Re: Linux sound support (Forward From jruby@pressenter.com)

[saveek pressenter com (Susan V.)]

Wayne wants to know what the price tag for these items are.

                                Sue V.

>wayne have an interest in part of it, so go skip down the the area marked
>with ### and read it to him.. ok..
>
>Thanks..
>
>
>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.
>

>
>
saveek pressenter com