Re: Overview of Linux and FreeBSD sound systems?

On Fri, 2023-05-26 at 06:01 +1000, Ian Smith wrote:
>  > "PulseAudio is a networked low-latency sound server for Linux" - 
>  >
> https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=pulseaudio&apropos=0&sektion
> =1&manpath=FreeBSD+13.2-RELEASE+and+Ports&arch=default&format=html
>  > 
>  > "low-latency" is quite vague. jackd is for low-latency, pulseaudio
>  > isn't. However, it's another sound server. That's what I explained,
>  > too.
> 
> Again, I was wanting to dig into use on FreeBSD in particular.   I've
> seen mixed reviews but little professional analysis.

Hi,

I can't objectively comment on pulseaudio on Linux, let alone commenting
on pulseaudio on FreeBSD. My opinion is biased. To keep up the
netiquette, I would like to put it this way: I dislike it.

> Is ALSA on FreeBSD a thing at all?

No, it isn't.

https://wiki.freebsd.org/Sound

However, back to desktop environments and sound servers. I'm in favour
of using a window manager without a desktop environment.

Here's my biased analysis of "sound systems," specifically as it relates
to "desktop sound."

   1. Best practice is to use a single audio device instead of syncing
   several audio devices, e.g. a sound card for audio output and an USB
   microphone for audio input is something I wouldn't use. I would connect
   a microphone to the same sound card, that is used for audio output.
   
   2. I can't stand desktop sound when an item is moved to trash or
   something like this. So even if I wouldn't be in favour of command line
   and instead move items with the mouse, I would disable such sounds.
   
   3. I'm not listening to more than one audio stream at a time. IOW, I
   don't watch two or more videos at the same time.

For me the conclusion from this is that for common desktop sound a sound
server aimed for desktop environments, such as pulseaudio is that much
needed as e.g. gvfs [
https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=gvfs&sektion=7&manpath=freebsd-release-ports
] for command line users, to mount drives or for providing a trash icon
on the desktop.

You won't see something like pulseaudio, gvfs and other helpers on a
customizable operating system that is customized to my taste. From my
point of few those "helpers" are "annoyances".

There are enough apps available that support whatever the most less
complicate level of sound architecture usage is for the used operating
system.

Here https://wiki.freebsd.org/Sound#Video_conferencing_.28via_browser.29
isn't mentioned to install a bloated desktop environment with a sound
server such as pulseaudio.

The (audio) studio in the box is another topic.

Just my 2 Cents,
Ralf