"Randolph S. Kahle" <RandyKahle@KahleAssociates.com> wrote: > --snip-- <
Thank you. If I want to focus on learning one thing related to sound (that will be valid now and for the future), I should focus on ALSA, even if it means a little extra work right now. Thank you -- Randy
Randy, I am afraid it won't be quite so easy :(First of all, the difference in "learning" between OSS and ALSA, involves learning how to compile the ALSA source code for your system, because the necessary modules are NOT included in any Debian package I have seen. In the case of OSS, the needed modules to make it work are included in the kernel. As others have mentioned, this will most probably change in future kernels....probably in the 2.5 series (developmental), which just got started up a few weeks ago. This series will be HIGHLY unstable for a while, I am afraid.
Second, the SB-64 AWE card poses some "special" problems that you will have to deal with no matter what system you choose. I have two of them here that I just got going on two different computers using the OSS driver modules. There is a HOWTO at the Linux Documentation Project for this card. It is quite helpful, but is somewhat dated. It ONLY deals with the current kernel's built-in & pre-compiled sound modules. It does NOT cover ALSA.
The FIRST hurdle you will have to overcome is that it is an ISA-PnP card. You will have to either use the built-in PnP capabilities of the 2.4.X series kernels, or use the isapnp-tools package with the 2.2.X kernels that appear to be the Debian "standard" right now. This process is quite well documented in the HOWTO. Pay particular attention to enabling the extra TWO data channels so you will be able to use the Wave Table capability of this card. (You really want to do this if you are interested in playing MIDI files, otherwise you can ignore it.)
The second hurdle is getting the proper modules loaded. Again, these are quite well documented in the HOWTO.
The third, and IMHO the biggest hurdle is enabling the Wave Table synthesis capability. If you play MIDI files you really want this! The FM Synthesis is horrible! The necessary packages to do this are NOT part of the "routine" Debian install, but are available from the Debian FTP site. Also, you will have to get some Wave Table files from the SB-64 AWE "WINDOWS" install disk to make it work. The necesary extra packages were not "in synch" when I installed mine, so I had to do a bit of de-bugging to get them to work. Rather than going into all the details here, just drop me a note via E-Mail & I will attempt to walk you through this part ... if you are interested.
I hope my remarks have not scared you off. I just didn't want you to get the idea thea this would be a 10-minute project <g>. I spent about 6 months on getting these cards working (without any outside help...I AM sort of "dense" <g>) . Most of the time was spent on figuring out the Wave-Table Synthesis part. BTW, I have a SB-128 PCI card that I have been working on for over TWO years to get the MIDI part working, so the SB-64 AWE was a "piece of cake" <grin>. I have learned through bitter experience that there is no "free lunch" when it comes to sound cards.... Getting the CD playing, and playing WAVs, MP3s, etc seems to be easy BUT getting the MIDI part is what seems to be hard for me.
Cheers, -Don Spoon-