[Alsa-user] SB16 and beyond

[Chuck M. <ch...@we...>]

Two issues:

1.) I want to get started with ALSA, but I'm having trouble making my 
old SoundBlaster 16 work. I'm attempting to test it with "cat english.au 
 > /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p", but all I get is "write error: File descriptor in 
bad state". "english.au" is that now-famous sound file of Linus Torvalds 
pronouncing "Linux."

The problem is that the card is a truly ancient ISA SB16 PnP. It show up 
in /proc/dma, /proc/ioports and /proc/interrupts, so the system, at some 
low level, knows that it's present.

I've tried putting options directives in /etc/modules.conf, but they 
give "bad param" errors and prevent the module from loading. Can anyone 
give me the recipe for making this work?

This is ALSA 0.9.2 and linux-2.4.20 on a PC.

2.) I'm on the verge of building a new computer with an emphasis on 
making it an audio workstation. I want to do some home electric guitar 
recording. Multitrack would be nice, in case I lure friends over to 
play. I'm not averse to buying a high-end card. Can anyone recommend a 
sound card?

Thanks,

Chuck