Hi,

I tested skype today. I'm under SUSE 9.1 Pro updated via apt4rpm : kernel 2.6.7, alsa 1.0.4, kde 3.3.0, and so ...

Like 95% of people on Linux systems running Alsa (all distribs except some Debian), I've some problems with sound. I will not explain them here, they are the same others have, and I even resolved them by totally moving from pure ALSA to OSS-Emul + artsdsp -m.

But I think skype Linux is going in the bad way. OSS support is now depreciated in the standard kernel branch (linux 2.6.x) and is definitivvely replaced by ALSA. OSS Emul is her for older softs which didn't move to ALSA. Skype for Linux is a new product, and a Beta product. Ok, put the OSS subsystem on it, but add a total support of ALSA ! In a few months, everybody would move in a 2.6.x kernel. Most actual distribs (Fedora, Mandrake, Suse and Even the future Debian Sarge/Etch) are running ALSA and kernel 2.6.

So, please, add a true ALSA support under Skype for Linux, or in a few months it will be not possible to use it...

Thanks.

ps : Skype for Windows works perfectly with Wine and Alsa support, and not Skype for Linux in native mode...

As far as I have understood it, Skype will feature native ALSA support, and I believe I have heard mention of direct aRtsd/esd support as well (although the last part may be wishful thinking on my part ) Skype/Linux is still beta, give it some time.

Im looking forward to see Skype for Linux works with ALSA, so i can use my sound card to listen mp3 and others stuffs, along with im using skype in a conference.

Will ALSA (alone) support automatic mixing of several sounds from different applications?

If it did it would eliminate the need for arts and artsdsp and the Gnome equivelent.

But in my versions of ALSA I'm not seeing this capability (SuSE 8.2) and I have to use artsd to get more than one program talking to the sound card at the same time.