ossctl is a new application in OSS 3.99 series. This application allows
you to select the default audio device. In OSS 3.99 /dev/dsp is no
longer just a symlink (or hardlink) to /dev/dsp0, it now is a special
OSS device (major=14, minor=14) that is used to select the default
device and the order of the devices to open when multiple apps are started.
In addition to ossctl, OSS 3.99 now also automatically creates new devices
called /dev/dsp_ac3 and /dev/dsp_multich that are symlinks to the dsp device
that supports Dolby Digital AC3 and 4.1/5.1/7.1 multi-channel analog output.
When using popular DVD apps you need to specify which device to use
otherwise the application will default to the Virtual Mixer which
only supports stereo or the default audio device in cases where Virtual
Mixer is disabled.
Or adding the following lines to ~/.mplayer/config will make it work from
the GUI (gmplayer)
ao=oss:/dev/dsp_multi_ch # To specify default audio driver (see -ao help for # list)
channels=6
(b) mplayer ac3 output:
mplayer -ao oss:/dev/dsp_ac3 -ac hwac3
(c) ogle. The following is the revised
section of ~/.oglerc. Note that below you set the output for Analog
oss /dev/dsp_multich
... Left Right RearLeft RearRight Center LFE
AC3
...
If you need to use AC3 passthrough to an external Dolby/DTX decoder,
set the device path to /dev/dsp_ac3
(c) xine.
You need to first set the AC3 device or Multichannel device using ossctl as the first device. Now start Xine, and from the Configuration panel for Audio, you will either See AC3 pass through or 4.1/5.1 channel buttons depending on what
device is set in ossctl. You must select the appropriate setting in Xine. Then
shutdown Xine and restart it so that the setting takes into effect.