From alsa-user-owner@alsa.jcu.cz  Thu Jul 23 14:57:45 1998
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Message-ID: <35B732B5.8C4058E5@feynman.com>
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1998 08:55:17 -0400
From: Bill C Riemers <bcr@feynman.com>
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To: alsa-user@alsa.jcu.cz
Subject: Annoying, but minor problem
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Hi there,

Recently I added an Ethernet card to my machine to use with
a cable modem.  Afterwards, for reasons I still don't 
understand, I couldn't get OSS to work anymore.  I stumbled
across the Advance Linux Sound Architecture project, and 
walla I have sound again.  GREAT.  

Now for the problem.  I have the kernel configured to
automatically load modules when they are needed.  It seems
this means the sound modules also get unloaded after a very
short period of none use...  The problem is when the sound
module is loaded, all the volume levels are re-initialized
to zero volume.  So when I'm web browsing, and I come across
a page that needs sound I don't hear anything.  Once I realize
it, I typically have to do BACK on my browser, run 'amixer',
and then go back to the page again.  (I could just run 'amixer'
but I hate starting songs in the middle...)

Right now, the hack I use to avoid problems is I have a crontab
job that does 'amixer -r' every minute.  This works, except
of course it means that I have to disable the crontab job
while I write a new mixer file if I really want to change
volume levels.  (Typically, I leave my MIC at 40% volume to
avoid feedback, except when I am recording something.)

Any ideas on how to change the module to save it's current
volume levels when it unloads and restore them when it reloads?
I really don't have a clue when it comes to programing modules.

			Bill

