At Thu, 14 Jul 2005 20:33:23 +0100 Daniel Drake <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Allan Gottlieb wrote: >> *Very* interesting. Please let us know when the documentation is >> available. I have build everything into the kernel (including alsa) >> and so far it is working well, but I haven't stressed audio. What >> problems should I be looking for and do you advise rebuilding the >> kernel with alsa as modules even if we don't experience trouble with >> everything built in? (I should have said all but nvidia built in). > > It's fine to build ALSA into the kernel if you are happy to configure it, > which usually isn't too much hassle anyway. > > The reasoning behind compiling ALSA as modules is that it then gives you the > option of using 'alsaconf'. > > alsaconf is a great little utility, which, providing you have built the > modules, will configure pretty much any sound card for you, set up the system > for autoloading the relevant modules and saving/restoring volume, and unmuting > the channels. > > I came across it when i was attempting to get an ISA sound card going in an > old computer. It just didn't work when built into the kernel or loading the > module manually. I discovered alsaconf, which did some weird probing, and 20 > secs later informed me of 4 cryptic parameters that were needed to pass to the > module in order to find the sound card, as well as doing everything else I > described above. > > Recently at work, I built *all* alsa drivers as modules, and proceeded to test > 30-40 sound cards that we had lying around. ALSA supported every one of them > that wasn't so broken that it stopped the PC booting, and alsaconf made it > dead easy even with the older PCI cards and the ISA ones too. > > So, the advantage of building ALSA modules is that you can use alsaconf, which > in most cases makes initial configuration a little bit simpler, and in some > cases is a complete lifesaver. thank you for the lucid explanation. > You might be interested in our recently revamped ALSA guide: > http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/alsa-guide.xml It is indeed much improved since I last used it. > And also, if you are interested in the upcoming kernel config doc, then you > can add yourself to the CC list on http://bugs.gentoo.org/94955 Done. Thanks again, allan -- gentoo-user@gentoo.org mailing list
