dmix by Default in ALSA 1.0.9
I say, it's high time to celebrate. From the ALSA 1.0.9 changelog:
- Summary: Use dmix/dsnoop for default PCM
Use dmix/dsnoop plugins for default PCM in most of mobo chips
If you don't know what dmix is, basically it solves the problem of only one program being able to play audio at a time on cheap sound cards. In other words, kick those abomination sound servers (e.g. esd and artsd) out the door.