Sound Software

Sound on Linux is the absolute biggest bunch of bullshit ever.

Kernel

Determine: are there still ALSA hardware drivers inferior to their OSS equivalents? Assuming no...
OSS emulation: kernel, library, or neither?
- Kernel: snd_pcm_oss, snd_mixer_oss, snd_seq_oss provide /dev/dsp, /dev/seq, /dev/mixer
- Library: aoss sets LD_PRELOAD to include libaoss.so
- Neither: force fail on attempts to use OSS
  - Might be better if OSS-only code is old and crappy, as suggested by OSS-only nature, as it'll eliminate such code. Might also be better if OSS compatability introduces any kinds of issues. Might be worse if OSS code is better-written than ALSA code alternatives, and OSS compatability introduces no problems.
What the fuck ought go in /etc/asoundrc? It's a complete enigma.

pulseaudio -- crashes mpd every time I try to use it (no longer true as of Fall 2008)
To drive ALSA through pulseaudio by default:

pcm.!default {
	type pulse
}

ctl.!default {
	type pulse
}