End User Info
(N.B.: FAQ coming soon.)
What is Uniaud?
Uniaud is a generic audio device driver which derives some of its functionality from the Linux ALSA Project. Uniaud supports a broad range of PCI audio cards and chipsets including but not limited to AC'97 and High Definition (HDA) audio codecs. It also supports at least one ISA sound card. In fact, Uniaud supports most audio chipsets on the market.
Card Selection
If you don't already have an audio card, or you are shopping for a system board with onboard audio, you should review our Supported Hardware Matrix.
HDA (High Definition Audio) is a newer spec defined by Intel in 2004 which specifically brings the ability of more sound channels at higher quality than previously available. Naturally, this new functionality requires newer hardware and software support. The Uniaud Project is making great strides to support this newer specification, but there is still much work to be done.
Non-HDA hardware in recent years has made use of the AC'97 codec developed by Intel Architecture Labs in 1997. Uniaud has fairly good support for AC'97 devices.
Pre-AC'97 cards are also generally supported, including at least one ISA card. If you have an older system with 16-bit ISA slots, or a newer one which does indeed have one, Uniaud may just work for you.
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy SE cards seem to present their own set of problems for Uniaud and under Linux, for ALSA (on which much of Uniaud is based). If you would like to help with the debugging effort on this hardware, then please feel free. Just be warned that you may be in for a bumpy ride before getting pleasant tones to your ears. (Note that the original Audigy cards are fairly well supported.)
So, for brand new cards, and in order of ease of use, one would likely choose:
- AC'97 based devices
- HDA based devices or Sound Blaster Audigy SE (the latter is probably less likely to result in a system hang, but more likely to currently result in no sound)
Basic Installation: Common
Uniaud installs using the built-in multimedia installer in OS/2 or eComStation. Therefor, once you have downloaded the file(s) mentioned above, simply unzip the package to a safe place and run install.cmd from that directory. This will launch the multimedia installer and guide you through the process.
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting steps, including hints, tips, and tricks, will be coming soon, and will be located on a [Troubleshooting dedicated page]. Meanwhile, you might want to check out our debugging hints.
Testing
What and how to test will be outlined on an upcoming page.
Bug Reporting
Besides the Uniaud Users Mailing List and its associated Uniaud Users Newsgroup, you may find the need to simply open a bug. Follow the procedures outlined in Submitting Tickets on the main Uniaud Trac Wiki page.
Please note: Submitting a bug is not the equivalent of opening a support ticket with Serenity Systems, IBM, Microsoft, Novell, or any other commercial software vendor. The Uniaud Project is essentially a volunteer effort, and we all have other things to do to pay our monthly bills. However, every effort will be made to give your issue the utmost consideration, and certainly, issues which affect the largest group(s) of users will likely receive a higher priority than a minor issue impacting one or two people (who might be better served by simply replacing their hardware with something better supported).
