Comment 8 for bug 13185

> The split between input and output channels makes sense imho.

Well yes, but the problem is that many channels are used both for playback and
recording.
So for example, for me, "line-in" is considered as playback, because I use it to
"playback" TV sounds, and don't use it to actually record/cpature anything.
the 'CD' channel is also on the Capture panel, despite the rare times I use it,
it's "playback" an audio CD, not record it. Same for the master control, I use
it in conjunction with the other channels to adjust sound playback just right.
But Master is on the Capture panel again.
Only PCM is on the Playback panel. But, say that one day, I want to record sound
from Totem or Rhythmbox or whatever program that uses the PCM channel. Then I
would need to PCM thing to be in the Capture panel as well.
So, most channels have dual-role and are equally at home on both panels, hence
why I thought that having all of them on a the same panel (but of course, only
the one you want/chose to see, not the dozens of channels that the sound card is
capable of), was the best compromise.
Of course, you could alwyas keep a capture or playback panels, for those
channels that DO NOT have a dual purpose. FOr example "Mic" or "Speaker".

> No, that's not arbitraty but probably due to a bug, that's why I've asked the
screenshots.

Ah, sorry, my knowledge of the sound system is so vague (so complex, as others
keep pointing out on the list), that I had no way to figure out that it was a
bug... please open one if appropriate :-)

> > an onboard audio chipset is also a soundcard.

Huuuuu, what do you mean ? A card is a card, a chip is a chip...
The only cards I have in my system ar ethe SCSI controller card, the Ethernet
controller card, and the TV tuner card.
But sorry for being picky, I gathered that over the years, when they started to
put sound chips on mpotherboard, they improperly called it sound "card", as an
extrapolation, tprobably to avoid confusing the user uselessly.... Okay, let's
say I have a card ! ;o)

> Can you get the exact reference with lspci ?

Yuuup, here it is :

0000:00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: nVidia Corporation: Unknown device
01b0 (rev c2)
0000:00:06.0 Multimedia audio controller: nVidia Corporation nForce Audio (rev c2)

Ooops, Mea culpa ! ;-) It appears I don't even have a stand alone sound chip
either ! It's built into the nForce chipset...
the user manual of the motherboard does state that it is AC '97 2.1 compatible,
though, so I was only half wrong ;o)