skype

[François Patte]

Bonjour,

I encounter some audio problem with skype.

First, I could receive the sound from my correspondant but I could not
reply: he did not hear me. This was solved using

artsdsp -m /usr/bin/skype

Now the problems are:

1- if another audio device is working (xmms for instance), the ring tone
of an incoming call is not mixed with the music displayed.

2- if I receive a call and answer, I can no more use xmms without loging
off skype, skype doe not liberate the dsp device.

Is there a solution to these problems?

I am running FC4 with last kernel. I do not have KDE, only a few
packages (arts, k3b,...)

Thank you.

[luca porcu]

2006/7/31, François Patte :
> Bonjour,
>
> I encounter some audio problem with skype.

Hi,
install the new beta version of skype.

http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/13beta.html
from:
http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/changelog.html

# feature: ALSA support (Linux kernel component intended to replace
the original Open Sound System)
# feature: Alsa/OSS switch in Tools > Options >Sound devices

luca

[Ric Moore]

On Mon, 2006-07-31 at 16:40 +0200, luca porcu wrote:
> 2006/7/31, François Patte :
> > Bonjour,
> >
> > I encounter some audio problem with skype.
>
> Hi,
> install the new beta version of skype.
>
> http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/13beta.html
> from:
> http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/changelog.html
>
> # feature: ALSA support (Linux kernel component intended to replace
> the original Open Sound System)
> # feature: Alsa/OSS switch in Tools > Options >Sound devices

Would using a second sound card just for skype work?

[Gene Heskett]

On Monday 31 July 2006 18:08, Ric Moore wrote:
> On Mon, 2006-07-31 at 16:40 +0200, luca porcu wrote:
> > 2006/7/31, François Patte :
> > > Bonjour,
> > >
> > > I encounter some audio problem with skype.
> >
> > Hi,
> > install the new beta version of skype.
> >
> > http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/13beta.html
> > from:
> > http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/changelog.html
> >
> > # feature: ALSA support (Linux kernel component intended to replace
> > the original Open Sound System)
> > # feature: Alsa/OSS switch in Tools > Options >Sound devices
>
> Would using a second sound card just for skype work?

Actually, I'm using the first (onboard) one for skype, and an audigy 2 
value for everything else, and it works quite well since the 1.3beta 
version fo skype for linux.
> --
>
> My father, Victor Moore (Vic) used to say:
> "There are two Great Sins in the world...
> ...the Sin of Ignorance, and
> ...the Sin of Stupidity.
> Only the former may be overcome." R.I.P. Dad.
>
> Linux user# 44256
> Sign up at: http://counter.li.org/
> http://www.sourceforge.net/projects/oar
> http://www.wayward4now.net
>
> ================================================

[François Patte]

luca porcu a écrit :
> 2006/7/31, François Patte :
> > Bonjour,
> >
> > I encounter some audio problem with skype.
>
> Hi,
> install the new beta version of skype.
>
> http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/13beta.html
> from:
> http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/changelog.html
>
> # feature: ALSA support (Linux kernel component intended to replace
> the original Open Sound System)
> # feature: Alsa/OSS switch in Tools > Options >Sound devices
>
> luca

Thanks. It works now without artsdsp.

But still remains the problem of two sound devices at the same time.

With both spype and xmms using ALSA:

when I try to call with skype, I get this message:

ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:832:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave

And, after that, skype is dead: I have to kill it with killall.

Moreover I'm seen as out of line.

The best is xmms using ALSA and skype OSS, but when xmms is working I'm
unable to call (audio I/O error); in that case skype stay alive and I
can see (popup) that someone is calling me and no ring tone mixed with
music.

[luca porcu]

2006/8/1, François Patte :
> luca porcu a écrit :
> > 2006/7/31, François Patte :
> > > Bonjour,
> > >
> > > I encounter some audio problem with skype.
> >
> > Hi,
> > install the new beta version of skype.
> >
> > http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/13beta.html
> > from:
> > http://www.skype.com/download/skype/linux/changelog.html
> >
> > # feature: ALSA support (Linux kernel component intended to replace
> > the original Open Sound System)
> > # feature: Alsa/OSS switch in Tools > Options >Sound devices
> >
> > luca
>
> Thanks. It works now without artsdsp.
>
> But still remains the problem of two sound devices at the same time.
>
> With both spype and xmms using ALSA:
>
> when I try to call with skype, I get this message:
>
> ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:832:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave

have you modify dmix??

I have set skype and xine to use alsa, with one sound card, and work,
when play a song with xine I can call with skype!

[François Patte]

luca porcu a écrit :
> 2006/8/1, François Patte :
> > luca porcu a écrit :
> > > 2006/7/31, François Patte :
> > > > Bonjour,
> > > >
> > > > I encounter some audio problem with skype.
> >
> > But still remains the problem of two sound devices at the same time.
> >
> > With both spype and xmms using ALSA:
> >
> > when I try to call with skype, I get this message:
> >
> > ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:832:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to open slave
>
> have you modify dmix??
>
> I have set skype and xine to use alsa, with one sound card, and work,
> when play a song with xine I can call with skype!

I tried this in my .asoundrc:

pcm.!card0 {
        type plug
        slave.pcm "dmixer"
        }

pcm.dmixer  {
        type dmix
        ipc_key 1024
        slave {
            pcm "hw:1,0"
            period_time 0
            period_size 1024
            buffer_size 4096
            rate 44100
                }
        bindings {
            0 0
            1 1
                }
        }

ctl.dmixer {
        type hw
        card 0
        }

And it seems to work (just simple tests made). Maybe there is a better
solution? I don't know much about ALSA.

Thanks

[luca porcu]

> I tried this in my .asoundrc:
>
> pcm.!card0 {
>         type plug
>         slave.pcm "dmixer"
>         }
>
> pcm.dmixer  {
>         type dmix
>         ipc_key 1024
>         slave {
>             pcm "hw:1,0"
>             period_time 0
>             period_size 1024
>             buffer_size 4096
>             rate 44100
>                 }
>         bindings {
>             0 0
>             1 1
>                 }
>         }
>
> ctl.dmixer {
>         type hw
>         card 0
>         }
>
> And it seems to work (just simple tests made). Maybe there is a better
> solution? I don't know much about ALSA.

Hi,
repeat:

I use Skype with out .asoundrc or other configuration of dmix!

try skype with out .asoundrc!

lu

[François Patte]

luca porcu a écrit :
> Hi,
> repeat:
>
> I use Skype with out .asoundrc or other configuration of dmix!
>
> try skype with out .asoundrc!

In that case, it doesn't work! What is your /etc/asound.conf ?

[luca porcu]

> > I use Skype with out .asoundrc or other configuration of dmix!
> >
> > try skype with out .asoundrc!
>
> In that case, it doesn't work! What is your /etc/asound.conf ?

Do you have set ALSA in the audio option ini skype?

# more /etc/asound.conf

#Generated by system-config-soundcard, do not edit by hand
#SWCONF
#DEV 0
defaults.pcm.card 0
defaults.pcm.device 0
defaults.ctl.card 0

[François Patte]

luca porcu a écrit :
> > > I use Skype with out .asoundrc or other configuration of dmix!
> > >
> > > try skype with out .asoundrc!
> >
> > In that case, it doesn't work! What is your /etc/asound.conf ?
>
> Do you have set ALSA in the audio option ini skype?

in tools-->options-->sound-devices ALSA (the other option is OSS)

in xmms output plugin is ALSA 1.2.10 (libALSA.so)
        device audio is hw 0,0 (options are : default or hw 0,4 this
last not working)

And I have still the same message: dmix: unable to open slave.
> # more /etc/asound.conf
>
> #Generated by system-config-soundcard, do not edit by hand
> #SWCONF
> #DEV 0
> defaults.pcm.card 0
> defaults.pcm.device 0
> defaults.ctl.card 0

Mine is:
# Generated by system-config-soundcard, do not edit by hand
defaults.pcm.card 0
defaults.pcm.card 0

But I have another PC with same /etc/asound.conf as yours, and I'm
unable to get xmms and skype at the same time....

[Joel Gomberg]

François Patte wrote:
> Bonjour,
>
> I encounter some audio problem with skype.
>
> First, I could receive the sound from my correspondant but I could not
> reply: he did not hear me. This was solved using
>
> artsdsp -m /usr/bin/skype
>
> Now the problems are:
>
> 1- if another audio device is working (xmms for instance), the ring tone
> of an incoming call is not mixed with the music displayed.
>
> 2- if I receive a call and answer, I can no more use xmms without loging
> off skype, skype doe not liberate the dsp device.
>
> Is there a solution to these problems?
>
> I am running FC4 with last kernel. I do not have KDE, only a few
> packages (arts, k3b,...)
>
> Thank you.

Check out skype_dsp_hijacker:

http://juljas.net/linux/skype/

and the ALSA configuration page:

http://juljas.net/linux/skype/alsa-configuration.html

[Ric Moore]

On Wed, 2006-08-02 at 18:20 +0530, François Patte wrote:
> luca porcu a écrit :
> > > > I use Skype with out .asoundrc or other configuration of dmix!
> > > >
> > > > try skype with out .asoundrc!
> > >
> > > In that case, it doesn't work! What is your /etc/asound.conf ?
> >
> > Do you have set ALSA in the audio option ini skype?
>
> in tools-->options-->sound-devices ALSA (the other option is OSS)
>
> in xmms output plugin is ALSA 1.2.10 (libALSA.so)
>         device audio is hw 0,0 (options are : default or hw 0,4 this
> last not working)
>
> And I have still the same message: dmix: unable to open slave.
> > # more /etc/asound.conf
> >
> > #Generated by system-config-soundcard, do not edit by hand
> > #SWCONF
> > #DEV 0
> > defaults.pcm.card 0
> > defaults.pcm.device 0
> > defaults.ctl.card 0
>
> Mine is:
> # Generated by system-config-soundcard, do not edit by hand
> defaults.pcm.card 0
> defaults.pcm.card 0
>
> But I have another PC with same /etc/asound.conf as yours, and I'm
> unable to get xmms and skype at the same time....

François,

I just found this tonight... as I was looking back over old posts on
Skype.

http://sourceforge.net/projects/kasound/

Damn thing 'made' easy enough from the tarball... this is version 0.5 so
it might be a little risky!! But it generates that asound.conf file
after you run through a rather large gui-picklist of a lot of options.
As long as it doesn't BLOW THINGS UP, it looks like a contender. Debian
and Suse have 'also-tools-gui', and we don't, it seems. <sigh> kasound
just might be helpful, YMMV, Ric