Arch Linux

Locri

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2005-02-22

Posts: 55

KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

So I heard that KDE 3.5 has some issues with sound, this was mentioned in a previous post, but I'm not sure if my problem relates to that or not exactly.

After upgrading to KDE 3.5, my sound became stuttery when playing any sound (MP3s out of Amarok using any of the engines, sounds in KDE, etc) unlike the previous post where programs like XMMS worked just fine.  I've tracked the source of the problem down to when I check the "Full Duplex" box in the Sound System configuration, but I am unsure exactly why that is happening.

Is this part of the "upstream" bug that has been mentioned before?  If so, would someone be able to explain the situation to me because if this is something all users are experiencing, I'm surprised that everyone upgrading to KDE 3.5 isn't complaining about it.

If not.... any ideas what might be causing it?  A little information:  I'm now running on a clean install of Noodle with KDE 3.5 obviously and my sound card is a Sound Blaster Live! Value... it worked fine in 3.4 from what I recall although there was always noticeable lagtime to play sound, but from what I can tell that is fairly common with the current Linux sound systems.

Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

-Locri

pbw

Member

From: Barrie ON, Canada

Registered: 2005-06-01

Posts: 65

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

I assume you tried disabling arts, setting sound server to use alsa and enabling realtime priority?

To answer your question on whether all users are experiencing.. I have no problems with sound and kde personally (i use xine engine for amarok), nor do 3 friends i have installed arch for.

-- pbw

Gullible Jones

Member

Registered: 2004-12-29

Posts: 4,863

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

Wait a minute, you're telling me there's a way to switch sound to just ALSA, as opposed to ALSA through ARTS?

pbw

Member

From: Barrie ON, Canada

Registered: 2005-06-01

Posts: 65

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

I'm currently running a few standalone kde packages and don't have kcontrol to double check firsthand, but i grabbed this off a kde wiki:

How can I get sounds notifications working in KDE without aRts:

in KControl -> Sound & System Notification -> Sound System -> disable arts (uncheck Enable Sound System). Then go to KControl -> Sound & System Notification -> System Notifications -> More Options -> Player Settings (click on it) -> Use external player (check that) open the dialog, choose the player you like for example /usr/bin/ogg123 or aplay.

Gullible Jones

Member

Registered: 2004-12-29

Posts: 4,863

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

Thanks.

Locri

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2005-02-22

Posts: 55

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

Thanks!  That cleared up that part of the problem.  Although I haven't been doing to many things simultaineously yet, I'm sure I'll get a chance to test it out enough.

One question though.. because of disabling the Arts system, do I need to worry about any apps not having sound, or will that go through the external program I set up too?

Thanks again,
-Locri

pbw

Member

From: Barrie ON, Canada

Registered: 2005-06-01

Posts: 65

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

No problem, i'm glad it helped. You should be good to go with application sounds using the external program you setup.

You might want to append your post title with [solved], to help people in the future having similar problem.

Cheers,

-- pbw

stasiek

Member

Registered: 2005-07-10

Posts: 16

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

But as far as I know some KDE apps, like Kopete, use ogg or mp3 for sounds and this will not work with aplay.

monsieurseb

Member

Registered: 2005-04-12

Posts: 24

Website

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

But as far as I know some KDE apps, like Kopete, use ogg or mp3 for sounds and this will not work with aplay.

Why not use mplayer ?

Gullible Jones

Member

Registered: 2004-12-29

Posts: 4,863

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

Actually, are you sure that you need to specify a different application? The ARTS multimedia engine and the ARTS sound server (artsd) seem to be different things, judging from the fact that Noatun still works for me with ARTS off.

Locri

Member

From: Ontario, Canada

Registered: 2005-02-22

Posts: 55

Re: KDE 3.5 Sound Issues [Solved]

I actually just specificed "/usr/bin/play" as the external program.. I couldn't find "aplay or ogg123"

As I said before though, things seem to be working fine.. I can run AmaroK and Kaffeine simultaineously without sound problems (except for the normal lag to start the sound).

I'll edit the thread to be solved.

-Locri