Re: Ubuntu's switch to pulseaudio broke accessibility for the blind.

[igorche]

How to remove PulseAudio from Ubuntu 9.10


Disclaimer: This guide is not for ordinary Ubuntu users. It is for
Linux hackers, for freedom-fighters, for partisans of the freedom of
choice, for paranoids who want to reduce security risks by removing
PulseAudio, and, of course, for audiophiles, for Skype users, for
Audacity users who are concerned with the quality of audio recordings,
for owners of netbooks or old computers, and for those who want to
help the blind (this is, for Edgar and the like).
If you want to learn the art of hacking, you may better install
another Ubuntu (in dual/multiple boot) on the same computer and make
there any exotic experiments you want.

For multiple boot, you may need this manual with pictures:
Modify Your Partitions With GParted Without Losing Data
http://www.howtoforge.com/partitioning_with_gparted

________________________________________________________________________________________

Popular Misconceptions

There are myths and rumours that many multimedia applications require
PulseAudio, for example:

"Myth: Skype now requires PulseAudio."

According to Skype developers, Skype does not require PulseAudio:
http://share.skype.com/sites/linux/2009/09/some_explanations.html
QUOTE:
Myth: Skype now requires PulseAudio.
No, it does not. If you run ldd on skype binary you will not see any
references to libpulse, because we load it at run-time. This means two
things:
1) If you do not have pulse installed, skype will happily work with alsa.
2) If you have pulseaudio autospawn enabled (default on most distros),
even if you shut down pulseaudio manually or remove it from autostart
menu, it will be launched once skype attempts to play a sound.
End of QUOTE.

Notice that Skype is "closed source".
If an "open source" application does not work without PulseAudio, this
bug will be immediately reported to Debian, and it will be recompiled
in a proper way.

Currently, Gnome Volume Control does not work without PulseAudio on Ubuntu 9.10
But you can use "xfce4-mixer" instead of Gnome Volume Control.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


How the Berlin Wall was built

The Ubuntu developers simply removed certain applications from Ubuntu
9.10 Repositories.
This was made, of course, unintentionally. It was a kind of mistake, no doubt.

To be exact, these applications were removed:

gnome-sound-properties

asoundconf

They are going to remove "asoundconf-gtk" as well. Why not? It does
not work without "asoundconf":

Please remove asoundconf-gtk from the archive (asoundconf script has
been removed)
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/asoundconf-gtk/+bug/378675


You need "gnome-sound-properties" to configure your sound settings
after the removal of PulseAudio.

The script "asoundconf" is, of course, for ALSA users only. You do not
need it with OSS4.


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Part 1: Eradication of the evil


sudo killall pulseaudio

cp /etc/X11/Xsession.d/70pulseaudio ~/

sudo apt-get purge pulseaudio

sudo apt-get remove gstreamer0.10-pulseaudio

sudo reboot


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[optional] Since Gnome Volume Control does not work without
PulseAudio, you may want to install these mixers:

sudo apt-get install xfce4-mixer

sudo apt-get install aumix-gtk


After installation, you may find them in Ubuntu Menu:

Applications -> Sound & Video -> Mixer

Applications -> Sound & Video -> aumix


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Part 2: Installation of "gnome-sound-properties"


Step 1.OA: (optional) To make life more comfortable, you may want to
install these plugins for Nautilus:

sudo apt-get install nautilus-gksu nautilus-open-terminal


Step 2.OA: Borrow "gnome-sound-properties" from Ubuntu 9.04

Download Debian package "gnome-control-center" from Ubuntu 9.04 Repositories
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/gnome-control-center

Open this Debian package with Archive Manager and extract this file:

gnome-sound-properties

Path in the deb-archive:
/gnome-control-center_2.26.0-0ubuntu3_i386/usr/bin/gnome-sound-properties


Step 3.OA: Borrow "sound-properties.glade" from Ubuntu 9.04

Download Debian package "capplets-data" from Ubuntu 9.04 Repositories
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/capplets-data

Open this Debian package with Archive Manager and extract this file:

sound-properties.glade

Path in the deb-archive:
/capplets-data_2.26.0-0ubuntu3_all/data/usr/share/gnome-control-center/glade/sound-properties.glade


Step 4.OA: Install "gnome-sound-properties" into Ubuntu 9.10

sudo cp gnome-sound-properties /usr/bin/

sudo mkdir /usr/share/gnome-control-center/glade/

sudo cp sound-properties.glade /usr/share/gnome-control-center/glade/


Now you can run "gnome-sound-properties" and configure Gnome Sound
Settings how you want.
Just type on Terminal:

gnome-sound-properties


You can insert this command to Application Menu, or create a launcher
on the Gnome Panel.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Part 3: (optional) Installation of Open Sound System (OSS4)

Now you can install OSS4, following the official guide:
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/OpenSound


(optional) How to install Skype with OSS4 on Ubuntu 9.10

Download "skype-static-oss" here:
http://packages.medibuntu.org/jaunty/

For i386, take these packages:
http://packages.medibuntu.org/pool/non-free/s/skype/skype-common_2.0.0.72-0medibuntu4_all.deb
http://packages.medibuntu.org/pool/non-free/s/skype/skype-static-oss_2.0.0.72-0medibuntu4_i386.deb

Install them with this command:

sudo dpkg -i skype-static-oss_2.0.0.72-0medibuntu4_i386.deb
skype-common_2.0.0.72-0medibuntu4_all.deb


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Part 4: (optional) Installations of ALSA tools (this is for ALSA users only)


Step 1.A: Install "asoundconf-gtk"

sudo apt-get install asoundconf-gtk


Step 2.A: Borrow "asoundconf" from Ubuntu 9.04

Download Debian package "alsa-utils" from Ubuntu 9.04 Repositories
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/alsa-utils

Extract the script "asoundconf" from alsa-utils*.deb with Archive Manager


Step 3.A: Install "asoundconf" into Ubuntu 9.10

sudo cp asoundconf /usr/bin/


Now ALSA users can run "asoundconf-gtk" and configure their soundcards.

Type on Terminal:

asoundconf-gtk


You can insert this command to Application Menu, or create a launcher
on the Gnome Panel.


Step 4.A: (optional) To make life easier, some ALSA users may want to
install ESound

sudo apt-get install -y esound esound-clients esound-common libesd-alsa0

sudo reboot


Do not forget to reboot the system after the installation of ESound.


Now you can install multimedia applications and codecs, following these guides:
http://shibuvarkala.blogspot.com/2009/04/howto-make-ubuntu-904-jaunty-jackalope.html
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=766683


Enjoy!

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[Stevethefiddle]

Igor Chernenko wrote:

> How to remove PulseAudio from Ubuntu 9.10
>
>
> Disclaimer: This guide is not for ordinary Ubuntu users. It is for
> Linux hackers, for freedom-fighters, for partisans of the freedom of
> choice, for paranoids who want to reduce security risks by removing
> PulseAudio, and, of course, for audiophiles, for Skype users, for
> Audacity users who are concerned with the quality of audio recordings,
>
>  

I'm not sure that this discussion really belongs on the Audacity-Nyquist
forum at all, but since you raise the issue again...

I've seen this claim about improved sound quality several times, but I
notice that 4Front Technologies do not make any claims regarding sound
quality, which, if true, would surely be a big deal.

I have made my own tests and can see (hear) no difference in sound
quality at all (this includes recording the output into a professional
quality studio hdd recorder and analysing the recordings). I can not
find any test measurements to support this claim - do you know of any?

Steve



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[igorche]

Hi Steve!

To put it simply, the difference in quality depends on a particular
computer, particular soundcard, particular OSS4 driver and particular
ALSA driver.
An update of ALSA or OSS4 may change something.

For professional quality, you may need "dedicated devices":

1. Olympus LS-10 Linear PCM Recorder

2. Zoom H4 Handy Recorder

3. or something more sophisticated (and more expensive).

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[Gale (Audacity Team)]

| From Steve D <[hidden email]>
| Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:36:24 +0000
| Subject: [Audacity-nyquist] Ubuntu's switch to pulseaudio broke accessibility for the blind.

> Igor Chernenko wrote:
> > How to remove PulseAudio from Ubuntu 9.10
> >
> >
> > Disclaimer: This guide is not for ordinary Ubuntu users. It is for
> > Linux hackers, for freedom-fighters, for partisans of the freedom of
> > choice, for paranoids who want to reduce security risks by removing
> > PulseAudio, and, of course, for audiophiles, for Skype users, for
> > Audacity users who are concerned with the quality of audio recordings,
> >
> >  
> I'm not sure that this discussion really belongs on the Audacity-Nyquist
> forum at all, but since you raise the issue again...
>
> I've seen this claim about improved sound quality several times, but I
> notice that 4Front Technologies do not make any claims regarding sound
> quality, which, if true, would surely be a big deal.
>
> I have made my own tests and can see (hear) no difference in sound
> quality at all (this includes recording the output into a professional
> quality studio hdd recorder and analysing the recordings). I can not
> find any test measurements to support this claim - do you know of any?

Definitely nothing to do with Nyquist, and the polemical nature of what
you write ("evil", "freedom") doesn't really lend increased credence to
it. Evidence in the form of test routines and links to brief PCM WAV files
might.

I have not been following this crusade of yours but is this anything
other than an issue with hum on one of your laptops? Have you taken
it to the Pulse developers?

If you want to distribute your thoughts about "Comparison of OSS and
Pulse Audio" more widely, and if you can write more objectively, I
suggest a page on the Wiki linked to from:
http://wiki.audacityteam.org/index.php?title=Linux_Issues

might be appropriate. You can probably use some of the content and
links from your earlier -users lists posts about this, which were
quite informative. You should definitely mention too the current
incompatibility between pulse and orca as a "con" of pulse, while  
mentioning things that other people like about pulse, to give some
balance.



Thanks



Gale


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[igorche]

"Evidence in the form of test routines and links to brief PCM WAV files
might. "

Gale! The problem is not so simple, as you seem to believe.

Yes, you have a drastic difference on old computers.

For new computers, you may not have OSS4 driver, or ALSA driver, or both.
And if there is a driver, it is likely to have bugs.

The only objective difference is CPU usage, and this is predetermined
by the design of ALSA and OSS.

Some users do need ALSA, and OSS4 is not a solution for them.
Others do need OSS4.
Perhaps, somebody needs PulseAudio.

It is up to users to decide what to use.
And they need the freedom of choice to be able to decide.

This is the problem. No freedom of choice.
You have to use PulseAudio with Ubuntu 9.10, if you do not know how to
remove PulseAudio.

That particular howto explains how to remove PulseAudio and fix ALSA,
and how to install OSS4, if somebody wants.

If you believe that the freedom of choice is of no value, and any
attempt to defend such freedom is a kind of "stupid crusade",
then this is your personal belief.

In this particular case, the freedom of choice has a practical value.
Many Ubuntu Audacity users may want to know how to get rid of
PulseAudio.

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[Gale (Audacity Team)]

| From Igor Chernenko <[hidden email]>
| Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:41:09 +0100
| Subject: [Audacity-nyquist] Ubuntu's switch to pulseaudio broke accessibility for the blind.
> "Evidence in the form of test routines and links to brief PCM WAV files
> might. "
>
> Gale! The problem is not so simple, as you seem to believe.

Correct. I do not believe it's simple. But your post that Steve reacted
to would make someone with little knowledge believe that it may be
that simple.

 

> Yes, you have a drastic difference on old computers.
>
> For new computers, you may not have OSS4 driver, or ALSA driver, or both.
> And if there is a driver, it is likely to have bugs.
>
> The only objective difference is CPU usage, and this is predetermined
> by the design of ALSA and OSS.
>
> Some users do need ALSA, and OSS4 is not a solution for them.
> Others do need OSS4. Perhaps, somebody needs PulseAudio.
>
> It is up to users to decide what to use.
> And they need the freedom of choice to be able to decide.
>
> This is the problem. No freedom of choice.
> You have to use PulseAudio with Ubuntu 9.10, if you do not know how to
> remove PulseAudio.

I know there are arguments pro and con OSS, and Ubuntu did not help
by implementing Pulse in a partial, ill-thought out way. But an OS has
to use some default system. Do people also think it is not free that
Ubuntu decides you should have GNOME, and if you want KDE you
have to be able to make the necessary changes?
 

> That particular howto explains how to remove PulseAudio and fix ALSA,
> and how to install OSS4, if somebody wants.
>
> If you believe that the freedom of choice is of no value, and any
> attempt to defend such freedom is a kind of "stupid crusade",
> then this is your personal belief.
>
> In this particular case, the freedom of choice has a practical value.
> Many Ubuntu Audacity users may want to know how to get rid of
> PulseAudio.

I never used the word "stupid". But the -nyquist list is not the place
for any of this, nor is the -users list the place for repeated messages
about it which go over old ground. I have already said I would
welcome you putting (objective) information on the Wiki about
removing Pulse, plus add some links where people can read about
all sides of the OSS versus ALSA versus Pulse debate.

If you want to discuss it any more, or need any help using the Wiki,
please contact me privately.



Thanks!



Gale


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