3.1. Sound System Configuration

This tool allows you to configure your sound card which can be necessary if you experience sound problems (no sound, etc.) or if the sound card you use is not the same as at installation time. You can find it in the Hardware section of the Mandriva Linux Control Center.

Figure 3.1. Sound Configuration Main Window

Sound Configuration Main Window

3.1.1. Changing Drivers

You can switch from one driver to another by selecting it from the Driver drop-down list. All the drivers compatible with your sound card are displayed: you have to choose between the OSS or the ALSA API.

[Tip] Tip

We recommend that you use ALSA because OSS is a very basic and limited API. If your sound card is very old you may need to use OSS. On the other hand ALSA is a more elaborate and much richer API than OSS and provides many enhanced features.

You can read more detail on this subject by clicking on the Help button.

If you are an expert you can access the full list of drivers and choose another one by clicking on Advanced and then on Let me pick any driver.

3.1.2. Other Sound Options

You can configure other options for PulseAudio, the sound server. by checking the corresponding boxes.

Enable PulseAudio

Activates the sound server. PulseAudio accepts sound input from many sources and mixes them together enabling sound output on the desktop. It is compatible with most audio sources. PulseAudio is the default sound server, it is recommended you leave it enabled.

Automatic routing from ALSA to Pulse Audio

There are still many programs (especially games) that use sound and are programmed to use the ALSA API instead of PulseAudio. It is recommended to leave this option checked so that these programs are able to output sound.

Enable 5.1 sound with PulseAudio

Check this option if you have a multichannel audio system and want to take advantage of all its features.

Enable user switching for audio applications

When a user logs in they monopolize the sound hardware: if another user logs in, their programs won't have any sound. If your machine hosts several users, check this option to enable sharing the sound hardware among logged in users. Even if a user is logged in and has locked the session, other users can login and have the sound available for their programs. It is recommended that you leave this option checked. You may uncheck it in specific cases when you want the first logged in user to have exclusive access to the sound hardware.

Click on Advanced to access more options. Here you can choose another driver, reset the sound options to their defaults or find a troubleshooting procedure.