sndio

sndio

Original author(s)	Alexandre Ratchov and Jacob Meuser
Developer(s)	OpenBSD project
Initial release	October 2008
Development status	Active
Written in	C
Operating system	OpenBSD
Type	Sound server
License	ISC License
Website	www.sndio.org

sndio is the software layer of the OpenBSD operating system that manages the use of sound cards and MIDI ports. It provides an optional sound server and a documented application programming interface to access either the server or the audio and MIDI hardware in a uniform way. sndio is designed to work for desktop applications, but pays special attention to synchronization mechanisms and reliability required by music applications.^[1]

Features

sndiod audio and MIDI server is the main component of sndio. It aims to fill the gap between programs requirements and the bare hardware as exposed by operating system device drivers.^[2] This includes:^[3]

• perform re-sampling and format conversions; for instance to allow a program that requires 44.1kHz sample frequency to use a device that supports 48kHz only.
• mix and route the sound of multiple programs; this allows multiple programs to use the audio device concurrently.
• split an audio device into sub-devices, for instance allowing one program to use the front speakers and another program to use the rear speakers as they were independent simple stereo devices.
• allow one program to record what other programs play.
• control the volume.
• route audio and MIDI data through the network; this allows programs running on one computer to use the sound card of another computer.
• route MIDI data between programs, allowing one program to send MIDI data to another program as it was a hardware MIDI port. For instance for a MIDI sequencer to control a soft synthesizer.
• start, stop and relocate synchronously a group of audio programs allowing multiple small programs to work together. This can be controlled through standard MIDI Machine Control (MMC) protocol, for instance from within a MIDI sequencer.
• expose the sound card clock as MIDI timecode (MTC), allowing MIDI programs (e.g. sequencers) or MIDI hardware to be synchronized to audio streams.

The last few points are hooks in the sound server aiming to improve interoperability between audio and MIDI programs.^[4] The use of standard MIDI protocols for volume and synchronization control enables interoperability with MIDI software or hardware connected to a computer.^[5]

History

Minimal server capability was added to aucat (audio stream manipulation tool, sndiod predecessor) in October 2008,^[6] thus shipped with OpenBSD 4.5.^[7][8] In December 2011, aucat was renamed to sndiod^[9] and later shipped with OpenBSD 5.1 as default sound server started at operating system boot.^[10]

Similar frameworks

• Advanced Linux Sound Architecture
• JACK Audio Connection Kit
• Open Sound System
• PulseAudio
• FreeBSD PCM audio device infrastructure

References

1. Ratchov, Alexandre (2010). "OpenBSD audio & MIDI framework for music and desktop applications" (PDF). AsiaBSDCon. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
2. Arons, Barry (March 1991). "The Design of Audio Servers and Toolkits for Supporting Speech in the User Interface" (PDF). Journal of the American Voice I/O Society. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
3. "sndiod(8) reference manual". December 2, 2012. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
4. Alexander, Peter Lawrence; Whitear, Caroline J. (2001). How MIDI Works, 6th Edition. Hal Leonard. ISBN 9780634020834.
5. Ratchov, Alexandre (March 31, 2012). "The Story Of The Extra Audio Track: Recording Music With OpenBSD". Undeadly. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
6. Ratchov, Alexandre (October 27, 2008). "Developer Blog: ratchov@'s recent audio work". Undeadly. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
7. "The OpenBSD 4.5 Release". OpenBSD. May 1, 2009. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
8. Biancuzzi, Federico (June 15, 2009). "PuffyTron recommends OpenBSD 4.5". O'Reilly Media. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
9. "src/etc/rc.conf". OpenBSD CVS. December 9, 2011. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
10. "The OpenBSD 5.1 Release". OpenBSD. May 1, 2012. Retrieved September 16, 2012.

External links

• Official website
• "13 – Multimedia". OpenBSD FAQ. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
• audio(4) – OpenBSD Kernel Interfaces Manual
• sndio(7) – OpenBSD Miscellaneous Information Manual
• sndiod(8) – OpenBSD System Manager's Manual