[Alsa-user] Re: [linux-audio-dev] Re: image problem [was Re: [Alsa-devel] help for a levelmeter]

[Takashi Iwai]

At Wed, 23 Oct 2002 00:07:22 +0300 (EEST),
Kai Vehmanen wrote:
> 
> On Tue, 22 Oct 2002, Peter L Jones wrote:
> 
> > I don't want to have to learn about DSPs and stuff to be able to identify a 
> > _good_ sound card.  I've currently got a shortlist for my next machine:
> >   * MidiMan Delta Audiophile 2496 (Envy24)
> >   * Creative SB PCI 128 (ES1371)
> 
> I've used both of these extensively with JACK and numerous other ALSA apps
> and they work really well (full-duplex, low-latency use). Other
> soundcards/chipsets that I've used:
> 
> - snd-intel8x0 (nice chipset, is suitable for low-latency use)

the real-time response is dependent on the system.
some notebooks have problems in this regard.

> - snd-cs4281 (good for low-latency although has a max two-interrupts
>               per buffer limitation which can confuse apps)
> - GUS MAX (this very, very old ISA-card can still beat a number of 
>   today's crappy chipsets... I don't know whether to cry or laugh ;))
> 
> Cards that I have no personal experience with, but I've heard very
> good things about:
> 
> - RME Digi9652
> 
> Beware:
> 
> - SB AWE models (ugh, crap!)
> - Yamaha YMF7xx/DS-XG (some have reported that these work ok,
>   but in any case they have a max 3 periods limitation
>   similar to cs4281, which can confuse apps)

no, instead, the interrupts are generated in the fixed time-length,
not at the period boundary or the end of buffer.
thus, this chip doesn't suit for low-latency purpose at all.

the similar case is ESS chips, es1968 and maestro3 (allegro).
that is, many on-board chips on notebooks are crap, unfortunately.


Takashi