[mythtv-users] Alsa only seems to work with Root user not mythtv user

[Michael T. Dean]

Mark Rissberger wrote:

>   First off, I'd like to thank everyone that helped me get LIRC 
> working with the PVR150.  It works like a dream now.  The problem that 
> I have now seems like it may be a permission issue but I'm not sure 
> where.  I can't use ALSA if I'm logged in as the mythtv user but it 
> works fine if I'm logged in as root.  Here is what I get as root and 
> as mythtv:
>
> [root at mythbox /]# aplay /usr/share/sounds/KDE_Startup.wav
> Playing WAVE '/usr/share/sounds/KDE_Startup.wav' : Signed 16 bit 
> Little Endian, Rate 22050 Hz, Mono
> [root at mythbox /]# exit
> exit
>
> [mythtv at mythbox /]$ aplay /usr/share/sounds/KDE_Startup.wav
> ALSA lib pcm_dmix.c:797:(snd_pcm_dmix_open) unable to create IPC shm 
> instance
> aplay: main:533: audio open error: Permission denied
>
> Here are the permissions of /dev/audio and /dev/dsp:
>
> [mythtv at mythbox /]$ ls -l /dev/au*
> crwxrwxrwx  1 mythtv root 14, 4 Oct 18 03:24 /dev/audio
> [mythtv at mythbox /]$ ls -l /dev/dsp
> crwxrwxrwx  1 mythtv root 14, 3 Oct 18 03:24 /dev/dsp
>
>
> Any ideas????   


ls -al /dev/snd

to show ALSA devices.

Most likely you'll see a group called "audio" or something.  Then, just 
add mythtv user to the audio group.  If not (i.e. if owner and group are 
root), fix the permissions (probably in udev scripts-- 
http://www.reactivated.net/writing_udev_rules.html ).

Mike