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From: sharkey@ale.physics.sunysb.edu
Subject: Re: audiodrive1868, mup-401 
In-reply-to: Your message of "10 Sep 1998 16:44:44 +0200."
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> Excuse me, I have no clue about sound in the computer, so please allow
> me the following questions:
> 
> - For what do I need a MUP-401?

Probably nothing.

> - How to play midi files with alsa?
> - As far as I know the ESS1868 does not have any built in
>   wavetables. Only support for Software wavetables. How do I install
>   them, and how do I use them?

To both questions: Use timidity.

I don't know what distro you are using.  timidity is available as a Debian
package.  Red Hat might have it too.
 
> I have a simple and cheap audiodrive ESS1868 card that works fine with 
> the snd-audiodrive1688 module. Except that I dont know how to play
> midi files. Since I installed a PS/2 mouse to my computer I get the
> follwing message while installing the alsa modules:
> 
> snd: warning: can't allocate IRQ for MPU401, midi port is disabled

Don't worry about it.  Unless you want to hook up a keyboard or do some
serious midi work, I don't think you need it.

> - what is AUX Port in the soundcard?

I'm not sure what your configuration is, but AUX ports can be used for
input from other devices (such as video capture cards, radio tuner cards,
maybe CDROM drives, etc.)

> - How do I control the PC Speaker with alsamixer

I don't think this is possible yet, unless your speaker is fed through your
sound card.

> - Can I mix different audiostreams with ALSA, e.g having a mpg player
>   running in the background and get sound events from the windowmanager?

Not yet.

> - Sorry, but what is the difference between the FM and PCM device,

FM devices are used to play midi files and create other sound effects by using
frequency modulated sine waves.  I don't recommend using it, since the quality
is very poor compared to wave table synth.  PCM devices are used to play back
recorded sound, such as wav's, au's, mp3's, and software wavetable midi.

>   and how does the ALSA implementation of the pcm device differ to OSS,
>   that one need an extra module?

I can't really field that one.  Jaroslav?

Eric


