Audio playback stops when starting a new application

[Nate600]

Hi all,

I've installed Mint 7 on my computer and so far have been very happy with it, with one exception. The audio cuts out when I start new applications and then cuts back in (annoying but not anything major i'm sure you'll agree).

The computer has an asus p5k-e motherboard connected to an external amp via an optical cable (when I was trying the live cd, I couldn't get sound from the 7.1 analogue outs to the amp so they are currently unplugged). Rhythmbox plays music fine as does firefox with any flash vids. However while I am playing music, if I start firefox, or tetravex (i think i am becoming addicted) or it appears any application, the sound cuts out for a second or so and then cuts back in. Rhythmbox is not stopping playback as it doesn't pick up at the same point.

Any ideas what's causing this, how to sort it, or the best place to look for further info.

Many thanks

Nathan

[igorzwx]

You may try to get rid of PulseAudio

Install another Mint in dual boot and make experiments there.

see:
http://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=32173

[Nate600]

I followed the instructions to remove pulseaudio and while I now have the same problem as before. Once I had selected an audio output that gave sound when I tested it, I found I had the same problem as before.

[igorzwx]

"I get nothing from rhythmbox."

System -> Preferences -> Sound

and select the proper thing.

I presume, you have now ALSA with ESound.
Or, do you have OSS4?

In any case, Rhythmbox goes to system defaults.

Type on Terminal

gstreamer-properties

and tell what you have there.

If you have OSS4 installed, see Martin's screenshots
http://martinbaselier.wordpress.com/

Could you please tel exactly what you did and what sound system you have now?
Otherwise, it might be difficut to help you.

In a word, if you compiled OSS4 (or installed it from deb),
you may need to remove one gstreamer plugin for pulse.

[igorzwx]

It looks like you have already edited your post.
OK
This is your new message:
"I followed the instructions to remove pulseaudio and while I now have the same problem as before. Once I had selected an audio output that gave sound when I tested it, I found I had the same problem as before."

ANSWER: ALSA does not allow audio application to share sound devices
(firefox may have audio plugs).

If you need this feature, you may try to install OSS4.
With OSS4, you can play simultaneously all your audio apps
and mix the sound in the virtual mixer (vmix).

[Nate600]

Sorry about the edit, I kinda figured it out after a bit of thinking. I will have a look into oss4 as that seems like it may be the way forward. The ESD didn't work so currently everything is set to ALSA digital in the sound settings.

[igorzwx]

Check if your sound card is supported by OSS4.
If not, you are out of luck.

The OSS4 hardware list is here:
http://mercurial.opensound.com/?file/6b ... ists/Linux

Type on terminal

lspci | grep Audio

EXAMPLE:

$ lspci | grep Audio
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 01)
$ lspci | grep audio
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801DB/DBL/DBM (ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 01)

other useful commands

lspci -v

lspci > hardwareinfo.txt

This is the best howto for OSS4:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OpenSound

Try to compile OSS4 from Mercurial (new version is better):
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OpenS ... m%20Source