Linux sound support

[lark world std com (Lar Kaufman)]

OK, I've taken time to scan through the January LSM file, whichis 
enormous--as large as a thick book.  I was surprised to learn the
breadth of utilities available on Linux that may be useful to blind
and otherwise access-impaired Linux users.  I've marked up my hardcopy
and this weekend I'll go back through the electronic copy and edit it
down to the descriptions of utilities that I think may be interesting
to this list.  Depending on it's size, I'll either post it or put it
on a website for anyone to access.  

The thing that struck me is that a lot of these utilities might be
integrated to provide a much more powerful environment based on 
an audio or a textual interface.  Once I have posted the listing, 
maybe we can discuss this more.  

I was delighted to learn just how much kernel support for sound cards
has improved in Linux.  Forget that old 8-bit SoundBlaster, the 2.1
kernel provides support for just about all the popular 16-bit sound
cards, and there are some tools out there to support a few really
powerful digital signal processors as well.  So maybe we should seriously
think about making audio tools work through (for example) the X
windows interface and Emacs using standard /dev/dsp and /dev/sequencer
kernel support.

If speed is important, we can always use an MPEG-2 utility for data
compression; several video cards have come out with MPEG-2 decoders in
hardware (sufficient to support 30/frames second video with full "home
theater" 3D stereo).  The technology is here, and it's time for us to
make a serious attempt to create a really functional accessible Linux
package, IMHO.

Speaking of the technology, and to answer another remark... The MMX 
processor does in fact incorporate very powerful digital signal processing
features.  I read in InfoWorld that vendors have already demonstrated 
9600kbps modem emulation in software on the 133 MHz Pentium MMX, and 
also SoundBlaster 16 emulation in software on the same processor.  Once
Intel releases the new MMX-support chipset (430TX) on Feb. 18, these 
features can readily be supported through optimizing the Linux kernel
to support the MMX instruction set.  It's a matter of a few months before
this technology should be readily available to all of us.

More soon, 

 -lar

  Lar Kaufman    lark world std com     lark conserve org    lark walden com
   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +   +
  _Running Linux_ 2nd. Ed. Aug. 1996, Matt Welsh and Lar Kaufman, Authors
                                      O'Reilly & Associates, Publishers