OSS vs ALSA; What's the difference? (or similarity?)

0ver.bi+e · n00b Joined: 15 Aug 2002 Posts: 60 Location: Columbus, OH

Hi,

This is just a general (by that I mean b r o a d) question regarding sound support for my gentoo system. What is ALSA? What is OSS? Are they the same? Are they different? I have looked online and was just wondering, in one sentence, what the deal was? Thanks.
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cyfred · Retired Dev Joined: 23 Aug 2002 Posts: 596

ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Arch) basically will allow you to have software volume control not just hardware. OSS is more of a plugin for different card system support.

You dont have to use either if you only want hardware volume manipulation.

Woody · Guru Joined: 30 Nov 2002 Posts: 592 Location: Milwaukee

ALSA and OSS both serve the same purpose. Since ALSA is the future and it supports OSS emulation you should just use ALSA. Also, some of the Free OSS drivers have certain limitations. (There are commercial versions available)

Shades3D · n00b Joined: 25 Dec 2002 Posts: 39

ALSA is free
OSS is not (well, there are free drivers, but they're limited, as noted before)

ALSA supports things OSS doesn't, and visa versa. What works good for you may be different than what will work good for someone else. Try both and see which you like better.

Example: My GTXP only works with the ALSA cs46xx drivers, there is no OSS support at all, unforutnately, my card is very limited in ALSA. But yet, some people with other cards have reported better sound with kernel or OSS modules. Play with all 3 options and see which works for you.
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jufoa · Posted: Mon Jan 20, 2003 9:42 pm Post subject:

from my experience sblive cards work and sound better with oss drivers.

Kaali · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 12 May 2002 Posts: 80

Only sound problem i have ever had with ALSA is that sound quality was very bad, until i was informed that i was overdriving the sound. So, if you experience bad sound quality with ALSA lower the volume levels (yes, that includes the Master -volume too).