[linux-audio-user] What are Master, PCM and AC97?

[Hillel]

Hi all,

I have little idea about audio terms, and the following always intrigues me:

When I open KMix, the KDE Mixer, I can change the volume of both 
"Master" and "PCM" which both change the music volume. I can also 
control the volume of "AC97" but that has no effect while playing music.

Can someone please explain what are those settings and what are the 
differences between them.


This is my sound card:

[xxx at localhost xxx]$ lspci  | grep -i audio
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801DB/DBL/DBM 
(ICH4/ICH4-L/ICH4-M) AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 03)


Regards,

Hillel.