[Moved] TF2 with alsa (not pulseaudio)

[Al@rm]

Hello guys.
There is no PulseAudo in my OS. I configured the Steam to use alsa as an audio output device.
But TF2 wants to use only Pulse:
SDLAUDIO: SDL_OpenAudioDevice() failed: Could not setup connection to PulseAudio
And I have to use this hint[wiki.archlinux.org] to solve the problem.
Could you set SDL_AUDIODRIVER on your side as in the Steam configuration?

[Tea]

You can launch Steam specifying SDL_AUDIODRIVER, yep.

Do
`SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa steam` and TF2 should have sound.

[Al@rm]

Tea님이 먼저 게시:

You can launch Steam specifying SDL_AUDIODRIVER, yep.

Do
`SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa steam` and TF2 should have sound.

Thanks, but did you read my post? I know about it, I wrote this hint on ArchWiki =)
But I think, that it is bug. Because I chose alsa in steam configs. So I expect, that games will use alsa as audiodriver.

[poyepolomix]

Yeah, Steam maybe should check which audio server is installed by itself and act accordingly, or as Al@rm says, act according to what is specified in the options.

[Lampus]

I can confirm this issue. User shouldn't think about sound subsystem. Other linux applications plays sound without any special user actions (like changing environment variable).

[ChemBro]

I can confirm this, too. On Arch Linux without pulseaudio.

[Мышонак Ъ]

Had to do

$ SDL_AUDIODRIVER="alsa" steam

to get sound too.

It's expectable, seems like steam at the moment is designed and tested only for ubuntu, which has pulse by default

[Fabian²]

Even Ubuntu users may choose to uninstall pulseaudio. It should not be a big deal to set the variable in a startup script according to the steam configuration.

[ima]

Weird thing is, though, that if you enter BP mode, it has sound..

[Frank]

Moved to issue tracker (https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/32).

[Al-fisterino]

I use opensuse 12.2 and downloaded Counter strike source. After the download it started but there was no sound. So i typed : SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa into the terminal and stated steam. Steam started but Counter strike source isn't in the libray anymore. And when i try to start Steam from the desktop i can only login but steam isn't starting.
In the hidden folders i see the games are still there.
Can someone help ?

[arc| Gps]

;864959809788282466님이 먼저 게시:

I use opensuse 12.2 and downloaded Counter strike source. After the download it started but there was no sound. So i typed : SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa into the terminal and stated steam. Steam started but Counter strike source isn't in the libray anymore. And when i try to start Steam from the desktop i can only login but steam isn't starting.
In the hidden folders i see the games are still there.
Can someone help ?

The right command for openSUSE 12.2

SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulseaudio steam

This should work too though

SDL_AUDIODRIVER=alsa steam

Steam will start and you should have sound

[SUSEd]

arc| Gps님이 먼저 게시:

;864959809788282466님이 먼저 게시:

The right command for openSUSE 12.2

SDL_AUDIODRIVER=pulseaudio steam

This should work too though

This will work but not for all games. For example, DEFCON uses ALSA and it will crash when launch it in steam with pulseaudio.

[arc| Gps]

If its game related you probably need to report it on the github.

Puppetz(GER) left out steam on the end of the command.

See also:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/1849#issuecomment-13799930

[slouken]

What's the best way to set up a system with ALSA and no pulse audio?

[Al@rm]

hehe, use ArchLinux, for example. You need install an each module in depends of your necessity.
I have never had pulse in my system because it is useless additional component.