--- fluid_alsa.c_1.0.1	2003-04-03 05:41:32.000000000 -0800
+++ fluid_alsa.c	2003-04-22 16:10:30.000000000 -0700
@@ -178,12 +178,15 @@
   char* device;
   pthread_attr_t attr;
   int sched = SCHED_FIFO;
+  struct sched_param priority;
   int i, err, dir = 0;
   snd_pcm_hw_params_t* hwparams;
   snd_pcm_sw_params_t* swparams = NULL;
   snd_pcm_uframes_t uframes;
   unsigned int tmp;
 
+  priority.sched_priority = 90;
+
   dev = FLUID_NEW(fluid_alsa_audio_driver_t);
   if (dev == NULL) {
     FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "Out of memory");
@@ -334,6 +337,8 @@
 	goto error_recovery;
       }
     }
+    if (sched == SCHED_FIFO)
+      pthread_attr_setschedparam (&attr, &priority);
 
     err = pthread_create(&dev->thread, &attr, fluid_alsa_formats[i].run, (void*) dev);
     if (err) {
@@ -407,6 +412,11 @@
   handle[0] = left;
   handle[1] = right;
 
+  if (snd_pcm_nonblock(dev->pcm, 0) != 0) { /* double negation */
+    FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "Failed to set the audio device to blocking mode");
+    goto error_recovery;
+  }
+
   if (snd_pcm_prepare(dev->pcm) != 0) {
     FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "Failed to prepare the audio device");
     goto error_recovery;    
@@ -486,6 +496,11 @@
   handle[0] = left;
   handle[1] = right;
 
+  if (snd_pcm_nonblock(dev->pcm, 0) != 0) { /* double negation */
+    FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "Failed to set the audio device to blocking mode");
+    goto error_recovery;
+  }
+
   if (snd_pcm_prepare(dev->pcm) != 0) {
     FLUID_LOG(FLUID_ERR, "Failed to prepare the audio device");
     goto error_recovery;