Alsa Upgrade Script

[soundcheck]

Hi folks.

Alsa 1.0.20 has been released recently.

I am maintaining an "unofficial" upgrade script for the Ubuntu and (now) Linux Mint community. This way Alsa can be upgraded "manually".

It'll work up to Ubuntu "Jaunty" and Linux Mint 7 "Gloria" RC1.

It'll also work up to kernel 2.6.29.

You can download it at ubuntuforums.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1046137

I'd always recommend to install the latest Alsa. Trivial, though pretty annoying problems are resolved on a daily basis over there (reflected in the snapshots).

Look at the current Ubuntu Jaunty release or the not even launched Linux Mint 7 - these come with Alsa 1.0.18. (This is of course kernel dependend).
You'll be up to 1 year ahead of the distributions, by using the script. It'll allow to install even the latest Alsa driver snapshot (some more month ahead).
You won't find an easier way to get your Alsa upgraded.

The script has been downloaded 11.000 times by now. It seems to be quite
reliable.

It is a pity that everything based on Debian has such a huge delay in terms of soundcard support and problem fixing.
Beside graphics, soundcard support is one of the very basic functions for an operating system.
Considering that the distributions have a delay of up to one year and Alsa has another delay of at least of another year compared to Windows,
even such a great distro like Mint will face problems in attracting a wider community.

Perhaps it is good idea to introduce an Alsa Upgrade as part of Mint. Would be a very nice differentiator from mainline Ubuntu/Debian. The driver update is IMO not a critical exercise at all.

Please check it out and let me know what you think. I'd appreciate your feedback.

Have fun and good luck
soundcheck

[Acid_1]

I think you mean "Unofficial" but besides that, I'll give it a shot and we'll see how it goes.

[alelondon]

it is indeed a great idea.
please consider to include latest alsa in mint.
or at least offer to run an update script after a sound test?

[Lantesh]

It's really nice that the OP of this thread has made this script for the community, but there is an easier way to get ALSA 1.0.20 right through mintUpdate. Check out this link to dnjl's PPA. Add the PPA to your sources.list file along with most of the dependent PPA's djnl has listed in the technical details section, and then run MintUpdate. It's that easy.

https://launchpad.net/~dnjl/+archive/multimedia

Here are the PPA's you need. Also enable Primary Archive for Ubuntu - BACKPORTS (main, restricted, universe, multiverse).

Code: Select all

## +++ dnjl's Multimedia PPA (depends on djnl Main, GStreamer developers, thr, and Fabein Tassin PPA's) +++
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/dnjl/multimedia/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/dnjl/multimedia/ubuntu jaunty main

## +++ dnjl's Main PPA +++
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/dnjl/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/dnjl/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

## +++ PPA for GStreamer developers +++
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/gstreamer-developers/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/gstreamer-developers/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

## +++ PPA for thr +++
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/thir/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/thir/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

## +++ PPA for Fabien Tassin +++
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/fta/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/fta/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main