Ubuntu 8.10 no sound

[LegoAddict]

I am running Ubuntu 8.10 on a Dell Precision M20 laptop.

I have installed Audacity from the Ubuntu repos.

Originally, I had an error that said "Error while opening sound device. Please check the output device settings and the project sample rate." but fixed it by changing the audio output device to iec958 (out of three options. Two provide no noise and the other, the default, gives me the above error).

So basically, I don't get the sound device error but I can't hear anything at all. I've checked the Ubuntu sound manager stuff and it's all on and audio always works just fine...

[steve]

Thanks to sound card manufacturers not supporting Linux, it frequently takes a lot of messing around in the volume control to get it working, even after you've found a setting that does not give the "Error while opening sound device".

On a default install, the volume control is accessed by right clicking on the loudspeaker icon in the top right panel.
You may need to also change the preferences for the volume control.

One thing that can often help finding the correct settings for everything is to open Audacity and click on "Help > Audio Device Info". This should show a list of all audio devices that are available on your computer, and list what sample rates they support, and how many (if any) inputs and outputs they have available. Obviously, for your recording device you must select something that has at least 2 input channels, and for playback, 2 output channels (2 for stereo).

ALSA is usually a better option than OSS, and if available, "ALSA default" will usually be the best option.

[LegoAddict]

Ok, this is weird:

When I was testing, I must have had an audio programme open (Rhythmbox?), because now playback is playing with the setting (that wasn't there before) ALSA INTEL ICH6.

...

Huh, and Rhythmbox won't play while Audacity is playing

...

Is there a way to play them simultaneously?

[steve]

Is there a way to play them simultaneously?

They will both play together on my computer (I've got an old SoundBlaster Live (value) sound card).
I notice that, unlike Audacity, there seems to be no way to control what output Rhthymbox uses - at least not through the graphical interface.

If you keep playing with the settings you will discover the capabilities and limitations of your sound card.
I've just discovered that I can control playback from Audacity to front and/or rear speakers.