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ALSA for audio



 
 
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  #1 (permalink)  
Old February 12th 13, 03:39 PM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Jim Lesurf[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,668
Default ALSA for audio

Hi,

Just to let people know I've now written an initial webpage on how the user
can set up their Linux sound system. All being well, I'll add a couple of
more pages in due course to cover more of the topic. First page done, at

http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

  #2 (permalink)  
Old February 12th 13, 05:58 PM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Davey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 34
Default ALSA for audio

On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

Hi,

Just to let people know I've now written an initial webpage on how
the user can set up their Linux sound system. All being well, I'll
add a couple of more pages in due course to cover more of the topic.
First page done, at

http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html

Slainte,

Jim


I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems I had,
and you fixed!
--
Davey.
  #3 (permalink)  
Old February 13th 13, 08:45 AM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Jim Lesurf[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,668
Default ALSA for audio

In article , Davey
wrote:
On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT) Jim Lesurf
wrote:



http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html



I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems I had,
and you fixed!


You'll probably need the 'next' page - which I've not written yet! :-)

That will cover things like using aplay to investigate your card playout
devices and how to write a suitable .asoundrc to control and direct output.
Thought it best to start with alsamixer, etc, as it means starting with a
nice graphic display showing users what they have.

However, first, I intend writing a magazine article. Needed a wepage in
place first so I could give a URL to point readers toward for more specific
data. Once the article is done I'll have a while to add another page or two
to the above, and then all will be findable by someone who reads the
magazine.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

  #4 (permalink)  
Old February 13th 13, 09:07 AM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Davey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 34
Default ALSA for audio

On Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:45:53 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , Davey
wrote:
On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT) Jim Lesurf
wrote:



http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html



I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems I
had, and you fixed!


You'll probably need the 'next' page - which I've not written
yet! :-)

That will cover things like using aplay to investigate your card
playout devices and how to write a suitable .asoundrc to control and
direct output. Thought it best to start with alsamixer, etc, as it
means starting with a nice graphic display showing users what they
have.

However, first, I intend writing a magazine article. Needed a wepage
in place first so I could give a URL to point readers toward for more
specific data. Once the article is done I'll have a while to add
another page or two to the above, and then all will be findable by
someone who reads the magazine.

Slainte,

Jim


Don't forget to point us to the magazine with your article in it.
I had a very quick glance at your webpage, and I noticed all the
vertical bars; whereas my system just has several [00]s, due to a
different internal setup. Hopefully this is covered if I read it in
more depth.
I will follow this with interest, thanks.
--
Davey.
  #5 (permalink)  
Old February 14th 13, 08:20 AM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Jim Lesurf[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,668
Default ALSA for audio

In article , Davey
wrote:


Don't forget to point us to the magazine with your article in it.


Thereby hangs a tale... :-)

What has appeared on my website was originally aimed at being published in
'Linux Format'. I sent them a copy and their Editor said, yes, they wanted
to publish. We agreed it should be a 4-page 'tutorial' and I planned others
to follow.

I got their contract document from the Publishers. Didn't like the look of
it.

The essence of that was their contract wanted *all* rights on an exclusive
basis. Inc all 'moral' rights, etc. The lot.

I explained to the Editor that I only sell 'first serial' rights and *non*
exclusive republication rights as I wish to be able to re-use parts of
material, or put the articles on the web at a later date. The point being
to ensure that useful data isn't 'lost' to people later in time. (When they
can't get the mag, or the publisher shuts down.)

I've not had any problem with other publishers with this. e.g. Hi Fi News
are happy with it.

But their response was that they insist on taking all rights. Full stop.

I pointed out this seemed particularly weird as an attitude for a *Linux*
magazine! :-) The Editor agreed, but said it wasn't in his hands, and the
publishers insist.

So no publication in Linux Format. Fortunately, I don't write for a living,
so can decide to go without the fees.

However there will be an article in Hi Fi News. Just have to get around to
writing it. :-)

Shame, though, as I'd like to write about this for LXF. May see if they
will publish a brief item pointing at the webpages for details. Might get
though that way...

I had a very quick glance at your webpage, and I noticed all the
vertical bars; whereas my system just has several [00]s, due to a
different internal setup. Hopefully this is covered if I read it in more
depth. I will follow this with interest, thanks.


It depends entirely on the hardware ALSA finds. Some devices have gain or
volume controls. Others don't (and so you rely on software you use to scale
gains or volumes). I get different alsamixer displays on all three of the
Linux machines I use.

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

  #6 (permalink)  
Old February 14th 13, 09:47 AM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Davey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 34
Default ALSA for audio

On Thu, 14 Feb 2013 09:20:15 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , Davey
wrote:


Don't forget to point us to the magazine with your article in it.


Thereby hangs a tale... :-)

What has appeared on my website was originally aimed at being
published in 'Linux Format'. I sent them a copy and their Editor
said, yes, they wanted to publish. We agreed it should be a 4-page
'tutorial' and I planned others to follow.

I got their contract document from the Publishers. Didn't like the
look of it.

The essence of that was their contract wanted *all* rights on an
exclusive basis. Inc all 'moral' rights, etc. The lot.

I explained to the Editor that I only sell 'first serial' rights and
*non* exclusive republication rights as I wish to be able to re-use
parts of material, or put the articles on the web at a later date.
The point being to ensure that useful data isn't 'lost' to people
later in time. (When they can't get the mag, or the publisher shuts
down.)

I've not had any problem with other publishers with this. e.g. Hi Fi
News are happy with it.

But their response was that they insist on taking all rights. Full
stop.

I pointed out this seemed particularly weird as an attitude for a
*Linux* magazine! :-) The Editor agreed, but said it wasn't in his
hands, and the publishers insist.

So no publication in Linux Format. Fortunately, I don't write for a
living, so can decide to go without the fees.

However there will be an article in Hi Fi News. Just have to get
around to writing it. :-)

Shame, though, as I'd like to write about this for LXF. May see if
they will publish a brief item pointing at the webpages for details.
Might get though that way...




Well, that is sad. It sounds as though the editor didn't really care to
even try to change Management's thinking, but he may know there is no
chance of changing their ideas. I remember looking at Photobucket's
Ts&Cs once, and being horrified at what they took as their rights.


I had a very quick glance at your webpage, and I noticed all the
vertical bars; whereas my system just has several [00]s, due to a
different internal setup. Hopefully this is covered if I read it in
more depth. I will follow this with interest, thanks.


It depends entirely on the hardware ALSA finds. Some devices have
gain or volume controls. Others don't (and so you rely on software
you use to scale gains or volumes). I get different alsamixer
displays on all three of the Linux machines I use.


So many options, so much scope for confusion of the unwary......

--
Davey.
  #7 (permalink)  
Old February 16th 13, 03:28 PM posted to uk.rec.audio
Jim Lesurf[_2_]
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,668
Default ALSA for audio

In article , Bob Latham
wrote:
In article , Jim Lesurf
wrote:


However there will be an article in Hi Fi News. Just have to get
around to writing it. :-)


Jim,


I'm not for one moment trying to put you off writing for Hi-Fi News I am
a subscriber and have enjoyed reading many of your articles in the
magazine. I do often wonder though, how it sits with you to write for a
magazine that has an editor that comments in the Jan13 issue.


Three decade period of cable testing and crusty engineers who insist
that 'cable sound' is impossible or that the audiophile community is
generally bonkers.


He then goes on to talk about "overwhelming evidence of blind listening
tests on hundreds of interconnects (speakers and line level)"


I have to say I am quite happy to endorse his comments without
reservation in fact I think in some ways it is rather understated.


I am puzzled how you can live with it though.



Quite easy really.

1) My experience is that there are cases where I think a difference is
audible to me, and others where there isn't. (Which actually means I agree
that saying differences are "impossible" can't be correct.)

2) That I doubt a lot of what others claim, but realise there will be times
when they are correct and I'm wrong. Just as there will be other cases
t'other way around. (So others may be right when they say they can hear
some difference which escapes me.)

3) That 'differences' may depend on the circumstances of the situation. So
be evident in some cases, but not others.

4) That there may be 'differences' for other reasons, and they are
mis-ascribed in a way I can't tell for lack of knowledge, etc. One of the
real problems with experiments and tests is mis-understanding the cause of
what is observed.

5) They may also be because the 'control' was flawed. (And such flaws may
also give a null result, also.) Also because the test wasn't that 'blind'
or wasn't repeated often enough for any real significance. It is often
almost impossible in practice to do really reliable tests for things beyond
the so-obvious-and-you-can-easily-find-them-by-measurement differences.
People's hearing alters as they hear things. So if you play the same thing
twice it will tend to sound 'different' the second time.

6) There is no 'Editorial Line' I'm required to follow. I'm not required to
agree with whatever everyone else write in any magazine I get things
published in. :-) People are either happy to publish/read what I've
written, or not.

7) I've never claimed to have particulary good ears. Others almost
certainly have better hearing than mine.

8) I can't quite see any point in adopting an attitude of "I don't
absolutely agree with every word and idea you have, and don't feel certain
you are infallable, so I refuse to write for your magazine." :-)

The bottom line is that the same approach of applying an academic science /
doubting attitude means I have to be as doubting of my own views as that of
others, and similarly for presented 'evidence'.

So I may think he/you *might* be wrong in some cases, may even think it
likely, but have no way to know if I wasn't there and knew all and
controlled all. I can only be skeptical and make my own judgements on the
basis of my own experience and understanding.

FWIW I don't take very seriously many of the opinions in any reviews
either. Simply because I don't actually care what someone else thought of
the 'sound' using music I don't play, via a system I don't have, in a room
different to mine.

What I *can* sometimes do is shoot down the 'scientific explanations'
sometimes trotted out for 'why 'particular ultra-costly items are 'better'.
Usually because flaws in their arguments or evidence conflict with
established physics, etc, or muddle the reality. However that doesn't
necessarily mean their items are crap. Just that their 'explanations' are
twaddle.

People do know my views. Up to them to decide on their own. I simply write
about what interests me, and I hope at least a fair number of readers will
find that informative or of enough interest to read. If that differs from
what others write, etc, fair enough. No point in us all writing exactly the
same thing! :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Please use the address on the audiomisc page if you wish to email me.
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Armstrong Audio http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Armstrong/armstrong.html
Audio Misc http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/index.html

  #8 (permalink)  
Old February 13th 13, 10:55 PM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Davey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 34
Default ALSA for audio

On Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:45:53 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , Davey
wrote:
On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT) Jim Lesurf
wrote:



http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html



I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems I
had, and you fixed!


You'll probably need the 'next' page - which I've not written
yet! :-)

That will cover things like using aplay to investigate your card
playout devices and how to write a suitable .asoundrc to control and
direct output. Thought it best to start with alsamixer, etc, as it
means starting with a nice graphic display showing users what they
have.

However, first, I intend writing a magazine article. Needed a wepage
in place first so I could give a URL to point readers toward for more
specific data. Once the article is done I'll have a while to add
another page or two to the above, and then all will be findable by
someone who reads the magazine.

Slainte,

Jim


Having read the whole article now, one question:
Can I use the Mic Input on my laptop, which already has a built-in
Mic, as a Line Input, or is there going to be some horrid mis-match? I
have a tape deck nearby, and I would like to send its output into the
laptop, but it only has the Mic Input.
--
Davey.
  #9 (permalink)  
Old February 13th 13, 11:11 PM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
unruh
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2
Default ALSA for audio

On 2013-02-13, Davey wrote:
On Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:45:53 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , Davey
wrote:
On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT) Jim Lesurf
wrote:



http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html



I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems I
had, and you fixed!


You'll probably need the 'next' page - which I've not written
yet! :-)

That will cover things like using aplay to investigate your card
playout devices and how to write a suitable .asoundrc to control and
direct output. Thought it best to start with alsamixer, etc, as it
means starting with a nice graphic display showing users what they
have.

However, first, I intend writing a magazine article. Needed a wepage
in place first so I could give a URL to point readers toward for more
specific data. Once the article is done I'll have a while to add
another page or two to the above, and then all will be findable by
someone who reads the magazine.

Slainte,

Jim


Having read the whole article now, one question:
Can I use the Mic Input on my laptop, which already has a built-in
Mic, as a Line Input, or is there going to be some horrid mis-match? I
have a tape deck nearby, and I would like to send its output into the
laptop, but it only has the Mic Input.


In principle yes. However most mic inputs have a dc voltage on them to
power the FET on the microphones. Thus your line out should make sure it
has a capacitive output or you could have a fight.


  #10 (permalink)  
Old February 13th 13, 11:22 PM posted to uk.comp.os.linux,uk.rec.audio
Davey
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 34
Default ALSA for audio

On Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:11:13 GMT
unruh wrote:

On 2013-02-13, Davey wrote:
On Wed, 13 Feb 2013 09:45:53 +0000 (GMT)
Jim Lesurf wrote:

In article , Davey
wrote:
On Tue, 12 Feb 2013 16:39:20 +0000 (GMT) Jim Lesurf
wrote:


http://www.audiomisc.co.uk/Linux/ALSA/ALSAforUsers.html


I shall test-drive it, and see how well it reflects the problems
I had, and you fixed!

You'll probably need the 'next' page - which I've not written
yet! :-)

That will cover things like using aplay to investigate your card
playout devices and how to write a suitable .asoundrc to control
and direct output. Thought it best to start with alsamixer, etc,
as it means starting with a nice graphic display showing users
what they have.

However, first, I intend writing a magazine article. Needed a
wepage in place first so I could give a URL to point readers
toward for more specific data. Once the article is done I'll have
a while to add another page or two to the above, and then all will
be findable by someone who reads the magazine.

Slainte,

Jim


Having read the whole article now, one question:
Can I use the Mic Input on my laptop, which already has a built-in
Mic, as a Line Input, or is there going to be some horrid
mis-match? I have a tape deck nearby, and I would like to send its
output into the laptop, but it only has the Mic Input.


In principle yes. However most mic inputs have a dc voltage on them to
power the FET on the microphones. Thus your line out should make sure
it has a capacitive output or you could have a fight.



Thanks. That's just the sort of thing I was looking out for, not
knowing enough about these things.
The line out in question is from the headphone-out socket of an AIWA
cassette deck, I'll see if I can find a spec. sheet anywhere. Or is it
likely to be typical in some way?
--
Davey.
 




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