Last week we learned a bit about the chaotic jumble that is audio on Linux, and about the new PulseAudio sound server that just may create bit of order, and perhaps some more user-friendliness. Several Linux distributions default to using PulseAudio, such as Fedora, Ubuntu Hardy Heron, and Mandriva. Many others now include it in their software repositories, or you can follow this guide for installing the latest version from source code.

Application support for PulseAudio is not quite complete. Notable problem applications are Skype, Flash Player, and Real Player. I had originally intended to make this as general a guide as possible, but I ran into a number of problems on both Kubuntu Gutsy and Hardy and got all wrapped up in debugging them, so today is going to be Fix *buntu Day.

Part 2

Part 1