> HiNote laptop, which has ES1688 audio chip (16 bit with Soundblaster
> emulation).  I have no problems reading and recording AU files to and from
> /dev/audio.  In addition, I have put a simlink from /dev/audio to /dev/dsp.
> However when I run Linux or FreeBSD programs, such as RealAudio or Doom, that
> use /dev/dsp, all I get is this horrible random like noise coming out of my
> speaker.

The SoundBlaster emulation in the ES16XX and ES18XX series only
supports the 8-bit interface of the SoundBlaster.  To output 16-bit
audio on these devices, we need a separate driver (which hasn't been
written yet, although it should be fairly simple).

The reason DOOM and RealAudio sound so horrible is that they're
sending 16-bit data to the sound card while it's in 8-bit mode.  (This
is actually a bug in the programs.  They should notice that the
attempt to switch to 16-bit encoding failed.)

For RealAudio, at least, you can kluge around this by checking the
`Disable 16-bit sound' box in View->Preferences...->Advanced.