#24 Kone Pure mouse: sound configuration.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a lot for roccat-tools, I have it installed in 64-bit Gentoo and use it with laser Kone Pure Color, which talks when I change DPI or profiles, or start a timer. Mouse talking works good so far, but I'd like to know a bit more of how exactly roccat-tools manage sound (because I'm thinking of setting a special ALSA's "device" for my mouse).
Also is it possible to make mouse talk when sensitivity is changed too? Sound notifications are much more convenient. And also I think there's a little problem with on-screen notifications, I'll make a separate ticket about it later.
Regards,
Alex

[Stefan Achatz]

For sound output I use libcanberra with default settings. If you can provide information on how you want to create a special device for me to reproduce, I might add configuration options for sound driver and device.

I can't remember why I only support osd-sensitivity notifications right now. I'll have a look into this.

[Anonymous]

I use ALSA and have set up several "virtual soundcards" (aka "pcm devices", "playbacks") in its .asoundrc config. With a special env variable it's possible to set a certain "card" as "default" one, and if an app uses ALSA's default playback -- app's sound will eventually go to the selected "virtual card". In command line it looks like "~$ MY_ALSA_DEFAULT=virtcard1 ./somesoundapp". Libcanberra seems to use ALSA by default, so I think it will probably work out if I start roccateventshandler like above, I'll do some more tests later.
Also as for sound configuration options, I also noticed that roccat-tools doesn't have its own volume control for mouse talk, and loudness can be changed with system's master volume only. It'd be more convenient if roccat-tools has its own volume slider, or maybe even a separate slider for each profile...

[Stefan Achatz]

Audio notifications for sensitivity changes will be implemented in next release. I keep the numerical info for OSD while sound output will only tell up/down like the Windows version.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, I was away these days.
Roccat-tools with ALSA now work fine in my system, I've configured two "virtual pcm"s, and now I simply start roccateventhandler with a special env var to select a certain pcm for it. My .asoundrc is http://pastebin.com/jEp60JBZ for those who's interested.

Having some sound output for sensitivity is great, thanks a lot for it!

Also I just noticed that roccat-tools have no volume slider of its own... So mouse talk's loudness can be adjusted only with system's main Master volume. It's not very convenient because games now often have many sound streams, and plus, say, a voice chat, and system notifications, etc. with their own loudness -- when Master volume is changed they all change too. Probably, it's possible to fix it with some ALSA's softvol or Pulseaudio, but it would be great if roccat-tools have its own volume control, or maybe even a separate one for each profile.

Also I know that it's probably not about roccat-tools at all, but it would be great to have female voicing for the mouse too. Not all love Barking Bob, some prefer Bitchin' Betty...

[Stefan Achatz]

If you want a volume slider for each "profile", what exactly do you mean with "profile"?

Some options:

• One global volume setting for all Roccat related sound output. Set in a text configuration file. As I want roccateventhandler to be gui independent I would have to do an extra program with tray support which I would like least.

• One setting per device. Slider embedded in the configuration window of DEVICEconfig. My preferred solution.

• One setting per device per notification type. Maybe a bit too fine grain.

If you want a female voice you have to bug Roccat, I'm just using their sound files.

[Anonymous]

Great! "Profile" I mean like "profile tab" in GUI, probably you call it "device". Yes, I completely agree with you, having an extra program is not good, "per device per notification" is too much. So your solution looks the best.

I just sent email to Roccat Co., don't know if they pay any attention. Just thinking that if they do, it would require one more checkbox for selecting Bob or Betty...

[Stefan Achatz]

The next release will feature a dB volume slider for each device. In order to be independent of warning sound volume I have to set the output driver explicitly. At the moment it looks like I set the default to Pulseaudio because it behaves better (with alsa I hear quiet clicks after playing each sound). The used driver will be configurable as already described here:
http://roccat.sourceforge.net/general.html#eventhandler_configuration

[Anonymous]

Great! Thanks a lot!

[Stefan Achatz]

Released roccat-tools-1.3.0 with sense audio notifications and per-device volume sliders.