audiols integrated

I've integrated the audiols driver into build 124 (actually I think this might have been the first push into snv124 -- thanks to jmcp for approving it so quickly!) From my HEADS UP message:

The push of CR 6875005 introduces support for audio for Creative Audigy LS devices. If you have such a device, you can now enjoy audio playback and record support using your audio device.

Devices supported are identifiable by the PCI id pci1102,7. Known compatible devices include Creative Audigy LS, Creative Audigy SE, Creative Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit, and Creative X-Fi Extreme Audio.

This driver includes 5.1 surround sound support.

Bugs for this driver should be filed in bugster using solaris/audio/driver-audiols.

Assorted audio cards needed

4Front has provided some drivers for me, which are nearly complete, but which need some attention. However, I am lacking hardware for a number of these drivers, and have not had good success finding many of them on eBay. If you have access to spare cards to donate, or even sell, please let me know.

Here's a short list of cards:

1. CS4281 (I tried to purchase one of these, but they shipped me an ESS Solo-1 instead!)
2. CS4280
   
3. FM-801 (ideally a 6-channel variant)
4. CMI 8768
5. CMI 8738 (6-channel, or even 8-channel varient)
6. CMI 8788 (these are high end cards, they can be purchased, but right now I'd have to fund this myself if I want to work on the driver -- its not a priority. This is typically the Asus Xonar card.)

There are probably other interesting audio cards as well.

It should be said that the recent work on some of these cards is occurring on my own time, since I have higher priorities (not soundcard related) during my day job, which is why its hard for me to ask Sun to provide funding for these things. (In the case of cs4281 and fm-801 cards, I've found them hard to even locate. Witness my failed attempt to purchase a CS4281. Taiwanese vendors consider these interchangeable parts. :-(

audiols works nicely on sparc

Just for giggles, I went ahead and tested it:

audiols/fortyfive> pfexec audiotest -5 /dev/dsp1
Sound subsystem and version: SunOS Audio 4.0 (0x00040003)
Platform: SunOS 5.11 snv_119 sun4u

*** Scanning sound adapter #2 ***
/dev/sound/audiols:0dsp (audio engine 1): audiols#0
  - Performing audio playback test...
    <left> ................OK
    <right> ...............OK
    <stereo> ..............OK
    <left rear> ...........OK
    <right rear> ..........OK
    <center> ..............OK
    <lfe> .................SKIPPED
    <5.0 surround> ........OK
    <measured sample rate 47952.00 Hz (-0.10%)>

*** All tests completed OK ***
audiols/fortyfive> uname -a
SunOS fortyfive 5.11 snv_119 sun4u sparc SUNW,A70

I'll go ahead and include SPARC support after all. Maybe someone with an Ultra 45 or 25 will like this.

AudigyLS Boomer Driver Posted

I've posted test binaries for the AudigyLS driver for Boomer systems. There is also a webrev posted. These are test binaries only! Use at your OWN RISK!

If you do use them, please let me know how it goes.

Thanks!

Surround Sound on SPARC?

I'm about ready to integrate the Audigy LS audio driver, which is a PCI add-in card that is capable of 5.1 surround sound. (I've been working on it in the "off" hours, as I currently have other higher priority projects that I'm working on while doing work on Sun's nickel; this explains why it has taken so long.)

I have one quick question: does anyone really want to have this work on SPARC systems? The only tangible advantages I could see for this are:

• If your internal audio device is busted, there is another alternative.
• If you have some compelling reason to want surround sound support on your SPARC system.

Right now because the effort to qualify and integrate takes a while, and because I hate the idea of integrating bloatware that nobody is going to use, I am not planning on integrating SPARC support for this driver. However, if at least one or two people speak up and tell me that this is something that they want, then I'm much more likely to take the time to do the work. (The driver should Just Work on SPARC, its mostly a matter of running the tests, which take a few hours.)

So, if this is something you want, let me know!

Community Contributions

I've recently (in the past week) integrated a small improvement from Roland ( so kernel code can use C99 booleans (supposedly there are performance gains for using this relative to boolean_t), and a major overhaul and conversion to GLDv3 for the legacy "dnet" driver from Steve Stallion.

I would like to thank both contributors for their patience. Neither of these was a particularly trivial integration. Steve in particular worked on this integration for quite a long time, due largely to the high cost of getting such a crufty driver to pass through NICDRV.

Fun With Rocketry

Well, today I finally got a model rocket set ... been wanting one since I was about 8 years old. Now that my son is that old, I finally can justify it. :-) The kids and I went to a park and set up 4 launches (well really 3, more on that later) of a single stage Estes rocket (A3-4T engines, IIRC ... basically about the smallest engines typically sold.) Total cost was about $30.

The kids really enjoyed it, and I can tell by the questions Timothy is asking that he's thinking about implementation -- he's definitely got the budding mind of an engineer. (How does the ejection charge work? What's the purpose of the recovery streamer? How do multistage rockets work? Etc.)

We did have one minor mishap, on our first launch attempt. Turns out that the rocket had wedged against the small plastic keeper, creating just enough friction to turn our launch into a static test. The engine burned a small hole, about 50 mm in diameter, right through the aluminum guard plate on the launcher; an amazing testament to the power of even these relatively tiny rocket engines. Needless to say, it definitely helped demonstrate the importance of all the safety measures I was stressing. :-)

The next three flights went off without a hitch. The product documentation says "up to 350 feet", but I think the peak heights looked higher than that.

For his 9th birthday in November, I'll probably invest in some other more sophisticated models. Its cool to be a kid again, but its even more cool to see your kid's eyes light up; who knew learning could be such fun!