Can I switch soundcards on a per emulator basis?

[IIeBoy]

I have connected a USB soundcard to the original speaker inside an Apple //e case. It works! But I want sound to go through that USB device only when I run LinApple (the Apple //e emulator).

Q: Is there a way to change the sound output device on the fly, when loading each emulator?

Currently I have set the system to use the USB device (the Apple speaker) system-wide, by changing the following as specified at https://learn.adafruit.com/usb-audio-cards-with-a-raspberry-pi/updating-alsa-config

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

options snd-usb-audio index=0
But I’d like to use the main sound device (HDMI output) for the rest of the system and the other emulators. Ideas welcomed!

Background: The sound quality is horribly glitchy in LinApple. But I have made an Apple Piie using an Apple //e case, including its speaker. For //e emulation, my aim is to connect the sound card output to the existing Apple //e speaker. I’m told by the dev of LinApple that using a USB sound card fixes the glitchy sound provided by the Pi.

[IIeBoy]

*bump*

[karloss]

can i ask why you only want to use it for that emulator, sound via headphone jack is shite on all the emulators, not just that one…and a usb soundcard is the only want to fix it…

[IIeBoy]

I have OK sound on all the other emulators. LinApple was the only one where it seriously popped and crackled. Hope this helps you answer my original question? Thanks.

[karloss]

ok, well as far as im aware, this cannot be done without a reboot, maybe trying playing about and making the change then restarting the alsa process, that may make the change..

though I still don’t see why you need to change, just used the external soundcard all the time..

[trimmtrabb]

what’s the performance like with usb audio?

[IIeBoy]

I wanted to switch because the quality of the Apple //e speaker is horribly bad for emulators like MAME which I’d rather go through HDMI sound, but it’s beautifully bad when emulating the actual Apple //e ;)

The quality of the USB sound card sadly only improves the actual audio quality a tiny bit. Not even 10%. I wouldn’t bother frankly – I just wanted the option. Mind you the sound card was under $5 on Amazon :D

I am disappointed with so many aspects of Pi emulation that I’m now working towards replacing it with a Wii running Homebrew Channel and their emulators instead. :(

[karloss]

I completely disagree with this, the usb sound card completely removes all the distortion and feedback experienced via the standard phono from the pi…if I was you I would replace the speaker in the Apple..

no performance hits with usb audio.

[trimmtrabb]

which usb audio are you using Karloss?

[IIeBoy]

Karloss, it’s not about agreeing or “completely disagree”ing, it’s different setups, different equipment, different emulators.

It’s just a fact that with my USB sound device, the sound is still appalling through LinApple only.

You may be using a different emulator, or different USB device.

Trust me the Apple speaker is fine, it plays test MP3s through the Pi surprisingly well.

Thanks for your input.

[karloss]

here

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