Re: [openvrml-develop] OpenAL sound support in OpenVRML

[Braden M. <br...@en...>]

On Mon, 2002-04-08 at 20:58, Thomas Flynn wrote:
> Just a few comments about this
> 
> Braden McDaniel wrote:
> 
> >On Mon, 2002-04-08 at 10:41, -oli- wrote:
> >
> >>As I wrote some weeks ago, I'm going to integrate OpenAL-support for the 
> >>sound in OpenVRML.
> >>
> >
> >Okay. I'm gonna be a bit more explicit than I was before in order to
> >ensure expectations are set appropriately. I don't want you to complete
> >this project and then be surprised by its reception.
> >
> >I don't think OpenAL is the best solution for audio in OpenVRML. At one
> >time it looked like it might be; however...
> >
> >        * OpenAL's primary user and developer (Loki) is no more.
> >        * There was never a (successful?) attempt to package OpenAL in a
> >          way that would be palatable to end-users and OS distributions.
> >          Even now, the OpenAL Web site directs persons looking for
> >          "1.0" to CVS. The project has reached 1.0, and there's *still*
> >          not a tarball.
> >
> >So OpenAL is difficult for end-users to install, and prospects for
> >continued support and development seem dim.
> >
> 
> Loki hasn't really been involved with OpenAL for quite some time outside 
> of hosting the site and CVS. Creative Labs has really been the main 
> driver behind it. Creative has made distributions available on their 
> developer site for Windows and Mac (see 
> http://developer.creative.com/scripts/DC_D&H_Games-Downloads.asp?opt=2) 
> and, from recent mail on the openal mailing list, has recently taken 
> over hosting the CVS repository as well...

I knew Creative had supported OpenAL, but I didn't realize they were
throwing significant development effort at it. That's good news.

The major problem I have with OpenAL being our primary audio solution is
the lack of a distribution tarball for which users can
"configure;make;make install". If development on OpenAL is continuing,
then there is hope for that to improve as well.

-- 
Braden McDaniel                           e-mail: <br...@en...>
<http://endoframe.com>                    Jabber: <br...@ja...>