hello
Is it possible to run skype without using arts ? Almost every description how to configure Skype says sth. about arts (I don't want to install it only for skype)

[quote=quosek]hello
Is it possible to run skype without using arts ? Almost every description how to configure Skype says sth. about arts (I don't want to install it only for skype)[/quote]
Yes of course. In your KDE control center (kcontrol) select "Sound System" and then make sure you set "auto-suspend if idle after 5 secs". This means that skype will be able to use the sound hardware within 5 secs after arts has stopped using it. However, if you are playing music etc at the time a call comes in then you can't take the call until 5 secs after you close the music down (and all other similar problems). This is what many of us have to put up with skype since it does not work with arts for many of us.

but I've got no arts !!
I've compile kde with USE="-artsd" .....

skype doesnt need arts
in fact, it doesnt even work WITH arts for most users

skype uses OSS, so it uses the sound device directly

if you have a sound device which doesnt support hardware mixing (which is likely because most soundcards dont do) arts and skype cant work together at all.
if you wanted to use skype over arts you might have to pray that it works.

so the answer is: skype works absolutely without arts.
in fact, it doesnt work with arts well.

since you compiled kde without arts, i think you have a hardware mixing card. if not, skype wont work, if something else is blocking your device (playing music and so on). so if skype doesnt work, it has nothing to do with arts-not-compiled-into-kde.

[quote=quosek]I've compile kde with USE="-artsd" .....[/quote]
I don't know why you bother? Even with arts compiled in, a user can deselect the option "enable the sound system" to completely disable arts anyhow.

If your sound card works with other sound clients, e.g. test with xmms, then skype should work.