use dmix by default
pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "dmix"
}

pcm.ossmix {
    type dmix
    ipc_key 1024          # must be unique!
    ipc_perm 0660         # sound for everybody (at least in your group)
    slave {
        pcm "hw:0,0"      # you cannot use a "plug" device here, darn.
        period_time 0
        period_size 1024  # must be power of 2
        buffer_size 8192  # dito. It
        #format "S32_LE"
        #periods 128      # dito.
        #rate 8000        # with rate 8000 you *will* hear,
                          # if ossmix is used :)
    }
}
# bindings are cool. This says, that only the first
# two channels are to be used by dmix, which is enough for
# (most) oss apps and also lets multichannel chios work
# much faster:

bindings {
        0 0   # from 0 => to 0
        1 1   # from 1 => to 1
}

pcm.dsp0 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "ossmix"     # use our new PCM here
}
# mixer0 like above
ctl.mixer0 {
    type hw
    card 0
}

# alsaplayer -o alsa -d ossmix some.mp3

pcm.nforce-hw {
        type hw
        card 0
}
pcm.!default {
        type plug
        slave.pcm "nforce"
}
pcm.nforce {
        type dmix
        ipc_key 1234
        ipc_perm 0660
        slave {
                pcm "hw:0,0"
                period_time 0
                period_size 1024
                buffer_size 4096
                #rate 44100
                rate 48000
        }
}
ctl.nforce-hw {
        type hw
        card 0
}

[esd]
auto_spawn=1
spawn_options=-terminate -nobeeps -as 2 -d default
spawn_wait_ms=100

#!/usr/bin/pulseaudio -nF

#
# This file is part of pulseaudio.
#
# pulseaudio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
# under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
# the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or
# (at your option) any later version.
#
# pulseaudio is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
# General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
# along with pulseaudio; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation,
# Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA 02111-1307 USA.

# Load audio drivers statically

#load-module module-alsa-sink sink device=dmix
#load-module module-alsa-source device=plughw:1,0
#load-module module-oss device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input
#load-module module-oss-mmap device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input
load-module module-null-sink
#load-module module-pipe-sink

# Load audio drivers automatically on access

# ALSA
add-autoload-sink output module-alsa-sink sink_name=output device=dmix
add-autoload-source input module-alsa-source source_name=input

# OSS
add-autoload-sink output module-oss device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input
add-autoload-source input module-oss device="/dev/dsp" source_name=input sink_name=output

#add-autoload-sink output module-oss-mmap device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input
#add-autoload-source input module-oss-mmap device="/dev/dsp" sink_name=output source_name=input

# Load several protocols
load-module module-esound-protocol-unix
#load-module module-esound-protocol-tcp
load-module module-native-protocol-unix
#load-module module-simple-protocol-tcp
#load-module module-cli-protocol-unix

# Load the CLI module
load-module module-cli

# Make some devices default
set-default-sink output
set-default-source input

.nofail

# Load something to the sample cache
load-sample x11-bell /usr/share/sounds/generic.wav
#load-sample-dir-lazy /usr/share/sounds/*.wav

# Load X11 bell module
load-module module-x11-bell sample=x11-bell sink=output

# Publish connection data in the X11 root window
load-module module-x11-publish

#load-module module-pipe-source
#load-module module-pipe-sink

# convert alsa API over jack API
# use it with 
# % aplay foo.wav

# use this as default
pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave { pcm "jack" }
}

# pcm type jack
pcm.jack {
    type jack
    playback_ports {
        0 alsa_pcm:playback_1
        1 alsa_pcm:playback_2
        }
    capture_ports {
        0 alsa_pcm:capture_1
        1 alsa_pcm:capture_2
        }
}

# oss will use the alsa to jack API by default
# test it with
# % aoss mpg123 some.mp3
pcm.dsp pcm.!default

# mplayer -ao jack movie.avi

ao=alsa:device=dmix

# mplayer -ao alsa:device=dmix movie.avi

# mplayer -ao help

pcm.dmixer  {
    type dmix
    ipc_key 1024
    slave {
        pcm "hw:0,0"
        period_time 0
        period_size 1024  <===== here
        buffer_size 8192  <===== and here
        periods 128
        rate 44100
    }
    bindings {
        0 0
        1 1
    }
}

 default_driver=alsa
 default_driver=oss

Tools->Preferences->Sounds->Sound Command =
 aplay -D plug:dmix %s

aplay %s

sox %s -t alsa -s default

# rm /usr/bin/firefox
# ln -s /usr/libexec/mozilla-launcher /usr/libexec/firefox

#!/bin/sh

# This line needs to be maintained or Thunderbird (and
# certain other apps) will not launch links when they
# are clicked on
export MOZILLA_LAUNCHER=firefox

# not correct:
#aoss /usr/libexec/firefox $*
#
# correct:
aoss /usr/libexec/firefox "$@"

# exec aoss /usr/libexec/mozilla-launcher "$@"

  else
    #"$mozbin" "$@" &           #old line
    aoss "$mozbin" "$@" &       #new dmixed line
  fi

# rm /usr/bin/skype
# touch /usr/bin/skype
# chmod +x /usr/bin/skype

#!/bin/sh
aoss /opt/skype/skype "$@"

SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa
AUDIODEV=default

gnome-media
gstreamer-properties
mixer_device
/etc/mpd.conf
mixer_type              "alsa"
mixer_device            "dmix"
mixer_control           "PCM"

ao_driver_options
/etc/mpd.conf
ao_driver_options       "dev=dmixer"
#or
ao_driver_options       "dev=plug:dmix"

ao_driver_options       "dev=pcm.ossmix"

/etc/asound.conf
user
/etc/mpd.conf
pcm.intel8x0 {
        type hw
    card 0
}

ctl.intel8x0 {
        type hw
        card 0
}

# Set default sound card
# Useful so that all settings can be changed to a different card here.
pcm.snd_card {
     type hw
     card 0
     device 0
}

# Allow mixing of multiple output streams to this device
pcm.output {
     type dmix
     ipc_key 1024
     ipc_perm 0660 # Sound for everybody in your group!
     slave.pcm "snd_card"

     slave {
          # This stuff provides some fixes for latency issues.
          # buffer_size should be set for your audio chipset.
          period_time 0
          period_size 1024
          buffer_size 8192
     }

     bindings {
          0 0
          1 1
     }
}

# Allow reading from the default device.
# Also known as record or capture.
pcm.input {
     type dsnoop
     ipc_key 2048
     slave.pcm "snd_card"

## Possible artsd full duplex fix:
#     slave {
#          period_time 0
#          period_size 1024
#          buffer_size 8192
#     }

     bindings {
          0 0
          1 1
     }
}

# This is what we want as our default device
# a fully duplex (read/write) audio device.
pcm.duplex {
     type asym
     playback.pcm "output"
     capture.pcm "input"
}

###################
# CONVERSION PLUG #
###################
# Setting the default pcm device allows the conversion
# rate to be selected on the fly.
# duplex mode allows any alsa enabled app to read/write
# to the dmix plug (Fixes a problem with wine).
pcm.!default {
     type plug
     slave.pcm "duplex"
}

# Apparently this is wrong (breaks mplayer for me opening the device)
#ctl.!default {
#     type plug
#     slave.pcm "snd_card"
#}

########
# AOSS #
########
# OSS dsp0 device (OSS needs only output support, duplex will break some stuff)
pcm.dsp0 {
     type plug
     slave.pcm "output"
}

# OSS control for dsp0 (needed?...this might not be useful)
ctl.dsp0 {
     type plug
     slave.pcm "snd_card"
}

####
#### As of November 2005 with the following packages:
#### >=mozilla-firefox-1.0.7-r2, netscape-flash-7.0.25,
#### alsa-oss-1.0.8-r1 and alsa-oss-1.0.10_rc3
####
#### I have been experiencing crashes related to firefox when rendering flash.
#### I used "aoss firefox" to start the browser.
#### Commenting out the below ctl.mixer0 and using the above ctl.dsp0 allows
#### firefox to render flash without crashing (and yes the aoss mixing works)
#### However aoss Skype does not work properly without mixer0 under some configurations.
####
# OSS control for dsp0 (default old OSS is mixer0)
#ctl.mixer0 {
#     type plug
#     slave.pcm "snd_card"
#}

$ alsaplayer -d ossmix
error on set_format SND_PCM_FORMAT_S16_LE
Unavailable hw params:
ACCESS:  RW_INTERLEAVED
FORMAT:  S32_LE
SUBFORMAT:  ALL
SAMPLE_BITS: ALL
FRAME_BITS: ALL
CHANNELS: 2
RATE: 48000
PERIOD_TIME: (21333 21334)
PERIOD_SIZE: 1024
PERIOD_BYTES: ALL
PERIODS: (6 7)
BUFFER_TIME: (136520 136521)
BUFFER_SIZE: 6553        <<<<====take a look here!!
BUFFER_BYTES: ALL
TICK_TIME: ALL

# ~/.asoundrc

# our ICE1712 dmix:
pcm.ossmix {
    type dmix
    ipc_key 1024
    slave {
        pcm "hw:0,0"
        period_time 0
        period_size 1024
        buffer_size 4096        # buffer size < 6653, but pow(x, 2)
        rate 44100              # we want to play CDs only
    }

    bindings {
        0 0
                1 1
        }
}

# Everything shall be dmixed, so redefine "default":
pcm.!default {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "ossmix"
}

# OSS via aoss should d(mix)stroyed:
pcm.dsp0 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "ossmix"
}

ctl.mixer0 {
    type hw
    card 0
}

pcm.dmixer {
    type dmix
    ipc_key 1024
    ipc_key_add_uid false
    ipc_perm 0666		# mixing for all users
                 		# for users only in your group use 0660

    slave {
        pcm "hw:0,0"
        period_time 0
        period_size 1024
        buffer_size 8192
   rate 44100
    }
    bindings {
        0 0
        1 1
    }
}

pcm.dsp0 {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "dmixer"
}

pcm.!default {
        type plug
        slave.pcm "dmixer"
}

pcm.default {
   type plug
   slave.pcm "dmixer"
}

ctl.mixer0 {
    type hw
    card 0
}

pcm.!default {
   type plug
   slave.pcm "dmixer"
}

pcm.dmixer  {
   type dmix
   ipc_key 1024
   slave {
      pcm "hw:0,0"
      format S32_LE
      period_time 0
      period_size 1024

# increased buffer_size because in my system 1024 cause bad
# audio performance (for totem media player and mplayer)
      buffer_size 8192

      rate 44100
   }
   bindings {
      0 0
      1 1
   }
}

ctl.dmixer {
   type hw
   card 0
   device 0
} 

#########################################################
#This is the standard setting (see: "!default")
#This profile, the default loaded, upmixes stereo sound to 5.1.

pcm.!default {
        type plug
        slave.pcm "surround51"
        slave.channels 6
        route_policy duplicate
}
########################################################
#This is the normal spdif output profile (optical, toslink).

pcm.!spdif {
    type plug
    slave.pcm "hw:0,1"
}

#######################################################
#This is what one could call the "factory default setting", in other words, it only plays the actual channels. so if you fx want to watch a 5.1 movie, on the analog output, this is the option you want. 

pcm.analog {
    type plug
    slave analog_slave;
}

pcm_slave.analog_slave {
        pcm surround51;
        format S32_LE;
}

$ arecord -f cd -d 3 -t wav -N test.wav
ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:759:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) The dmix plugin supports only playback stream
arecord: main:502: audio open error: Invalid argument

*   Loading: snd-pcm-oss ...
 WARNING: Error inserting snd_mixer_oss (/lib/modules/2.6.12-gentoo-r6/kernel/sound/core/oss/snd-mixer-oss.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)
 FATAL: Error inserting snd_pcm_oss (/lib/modules/2.6.12-gentoo-r6/kernel/sound/core/oss/snd-pcm-oss.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)                                                                       [ !! ]
*   Loading: snd-mixer-oss ...
 FATAL: Error inserting snd_mixer_oss (/lib/modules/2.6.12-gentoo-r6/kernel/sound/core/oss/snd-mixer-oss.ko): Unknown symbol in module, or unknown parameter (see dmesg)

~app-emulation/emul-linux-x86-soundlibs-2.5 ~amd64 
~app-emulation/emul-linux-x86-baselibs-2.5.5 ~amd64

HOWTO ALSA Complete (includes dmix)

From Gentoo Linux Wiki

Contents

Introduction

Setting up ALSA

Identify Your Card

Adjust Your USE Flags

Preparing Kernel 2.4

Preparing Kernel 2.6

Building Support from Kernel Source

Building Support from alsa-driver Package

Installing alsa-driver

Post-Installation Configuration

Single card example

Multiple cards

Multiple cards with the same module

Start alsa automatically

User Configuration

Notes

Finding your ALSA card ID

Known Issues

Kernel 2.6.16

UDEV 089-r2

No Sound, Mixers Adjusted

No Sound or very silent sound with noise

Credits

Testing Your Installation

Intro to dmix

Test dmix

dmix Configuration for OSS Emulation

Test for OSS Emulation

Simple Configuration

Advanced Configuration

Credits

Software Related Configurations

Configuring aRts and KDE

aRts Approach

ALSA Approach

ESD (esound) Approach

OSS Emulation Approach

Credits

Configuring Gnome/eSound

pulseaudio

jack

Alsa and jack

oss and jack

Note

MPlayer

Credits

XMMS

GAIM

Firefox, Mozilla, RealPlayer, Skype & Co

LICQ

SDL

GStreamer

MPD

Xine Engine

Amarok

Hardware Configurations - ~/.asoundrc Files

Simple asoundrc for intel8x0

intel8x0 audio card integrated on nforce2 motherboards

Credits

via82cxxx onboard/ICE1712 chip

Credits

cmedia 8738 and Analog Devices AD1980

Credits

VIA Envy24HT (ice1724) chip

Credits

Troubleshooting

Creative X-Fi soundcards

Alsa record sound

Alsa + dmix + microphone

XMMS in KDE

Errors inserting modules

Another Solution

Problems with 32-bit dmix on AMD64

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