Re: [GnomeMeeting-list] Sound problems with 0.94

[Stefan Bruens <lurch gmx li>]

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Am Dienstag, 5. November 2002 14:24 schrieb E. Sean Rintel:
> G'day all,
>
> First, even though I haven't yet got it going properly, I really want
> to thank Damien for his hard work creating a linux videoconferencing
> utility.
>
> OK, so here's the problem.
>
> I've been trying to get GM 0.94 working in Mandrake linux 9.0 for
> several days now, but I'm having trouble with sound. Video (Logitech
> QuickCam) works fine. My sound card (SoundBlaster PCI 128) works with
> all other applications and I can hear myself through the mic (I can
> record sound in other programs), but not with GM.
>
> It actually worked once, but my partner (using NM3) could only hear
> every second word and GM kept exiting involuntarily (which is another
> problem).
>
> Since then every time I use GM I get a message saying that the sound
> device is busy.
>
> I have taken the following steps to try and rectify the problem:
>
> 1) ensured that I have no other program that uses sound is running -
> indeed, I've run only GM and had the same problem.
>
> 2) I've even disabled sounds for events in Gnome.

Maybe it is not really a program in the normal sense (something with a user 
interface ...) but a sound daemon. Especially if you are using KDE, it is 
likely that you have started the arts sound daemon, or if you are using 
Gnome, maybe esd is running. 

Try the following
lsof | grep /dev/dsp      and
lsof | grep /proc/asound/dev/pcm      (if you are using alsa)
If one of these commands gives any output, you will find in the first column 
the program which occupies the soundcard.

If you are using arts, the problem can most likely be solved if you set it to 
"no full-duplex" and lower the autosuspend time to 5 seconds.

> 3) My partner installed the the MS-GSM codec.
>
> 4) I followed the advice on this list and set my jitter buffer to 600,
> GSM frames to 3, G.711 frames to 20 (I know they probably won't make
> a difference, but anyway...)
>
> 5) I set my video framerate low (5fps) in case that was taking
> bandwidth from the sound.

When you are using a dialup-connection with less than 128kbit, this may be to 
much, try if the audio is working with no video, then try raising the 
framerate starting with 1 fps. Monitor the bandwith occupation, this should 
give you some hints. Video connections are only really useful for LANs, 
unfortunately there is no low bandwith codec suitable for video conferences 
which can be used freely (patent issues).

> 6) I have checked that my firewall (shorewall) is allowing all the
> required ports for GM.
>
> So, any advice?
>
> Is there any program that I can run to reset the audio device before I
> run GM? Or can I give GM preference? Or is there some way I can find
> out what programs are using audio so I can kill them? Or is there
> some internal or external setting that I need to be using?

Look above ...
>
> Until anon,
>
> Sean

Greetings,
Stefan
- -- 
Stefan Brüns  /  Kastanienweg 6 - Zimmer 1206  /  52074 Aachen
mailto:lurch gmx li  http://www.kawo1.rwth-aachen.de/~lurchi/
      fax: +49-89-1488204565   phone: +49-160-7532733 
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