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I might try it out again. On paper PA sounds cool, but as a power user, when I look at what processes are running on my machine, I don't like seeing any more th
by esaym 10y ago
I might try it out again. On paper PA sounds cool, but as a power user, when I look at what processes are running on my machine, I don't like seeing any more than I have to. From my simple perspective (as a debian user), everything on my laptop works fine sound-wise. Then I want to be "cool" and use the latest and greatest, so I install (what I think to be) all the needed PA packages and reboot my machine. I notice nothing different other than now I have a background process that consumes CPU resources when ever a sound is playing. I don't like that, and it seems strange.
I've tried to figure out what exactly the linux sound system looks like under the hood, but I really can't. And then I come across pages like this: http://askubuntu.com/questions/581128/what-is-the-relation-between-alsa-and-pulseaudio-sound-architecture http://askubuntu.com/questions/581128/what-is-the-relation-b... that flat out state PA just sits on top of ALSA. So in my mind, if everything just works with out PA, why install it?
- em3rgent0rdr 10y ago> "PA just sits on top of ALSA. So in my mind, if everything just works with out PA, why install it?" Yes, PA sits on top of ALSA. But PA does have other features, for example sending audio over the network, which is something that I have used on systems that don't have soundcards (e.g. Windows Subsystem for Linux) and for routing all my audio through my OpenWRT router which is connected to my high quality stereo (which allows all computers in my room to output audio to speakers without any cables). Also things like grabbing audio out from one app and recording to audacity is easy with PA. That being said, I'm the type of person that prefers minimal systems, in which case I usually stick to LXDE sans-pulse, and if I do need advanced audio processing, then I go with Jack.