Learning Sound Device Names

Like any other devices in Linux, the sound devices have files in the /dev directory with specific names. Table 5-2 lists the standard device filenames that provide sound capability in Linux (you may not have all these devices on your system).

Table 5-2: Standard Sound Device Filenames in Linux
Device Filename	Description
`/dev/audio`	An audio device capable of playing Sun workstation-compatible audio files (typically with a `.au` extension). The device does not support all capabilities of the Sun workstation audio device but can play Sun audio files.
`/dev/audio1`	A Sun workstation-compatible audio device for the second sound card (if any)
`/dev/dsp`	A digital signal-processing device that also can play Sun audio files
`/dev/midi00 - 03`	MIDI ports
`/dev/mixer`	A sound-mixer device
`/dev/mixer1`	A second sound-mixer device
`/dev/sequencer`	A MIDI sequencer device