From alsa-devel-owner@alsa.jcu.cz  Thu Oct 15 18:24:30 1998
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To: alsa-devel@jcu.CZ
cc: mlewis@burly.com
From: sharkey@ale.physics.sunysb.edu
Subject: Re: want Yamaha ds2416(dsp factory) for Linux? 
In-reply-to: Your message of "Thu, 15 Oct 1998 03:22:24 PDT."
             <Pine.LNX.3.96.981014235808.569J-100000@chili.burly.com> 
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 12:23:02 -0400
Reply-To: alsa-devel@alsa.jcu.cz
Sender: alsa-devel-owner@alsa.jcu.cz
Precedence: list

> Hi all.  I've had some correspondance with Yamaha about the ds2416, and it
> looks like they might be interested in releasing specs for a linux driver
> project.  If you're not familiar with the card, check out:
> http://www.giles.com/yamaha1/pressreleases/NAMM/NAMMWinter98/PAC/ProAudio/dsp
> .html

Looks like quite a bit more than I would ever need.

> I think we could control the audio features with the existing alsa
> pcm interface.  I noticed that there was discussion about pcm mixing
> providing an interface on top of either a software or hardware
> implementation.  The ds2416 would be a great reference for what a true
> mixer interface should provide.  I wonder if it has too many features to
> try and roll into the driver?  Then there's effects/dynamics/EQ.  
> 
> I've got some experience with C, but I've never done any low-level
> hardware stuff, so, if any of you are interested in working on it, I'd do
> whatever I could to help and be grateful for a cool learning experience
> and the ultimate payoff: professional recording on linux.  

If I may be so bold as to speak for Jaroslav on this one, he's made it clear
that at the present time, his efforts will be spent on improving the core
parts of the ALSA driver, not adding support for new hardware, especially
hardware such ash this, which not many people will have.  Unfortunately, the
ALSA team is very small.  It's pretty much just JK and Frank, with the
rest of us well-wishers and wannabe's just hanging out and doing nothing.

However, if you are interested in such, why not code it up yourself?  You'll
need to take a leadership position in this effort, though.  I'm sure others
will comment on your work, but that's the way it would likely be.  You
write the driver, and let others tell you why it sucks.  (all freshly
written software sucks)

> I received a quick reply from Japan and they would like me to pursue your req
> uest.  However, the person in charge of DSP Factory developement (Tats Umeo) 
> would like to know about what you have planned.  For instance, are you more i
> nterested in music/MIDI, broadcast, DAW development, etc.
> 
> If you could, please give me some more information so I can pass it along.

I would tell them "the works".  Tell them you want to make a compreshensive
driver.  Just say, "if it can be done from Windows, I want to do it from
Linux"  Tell them you'll write the software, but that the more information
they can give you, the better, be it specs, example code, the source for
the Windows drivers, anything and everything.  Show them http://alsa.jcu.cz.
Explain what it is and why they would want to be a part of it.

But also explain to them that this project will be released under the GPL,
and make sure that they know that this means it will be released with full
source.  Don't sign any NDA's which don't permit you to distribute source
written based on what you have learned.  Hopefully they won't ask for a NDA
at all.  If they aren't comfortable with that, then thank them for their
time, and let them know that you're sorry that they lost the linux market.
(You may want to point out that the Linux market is probably larger than
the Macintosh market, which they claim to be writing drivers for now, but
since they seem willing, don't push that issue yet.)

Eric

