Re: play-sound-file & esd

[Jan Djärv]

> I'd prefer if we could use native interfaces for that.  The main
> application I would see for sound within Emacs would be
> WYHIWYG-editing of lilypond files and other sound describing programs.
> Starting one process for each auditory feedback seems like overkill.
> One would rather want to keep a device/socket/pipe open, and ALSA
> appears like the most basic access method with a free future: you can
> pretty much rely on its presence on current GNU/Linux systems.
>
> I don't think it offers network transparency, but there is no network
> transparent variant one could rely on as the main access method,
> anyway.

No, you would need a sound daemon like esd for that.   it is a problem that 
there are so many daemons.  I guess one could try to connect to each known 
sound daemon in order, and if no one is found, use the native method.

> So in order of urgency, one would probably implement:
>
> a) play through a pipe and a command line app started once
> b) play through native ALSA
>
> Case a) should cover most systems after being properly configured, as
> long as there is some "play" utility that does not get into a tizzy
> when pipe underrun occurs.  Changes in sample rate or format would
> have to kill and restart the process.
>
> Case b) would be more efficient where ALSA is available.

Case b) is what I implemented.

        Jan D.