Sound Server
Keywords: KDE, KControl, sound server, sound, aRts

The KDE Control Center
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# 5.49. Sound Server

This control module is used to configure the settings for the aRts sound server (the KDE sound server).

## 5.49.1. General

The top option, labeled Start aRts soundserver on KDE startup, enables (or disables) the aRts sound server.

| The aRts soundserver must be started when KDE is started in order to function correctly. You cannot run the aRts soundserver once KDE is started.

The rest of the panel consists of three options for the aRts soundserver.

Enable network transparency

  If this option is enabled, then sound requests from the network will be honored by the sound server. If this option is disabled, the sound server will only honor requests from the local computer.

Exchange security and reference info over X11

  If you have enabled network transparency, this option will allow the exchange of security and reference information. If in doubt, and you have enabled network transparency, this option should be checked.

Run soundserver with realtime priority

  Enabling this option will give the soundserver priority over other applications, which will help alleviate any problems delivering uninterupted sound.

  | This option may require permissions you do not have as a regular user. This option also relies on certain real time support from your system which may not be available. If you do not have the necessary permissions, or your system does not have the real time support necessary, enabling this option will not cause problems.

## 5.49.2. Sound I/O

The first option you can configure in the Sound I/O panel is the Sound I/O method. It tells arts which sound system to use for input and output of sound. Current choices are ALSA (Advanced Linux® Sound Architecture), OSS (Open Sound System), no audio at all and autodetect. In most cases "Autodetect" will be perfect for you.

Other options are:

Enable full duplex operation

  This option allows the soundserver to play and record sound at the same time. This option should be enabled if you use applications (such as internet telephones) which require simultaneous record and playback.

Use custom sound device

  Normally, the sound server defaults to using the device called `/dev/dsp` for sound output. That should work in most cases. An exception is for instance if you are using devfs, then you should use `/dev/sound/dsp` instead. Other alternatives are things like `/dev/dsp0` or `/dev/dsp1` if you have a soundcard that supports multiple outputs, or you have multiple soundcards.

Use custom sampling rate

  Normally, the sound server defaults to using a sampling rate of 44100 Hz (CD quality), which is supported on almost any hardware. If you are using certain Yamaha soundcards, you might need to configure this to 48000 Hz here, if you are using old SoundBlaster cards, like SoundBlaster Pro, you might need to change this to 22050 Hz. All other values are possible, too, and may make sense in certain contexts (i.e. professional studio equipment).

Other custom options

  There are some options offered by aRts which may not be available in this control module, so you can add command line options here which will directly be passed to artsd. The options will be appended, so they will in doubt override the choices made in the GUI. To see the possible choices, open a konsole window, and type `artsd `-h``.

Audio buffer size (response time)

  This slider determines how quickly the soundserver can use your computers resources. The faster the response time, the higher the CPU load will be.

  | I would recommend that you start with the soundserver set at 250 ms, and use KDE for a while. If you notice that the sound does not work correctly, increase the responsivness one step at a time until the problems disappear.

## 5.49.3. Section Author

This section written by Mike McBride `<mpmcbride7@yahoo.com>`

Updated by Jost Schenck `<jost@schenck.de>`

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