Subject: Re: Generic audio driver for NetBSD/i386
To: John Brezak <brezak@apollo.hp.com>
From: Adam Glass <glass@NetBSD.ORG>
List: port-i386
Date: 09/13/1994 18:15:36
> 
> This is an update of the Generic audio driver that was posted by Havard Eidnes
> a while ago. Since then a few of us have hacked at the interface a bit. I've
> coded a few sample drivers for the Cardinal DSP-16 (PSS) and generic Windows
> Sound System. I also fixed a few problems in the sb.c driver. This update
> is intended for those who want a look at what is going on. It is hoped that
> we will get more soundcard drivers in the near future - expecially the
> GUS.
> 
> Here are some open issues and things to think about (and discuss)
> - -----------------------------------------------------------------
> 

> - - What about MIDI (Mike Long sent me a quick and dirty little driver
>   that I might try out on the Cardinal) ?

btw: there is a freeware unix midi synchronizer wandering around on
one of the lbl ftp sites.

> 
> - - Can this framework be general enough for the Sparc ? Others ports with
>   sound suport ?
> 

I think the basic problem here is that all of these audio devices have
some common features, and then a ton of really random features.  A
class hierarchy of audio abstractions might help somewhat.

to do true multimedia you'll need some support for synchoronizing
audio, video, and graphics.  I can send you some papers on a
particular model some people are using for this.....

> [wss]
> 	- Generic driver to work with Microsoft's Windows Sound System 
> 	  compliant boards using the ad1848. Untested.
> 	- Need to add support for other WSS chips.

Unfortunately we no longer sell them directly, but I'll look
around and see if i can't find one to lend you.

later,
Adam Glass