Finding out the name behind a /dev/dsp device

Finding out the name behind a /dev/dsp device

[Ilya Konstantinov]

Dear LKML,

(Please CC your replies to me, since I'm not subscribed)

How can I find out the module name which handles a /dev/dsp* device
and/or the full name of the Sound Card I'd be addressing by it?

For /dev/mixer* devices, there's a SOUND_MIXER_INFO ioctl to retrieve
the Mixer chip name, but I couldn't find a similar call for /dev/dsp
devices. Parsing /etc/modules.conf doesn't seem correct, since a single
module can support multiple installed cards of the same type (thus
creating /dev/dsp entries for multiple cards), and since drivers can be
compiled statically.

This functionality is essential when building an application which
prompts the user to select a Sound Output Device from a list of
installed sound cards (avoiding exposing the user to a plain list of
dsp devices). Using the mixer chip's name isn't exactly friendly, and
still doesn't let you know which dsp device belongs to which mixer.

Re: Finding out the name behind a /dev/dsp device

[james rich]

On Tue, 26 Jun 2001, Ilya Konstantinov wrote:

> How can I find out the module name which handles a /dev/dsp* device
> and/or the full name of the Sound Card I'd be addressing by it?

If you use ALSA this is very simple.  See:

http://www.alsa-project.org

I feel that ALSA provides a superior audio driver.  I understand that the
it will become the default kernel driver.

James Rich
james.rich@m.cc.utah.edu