Hi,

> I've managed to get NetBSD going on an old SS5.  It's finding the
> audio devices ok when it boots (audiocs0 and audio0) but all
> attempts to play audio result in static that's typical of using
> the wrong number of bits, or possibly the wrong byte order.
> Directing audio apps to use 8 bits works better, but then the
> sound sounds highly overdriven.

Are you sending audio to /dev/audio or /dev/dsp?

/dev/audio only supports catting .au files to it AFAIK, whereas
/dev/dsp supports variable rates, and of course stereo (wooh!).
The best test is using mpg123 to play an mp3, or sox (if its in
pkgsrc) to "play" a wav file of some description.  They will
default to using /dev/dsp.

My SS5/110 is currently acting as an mp3 player which it does a
rather excellent job of!!

> Audioctl reports the device name as "cs4231" version "x".

Same with mine.

> Does anyone have some pointers on what I should tweak to resolve
> this problem or has anyone else had the same trouble?

Not personally!  It just "worked" which is a rare thing in
computing these days... /me stares at bill gates!

HtH,

- Chris.